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 Shirel Richman
Bryn Biren, Linda Brill, Sandy Mazzucco, Felicia Otto
Co-Presidents
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E-Shalom - JUNE 2022
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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The current Covid policy regarding participation in on-site activities within our building as adopted by your Board is:
Adults and children 16 and up must show proof of vaccination or present a negative Covid test result taken within the previous 5 days
All children must remain with their parents or guardian except during school classes or organized children’s activities.
Masks must be worn at all times on the Temple grounds.
Proof of vaccination is to be shown upon entry (copy of certificate or phone app).
Copies of proof may be submitted to the Temple office in advance of your arrival.
We thank you for your cooperation in maximizing the safety of our Congregants and our Temple.
__________________________
We are aware of the changing guidelines from the state and CDC. We will monitor them carefully, adapting them as needed to maximize protection for our temple's unique population.
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Erev Shabbat Services take place IN PERSON. Live-stream links, for those unable to join us, will be e-mailed to all congregants, along with the Friday night Progam, every Friday. The Zoom link for Saturday morning Torah Study and Services can be found below. (Please check weekly News and Notes and the Friday Night Program for any updates or changes.) |
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PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGES AND LINK INFORMATION FOR JUNE 11 AND JUNE 18 |
*Please note that Shabbat Services on June 11 and June 18 will be live in the Sanctuary. They will not be on Zoom or Streamed. |
June 4 and June 25
Torah Study at 10:00 a.m. followed by Services at 11:00 a.m.
*June 11 and June 18
Torah Study at 9:15 a.m. followed by Services at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 894 4131 1190
Passcode: 981418
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Meeting ID: 894 4131 1190
Passcode: 981418
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**PLEASE CHECK NEWS & NOTES AND THE FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAM E-MAILS FOR STREAMING LINKS FOR FRIDAY NIGHTS AND FOR ANY CHANGES REGARDING STREAMING AND/OR ZOOM LINKS. |
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ONLINE ACCESS TO
MISHKAN T'FILAH
Through the generosity of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, there is a free online flip-book version of our prayer book, Mishkan T'filah for Shabbat, available
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ONLINE ACCESS TO
MISHKAN T'FILAH for YOUTH
Through the generosity of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, there is a free online flip-book version of our prayer book, Mishkan T'filah for Youth, available
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PRESENTED AT THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON MAY 11, 2022 |
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As we read in Deuteronomy, a community is too heavy for anyone to carry alone.
We at Temple Israel have always been blessed with those who have brought to our community willing hands and loving hearts. Their loving work has sustained us.
Each year, at our congregational meeting, we honor those individuals whose dedication to our congregation has helped us in so many ways. The award honors those who understand and accept their obligation to this community and have worked tirelessly 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.
AVODAH means service….in the broad sense…service as in work and service as in prayer. These awards represent our acknowledgment of the extraordinary service given to our Temple community.
On behalf of the Board of Temple Israel it is a privilege to confer this year’s AVODAH awards.
The recipient of our first Avodah Award is Susie Goldstein. So many members of our Sisterhood have expressed gratitude to Susie. She always asks if help is needed; she always volunteers to help at our Onegs and at sisterhood meeting breakfasts. Even if she has not been assigned to help, she comes in and says “what can I do?”. And she always says it with a smile.
She also volunteers to work with other sisterhood members to set up the shalach manot gift bags and has generously donated her paintings to fundraisers.
It is interesting to learn that Susie did not grow up as a member of a synagogue and has never before been a member of one. She was born in Argentina, where her parents lived, having immigrated there before the start of WWII. She did grow up in a Zionist youth group and she and her husband decided to move to Israel. On their way, they stopped in our country and stayed here for a number of years. Then they lived in Israel for 8 years, and moved back to the United States. Susie finally joined a congregation for the first time to be part of the life of her daughter and her family. So thank you so much to Ariella and Scott! You have brought her to us. We are SO grateful.
Ariella agrees with us…her mom is an amazing person. Ariella also let us know that her mom has endless energy, as her grandmother did. Susie is a “Jacquelyn” of all trades. She decorates cakes, paints, does crafts and helps everyone whenever she can.
Susie, in honor of your loving commitment to help everyone and your kind, loving and generous dedication to our congregation, we honor you with this year’s Avodah Award.
The recipient of the next Avodah award is Russell Kaminsky. Bryn has often shared her appreciation of Russell. From the day we met him, she has said, he is someone to depend on. If you need him, he will be at your house in two minutes. He is above and beyond, a committed family man, dedicated to his wife and his children. And dedicated to us. Rabbi Howald has said that Russell is so supportive of his family, but also supports our congregation and the teachers in our school. He supports all the Jewish life at our temple. Our Co-president Alan Siegel has said that Russell is generous with his time and his talents, always saying, “ Is there something I can help you with”.
This year Russell did an amazing thing for us all. Co-sisterhood president Jodi mentioned…casually I think…that sisterhood really had to redo their closet. And Russell said, “I’ll do it. What do you want me to do”? Jodi shared with him her vision of the design she wanted and what she thought would be best and he stepped right up. He took apart all the old shelving, painted it, and created new shelving that brought to sisterhood, as Jodi has described it, an amazing transformation. With gratitude for his generous, loving and amazingly talented work for our congregation, and for his constant commitment to help anyone in need, we present Russell with our Avodah Award.
Our next Avodah award is being presented to John Burman. We have never presented an Avodah award before to someone who has worked for our congregation. But our office manager, John, is unique. As Rabbi has said, he is always trying to be helpful to people. John is kind on all phone calls, always tried to get to the “yes” that is needed by our congregants. As our Co-President Alan has said, John has become a tremendous asset to our congregation. He goes above and beyond being an office administrator. He takes care of check writing, bill paying, and donations; he helps our treasurer Jeff with many things. He helps with banking and using the computer system which helps Jeff keep track of all the temple finances. John also comes into our temple on shabbat and sets up the live stream for our services. He starts the software and stays through the service, making sure everything is working. John then often stays to help clean up after the oneg. He frequently helps with cleaning up after events, even through he isn’t actually paid to be a custodian. John is also a smart and thoughtful and interesting and talented man. And very, very kind to us all. With gratitude for his willingness to go way above and beyond the requirements of his job and for the loving kindness he shows to all our congregants, we present John with this year’s Avodah award.
Our last Avodah award is presented to Shariann Ganz. Shariann grew up in a Reform congregation with parents who were also involved and committed to their congregation. In fact, the first time her husband Jeff was at her temple, having gone there for a sisterhood sale, there was Shariann’s mom working in the kitchen. Where we now see Shariann so much. And her mom was also a sisterhood Co-president. When Shariann was merely 19, her Rabbi at her congregation in Brooklyn, asked her to be a teacher in their religious school, starting her out on a path that she stayed on for so many years.
Once married, it was always Shariann’s intention to find a religious home for herself and her family. And she found us, which has been a blessing for us all.
So here we are…with a gifted, talented, committed, loving woman. We are so grateful she found us!
Shariann has been dedicated to our congregation and has worked for us in so many ways. She was a dedicated teacher in our religious school for over 20 years.
And co-president Alan has pointed out that not only was Shariann a great teacher, but when she retired from our school, she left all the new teachers with a frame of reference to help them continue to teach our children. Our Rabbi has pointed out that she is always here to help with everything…being a loving support to our Religious School, our Sisterhood and to all of our congregation.
Shariann also handles the food for so many events. She supplies delicious food for programs and events. She loves cooking and organizes onegs and many temple dinners. She has managed the Chanukah dinners for many years, helps with fundraising and always steps in if we don’t have enough volunteers to help set up and serve during our Onegs. Our sisterhood Co-president Jodi also says that Shariann has a fabulous memory and is wonderful at keeping so much organized. Jodi has added that Shariann has so many incredible abilities and manages so many things which has made her a great sisterhood president partner.
And Shariann, many also added that you make the best KashaVarnishkas in the world.
In honor of her years of loving dedication to our congregation and her extraordinary abilities to help us in so many ways, we honor Shariann Ganz with an Avodah Award.
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A Message from
Rabbi Michael D. Howald
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Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, many Americans have hoped that the people of Russia would rise up to challenge the rule of Vladimir Putin. Surely, many of us have hoped, ordinary Russians, many of whom have family and friends in Ukraine, cannot support this reckless and deadly invasion? When many countries imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia, and the casualties started to mount, we hoped that Russians would pour out in the streets in protest to the war. When they did not, we told ourselves that they live in a totalitarian regime where the government stifles and punishes dissent. How different they are from us, we thought, steeped as we are in a tradition of democracy lacking in the former Soviet Union. If the situations we reversed, we tell ourselves, protesters would clog the streets of Washington and the highest levels of power would have to listen!
Yet, as I write this article, news has just broken of another mass shooting of children at an elementary school in our country. We will rightly weep for the victims and their families. We will wail for the future of our country. Yet even after yet another mass shooting involving children, many Americans will conclude that nothing can be done to change the situation. The forces opposed to change are too entrenched, they will despair, and so why bother to take the time to register outrage and horror with those in power and ask them to do something? They won’t listen anyway and, if they do, they won’t be able to do anything to stem the tide of gun violence in this country. All the time, of course, they will ask themselves why the Russian people have given up hope of changing the course of their government. Why can’t they stand up to one man who has single-handedly sent their nation to war? When did they give up hope?
The Jewish people know the importance of hope. The national anthem of the state of Israel, Hatikvah, proclaims that hope is not lost so long as the inmost heart of a Jewish spirit sings. For over two thousand years we sang of being a free people in our own land and, in our own lifetimes we have seen this dream realized. We are also descendants of brave ancestors who made homes for themselves across the globe despite the challenges of antisemitism and xenophobia. We are only a small fraction of the world’s population, but we have made our presence felt, even when others did not welcome us, and disparaged our beliefs. Working to fix the brokenness in our country will take the same kind of courage in the years ahead.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, was once asked to define the difference between optimism and hope. Optimism, he said, is “the belief that things will get better. Hope is the faith that, together, we can make things better.” He went on to add the following:
Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one. It takes no courage to be an optimist, but it takes a great deal of courage to have hope. Knowing what we do of our past, no Jew can be an optimist. But Jews have never – despite a history of sometimes awesome suffering – given up hope.
When it comes to gun violence in this country, many Americans have given up hope that anything can be done except burying the dead and praying for their families. Why work for change, they say, when we may not see the work come to fruition? Jewish tradition, in contrast, teaches that even though we may not complete the work, we may not on that account desist from it. Perhaps that’s why the people of Israel, no matter where we may be scattered, have never given up hope for a better future for our children then we received from the hands of our parents. The task may be great, and we may not all agree on what to do but giving up hope for the possibility of change belies thousands of years of Jewish history and struggle. We cannot be silent and the time to speak and act is now. To do otherwise, is to give in to the same despair we decry in others, whether in this country or across the globe.
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World Union for Progressive Judaism
Ukraine Crisis Fund
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Your gift today will be a lifeline to Ukraine’s most vulnerable Jews. Give today! |
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A Message from the Co-Presidents |
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Welcome to June 2022.
According to Temple Israel’s Constitution, Officer and Trustee terms begin on June 1st. Therefore, although the Temple Board will be installed on June 10th, our terms of office have begun.
As our first task we want to thank past presidents Jerrold Gross and Alan Siegel for their dedication to and efforts on behalf of this congregation and this synagogue these last four years, especially for the responsibilities and special challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
We look forward to working together, with the Board, with Rabbi Howald and with all of you to continue the gift that is Temple Israel as your second home as a house of prayer, study and community.
As we organize ourselves in this time of transition, we welcome your input and questions. And we hope to see you in person often in June as much is happening both in the synagogue and away.
Shavuot will be observed and celebrated with Congregant Torah Readers and our future Confirmands symbolically receiving the Torah Tablets. Jacob Chason and Ethan Schwartz each will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Silvia and Samuel Gornstein are the Temple Israel honorees at the UJA Federation Annual Community Celebration at the Bernikow JCC. Adult Learning is having a Book Discussion. The FUNdraising Committee is sponsoring a fun and social evening at Temple “A Taste of the Rothchild Legend”. Sisterhood will have their “End of Year Dinner” at the Staaten. Please check this E-Shalom Bulletin for more specific information re: dates, times and location for these observances, events as well as other available activities.
And toward the end of this month, we will be saying farewell to Student Cantor Shirel Richman and Lincoln Richman after two years. We thank them both for their musical talents and the spirit they brought to our Services and to the Congregation. We wish them only the best as they continue on their journey.
Finally, as noted above the Temple Board Installation will be during the Friday night Erev Shabbat Service of June 10thand the Sisterhood/Brotherhood Installation will be during the Friday night Erev Shabbat Service of June 17th. We encourage you to attend and support your fellow congregants as they take on or continue to accept the responsibilities necessary for the strength and growth of our Temple Israel and our Community.
Stay Safe and Be Well,
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Bryn, Linda, Sandy and Felicia
Bryn Biren, Linda Brill, Sandy Mazzucco, , Felicia Otto
Co-Presidents
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Dear Fellow Congregants,
As you read this message, I will be assuming the responsibilities of Temple Israel’s Financial Secretary. I look forward to working with you as you reaffirm your support of our Temple through your generous annual commitment.
In just a few weeks you will be receiving a Statement of Annual Commitment with options for how you may choose to honor that commitment. You may choose to submit your amount in full via check, by means of a credit card payment or by submitting post-dated checks according to the provided template. Regardless of your chosen method of honoring your commitment to Temple Israel, please be reminded that the retention of our clergy and support staff, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of our spiritual home, depend on your support.
Please feel free to contact me via the Temple office should you wish to discuss any matter regarding your annual commitment.
I look forward to having you continue your membership in Temple Israel and availing yourself of all that we have to offer.
Thank you in advance for you anticipated cooperation.
Alan Siegel
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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Dear Temple Israel,
It is with many mixed feelings I am writing my last bulletin to you. I feel so grateful for being at Temple Israel for these two extraordinary, unpredictable, creative, challenging, and full-of-learning years. We spent much time on Zoom together in services, programs and classes, and of course in the Temple Israel building. Thank you for welcoming Lincoln and me into your Zoom screens, your living rooms, and on the bimah so warmly. We hope we brought this community a sense of togetherness and joy, and helped create holy moments through music, even in times of isolation and challenge.
Thank you to Temple Israel’s choir. Before I started my internship, as I was interviewing at different congregations, learning about the Temple Israel choir made it obvious that this would be the place for me. I always loved conducting choirs. I conducted children’s choirs for many years, but this was the first time I conducted adults. I thought I was prepared, but since the very beginning we all needed to leave our comfort zone together and try to invent new wheels to create a virtual choir. Many of us had doubts, lack of experience with anything technical, and it felt strange to sing all by yourself in front of a camera instead of singing together. Thank you for trusting in this process, taking a risk and bringing so much joy and hope to our community through your singing.
Thank you to our Temple Israel’s Religious School students, families and teachers. It was a pleasure to get to know you and experience Jewish learning with you. Thank you for your dedication to this community and your commitment to your (and our) children’s Jewish education.
To the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of Temple Israel, thank you for keeping us together through exciting programs and opportunities for further engagement. The temple would not be the same without you.
Lastly, a huge and special thank you to my mentor, Rabbi Michael Howald. You were always there for me on and off the bimah, making sure I felt confident to try new things, trusting me and guiding me through challenging times, and always being there to listen and support. Your love of this community, your experience and generosity will always set an example for me in my future. I could not have asked for a better mentor for my very first student pulpit work. Temple Israel is so lucky to have you as their rabbi.
To all of you, thank you for your supportive emails, prayers, and patience while Lincoln and I were in Israel taking care of Azi. We are both so grateful for everything you have done for our family. You were all a source of great comfort and a beautiful example of the power of community.
Temple Israel will always have a special place in my heart. Please do not hesitate to stay in touch!
L’hitraot b’smachot (with hope to see you in happy occasions).
B’shirah ub’ahava (with singing and love),
Shirel Richman
Student Cantor
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Adult Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, June 8- TBA
Wednesday, June 15- TBA
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Jodi Siegel & Shariann Ganz
Co-Presidents
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Notes from the Outgoing Co-Presidents |
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For the past 6 years, the Sisterhood article for the June edition of the Bulletin has included a listing of all the ways Sisterhood has contributed to our Temple and to our community over the course of the year. It began with these words from “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson:
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?
This time it’s different.
This time, it’s the last article I will write for the bulletin as a Sisterhood Co-President. This time, I’d have to ask how the past 7 years could be measured. (And if you count the 4 years I served from 1999-2004, it would be 11 years.)
This time I’d have to ask how to measure five million seven hundred eighty-one thousand six hundred minutes as a Sisterhood Co-President.
This time, it’s a very difficult article to write.
I have had the good fortune to be entrusted, along with Shariann Ganz (and before that with Claire Guttsman), with the leadership of this extraordinary organization by the women who make the Sisterhood of Temple Israel a true sisterhood. Yes, they are strong, capable, creative, industrious, and dedicated but, more importantly, they are devoted to each other. We are the family we chose, and we are there for each other, no matter what. How lucky are we to be able to say that and know it’s absolutely true!
As I look back over these past years of Sisterhood, I am so proud of the wide variety of contributions our organization has been able to make to our synagogue, to our community and to our own personal growth. Our amazing fundraising activities have enabled us to make generous monetary donations to many worthy local and international charities, and to our own temple. We have been able to, without fail, stock our kitchen, contribute to aesthetic and technical facility upgrades for our sanctuary and social hall and support our Religious School students. We have been able to financially support our members as they traveled to represent our Sisterhood at national URJ and WRJ meetings and conventions. Our programs have created learning opportunities for us via a wide-variety of guest speakers, tours of cultural and religious institutions, book discussions, and were, sometimes, just plain fun. Our membership has grown and we are thrilled that we now have generations of women as members, with mothers and daughters as members and even grandmothers, daughters, and granddaughters. We also have a few fathers, through our special Friends of Sisterhood membership category. The women (and men) of our Sisterhood have been recognized by other Jewish organizations across Staten Island and by Women of Reform Judaism. We have managed, even through the most extraordinary and difficult times and in some very creative ways, to maintain all the traditions of our Sisterhood including those which support the holiday and festival customs and rituals of our Temple. We have collaborated with every single other Temple Israel Committee: Ritual, House, Avis, Parent, Adult Learning, Membership, Social Action, Caring Community, Aesthetic, and with our Clergy and support staff.
Through it all, our Sisterhood has been an absolute source of pride for me. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Co-President. To have worked closely with my friend Shariann for the past 7 years has been wonderful. What a gift to be able to work with a dedicated, knowledgeable, hard-working, concerned, efficient FRIEND! To say we complemented and balanced each other would be an understatement; two halves truly making one whole president. I am forever grateful. I am indebted to all those women who served as Sisterhood Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs with us during these years. Thank you for being women on whom we could always rely. To all the Past-Presidents from whom I learned: thank you for serving as role-models and for being my esteemed teachers. To those few extraordinary women and men who always stepped up to help, never hesitated to provide a listening ear, took the initiative, and could be counted on no-matter-what-or-when, please know that you are the best of the best and I appreciate and love you more than you will ever know…. you know who you are.
I look forward to seeing how our Sisterhood will transform and flourish in the years ahead under the new leadership model designed by our hard-working Nominating Committee. Shariann and I wish Anita, Judy and Pam all the best as they step into their new roles as Co-Presidents of the best Sisterhood in the world. I hope you know how lucky you truly are!
I want to publicly thank Alan Siegel and Jesse Siegel for their constant help and support. I am blessed to have an astonishing family at home and a remarkable family at Temple Israel.
With love and gratitude,
Jodi Siegel
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It’s hard to believe that 7 years have passed since I assumed the Co- Presidency of Sisterhood with Jodi. It has been my honor and pleasure to work with a group of wonderful, caring, dedicated women working to enhance our Temple community. I am proud of how we continued to be the backbone of our Temple, despite the obstacles we endured the past two years. All of you have my respect and admiration for your persistence and dedication.
Jodi, I want to let you know how I appreciated all you have done especially when I could not attend Sunday meetings because I was teaching. Thank you for your part in our journey that made our years of leading Sisterhood such a huge success. I am grateful and fortunate to have you as my friend and Co- President.
It is my hope that Sisterhood continues to be a powerful force in our Temple. You have much to accomplish and I am sure you will be successful. I am just a phone call away.
Congratulations to the new Presidium Anita, Judy and Pamela. You will be great. To the officers and directors I congratulate you for accepting the responsibilities you have accepted. Continue to make sisterhood shine on brightly.
All my love and appreciation,
Shariann Ganz
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Please join us as we welcome our
New Officers and Directors
at the
Sisterhood Installation Shabbat Service on Friday, June 17th at 7:30 p.m.
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Please continue to drop off your used sneaker and athletic shoe donations for recycling throughout the month of June. There is a box in the lobby of the Temple for your donations.
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We look forward to celebrating Sisterhood with all our members and friends at our End-of-Year Dinner on
June 14th.
Please send in your reservations immediately.
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Please help us celebrate Shabbat with our informal Summer Onegs.
We are looking for volunteers to provide home-baked or home-made desserts for our Friday night Erev Shabbat Services. Contact Sisterhood at sisterhoodti@aol.com if you would like to volunteer.
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THE BROTHERHOOD
Temple Israel – Reform Congregation of Staten Island
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Brotherhood continues to keep busy in the work we do for our Temple Family.
The Temple Calendar year is quickly coming to an end. This has been another successful year for our Brotherhood.
May brought us our Flower Sale. It was small but successful. Thank you to all who assisted with this event and all who purchased the flowers.
It has been my extreme honor to lead this affiliate organization for the last few years. Although our everyday world was turned upside down, we managed to keep the many projects we do for the Temple alive and successful.
The time has come for me to end my Presidency. I am a bit saddened by the fact that no one has stepped up to lead the Brotherhood forward. It needs to be done. So much would be lost without the contributions we make to the life of our Religious School children, as well as the congregation at large. It does not have to be one person. A small group working towards a common goal can get the job done. Please consider keeping our traditions alive.
We will be holding our Paid-up Breakfast on June 26th …details to follow.
Please remember to join us at our Installation Service in June and represent the Men of Brotherhood.
Always know that we are here to assist in any way. If you need something done, someone to talk to or whatever it might be, please reach out and we will make sure your needs are addressed. I leave you with this: stay strong, stay safe, be positive and do your best. Together we will come through this stronger.
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….
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Yours in Friendship and Brotherhood,
Jeff Ganz
President
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JUNE 2022
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MAZEL TOV TO:
JUDITH PESSAH & FAMILY as her grandson, Jasper Sawyer Childs, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah;
JUDGE PHILIP STRANIERE (RET) being honored by Hillel at the College of Staten Island at The Staten Island Museum;
KIM & DR. VICTOR AVIS on being awarded the L’Chaim Exceptional Leadership Award by the Chai Society of Wagner College;
DEBRA SMITH & SCOTT LEVINE on the wedding of their daughter Michele Sarah Levine to Matthew Christopher Branagh;
CLAIRE & DENNIS GUTTSMAN & family on the pandemic delayed wedding celebration of their son, Jory, to Annie Kim;
DR. RON AVIS inducted into the Curtis High School Hall of Fame;
Avodah award winners JOHN BURMAN, SHARIANN GANZ, SUSIE GOLDSTEIN AND RUSSELL KAMINSKY
GET WELL WISHES TO:
PAMELA ROGOZIN recovering from cataract surgeries;
LINDA & ALAN BRILL and family;
SUSAN MARKS recovering from hip surgery.
THINKING OF YOU:
SILVIA GORNSTEIN, JOE GAMERON, CLAIRE BLEIMAN,
AZI RICHMAN,
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June is always a busy time of year. And it is no different at Temple Israel.
This year during the month of June we are anticipating the observance of Shavuot. Erev Shavuot is Saturday evening June 4th with the in-person Service starting at 7:30 PM in the Sanctuary. And even though there is no student Confirmation this year Rabbi Howald has invited Congregants to read Torah and will have future Confirmands symbolically receive the Torah Tablets. In addition, Congregants have been asked to participate in the Service. An Oneg, kindly provided by Sisterhood will follow. The in-person morning Service for Shavuot on Sunday, June 5thstarts at 10:30AM and will include a Yizkor Service. There will be no Dairy Dish to Share Lunch.
There are two Bar Mitzvahs scheduled in June. We congratulate Jacob Chason and Ethan Schwartz and their families as each will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah in our Sanctuary on June 11th and June 18th respectively.
And, as is the custom at Temple Israel, Installations of Officers will take place during Friday night Erev Shabbat Services in June. The Temple Board Installation will happen on Friday night June 10th and the Sisterhood/Brotherhood Installation will happen on June 17th. These Services start at their usual times of 7:30 PM.
June 18th will be Student Cantor Shirel Richman’s last Service here at Temple Israel. We will therefore be saying farewell to our Student Cantor Shirel Richman and Lincoln Richman after two years of their being an important presence here. We thank them both for the musical talents they shared with us and for the spirit they brought to our Services and to the Congregation. We wish them only the best as they continue on their journey.
We thank again Jaimie Blackman and Dr. Ken Pickover for their musical expertise and support at Saturday morning Services when they are available. As noted before, Saturday morning Torah Study and Services have remained on the Zoom platform except for special events and occasions.
We note that congregant Jim Rohan has again agreed to share his musical talents with us at Erev Shabbat Services during the summer. Please look for more information about Summer Services next month. And we look forward to the return of Cantor Suzanne Bernstein as our part-time Cantor starting in September.
Finally, we are grateful for the Sisterhood Shabbaton that happened on May 21st. Special thanks to Sue Freedman and her committee for making it happen.
Stay safe. We look forward to seeing you in person at Temple.
Linda Brill and Jeffrey Ganz
Co-Chairpersons
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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:
Bryn Biren, Linda Brill, Jeffrey Chason, Deanna Feder, Barbara Fried, Shariann Ganz, Jeff Ganz, Larry Hanibal,
Judy Lee, Genevieve Lopez, Freda Lopez, Richard Marlieb, Sandy Mazzucco, Judy Pessah, Pamela Rogozin, Judy Scher, Jodi Siegel, Inez Singer, Rhonda Trontz-Allen,
Anita Zuckerberg and Bob Zuckerberg
Nina Rohan
Ushering Chair
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June 3, 2022
Ben Harris
Eleanor Ecker *
David Manger *
Jesse Silverman *
Shirley Wolinitz-Sacoff *
Samuel Elrich
Eugenia Gavarlynsh
Beatrice Gollubier *
Carol Lee Kaminsky
Phil Kantrowitz
Julia Davis Stewart
Doris Lipp *
Ida Gross *
And we remember from the Holocaust:
Max Fisch
Jetti Sommer
Józef Juroszek
Shmuel Derbarimdiker
Hersch Tuchman
June 10, 2022
Reg Freedman
Samuel Gamoran
Stanley Leigh Harrison
Jennifer Straniere
Murray Ganz
Mildred Gold *
Salvatore Menna
Jack Berger *
Sandra Harrison Stone
Samuel Tatt
Edward Hackett
Dorothy Salmirs Kaner
Siegfried Katz *
Ignacio Vinocur
Abraham Weinman
And we remember from the Holocaust:
Josef Kobatzki
Albert Kunze
Bluma Judkewicz
Rudolf Seewald
Fridl Hartman
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June 17, 2022
Gertrude Claire Gross *
Paul Kutell
Irving Chazanoff
Helen Otto
Victor Gross *
Harriet Leimsider
Esther Snyder
Marcia Klein
And we remember from the Holocaust:
Emil Hubscher
Jean Cara
Jakob Rosenblum
Arie Kruzinga
Malek Lonrajch
June 24, 2022
Bea Levine
Sanford Duskin
Victor Gross *
Evelyn Collins
Phyllis Prosaw
Louis Sugarman
Louis Dichter *
Aaron Kessler *
Ellen Pisetzner
Bruce Harper
David Marks
Steven Motelson *
And we remember from the Holocaust:
Johann Ciehowsk
Berta Henslewitsch
Fritz Bischoff
Emanuel Cardozo
Alice Schnock
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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 John at the Temple Office to update your membership information. |
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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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Erev Shabbat Services
Friday, June 3
Celebration of June
Birthdays & Anniversaries
FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE
Service at 7:00 p.m.
In Person and
via Live-Stream
(link to be sent via e-mail)
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Friday, June 10
Installation of Temple Israel Officers and Board of Trustees
Service at 7:30 p.m.
In Person and
via Live-Stream
(link to be sent via e-mail)
Oneg sponsored by the Chason Family in honor of Shabbat as Jason is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah
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Friday, June 17
Installation of
Sisterhood and Brotherhood Officers and Trustees
Service at 7:30 p.m.
In Person and
via Live-Stream
(link to be sent via e-mail)
Oneg sponsored by the Blit/Schwartz Family in honor of Shabbat as Ethan is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah
_________
Friday, June 24
Service at 7:30 p.m.
In Person and
via Live-Stream
(link to be sent via e-mail)
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SATURDAY MORNING
TORAH STUDY &
SHABBAT SERVICES
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SATURDAYS
JUNE 4 AND JUNE 25
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Torah Study and Shabbat Services
Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
Via ZOOM
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SATURDAYS
JUNE 11 AND JUNE 17
Torah Study
9:00 a.m.
in person & via Zoom
Shabbat Service
10:30 a.m.
in person only
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Our school year concluded last week with an awesome celebration of our learning. Following our Stepping up Certificate Ceremony, our children and their families enjoyed a magic show and an ice cream treat from Egger's!
Thank you to everyone who supported our school while dining in and out at Ho Brah and Jimmy Max last month. We raised just over $900 and had a lot of fun while doing so!
Over the summer we will be meeting and planning the school year, its special events and holding a workshop for our teachers to plan and collaborate. We will be looking for additional staff for our school for next year as we continue to grow. Should you know anyone who may be interested in teaching Jewish education and/or Hebrew, please let us know.
Finally, two of our students will be called to the Torah as Bar Mitzvahs this month. On Saturday, June 11th Jacob Chason will be Bar Mitzvahed and on Saturday, June 18th Ethan Schwartz will be Bar Mitzvahed. Both services will begin at 10:30am and I know these young men would enjoy having the support of their fellow schoolmates.
Thank you all for a wonderful year of school! Looking forward to an even better one next year!
Felicia Otto
Parents' Committee Chair
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P.S. Don't forget to have your student bring their Shabbat Service Attendance card to Tot Shabbat or the Family Service for their last star! |
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Become part of our community by participating in our community. Temple Israel is where community happens |
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The Membership Committee is hard at work planning a summer get together as well as a variety of events that will provide opportunities for us to enjoy each other’s company for the 2022-2023 year.
As we approach summer and hopefully are out and about and meeting other people, please keep Temple Israel in mind. Now is the time to talk to neighbors, friends and family about the benefits of joining our house of prayer, house of study and house of gathering. Here are some points which have been listed before but are worth keeping in mind when talking to prospective members.
What’s in it for me at Temple Israel?
● Social connection and a sense of belonging, which is so very important at this time
● Connection to our Rabbi and Cantor who help us add the dimensions of spirituality and holiness to our lives
● Shabbat and holiday services
● Saturday morning Torah study
● Hebrew School
● Choir and Junior Choir
● Creative activities and special programming for young families
● A wide variety of learning opportunities for adults
● Opportunities to engage in Tikkun Olam to help those in our community who are less fortunate than we are
● Engagement with fellow congregants through Brotherhood and Sisterhood
● Connections to our national affiliates- The Union for Reform Judaism and Women of Reform Judaism
● Opportunities to break bread together whether at a breakfast, luncheon or Shabbat Oneg.
Eat-Pray-Learn-Laugh-Sing and Schmooze with us! If you know of anyone who is interested in joining our Temple, please have them contact the Membership Committee through the Temple Office.
KEEP FOLLOWING THE UPDATES THROUGH
THE WEEKLY NEWS ‘N NOTES.
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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!
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Every Voice Every Vote Campaign- The RAC is once again initiating a campaign to encourage voting for the midterm election cycle. It is essential that we all vote in the upcoming June primary as well as in the general election in November. There is no such thing as an insignificant person or an insignificant vote and we all must encourage one another to get out and make our voices heard at the polls. In addition, there will be a postcarding campaign to write to disenfranchised voters in other states. The Torah teaches us to pursue justice which can only be achieved if everyone’s voice is heard. Watch for more information, including how you can get involved, in future E-Shalom issues as well as in the weekly News ‘n Notes.
Abortion Rights- The Supreme Court is expected to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling which has guaranteed safe abortions across this country. Join the RAC, WRJ and CCAR on May 26th at 6pm to learn more about what to expect from this decision and actions that we might be able to take.
REGISTER HERE. (When they ask for the name of your congregation, start to type Staten Island and Temple Israel will come up.)
The Path Forward: How We Can Protect & Advance Abortion Rights
Date: May 26, 2022
Time: 06:00 PM to 07:00 PM Eastern Time (60 minutes)
Pregnant Workers- Urge our Senators to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (S.1486/H.R.1065) which passed The House of Representatives on May 14th. This bill would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers so that they can safely work and earn needed paychecks during their pregnancies.
USE THIS LINK TO CONTACT SENATORS:
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Temple Israel Sisterhood Judaica Shop
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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.
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Some featured Judaica Shop items this month: |
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Contact Blanche Ricci at branchtr.ricci@gmail.com
if you are interested in any Judaica Shop items.
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Bryn Biren
Terry Baver
Avis Foundation Trustees
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The mission of the Dr. Ronald Avis Foundation for Temple Israel Reform Congregation is:
…. to provide financial support for young families seeking membership in Temple Israel, and to attract new young families by providing learning opportunities, family programming, and social justice initiatives.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF US! On June 27th we mark the 5th anniversary of the Dr. Ronald Avis Foundation at Temple Israel. Our very generous donor, Dr. Avis, is now 93 years old and is thrilled that our synagogue is reaping the benefits of his generosity. Not only have we been able to attract young families, we have included our entire Temple population (young and older) in a wide variety of activities for the past five years.
This month we are continuing to offer Yoga and Pilates classes to all of our congregants and to their friends and family. If you have not tried one of these classes during the past school year, please do during the summer. Just contact Bryn Biren at MsBunny7@aol.com for the link. The Yoga classes are on Monday and Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM and Pilates if offered on select Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM.
We are already planning activities for all of our children in the Fall. We are formulating plans to offer pottery classes, a theater course and Cultureats (learning about the cultures of the world and then preparing and eating the delicious edibles. This program was conceived by, and is executed by, our very own Alina Shteynberg), a children’s choir, plus many adult education classes via Zoom in the evening.
We are always interested in your suggestions for new family events, places to go, contacts to make so that we can create educational programs that are enjoyable for our children. We are interested in introducing more Jewish content to our programming. If you have suggestions or want to become more involved just contact us:
We are constantly looking for new, young families to join Temple Israel. You are our best spokespeople. Just let us know if you have potential new members and we will reach out to them.
Enjoy the weather, the flowers and Temple Israel. Come to services with your family so that we can join together in prayer!
Sincerely,
Bryn Biren and Terry Baver
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On May 22 we were off to the sea on a lovely excursion. Sponsored by the National Lighthouse Museum, we sailed around Staten Island viewing the Lighthouses surrounding our home island. Visit the Museum next to the Ferry Terminal to discover even more about the Lighthouses of our island and country.
Looking Ahead—Our Book Discussion on June 9, will highlight “RBG’s Brave and Brilliant Woman: 33 Jewish Woman to Inspire Everyone” by Nadine Epstein, and will be led by Judy Lee. The women highlighted are truly fascinating and wonderful contributors to our society.
We are planning future trips to the Holocaust Center at Wagner College, to the Lower East Side, and to view some Jewish sites in Philadelphia.
We ask all congregants to join the members of the Adult Learning Committee in thinking of exciting ideas for future programs. If you have a lead, let us know and we can research the information. In addition, we are considering adding special programming as part of Shabbat Services. Feel free to contact Cheryl or Judy if you have some thoughts for the Committee.
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Cheryl Levine and Judith Pessah
Adult Learning Committee Co-Chairpersons
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Please join the FUNdraising committee for A Taste of the Rothchild Legend. The new date is Saturday June 18, 2022. Doors open at 7:30, Starts at 8pm.
We will have a presentation by Larry Flaum about the Rothchild's, followed by a little wine tasting of the region accompanied by a light snack.
BYOB and come socialize with us at Temple Israel.
The cost will be $10 to attend. There will be raffles for prizes and a 50/50. If you cannot attend in person, please be part of the event by purchasing raffles. $15 a sleeve for prizes and $15 a sleeve for the 50/50.
Please make your check payable to Temple Israel and mail it to: Rhonda Trontz-Allen, 660 Bard Ave., Staten Island NY 10310. Please also include your cell # and e-mail for confirmation.
Please see the flyer below.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhonda Trontz-Allen, Karen Frey-Gamoran, Lissa Winchel
Co-Chairs
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CLICK ON FLYER TO PRINT OR DOWNLOAD |
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NEWLY ADDED:
BUY BUY BABY TARGET & CARVEL!!!!
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ORDER FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.
CLICK ON THE FORMS BELOW TO DOWNLOAD OR PRINT THEM.
JUST FILL THEM OUT AND GIVE THEM TO LARRY HANIBAL WITH PAYMENT.
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Click the order forms above to print or download. |
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ALL CLASSES TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM
YOGA
Thursday, June 2- 6:00 pm
Monday, June 6- 6:00 pm
Thursday, June 9- 6:00 pm
Monday,June 13- 6:00 pm
Thursday, June 16- 6:00 pm
Monday, June 20- 6:00 pm
Thursday, June 23- 6:00 pm
Monday, June 27- 6:00 pm
Instructor: Denise Nizzare
PILATES
Sunday,June 12- 6:00 pm
Sunday, June19- 6:00 pm
Sunday,June 26- 6:00 pm
Instructor: Katarina Smith
PLEASE CONTACT BRYN BIREN
FOR ZOOM LINK AND
INFORMATION.
Classes are for ADULTS ONLY.
Both chair and mat students are accommodated at each class.
For more information, contact
Terry Baver at 718-490-4428 or
Bryn Biren at 718-447-6225
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The cost of Yoga is:
Temple Israel members: $48 per month $6 per class
Non members : $10 per class
(Two people in a home pay only one fee)
Pilates classes are FREE.
Checks payable to:
Ronald Avis Temple Israel Foundation
Send monthly payment to:
Terry Baver. 30 Theresa Place. SI, NY. 10301
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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
- Confirmation Fund
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Estelle A. Gootenberg Memorial Fund (for Torah Repair/ Restoration)
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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
- Rabbi Michael D. Howald Fund for Social Action and Tikkun Olam
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...
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CLICK ON THIS ICON TO TAKE YOU THERE! |
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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 |
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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