1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Congregation
Rodeph Sholom
Bridgeport, Connecticut
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
NO. 24
Please join us for a sure-to-be wonderful afternoon
Congregation Rodeph Sholom presents
“Broadway, Family and Me”
Sunday, December 7th, 2014
@ 3:00 P.M.
featuring
Cantor Michelle Teplitz
and other guests:
Liz Ashkins, Melanie Cooperman,
Liz McConnon, Melissa Pavloff,
Michelle Pavloff and Faith Vogel
Stay tuned on www.rodephsholom.com/concert for more information.
Cantors concert bulletin.indd 1
10/27/14 1:55 PM
Rodeph Sholom
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
2385 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604-1499
203-334-0159 • Fax 203-334‑1411
www.rodephsholom.com
Published four times per year, seasonally.
Affiliated with the
Jewish Theological Seminary and
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Rabbi Rabbi Emeritus
Cantor
Executive Director
Ritual Director
Education Directors
President
Gabbai
Men’s Club President
Hazzan
Cantor Emeritus
Executive Director Emerita
Daniel D. Victor
Israel C. Stein, D.D.
Michelle Teplitz
Mark Block
Irwin Schildkraut
Beth Gold
Limor Shefer
Jeffrey Klein
Sy Wiesenfeld
Harold Goodman
Y’shaya Grama, z”l
David Leon z”l
Esther Kelman z”l
In Memoriam
“The Memory of the Righteous is a Blessing”
Members:
Shirley Prussin
Wife of Sam Prussin – July 19, 2014
Jeanette Bloom Friedman – August 12, 2014
Michael Kreiger
Husband of Shelley Kreiger – October 2, 2014
Selma Levitt – October 17, 2014
Mike Gelber
Husband of Nettie Gelber – November 1, 2014
Relatives of Members:
Sylvia Cotzin
Mother of Norma Passo – July 19, 2014
Melvyn Sloves – September 17, 2014
Brother of Wallace Sloves and uncle of Risa Sloves
Glenn Liebensohn
Brother of Joan Frankel – October 3, 2014
Philip Kuznitz
Father of Matthew Kuznitz – October 21, 2014
Sarah Popkin
Mother of Judy Brand – November 2, 2014
Daily Services
Sundays......................................9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Bufferd/Vogel Chapel
Weekdays...................................7:10 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Bufferd/Vogel Chapel
Friday Evening............................................ See Calendar
Bufferd/Vogel Chapel
Sabbath Morning............................................... 9:00 a.m.
Rabbi Harry Nelson Sanctuary
Sabbath Mincha................................................Sundown
Bufferd/Vogel Chapel
For any changes and up-to-date service times, visit
www.rodephsholom.com
Mission Statement
Congregation Rodeph Sholom is dedicated to two
guiding principles:
• To serve as a vibrant center for the practice and
teaching of Conservative Judaism.
• To create a spiritual and social atmosphere
in which congregants feel part of a larger
synagogue family.
2
Simchas
Mazal Tov to:
George and Donna Rubin on the birth of their grandson,
Eli Daniel Glass, son of Lisa Rubin and Eric Glass.
Marsha and Steve Brody on the birth of a
granddaughter, Sophia Talia Copperthite, daughter of
Sherry and Jeff Copperthite, who was born on October
24th.
Laura and Cary Friedman on the marriage of their
daughter, Alexandra, to Paul Wager. The happy
grandparents are Richard and Dorothy Blank.
Joseph Benjamin Edelstein, the son of Dr. Andrew
and Julia Edelstein, born on July 25, 2014. Proud
grandparents are Gayle and Sy Israel of Fairfield.
Charlotte Isabel Sinrod, the daughter of Laura Israel
Sinrod and Daniel Sinrod, born on November 4, 2014.
Proud grandparents are Gayle and Sy Israel of Fairfield.
Rodeph Sholom
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
From the Rabbi
Now that the high holidays are over, and the year is in full swing, adult education classes have
recommenced at Rodeph Sholom. I encourage you to check out our catalogue of classes for 20142015 “A Window into Torah,” but I want to tell you a little bit about one that I, myself, am particularly
excited about. Many months back, a good family friend who lives in California sent me a book called
Unscrolled. I am embarrassed to admit, but I put the book aside and did not give it much thought. A
month or so before Rosh Hashana, battling a particularly tough couple of days of writer’s block, I was
reading anything and everything I could get my hands on and I came across Unscrolled again. Now,
Unscrolled is a thick book, from the looks of it, not a quick read. But as I turned the pages, I realized
the book was made up of short vignettes, each about a different Torah portion. In fact, the book is
self-described as a “creative celebration” put together by 54 leading Jewish writers, artists, photographers, and screenwriters,
plus actors, an architect, a musician, and more, as they grapple with the first five books of the bible, giving new meaning to 54
Torah portions.
Unscrolled opened my eyes to two things: First, I gained a profound appreciation for how modern day professionals from all walks
of life, when they sit to grapple with our sacred texts, can see Torah in such fascinating and inspiring, albeit intrinsically different,
ways. It is truly astonishing how much of one’s self gets projected into the traditional text, when one spends time struggling with
it. Second, the book introduced me to a movement called Reboot. From their website, Reboot is a national network of young,
creative Jews founded on the belief that every generation must grapple with the questions of identity, community, and meaning
on its own terms. Reboot created over 100 projects, including the National Day of Unplugging, the international architecture
contest Sukkah City; and the Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation, a record label and archive dedicated to tracking down
lost Jewish music and the musicians who created it.
As a rabbi, I am always talking about religion. More and more, I hear (especially from young folks) that people are looking for
Judaism that fits who they are and speaks to them. On that vein, I invite you to join me for a series of discussions on the book
Unscrolled and to look at Torah from this creative kaleidoscope of perspectives as we compare that to how the sages have
interpreted it over the centuries. Our religion is vastly rich and our tradition is profoundly relevant to our lives today. Sometimes it
takes a deeper look at the source for us to fully grasp the wealth before us. This parsha based class is part one of two monthly
classes on torah commentaries. We will be discussing the chapters of this book the second Wednesday of each month beginning
November 12th, 7:15 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Each class is its own independent unit, so please feel free to come for one or come for all.
Wishing you an inspired and meaningful year.
B’Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Victor
Milestone Anniversaries
We congratulate the following couples who will be
celebrating anniversaries of 25 years or more in December.
December
Barbara & Len Srebnick
Joy & Charles Whitman
Monica & Jonathan Kantrowitz
Jacqueline & Melvin Garelick
Adele & Robert Josovitz
Vivian & Plinio Perez
60 years
54 years
44 years
44 years
43 years
32 years
MAZAL TOV TO ALL THESE COUPLES
FROM ALL OF US AT RODEPH SHOLOM.
3
Rodeph Sholom
President’s Message
As announced on Kol Nidre, Rodeph Sholom is now
engaged in merger discussions with Beth El of Fairfield.
This is an important step toward determining the future
of the Conservative movement in the greater Bridgeport/
Fairfield area. We entered these discussions after
careful consideration by the Executive Committee, Past
Presidents of the synagogue and the Board of Trustees.
After thoughtful review of a number of different options for
moving ahead, all three groups agreed that beginning a
merger process was the best path forward. Key reasons
included:
• The opportunity to create a synagogue of 550 or
more family members, providing scale to do things
neither synagogue is able to do on its own in
spiritual life, programming and education.
• The ability to have a full team of professional staff,
something we enjoyed for years but can no longer
afford on our own.
• Improve our financial situation by reducing
annual operating expenses through the move
to one combined synagogue from two separate
entities. The sale of our land and building will
create significant resources to establish a large
capital account for future financial viability of the
Conservative community.
Putting this all together, we can
take a significant step forward
toward creating a vibrant and
sustainable synagogue, critically
important at a time when the
local and national Jewish
community are having difficulties
with increasingly lower affiliation
rates. We have the opportunity to
create a terrific situation for both
ourselves and future generations
with a successful merger effort.
We know that all of this involves major change for all of us.
Our goal is to work to provide transparency in this effort.
And, at the end of the process, if there is a decision to
move forward by the respective Boards of each synagogue,
all congregants will have the opportunity to have the final
say before there is an agreement to create one combined
synagogue.
We appreciate your support and input along the way as we
embark on this exciting process to determine the future for
our community.
B’shalom,
Jeff Klein
Social Action
Connecticut Food Bank Back Pack – The first
Wednesday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,
74 Linwood Avenue, Fairfield. Fill backpacks with foods
that are sent home to kids in 18 school districts.
box in Friend Hall.
St. John’s Soup Kitchen – We each bring one fresh
veggie to add to our big fresh salad.
1. Call a congregant once
a day to check on them
since they live alone.
United Congregation Church (UCC) – 2nd Wednesday
of each month – State Street and Park Avenue,
Bridgeport from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. prior to the time
they open to the needy. Work in the food pantry stacking
can goods.
Plastic Bags – For the United Congregation Church
(UCC) – people use them after coming to the food pantry.
Put the bags in the lady’s skirt in Friend Hall.
Shiva Baskets – When a Rodeph Sholom member is
sitting shiva locally for a spouse, parent, sibling or child,
they receive a tray of goodies as our way of expressing
sympathy from the congregation. If you receive a basket,
your donation to the shiva fund will be used for future
trays.
Eye glasses and hearing aids – Place in the Lions Club
4
Neighbor to Neighbor
– Help our own Rodeph
Sholom members in need.
2. Drive a congregant to an
appointment because
they are no longer driving.
3. Sign up to help deliver a challah once a month to a
member who doesn’t get out.
4. Thanks to those who drove our five Embassy Tower
ladies all summer.
Ellen Bedford @ ellenbedford@hotmail.com
Adrienne Fishman @ adrfishman@gmail.com
Shelly Lawrence @ Shelly123@optonline.net
Marion Richer @ marricher@aol.com
Barbara Srebnick @ barbsreb1@earthlink.net
David Stone @ dave2143@aol.com
Helen Wasserman @ hbewja@earthlink.net
Rodeph Sholom
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
From the Executive Director
Be Obliged
For us, “obligation” can be a funny thing. We are defenders
of personal autonomy which encourages us to seek out
meaning in individual mitzvoth and everyday life, by its very
nature leaving much to choice and often little to obligation.
So what, if anything, are we obligated to do? Are we
obligated to give tzedakah and observe Shabbat? Must we
keep to some form of kashrut? Are we required to make
Jewish education available to our children? As we continue
the process of synagogue merger discussions with Beth
El is our obligation to those who came to Rodeph Sholom
before us more important than those whose future we are
seeking to make more secure?
and influence our destiny. Destiny
in the life of a congregation, as in
the life of an individual, signifies
a deliberate and conscious
existence—one where people
have chosen out of their own free
will. It is our common destiny and
we must join together and work
hard to transform.
Over the course of these past nine months as possible
mergers have been explored at great length I have seen the
fatigue of our volunteers and sometimes staff, and have
heard the deep sighs of those who know the results will be
Do we have an obligation to create a Conservative
months in the making—but ones that will last for years to
synagogue that strives to service through its programs,
come. The message is clear—we are working tirelessly to
activities and religious services the broadest Conservative
create a synagogue that meets our current needs, reflects
Jewish population in the area? If we are part of the Jewish
our passion for the future and allows us the opportunity
people, greater as a group than the individual self, then
to preserve our heritage. While at times these may be
we unequivocally have an obligation to the Conservative
competing forces we have an obligation,
Jewish community to create an entity that
both morally and spiritually to do the best
respects our congregational heritage, as
“Being a
we can.
well as Beth El’s, but that also is visionary.
congregational
This should be a synagogue teeming with
How do we translate our obligation to our
the sounds of children, the study of text
family means
current spiritual home here on the corner of
and torah, and a social hub for religious
Park and Capitol Avenues:
that we actively
activity and fellowship servicing both our
congregational communities to create one
•Give money. It should come as no
participate in the
new thriving Jewish community.
surprise that this is the first thing I ask
fate and the destiny of you. In fact, many of you know I have
As the merger process unfolds, being a
of our synagogue.” been doing it for years weekly, sometimes
part of our Rodeph Sholom family does
daily. Your financial support is crucial
not mean blind support or holding back
to the operations of our synagogue. We
criticism or congratulations. On the contrary, it requires
have
a
storied
legacy of funds contributed by
your engagement in the process. It means your voice
members
whose
binding love for Rodeph Sholom
should be heard—and we have heard from many of
has
been
unwavering.
We are all partners in this
you, not just at the congregational meeting in October,
great
venture
we
know
of as Rodeph Sholom.
but by email and phone as well. It means up-to-date
We
continue
to
operate
as a stand-alone fully
and accurate information should and will be provided
functioning
synagogue—and
with that come bills to
to you. It also means each of us has an obligation to
pay.
We
have
a
moral
obligation
to make good on
look beyond ourselves and family. It requires that we be
our
pledges
of
support,
and
most
do, and I thank
active participants in our collective future. Being a caring
you.
Can
we
do
better?
I
believe
we
can. Whether
congregational family has meant that rides are given to
through
your
L’Dor
V’Dor
pledge,
an
increase in
Shabbat services for those unable to drive. Shiva baskets
your
High
Holiday
appeal
pledge,
the
establishment
are brought to the house of mourning when one of our
of
a
legacy
gift,
or
any
of
the
various
scholarship
congregants or their family member passes away. It means
or endowed funds in the synagogues portfolio. We
workers at the soup kitchen serve hot meals. It means
are partners and have raised significant sums in
blood is given when the Red Cross calls out for us to hold
past years, dollars that help ease the burden on our
a drive as they will on Christmas Eve day. And, yes, it
already tight budget. We must continue to do so for
even means dropping some of our preconceived notions
our own well being.
about our sister congregation in order to build a stronger
more vibrant and vital community through a merger of
• Share knowledge. When you call or write, tweet
equals, one where everyone is valued in the same way.
or text you are connecting. And when you connect
It also means that we may have to alter some of our own
we can work together on common goals. It can be
expectations and wants to create something better than
a social action project or a synagogue-wide event,
what we have today. Being a congregational family means
like the upcoming Cantor’s Concert. The passion
that we actively participate in the fate and the destiny of
appeal cards Rabbi Victor made available over the
our synagogue.
course of the High Holidays gives us a good idea of
While it may be beyond us as individuals to change or
what your interests are, which allows us to focus our
control our collective fate, we can and are obligated to alter
time and energy on doing that which benefits the
5
Rodeph Sholom
greatest number of congregants.
• Create a warm environment. All who come
through our doors are welcome. When you see
someone you don’t know introduce yourself and ask
them how they are doing. We maintain a safe and
caring community because we embrace each other.
We sit shiva together and break bread together. We
pray together and play together. Our surroundings
don’t dictate who we are, rather they provide us
with an address, but we are defined by our actions
and care for one another.
While our lives outside of the synagogue may be incredibly
hectic and our schedules full I encourage you to make
some time to daven at daily minyan or on Shabbat, enjoy
the variety of programs offered through the synagogue’s
affiliated organizations, and reaffirm your commitment to
the success of Rodeph Sholom. Our obligation to ourselves
is self limiting; our obligation to our children and their
children should be greater. We must ensure our destiny
remains in focus and our plans for the future do not cloud
the present. If we do that then I have no reason to doubt
the beacon for Conservative Judaism in Eastern Fairfield
County will continue to be bright.
B’shalom,
Mark Block
Torah Fund
WOMENS LEAGUE:
WOMEN ENSURING CONSERVATIVE/MASORTI JEWISH EDUCATION
Although the theme of this year’s Torah Fund Campaign is again Mishpachah-Family, the
pin which depicts a Tree of Life is different. Conservative/ Masorti Judaism recognizes
the diverse character of our families and encourages our communities to be pluralistic,
welcoming and open hearted.
The Jewish family, in all its configurations, is a solid system of roots that supports our
Tree of Life. The community lends its strength to each family and in turn, draws renewed
energy, wisdom, and direction from its cherished members. These Jewish family bonds
have an immeasurable impact when cultivated in each new generation.
By supporting the Torah Fund Campaign, you are helping to strengthen Conservative/Masorti Judaism throughout the
world and enhancing the Jewish community by recognizing and appreciating our diverse families.
The following women have become Benefactors this year:
Deborah Baer
Marilyn Banach
Carol Battin
Gertrude Broder
Tamara Bush
Andrea Feinberg
Toby Folman
Doris Glunts
Susan Kaplan
Edith Katzen
Nina Pearlin
Lisa Rappoport
Marilyn Rappoport
Nina Ravden
Marion Richer
Diane Safran
Karen Sanger
Donna Smith
Susan Spivack
Barbara Srebnick
Lisa Stein
Roslyn Stein
Svetlana Weisman
Judy Weiss
Joy Whitman
Judy Zeisler
By the time you read this bulletin, we will be entering the dark days of winter with Thanksgiving followed by Chanukah,
both holidays when families come together to celebrate. As you count your blessings and glow with the lights of
Chanukah, consider giving your support to Torah Fund.
You can become a Benefactor and receive this beautiful Tree of Life pin by contacting Lisa Rappoport at 203-372-8203 or
rappo@optonline.net or Roz Stein at 203-336-1360 or rozstein@optonline.net.
We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Chanukah!
Lisa Rappoport & Roz Stein Debbie Baer & Selda Dworkin
Torah Fund Chairpersons
Special Gifts Chairpersons
Torah Fund Cards are available for those special occasions for $4.00 each. Contact Sue Forman at 203-371-7535, Selda
Dworkin at 203-374-6847 or seldwork@aol.com or Debbie Baer at 203-371-4915 or dpbtrav@aol.com.
6
Rodeph Sholom
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
GESHER: A Bridge to Tomorrow
Gesher L’Talmud Torah opened its doors on Sunday,
September 7, 2014 with much joy and celebration!
Our main theme this year is “Amcha,” or Jewish
Peoplehood. We are exploring this concept through a
wide variety of lenses, such as history, bible, customs and
traditions. We are excited about teaching our students
through experiential and project-based learning. Just last
week, during our Rosh Hashanah lesson, the students
were involved in baking honey cakes, drawing New Years
cards and creating honey barrel pots.
Our young scholars
are also studying the
Jewish community
through the lens of
immigration. They
are learning about
their cultural roots by
symbolically taking the
journeys their ancestors
did to get to America. They are also discovering the
important symbols of Judaism by discussing what their
ancestors brought with them and how this all relates to
who we are today. (Lisa Nuland, who has brought the
latest technology to our school, is also bringing the gift of
Jewish history to Gesher L’Talmud Torah.)
Our Hebrew curriculum
is twofold. First, our
students are learning
to recognize Hebrew
letters, learning Hebrew
decoding techniques
and learning the
meaning of prayers. Our
goal is to have students
reading Hebrew fluently and proficiently. Secondly, we
are integrating “Hebrew Through Movement,” which
is a language acquisition strategy in which students
learn Hebrew by listening and responding to Hebrew
instructions. Our goal is to introduce Hebrew as a modern,
spoken language.
Another integral part of our curriculum is music and art.
Rabbi Victor uses drums to teach students spirituality in
prayer. The Rabbi provided the materials to construct the
drums and the students decorated them. We would like to
thank Rabbi Victor, Willie Cuevas and Ellen Bedford for all
their hard work in helping us with the drum construction.
Each student had
the opportunity
to blow the
shofar. As a result
of this handson experience,
several students
are now interested
in blowing the
shofar for the high
holidays.
Robin Shannon Berenson uses the medium of art to
engage our children. The first project was to create paper
mache fruit to decorate the sukkah. Using balloons,
boys and girls created pumpkins, gourds and melons.
They made leaves and used pipe cleaners wrapped
around paint dowels to create coils which resemble
vines. The students participated in the mitzvah of hiddur
(beautification) of the sukkah.
Assisting our staff this
year is Israeli emissary
Lidor Osmo. Lidor is
teaching our yeladim
(children) about Israeli
culture. Ellen Bedford is
introducing our 7th and
8th graders to social
action (tikuum olam)
In addition, we are delighted to have many Madrichim
(teens) return to aid in the classroom and have fun with
the Gesher learners.
As you can see, we are
fully engaged, thriving
and growing by leaps
and bounds at Gesher
L’Talmud Torah. We are
committed to sharing
our passion for Judaism
and our love of learning
with our students.
B’shalom,
Beth Gold
Limor Shefer
Co-Director
Co-Director
Irwin Schildkraut
teaches the children
about different types
of Jewish music. In a
recent lesson, Irwin
brought a shofar to
teach about the history,
sounds and techniques
of blowing the shofar.
7
Rodeph Sholom
How to Light the Chanukah Menorah:
These instructions are intended for when
you are facing the front of the Chanukiah.
The candles must burn for 30 minutes after
nightfall. On the first night, Tuesday,
December 16th, place the Shamash in its
holder and then place the first candle in
the right-most position. Light the Shamash,
recite all three blessings (below), then use
the Shamash to light the first candle.
1.
Light this way
1st
Night
2nd
Night
'o¨kIg¨v Q¤kn
«¤ Ubh«ek¡
¥ t wv v¨Tt© QUr¨C
/v¨Fbªj£ k¤J r¥b eh¦ks©
§vk§ Ub«¨Um¦ u§ 'uh¨,um§ n¦ C§ Ub«J
¨ S¦
§e r¤Jt£
Baruch ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech ha-olam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel Chanukah.
'o¨kkIg¨
Ig¨v
v Q¤
Q¤kkn
n
Ubh«ek¡
ek¡
wv v¨
v¨T
Ttt©© QUr¨
QUr¨CC
'o¨
««¤¤ Ubh«
¥¥ tt wv
/v¨Fbªj£/v¤Zk¤
kvs©
§v¨vk§oh¦
Ub«n¨U¨Hm¦C©u§ Ubh«
'uh¨,,
um§ tn¦©kC§ oh¦
Ub«J
¨X¦bS¦
§ev¨Gr¤¨J
v©Ji©nr¥§ZbC©eh¦
o¥
¥ Ic£
gJ
¤t£
Blessed are you, Hashem our God, Ruler of the universe, Who makes us holy
by God’s commandments, and has commanded us to light Chanukah candles.
'o¨
««¤¤ Ubh«
¥¥ tt wv
'o¨kkIg¨
Ig¨v
v Q¤
Q¤kkn
n
Ubh«ek¡
ek¡
wv v¨
v¨T
Ttt©© QUr¨
QUr¨CC
'o¨kZIg¨
vi©nQ¤
kn
«¤ Ubh«
ek¡
¥v¦ ut§ Ub«wvn¨ §Hv¨
Tt© ¨hjQUr¨
¡v¨g¤ J
¤¤C
/v¤Zv© i©n§ZC© o¥v/v¤
v¨ v©oh¦
n§¨ZH©kC© Ub«
Ubh«¨g,¥h¦DIc£
t©k oh¦e¦Xu§¦b Ub«v¨
G
J
/v¨Fbªj£ k¤J r¥b eh¦ks©
§vk§ Ub«¨Um¦ u§ 'uh¨,um§ n¦ C§ Ub«J
¨ S¦
§e r¤Jt£
Baruch ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech ha-olam,
'o¨kIg¨v haheim
Q¤kn
«¤ Ubh«
ek¡
¥ t wvha-zeh.
v¨Tt© QUr¨C
She-asa nissim la’avoteinu, bayamim
baz’man
Blessed are you, Hashem our God,
of§Zk
'o¨
kIg¨
n
«¤Ub«universe,
Ubh«
t© ¨hQUr¨
/v¤
ZRuler
v© vi©nQ¤
©the
¨gh¦ek¡
D¥v¦ tu§ Ub«wvn¨ §Hv¨
e¦ T
u§ Ub«
j¡v¤ J
¤C
Who did miracles for our ancestors in olden days at this season.
/v¤Zv© i©n§ZC© o¥vv¨ oh¦n¨HC© Ubh«,¥ Ic£t©k oh¦X¦b v¨G¨gJ
¤
2.
3.
Fill this way
'o¨kIg¨v Q¤kn
«¤ Ubh«ek¡
¥ t wv v¨Tt© QUr¨C
/v¤Zv© i©n§Z©k Ub«¨gh¦Dv¦ u§ Ub«n¨ §He¦ u§ Ub«¨hj¡v¤ J
¤
Baruch ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech ha-olam,
Shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higiyanu laz’man ha-zeh.
3rd
Night
4th
Night
5th
Night
6th
Night
Blessed are you, Hashem our God, Ruler of the universe,
Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this joyous season.
On the second night, place the Shamash in its holder. Place a candle in the
right-most position, and then add the candle for the second night in the secondto-right-most position. Light the Shamash. Recite the first two blessings only (no
shehecheyanu). Use the Shamash to light the NEWEST (ie., left-most) candle
first, and work your way right.
Each successive night, continue in this way, adding candles in from right to
left, reciting the first two blessings, and lighting them from left to right. Many
people sing Chanukah songs at this point, such as Haneirot Hallalu (We Light
These Lights) and Ma’oz Tzur (Rock of Ages).
8
7th
Night
8th
Night
Rodeph Sholom
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Men’s Club
On Sunday, November 9th, the Men’s Club will be honoring this year’s Keeper of the Flame recipient, Mark Yerushalmi.
The event will be held in Manchester and we all wish Mark a Yasher koach for his service to the Men’s Club and to
Rodeph Sholom. The event is sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs and will be attended by member
shuls from the Connecticut Valley Region all honoring one of their own.
I want to congratulate team Smoke on the Weber who came in second in scoring for their chili at the Southern New
England Kosher BBQ Competition in September. Looking forward to the next cook off where we can display our
culinary talents by placing in the chicken, rib and brisket categories.
The Men’s Club paid up dinner which we had hoped to have before the holidays will be rescheduled to sometime in
the spring.
We are planning to host a program on Men’s Health Issues in January. Information on the program will be forthcoming
later in the year.
Next year we are planning to hold our annual Passover wine tasting in early March on a Saturday night. It will be a
great social event and we will send out the details as the date approaches.
B’Shalom,
Harold Goodman
President
The Men’s Club 2014 Political Forum brought
Congressman Jim Himes (top left) and State
Representative Tony Hwang (top right) to Rodeph
Sholom, before the November election.
Knitting Class
Come to learn to knit a headband for a student in a
Bridgeport elementary
school on Sunday, January
11th (snow date is Sunday,
January 18th) at 10:00 a.m.
We have the yarn, needles
and an easy pattern (just
knitting stitches.)
Daily Minyan goers celebrate the Sukkot
Holiday in the chapel with lulav and prayer in
October following the High Holidays.
9
Rodeph Sholom
We viewed the film The Counterfeiters, winner of an Academy Award for best foreign language film recently. It is based
on the true story of Salomon Sorowitsch, the “King of the Counterfeiters.” This was a joint program with Fairfield
Hadassah. Stop by the Rodeph Sholom kitchen and see the new paint job, courtesy of The Women of Rodeph
Sholom. The peeling paint is gone, more outlets have been added, and the kitchen has the nice glow of a newly
painted space.
If you were a Torah Fund benefactor last season, check your latest pin for any discoloration. We have been advised
that there was a manufacturing defect and pins may be darkening. Please contact Lisa Rappoport at rappo@optonline.
net or Roz Stein at roslynstein@optonline.net regarding returning the pins for a replacement.
The Entertainment Books are now available in the office at $25.00 each. They make great holiday gifts, offering
discounts for hotels, restaurants, movies, air fares, rental cars, etc. If you need any books outside Fairfield County,
contact Ellen Bedford about a special-order, 203-374-7330, or ellenbedford@hotmail.com (put “RS Entertainment
Book” in the subject line).
A new craft project is sweeping the Jewish world: Torah Stitch by Stitch. This is a kit containing fabric to cross stitch
four verses of the Torah. The fabrics are ultimately returned to the not-for-profit provider, where they will be connected,
so that the entire Torah will be done in cross stitch. The finished product will then travel around the world. Each kit
costs $18.00, and you can learn more about this at torahstitchbystitch.com. Some of our women are doing this
already. If you are interested, call or email Adrienne, and we can get a group going where we can embroider together
(adrfishman@gmail.com; 203-367-9746).
This is my last season as the head of The Women of Rodeph Sholom. My husband and I are moving to Massachusetts
so we can watch our grand-children grow up and be more a part of their lives. If anyone wants to step up into a
leadership role, please let me know (see contact info above). The future of women’s programming at Rodeph Sholom
depends on it.
B’shalom,
Adrienne Fishman
Rodeph Sholom led a four-synagogue “Tie & Shake” your lulav experience at Silverman’s Farm
for the holiday of Sukkot with a grant provided by the Federation of Eastern Fairfield County.
10
Rodeph Sholom
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
CONTRIBUTIONS, REMEMBRANCES
& CONGRATULATIONS
RABBI VICTOR’S DISCRETIONARY
FUND
Donation from:
Anita Vogel Sklarsky Fund
Pearl Levy
Speedy Recovery to:
Beth Pinkussohn
Sam Prussin & Family
Michael Kreiger
Marlene & Mark Polansky
In Honor of:
Susan Spivack
Carol & Michael Weinshel
Dennis Feinberg’s 50th Bar Mitzvah
Anniversary
Andrea Feinberg
Adrienne Fishman
Merrill & Andy Silver
In Memory of:
Alice Amron
Beth Gold
Sandra Small
Jeanette Bloom Friedman
Alice Fitelson
Sylvia Cotzin
Shirley Prussin
Fitelson Family
Susan Spivack
Leonard & Barbara Srebnick
Marilyn & Ron Olmsted
Andrew & Mary Claflin
Sam Prussin & Family
Herman Rubin
Eidie Applebaum
RABBI STEIN’S DISCRETIONARY
FUND
Donation from:
Anita Vogel Sklarsky Fund
George & Donna Rubin
In Honor of:
Phyllis Feinberg’s 90th Birthday
Andrea & Dennis Feinberg
In Memory of:
Harry Bernstein
Anna Bernstein
Lou Marcus
Rose Marcus
Art & Adrienne Bernstein
Ethel Rubin
Eidie Applebaum
Sandy Arthur
Irving Fleischer
Melissa Rainville
Janis Bufferd
Irving Fleischer
Lorriane Waynik
Lisa Weiss & Family
MORT BERNSTEIN SCHOLARSHIP
FUND
In Memory of:
Pauline Brown
Shirley Prussin
Sheila Lieff
MILTON H. BRAUNER/MINNIE
SHIRWINDT FUND
In Memory of:
Floyd Goulooze
Louis Lipack
Adele Brauner
Speedy Recovery to:
Joyce Galinsky
Adele Brauner
BUFFERD FAMILY FUND
In Memory of:
Harold Bufferd
Janis Bufferd & Family
GRAMA RESOURCE CENTER
In Honor of:
Mark Yerushalmi Receiving
Keeper of the Flame
Samuel & Susan Cohn
PRAYER BOOK FUND
In Honor of:
Robert H. & Carol Gardner Epstein’s
40th Wedding Anniversary
Sandy & Dana Epstein
In Memory of:
Annette P. Gerb
James Gerb & Donna Smith
Irving Kronisch
Debbie & Bernie Baer
Sondra Berkman
SOCIAL ACTION FUND
In Honor of:
Debbie & Bernie Baer’s Anniversary
Richard & Dorothy Blank
In Memory of:
Gerald Krawitz
Shirley Prussin
Eva Schaal
Ruth Cohen
SYNAGOGUE FUND
Donation from:
Rabbi Robin Damsky
Jay Chadwick
Andrew Schopick
In Honor of:
Leslie Byelas
Dennis B. Poster
Lisa Rappoport
Stanley Richer
Ray & Helen Lobovits’
Granddaughter’s Engagement
Dorothy Hurwitz
Joan & Stanley Carp’s
50th Wedding Anniversary
Debbie & Michael Weisman
Irving Lieff’s Birthday
Carol & Robert Blackman
Ben Weisman’s 65th Birthday
Marsha & Joseph Goldman
Shelley Kreiger
Jacqui & Mel Garelick
Joshua Goldman’s Marriage
Jamie & Karen Sanger
Lisa Rappoport
Paula & Israel Hersh
Marge Rubenstein’s 90th Birthday
Rosalind Golden
Sally Burstein
Natalie Schwartz
Mila Nishball
Fran Walowitz
Cynthia Goldstein
Nora Mayerson
In Memory of:
Elizabeth Garelick
Hank & Marilyn Banach
Ellen & Larry Dinkes
Joan Frankel
Elliot Glunts
Green & Gross
Whelan, Roller & DePietro
Lawrence Sax
Barbara & Leonard Srebnick
Irving Kornisch
Gail & Jack Weintraub
Mila Nishball
Lawrence Sax
Deborah Weiss
Mila Nishball
Miriam Madwed
Joy & Charles Whitman
Miriam Kunofsky
Barbara & Bernie Berkowitz
11
Rodeph Sholom
Michael Kreiger
Mark & Ann Block
Joan Frankel
Eric Gross
Diane & Irv Hornstein
Lisa & Scott Waller
Debbie & Michael Weisman
Judy & Bob Zeisler
Morris Lebowitz
Joy & Charles Whitman
Glenn Liebensohn
Mark & Ann Block
Claire & Stan Block
Bill & Lisa Rappoport
Annette Markowitz
Mark & Ann Block
Hank & Marilyn Banach
Amy Birnbach
Janice Katz
Karen & Jamie Sanger
Bradd & Syrene Robbins
Martin Marks
Betty & Alan Feldman
Bennie Zelkind
Estelle Glass
Hank Mayer
Judy Sonick
Shirley Prussin
Sondra Berkman
Janis Bufferd & Family
Irving Fleischer
Mae & Allan Margolis
Joanie & Stanley Carp
Phyllis Esner Schwartz
Carole & Don Sherman
Eva Schaal
Mila, Debbie & Vikki
Milton & Betty Rosenbloom
Selma Sheketoff
Joan & Stanley Carp
Dorothy Hurwitz
Debbie & Michael Weisman
WEINSHEL FAMILY FUND
In Honor of:
Lisa Rappoport’s Shem Tov Award
Carol & Michael Weinshel
In Memory of:
Sylvia Cotzin
Michael Kreiger
Irving Kronisch
Glenn Liebensohn
Annette Markowitz
Shirley Prussin
Carol & Michael Weinshel
YAHRZEITS
In Memory of:
Suzy Abboudi
Gracey Oksenberg
12
Sandy Adler
Joan Carp
Rebecca August
Stephen August
Oded Aloni
Gabriella Dober
Lena Cohen
Betty Rosenbloom
Emanuel Dober
Phyllis Dober
Nellie Alpert
Faith Heimer
Sally Winnick Altman
Lois Schoenhorn
Ed Averbach
Renee Beitman
Isidor Bauchner
Lillian Bauchner
Eugene Bauchner
Caroline Bauman
Janet Levi
Bernard Bauman
Ruth Mayer
Joan Beitman
Belinda Kaufman
P. Marion Beitman
Fredric Beitman
Hanchen Bergheimer
Ellie & Fred Rosen
Sumner Bernstein
Helen Wasserman
Sara Molly Berry
Roberta Berry
Lena Elkin Bloomberg
Nancy Wettenstein
Estelle Brown
Carole Sherman
Max Bufferd
Ilene Locker & Family
Reuben Burstein
Sally Burstein
Sylvia Carp
Esther Carp
Sarah Carp
Sidney Carp
Stanley Carp
Carl Cohn
Cilla Cohn
Rosa Fischer
Evelyn Wiesner
Mark Howard Comen
David & Roslyn Comen
Sophia Dankevich
Ketrina Liderman
David David
Ariel David
Carol Davis
Selma Cohen
Frances Dober
Phyllis Dober
Emanuel Dober
Frances Dober
Marcy Gollinger
Louis Fagan
Lois Fagan
George E. Farrell
Susan Farrell
Ronald Farrell
Eleanor Feinberg
Leonard & Phllis Feinberg
Rita Sheiman
Ronald Sheiman
Rose Feinberg
Jack Feinberg
Ronald Sheiman
Israel Feldman
Albert Goodman
Marcia Roberts Fields
Larry Roberts
Celia Fleischer
Irving Fleischer
Charles Freedman
Jean Freedman
Florence Freedman
Roslyn Comen
Samuel Gallup
Sheila Sloves
Anna Mazor Gelb
Eidie Applebaum
Harriett Gellis
Dr. Leonard Rome
Rita Gershman
Stanley Gershman
David Glantz
Marie Glantz
Sylvia Nahoum
Hyman Glazer
Irving Glazer
Anna Gold
Jacob Gold
Blanche Koppelman
Brana Goldman
Isaak Goldman
Mandel Gollinger
Neil Gollinger
Isadore Greenstein
Karen Greenstein
Irving Julian Herman
Annette Whitman-Herman
Barney Hillman
Belle Hillman
Ralph Hillman
Herman Hillman
Evelyn Shapiro
Gloria Hochberg
Marion Richer
Israel Isanberg
Dolores Ward
Selma Jonas
Samuel Stern
Lillian Katz
Gary Katz
Rodeph Sholom
Bella Katzen
Edith Katzen
Paul Kaufman
David Kaufman
Harold Kay
Andrea Feinberg
Max Kiner
William Kiner
Anne Roberts Kish
Larry Roberts
Hyman Krasnow
Faith Heimer
Esther Kraut
Minnie Jacobson
Adam Marc Kreiger
Shelley & Michael Kreiger
Louis Ladinsky
Selma Ballon Ladinsky
Gertrude Broder
Ida Lebowitz
Joy Whitman
Edward Liebensohn
Joan Frankel
Ikhil Liderman
Mikhail Liderman
Emil Erwin Lion
Ellie & Fred Rosen
Herbert Lobe
Irene Lobe
Betty Fox
Solomon Lobe
Shari Lobe
Sadie B. London
Frances Spivack
Sidney Madwed
Miriam Madwed
Anna Mandel
Gabriella Dober
Anna Mandel
Henry Mandel
Catherine Mandel
Edith Winick
Charles Margolin
Lisa Rappoport
Henry Mendelson
Marcia Handelman
Felix Mininberg
Frieda Mininberg
Nathan Murzin
Mark Murzin
Maurice Nevins
Leonard Nevins
Max Newman
Charles Newman
Victor Nishball
Mila Nishball
Berl Oksenberg
Charles Plotkin
Ann Miller
Norma Pinto
Gracey Oksenberg
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Isidore B. Plotkin
Benjamin Plotkin
Fred Pollak
Liba Pollak
Eva Goldman
Norman Rappoport
Marilyn Rappoport
William Rappoport
William Rappoport
Marilyn Rappoport
Morris Richer
Stanley Richer
Mary Roberts
Lawrence Roberts
Marion Robinson
Jeffrey Robinson
Bernhard Rock
Beatrice Rock
Judith Kiselstein
Bertha Heller Rome
Dr. Leonard Rome
Charles Rosenberg
Ruth Rosenberg
Marsha Brody
Bernard Rosenbloom
Sylvia Rosenbloom
Milton Rosenbloom
Randolph Elias Rothstein
Norman Rothstein
Phyllis & Leonard Feinberg
Bradford Rubenstein
Joel Rubenstein
Shirley Rubenstein
Goldie Rubin
Elliott Rubin
Gertrude Rubin
Alvin Ruben
Frank Michael Sales
Ann Block
Allegra Sasson
Gracey Oksenberg
Edward Sax
Lawrence Sax
Sidney Schloss
Visselle Glazer
Samuel C. Sheiman M.D.
Phyllis & Leonard Feinberg
Rita Sheiman
Ronald Sheiman
Rose Sher
Nina Ravden
Geraldine Sherman
Donald Sherman
Holly Shiffman
Ellen Wolf
Harold Sigel
Lois Fagan
Irving J. Singer
Sheila Lieff
Charlotte Ruben
Lotte Skydel
Jack Skydel
Ezra Smirnoff
Joan Carp
Sylvia W. Spivack
Dr. Susan Spivack
Leon Spivack
Carol Weinshel
Lili Trakhtenbroit
Mikhail Liderman
Samuel Waldman
Claire & Stanley Block
Mark & Ann Block
David Waldman
Ida Weiner
Morris Weiner
Lois Fagan
Sadie (Bobby) Weinshel
Herman L. Weinberger
Carol S. Weinshel
Sharon Weisman
Benjamin & Svetlana Weisman
Fruma Weisman
Benjamin Moshe Weisman
Hayyim Weisman
Hassia Weisman
Chava Volstein
Leib Volstein
Eva Goldman
Aaron Whitman
Annette Whitman-Herman
Arthur Winick
Edith Winick
Marion Wishnoff
Ellen Goldman
Daisy Wolf
Martin Wolf
Gustave A. Wolf
Martin Wolf
Austin Wolf
Marshall Wolfe
Sally Wolfe
Morris Youshah
Roberta Berry
Max Zigun
Sally Wolfe
Sarah Zimmerman
Henry Zimmerman
Ernestine Zimmerman
Benedict S. Zwecker
Charles Zwecker
Donations received after October 15,
2014 will appear in the next bulletin.
13
Rodeph Sholom
Sunday
15 Kislev
Gesher
Gesher
Cantor’s Concert
3:00 p.m.
22 Kislev
29 Kislev
6 Tevet
No School
Monday
9 Kislev
7 16 Kislev
14 23 Kislev
21 30 Kislev
28 7 Tevet
Tuesday
1 10 Kislev
8 17 Kislev
Gesher
Gesher
No School
15 24 Kislev
22 1 Tevet
29 8 Tevet
No School
Thursday
3 12 Kislev
December 2014
Wednesday
2 11 Kislev
10 19 Kislev
Executive Committee
Meeting
7:00 p.m.
9 18 Kislev
31
Friday
4 13 Kislev
Saturday
5 14 Kislev
4:00 p.m. Services
5:08 p.m. Havdalah
12 21 Kislev
4:00 p.m. Services
4:06 p.m. Candlelighting
11 20 Kislev
4:00 p.m. Services
5:09 p.m. Havdalah
19 28 Kislev
4:00 p.m. Services
4:06 p.m. Candlelighting
18 27 Kislev
4:15 p.m. Services
5:11 p.m. Havdalah
4:15 p.m. Services
5:15 p.m. Havdalah
26 5 Tevet
4:15 p.m. Services
4:08 p.m. Candlelighting
4:15 p.m. Services
4:12 p.m. Candlelighting
25 4 Tevet
Christmas Day
Synagogue Office Closed
24 3 Tevet
17 26 Kislev
Board of Trustees Mtg.
7:00 p.m.
16 25 Kislev
23 2 Tevet
30 9 Tevet
New Year’s Eve
6
13
20
27
14
Rodeph Sholom
WINTER 2014 - CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Your Source for Senior Services
THE ROY AND ALINE FRIEDMAN HOME CARE AGENCY
Medical Home Care, Licensed Nurses & Therapists
Medicare Accepted
203.396.1136
COMPASSIONATE CARE COMPANIONS
Non-Medical Home Care, Hourly & Live-In Available
Companionship & Help at Home
203.374.2273
OUTPATIENT REHAB THERAPY
Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy
Wellness & Exercise Programs
203.365.8454
THE INSTITUTE ON AGING
Geriatric Assessments & Case Management
The Center for Elder Abuse Prevention
203.396.1240
GRASMERE BY THE SEA ADULT DAY SERVICES
Comprehensive Nursing, Social & Recreational Program
Transportation Available
203.365.6470
SKILLED NURSING CARE
Long-Term Care & Dementia Care
Goldstein Rehabilitation Center
203.365.6483
175 Jefferson Street, Fairfield, CT 06825
| 203.365.6400 | www.jhe.org
W
W
48472_layout.indd 1
9/10/2012 4:43:38 PM
Meredith L. Abel
President
meredith.abel@acicg.com
15
congregation rodeph sholom
2385 park avenue
bridgeport, ct 06604-1499
address service requested
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no value if delayed
Non-Profit Org.
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