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5775 Tevet - Shevat
January 2015
A Caring Community
Rabbi Benjamin E. Scolnic
www.tbsHamden.com
203-288-7748
tbsOffice@tbsHamden.com
Sch edu l e o f Ser v i ces a r e on th e C al en da r - page 3
Attention TBS Musicians!
Can you play an instrument of ten strings or a lute? Can you make
sacred music upon the harp? Okay—Do you
play the guitar? Violin? Piano? Any musical
instrument?
We’d like to introduce instrumental
music to enhance our services.
If you have a talent you’d like to
contribute, get in touch with
Deborah Wilkenfeld at
203-230-4804 or
Wilkenfeld_deborah@yahoo.com
Inter-Faith Blood Drive Reminder
Where: Spring Glen Church
When: February 25th, 2015
Time: 1:30pm – 6:45pm
How: make an appointment by calling
Barbara Stein 281-5548
1809 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517-1401
Why: you can save 3 lives
by donating one pint.
Endowment Fund Ideas
Are you thinking of establishing a
named endowment fund that has a
restricted or special purpose? Why
not discuss it with our Endowment
Committee, in consultation with
your attorney, accountant or tax
advisor.
Chair: Martin Bernstein, CPA.
endowments@tbshamden.com
Social Action
Make A Difference…..Pick A Cause
The Social Action Committee is committed to helping others in our
community. Your help is needed and the need is great. We will use
the funds to support the many organizations and agencies below.
We are adding a new initiative to our ongoing programs, a "Mitzvah of the Month"
program. Every two months we will focus on one collection that our Hamden residents
really need that is identified through our work with the M.L. Keefe Center. Help in any
way that you can Mitzvah of the Month: For the months of Jan. and Feb. we will
continue to collect hats, gloves, and scarves for our Hamden School Children.
(Continued on page 7)
Rabbi’s Message
Ghost Hunt
A recent Bat Mitzvah, Hannah Reifler, asked me to talk
at her ceremony about a Japanese television show called
"Ghost Hunt." Ghost Hunt is an example of anime, a
kind of Japanese cartoon. As unfamiliar
as this was to me, I found that this
show has its own kind of charm. My
grandchildren and I sat through the
first three-part episode without moving
a muscle.
Ghost Hunt follows the adventures of
Mai Taniyama, a young Japanese girl
who is a first-year high school student at a middle school
that is housed in a new building. Nearby is the old
abandoned schoolhouse; terrible things have happened to
people who were inside or near this building. There is
reason to think that it is haunted by ghosts. Mai becomes
involved with the Shibuya Psychic Research center and
its young manager, Kazuya Shibuya. Kazuya Shibuya is
a great looking brilliant seventeen-year-old man who is
very full of himself, very narcissistic. In Japanese,
narushisuto means narcissistic. So Mai nicknames him
"Naru".
them. Each of them thinks that only he or she can rid the
haunted schoolhouse of ghosts. They compete with each
other and put each other down. A teenage girl claims
that she is more "spiritually sensitive" than all of these
professionals.
There were times I laughed out loud at the narcissistic
competitive attitude of these characters. And then I
started to think how on one level, this show is not a girls’
horror story but a satire on religious people, especially
religious professionals. Too many of us who are religious
think that only we are spiritually sensitive, that only we
know how to communicate with the Divine.
And I thanked G-d at that moment for Judaism as I
know it, an open, pluralistic, undogmatic set of
approaches to the meaning of life.
I was never taught that only we Jewish people have all
the answers,
or that only Jewish people go to Heaven,
or that I have to believe in this or that.
I have never thought that I am more spiritually sensitive
than anyone else. I’ve never judged anyone’s spirituality
or lack thereof.
"Spirituality" is a big word these days, but in Judaism,
spirituality can be translated into our lives in very
(Continued on page 15)
In Japan, according to this show, if you’re worried about
ghosts, you don’t call the ghostbusters, you call in the
spiritualists, all of whom seem to have paranormal
abilities: the Buddhist monk; the shrine maiden; the
celebrity teen psychic; and the Catholic priest John
Brown. There are no rabbis in the group. The nickname
"Naru" or "narcissist" could easily be applied to all of
We would like to officially welcome…
Roberta Durant to our TBS office staff. We
would also like to welcome Leon McFadden
who has taken over Charlie Turner’s duties
TBS Officers 2014 – 2015
President .................................... Sy Kaplan .............................
Ritual VP .................................... Deborah Wilkenfeld .............
Membership VP.......................... Karen Mendelsohn ...............
House VP.................................... Josh Weissman .....................
Education VP ............................. Doron Ben-Atar ....................
Communications VP................... Deborah Braun .....................
Ways and Means VP .................. Brian Lakin ..........................
Treasurer.................................... Fran Bernstein .....................
Financial Secretary .................... Fay Sheppard .......................
Recording Secretary ................... Andrea Smith .......................
School Treasurer ........................ Jack Weinstein .....................
President@tbsHamden.com ............... 203-281-3349
Ritual@tbsHamden.com .......................... -230-4804
kmendelsohn@cox.net ............................ -699-0535
JWeissman224@yahoo.com ..................... -271-1226
dsbenatar@gmail.com .............................. -562.1800
Communications@tbsHamden.com ......... -281-4791
civeng@comcast.net ................................. -606-3784
sandymarni@aol.com ............................... -288-4354
FaySheppard@att.net .............................. -784-4123
acme.smith@snet.net ............................... -234-1512
s2jw@comcast.net .................................... -881-2568
Office Staff
Office Manager ............................Barbara Varga
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Office Administrator ...................... Roberta Durant
Tevet - Shevat 5775
Sun
Mon
Tue
2015 - January
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
28
29
30
31
Rabbi’s Bible
Class
7:00pm
1
2
7:15pm 3
Secular New
Last Wills
Years
4
Kadima
Noon – 1:30 pm
5
IT meeting
7:15 pm
6
7
8
Sisterhood Meeting 7:00pm
9
7:15pm 10
9:30am
How It Started
How It Started
Rabbi’s Bible
Class
7:00pm
"Essential Speeches
by Modern Jewish
Thinkers"- with
Rabbi Scolnic
9:30 am
Yiddish Group
9:30am
7:00pm
Hebrew School
Shabbat
11
Talking Points
Program- with Shira
Rosenblatt
10:00 am
12
Board of Ed
7:00pm
18
19
13
Mens Club
7:00pm
Adult Ed
7:00pm
20
Board of
Directors
7:15 pm
14
Rabbi’s Bible
Class
7:00pm
15
16
7:15pm 17
9:30am
Calling Twice
Lunch N’Learn
Noon Bored of Ed
"The Birth of Modern Israel"
with Dr Martin Laskin
Conversational Hebrew
7:00pm
21
Rabbi’s Bible
Class
7:00pm
22
23
7:15pm 24
9:30am
How Many Plagues?
Lunch N’Learn
Noon Conversations
“Moses:the man and the
myth” with Dr Henry Cohen
Junior Congregation
10:00am
Sisterhood Program
7:00 pm
Yiddish Group
25
Kadima
Noon - 1:30pm
26
27
Minyan Schedule
28
Rabbi’s Bible
Class
7:00pm
Sun 9:00am
7:00pm
29
Conversational Hebrew
7:00pm
Mon-Fri 7:15am
Rosh Chodesh 7:00am
30
7:15pm 31
9:30am
Meetings
Darkness
Hebrew School Family
Havdalah Program
5:00pm
Mon-Thur 6:45pm
President’s Message
Thanksgiving night and our guests have gone, the table
has been cleared, the dishes, pots and pans are washed,
the leftovers have been put away, it is time for Eta and I
to sit back and relax and think about
what has happened this day. We are so
thankful for all we have, our family,
our friends, our health (sure we have
our aches and kvetches, the knees are
not working like they used to, but we
are still upright and getting along).
To show our appreciation for what we
have, we chose to share our good fortune. We may not be
able to give large money donations, we give what we can
and so we give of our time. We serve on different
committees and projects to help TBS going forward.
You too, can show your appreciation for what you have
by helping those who are less fortunate. Our social action
committee has so many ways to give back; visit someone
in a nursing home or call a shut in and brighten their
day. Somewhere in this bulletin is a committee or fund
you might want to join or give to. Tzedakah – charity is a
very Jewish thing-a mitzvah.
Sy Kaplan
TBS President
Meet the Kiddush Klub
The Kiddush Klub is a group of volunteers who organize
the Saturday morning Kiddush at TBS. Our goal is to
enhance Kiddushim so that congregants can enjoy
Shabbat together with delicious food and the opportunity
to schmooze after services. We are thrilled with the
increasing number of people staying for lunch each
week. We are always in need of volunteers to help
prepare Kiddushim. Assistance with shopping and/or
food preparation will help us continue to provide enhanced
Kiddushim. Looking forward to seeing you in the kitchen.
In addition to preparing food for Kiddushim, the Kiddush
Klub works with congregants sponsoring a Kiddush in
honor of a special event, such as a Bar and Bat Mitzvah,
baby namings, auf ruf. We have written an easy to use
booklet to help congregants plan their events. Please
consider marking a special event by sponsoring a Kiddush.
If interested please call Eta.
Bitayavon! (Hearty appetite)
203-281-3349 Eta Kaplan
Get Well Soon
We would like to wish a speedy recovery to:
●
●
Susan Gruen
Marla Beck
Mah Jongg
Players
$8.00 standard print
$9.00 large print
High Holiday Pledges
Checks Payable to:
Sisterhood Temple Beth Sholom
Mail to: Eta Kaplan
107 Sebec Street
Hamden, CT 06517
Tel. 203-281-3349
Please order before January 17th
Sisterhood benefits from every card sold!
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Goldstein Family
Andrea & Steve Joseph
Eta & Sy Kaplan
Mr & Mrs Larry Moses
Hedy & Richard Weiner
Condolences
This month we would like to express our condolences to:
●
Shira Rosenblatt on the loss of her cousin, Rabbi
Moshe Twersky
Adult Education
Rabbi’s Sunday Class:
The next Sunday class with Rabbi Scolnic will be held on
January 4th at 9:30am in the Sanctuary. Its title is
"Essential Speeches by Modern Jewish Thinkers."
The final class of this series will be held on February 22nd.
Talking Points Program:
On Sunday morning, January 11th, Shira Rosenblatt will
moderate a session called "Talking Points." Attendees
may bring up a Jewish-related discussion point for the
group. It will take place in the Social Hall at 10:00am.
New Lunch & Learn Series:
On Thursday, January 15th at noon, in the Social Hall,
Dr. Martin Laskin will begin his four-monthly-session
series called: "The Birth of Modern Israel." Lunch will be
served before Dr. Laskin speaks.
If planning to attend the series, please send a check for
$20 per person, made out to "The Adult Education Fund"
to the Temple office by January 9th.
Lunch & Learn with Henry Cohen:
The fourth and final monthly session on "Moses: the man
and the myth," will be held on Thursday, January 22nd in
the Social Hall at noon. Lunch will be served prior to
Henry’s talk.
World-Wide Wrap:
On Sunday morning, February 1st at 10:00am, the Adult
Education Committee and the Men’s Club will join to
host a breakfast, followed by a talk by Sydney Perry,
Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater
New Haven.
Sydney will make a presentation on "The future of Jewry
in the United States." Her talk is based on a recent Pew
Report on the same subject.
Yiddish Group:
The Temple’s Yiddish Group meets every other Thursday
in the Temple’s Library at 7:00pm. The group consists of
people who are learning Yiddish. It is a relaxed and
enjoyable way to learn. Questions may be directed to the
group’s coordinator, Al Harary.
Men’s Club
The Men's Club voted to complete its commitment of
$1,250.00 to the General Operating Fund. We also voted
a payment of $972.00 to complete its commitment to the
TBS Men’s Club endowment.
We purchased 10 New Tables for the TBS Social Hall.
They are guaranteed forever and are 6 feet rather than 8
feet and break in half so they are easier to handle. The
Men's Club voted to buy 10 a year for 7 years rather than
5 years to replace our 8 foot tables.
On Dec 21 the Men's Club sponsored a morning breakfast
and talk on "Planning for the Cost of Healthcare Retirement" by Fay Sheppard.
The Men's Club joined with the New Haven B’nai Brith
and B’nai Brith Youth to prepare gift packages for the
patients and nursing staff at the VA Hospital in West
Haven. We then went around to all the wards and serenaded
all who were at the VA on the night of December 24.
The Men's Club is sponsoring a Sunday Morning breakfast on February 1. The Keynote speaker is Sydney Perry,
and the topic is the PEW Report on the Future of Jewry
in the US.
The Men's Club is providing refreshments March 1st for
the Z'Mirah Corale concert and sing along of Jewish music,
including Hebrew folk songs, Yiddish and Ladino
New activities for The Men's Club
in the planning stages:
● "A day on the Beach" co-sponsored by LA Fitness, A
day of Sauna, Whirlpool, Handball, Basketball and
General Cardio under the supervision of one of
LA Fitness personal trainers.
● "A welcome to spring in New Haven" Featured is a
Hike and Bike of the Farmington Canal Trail.
● An afternoon of Wine Appreciation and Appetizers
sponsored by Amity Wines of New Haven.
● A day of Berry Picking (and eating) co-sponsored
with Bishop Farms of Cheshire and Guilford.
● A bus trip to New York to the World Trade Center
and Museum.
● An after hour Bowling Tournament in Hamden.
● The beginning of an annual Men's Club Golf
Tournament and Awards Dinner.
We do good, we have fun, we need more participants.
The next meeting of the Men's Club is scheduled for
7:00pm Tuesday, January 13 in the TBS Library
Men’s Club President
Mike Romeo 203-397-9484 romeom@mindspring.com
January 2015
5
Mitzvah Committee
USY / Kadima
It was a very cold day the Friday this month when we
held our Mitzvah meeting, but it was warm for the
residents who attended! Rabbi Scolnic led the service,
including asking residents to participate with the
readings. Then they were treated with gefilte fish and
horseradish, carrots, challah, strawberries, melon, and a
delicious cake. Lemonade and soft drinks are always a
must. We had a large number of residents, guests and
several newcomers who were warmly welcomed.
If you are thinking of joining us for the 4 to 5 hours a
month it takes to join us on this very worthwhile
Committee – come and try it! I think you'll like it!
Ellen Casper
Committee member
We are pleased to report on the progress of Temple Beth
Sholom Kadima this year! We have 22 paid and active
members as of December 1, 2014. The kids are having a
blast and we are so grateful to the parents for their
participation and support.
Here's an update of what we've been up to since our kickoff event in October:
In November, the Kadima group met to solve the "Mystery
of the Missing Bar Mitzvah Cake". They did a great job
interviewing our different witnesses and figuring out the
mystery. Additionally, they made beautiful Chanukah
cards that the Mitzvah Committee distributed to Arden
House residents in December.
On December 7, we took our first field trip of the year to
SkyZone in Wallingford. Everyone had a great time jumping
together on the trampolines.
Our next event will be in the social hall on January 4.
Watch your emails and Temple Tablet for details.
Additionally, some of our Kadima kids will be attending
their first ever regional overnight on January 25.
It is never too late to join the fun. We welcome any fifth,
sixth or seventh grader to join us at any time.
TBS Joint Youth Group Coordinator
Jen Weissman and Stacy Swartz
USYTBS@gmail.com
Sholom Committee
To have your Condolence, Get Well, and Community
Corner notice listed in the Bulletin, The Sholom
Committee asks that you call Marla Beck at
203-287-8428 by the 10th of the month so it can be
included in the upcoming month's issue.
Our Monday meeting was a fun time for all. We played
"Jewish Trivia – A – Z". The only problem was it took us
a half hour just to get from "A - Actors and Actresses –
Jewish" to "B - Breads -Jewish. Everyone never realized
just how many people of the Jewish faith were, and still
are in show business. We ended the program in order to
have what turned out to be the main event - "Babba's
Soup". My sister Arlene (with the help of her husband
Marty) once again treated us to her delicious vegetable
soup. Arlene and Marty schlepped two huge pots of the
soup, oysterettes and mini éclairs from Fairfield to
6
This is a wonderful way to inform members about
events such as births, engagements, graduations,
marriages, and milestone birthdays or anniversaries;
and wishes for a speedy recovery. It is also a way to notify
the congregation of the passing of a family member.
Hamden for all to enjoy, and enjoy they did! Fresh fruit
along with a slice of Ann Niebloom's wonderful apple
cake (also a favorite of everyone) ended an enjoyable and
most tasty afternoon.
Chairperson
Barbara Stein – 203-281-5548
Ongoing Programs
Bags for Toiletries: Lois Buslovitz continues to make
lovely cloth bags for patrons to use to store their toiletries.
If you have any fabric you can donate, please send into
the TBS office and Lois will pick up the fabric on Fridays.
Thank you to those who have been sending fabric.
Keefe Community Center: We are very pleased to now
be working with this Hamden agency. We are currently
collecting diapers, baby wipes and any other baby
products that can be placed in a box in the hall labeled
"Keefe Center". Randy Berns will be coordinating the
collections. Contact her at 203-248-0286.
Knitting Project: For many years a group led by Helene
Meltzer has been knitting hats, scarves, and mittens for
local area agencies in need. Helene has plenty of yarn but
is looking for volunteers to knit. If you like to knit and
want to help out, please contact Helene Meltzer at
m.meltzer@att.net
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen: Sign up to help
prepare and serve meals to the homeless in downtown
New Haven. Please contact Jackie Weiss for more
information at 203-265-6744.
Place donations in the hallway bins if you are able…if
not, donate to the Diane Kaplan Social Action Fund.
We will do the shopping for you! Each month items will
be collected and brought to the local agencies. It’s easy to
make a difference!
Social Action
(Continued from page 1)
Make A Difference…..Pick A Cause
Fresh Fruit Program: Sign up to deliver 24 pieces of
fresh fruit to local women's and children's shelters. Each
month a volunteer brings the fruit. Sign up for the New
Year 2015. Contact Deborah Wilkenfeld to sign up.
Wilkenfeld_deborah@yahoo.com
Military Care packages: Give 2 the Troops would
appreciate chocolate candy bars, and non-perishable
snacks. Please no granola bars.
Contact Fran Parness at 203-484-9506.
New Reach (Formerly New Haven Home Recovery):
We are collecting socks and underwear for the children
and women (all sizes). They can also use hats and gloves
in all sizes for children and women especially during this
time of the year. Please place these items into the box for
New Reach. Contact Fran Parness at 203-484-9506.
Toiletry Collection for Homeless: We continue to
collect toiletries for the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen.
The basket has been filling with your generous donations
each week. We still can use small containers of shampoo,
lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. Many thanks!
Contact Jackie Weiss at 203-265-6744
Our committee thanks you for your continued support.
Chairperson: Marge Drucker
203-248-1046 Mdrocks2@gmail.com
Community Corner
●
Judy & Jerry Oppenheim celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary
Puppeteers (no Strings attached)
I need you, I need you, what more can I say!
The children will be happy. It’ll make their day.
So knit them some puppets you’ll be glad you did.
The hospital will have one happy kid!
Call Lois Buslovitz
203-288-1901
Grocery Cards
Thanks to all of you who bought grocery cards to give as gifts to your employees for Thanksgiving and holiday gifts
during December. Remember grocery cards make good gifts at any time! Grocery cards are sold at the Temple office
during regular business hours. You can get them on Sundays when Hebrew School is in session.
The following people have them:
●
●
●
Elliot Alderman ........ 203-281-3489
Felicia Rumanoff ...... 203-272-2155
Toby Gillman ............ 203-288-8991
● Stu Miller .................... 203-668-7683
● Michelle Murphy ......... 203-248-3746
Our profit helps keep our dues down. Help us to help ourselves. Any questions, call Toby Gillman.
January 2015
7
ISRAEL MATTERS!
Publication of the Israel Affairs Committee of Temple Beth Sholom
1809 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06517-1401
Issue Number 87
January 2015
Poll: Number of Israelis Viewing Obama as
'Positive' or 'Neutral' Drops Sharply
Briton Hailed as 'Godfather'
of IDF Reburied in Israel
The ashes of a British World War One
veteran who became a Jewish hero were
reburied after a ceremony at a museum
near the city of Netanya. Born in 1867,
John Henry Patterson gained hero status
in Israel for leading Jewish fighters during
WW1, becoming a passionate Zionist.
Attending the event, Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu called him the "godfather" of the Israeli army. Mr Netanyahu's
father was a friend of Patterson and the
PM's brother, Yonathan, was named in
honor of him. Before commanding Jewish
soldiers, Patterson was a big-game hunter
in Africa.
For his role in WW1, Patterson is credited
as being the first commander to lead
Jewish forces on to the field of battle for
two millennia, making him an important
figure in the history of Zionism. The
Jewish Legion, which Patterson commanded,
was the basis for what became the Israel
Defense Forces, said Netanyahu.
In his later years, Patterson worked for
the creation of a Jewish state. He died in
1947. One of his fellow fighters, Zeev
Jabotinsky, who became a leading Zionist,
said: "In all of Jewish history we have
never had a Christian friend as understanding and devoted."
The remains of Patterson, and his wife,
were laid to rest at Moshav Avichail, a
museum established by Jewish Legion
veterans. According to his grandson it was
one of his final wishes to be interred
alongside men he commanded. [bbcnews]
8
The percentage of Israelis who believe President Barack Obama has
either a "positive" or a "neutral" view of Israel has fallen steeply in the
two years since his visit to Israel in the spring of 2012, according to a
Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA) survey released during
December.
Of the respondents, 37 % said Obama has a "positive" position toward
Israel, and an equal number said he had a "negative" attitude toward
the country. Another 24% said he was "neutral."
In 2012, some 51% of the respondents of a similar BESA poll said Obama
had "positive" attitudes toward Israel and another 32% believed he was
"neutral." The telephone survey, released in advance of a recent BESA
conference on America's standing in the world, was conducted from
November 16-21 among a proportional sample of 529 adult respondents
by Magar Mochot. The poll reflected a 4.5% margin of error.
According to the survey, 52% of the respondents believe Obama's policy
regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict has been "bad," while 50%
disapproved of his policies toward Iran and 47% said the same about his
policies regarding Islamic State. Some 65% of the respondents said
America's position in the Middle East has been weakened or seriously
weakened since Obama took office in 2009, while 24% believe America's
position has remained unchanged and 11% think it has gotten stronger.
Along with thinking that the US position in the region has been weakened,
some 68% believe America's standing in the region influences Israel's
position. Likewise, 63% believe that if American involvement in the
Middle East was reduced, it would have an adverse impact on Israel.
Close relations with the US was ranked second overall among the most
important factors for Israel's security, with Israel's military power ranked
first. Ninety-one percent believe close relations with the US are important.
While 62% of the public believes peace with the Palestinians is an
important determinant of the country's security, some 48% say the same
thing about the settlements.
Somewhat counter-intuitively, Iran was listed after terrorism, the IsraelPalestinian conflict and radical Islam as a significant or very significant
threat to Israel's existential interests. Nevertheless, some 53% of the
public believes Israel should attack Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to stop
its nuclear pursuit, while 47% are opposed. If the US disapproved of
(Continued next page)
(Continued)
such an attack, the number of Israelis who would support
it drops from 53% to 45%, while those who would oppose
it if the US objects jumps to 55%.
Nearly 75% of the sample believe the US would come to
Israel's aid in the "moment of truth, and a similar number
feel the US is a loyal ally of Israel. While 58% attribute
US support of Israel to Israel's role as a strategic partner,
another 37% said it was due to the clout of American
Jewry. Regarding American Jewry, 79% said they believe
US Jews feel close or very close to Israel.
Yael Bloch-Elkon, who co-directed the poll, said it
indicates that "despite the fact that Israelis are deeply
disconcerted about President Obama's Middle East
policies with regards to Israel-Palestinian affairs,
regional uprisings, and Iran – the Israeli public remains
one of the most pro-American communities in the world.
Overwhelming majorities view the US and Israel as
having similar strategic interests in the Middle East, see
the US as Israel's loyal ally, and as a friend that will
come to Israel's aid in times of trouble." [JPost]
Orthodox Union 'Adopts' Family of
Murdered Druze Officer
The Orthodox Union (OU) was moved by the story of
Zidan Seif, the 30-year-old Druze police officer who was
murdered by terrorists during the recent attack at the
Jerusalem synagogue in Har Nof when he tried to stop
their attack in which they murdered four Jews.
Rabbi Avi Berman, Director General of the Orthodox
Union in Israel, recently visited the Seif family home in
the town of Yanuh-Jat in the Galilee.
Rabbi Berman told the family of the strong desire on
behalf of Jewish communities from the United States to
thank them for their son's heroics and express their
sympathy, and added, "Dozens of rabbis, donors and
members of the communities asked me to come here and
thank you on their behalf to your wonderful family who
raised a man who sacrificed his life for others."
Zidan's family told Rabbi Berman of their son's special
character and how he always wanted to help those in need.
Towards the end of the visit, Rabbi Berman told the family
members that OU had decided to help out the family as
much as possible, including commemorating Zidan's name.
Rabbi Berman told the family that he served with Druze
in the IDF and always knew there was a close bond
between the two peoples "but the story of Zidan's death
added a special feeling that is now stronger than any
previous knowledge," he added.
[Ynetnews]
January 2015
Congress Enshrines Israel in a
New Class of Ally
With the recent passage of the US-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, Congress created a new legal category of partnership specifically for the State of Israel. Declared a major
strategic partner – a designation held by no other country
– the law seeks to establish a new framework within the
category that will enhance cooperation across industries,
with a focus on defense technologies.
The designation is an upgrade for Israel from "major nonNATO ally," the country's legal status as a US ally since
1988. The president is authorized, the law reads, to "share
and exchange with Israel research, technology, intelligence,
information, equipment, and personnel that will advance
US national security interests and enhance US-Israel
scientific cooperation."
The law calls for an expanded role for Israel with NATO.
Now headed to President Obama's desk, the Act was
authored by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), Ted
Deutch (D-Florida), Ed Royce (R-California) and Eliot
Engel (D-New York), and Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-California)
and Roy Blunt (R-Missouri).
The House vote was for a Senate version of the bill. Both
senators Barbara Boxer and Roy Blunt, who sponsored
the Senate bill, hailed the House's vote. Hill aides said
they expect the president to sign the Act into law. The
White House declined to comment following the Act's
passage.
"Israel is a bright light in a very, very dark region," Eliot
Engel said on the House floor shortly before the vote.
"This legislation names Israel as a major strategic
partner, demonstrating that our relationship is not
transactional. It's not assistance-based," said Engel. In
addition, Engel said the bill will "build on our robust
defense cooperation … ramp up US-Israel collaboration
on cybersecurity, expand US-Israel energy cooperation,
and reaffirm our commitment to Israel's … qualitative
military edge."
The president is given new authorization to grant assistance to cooperative efforts on energy, water, homeland
security, agriculture and alternative fuel technologies.
The act also authorizes an increase of $200 million in the
value of U.S. weapons held in Israel, to a total of $1.8
billion. This stockpile, intended for use by U.S. forces in
the event of a crisis, can also be used by Israel in the
event of an emergency with Israel reimbursing the U.S.
for any weapons used.
"A Hamas plot to kill scores of Israelis was just uncovered,
while a regime in Tehran seeks to acquire a nuclear warhead and the missiles to deliver it. All this while ISIS is
at Israel's front doorstep," said Royce, chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee. "That is why the
legislation is so important." [Arutz Sheva]
9
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YAHRZEITS
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Keeper of the Flame 5775
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January 2015
PHILIP & GLADYS BEAR
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11
Honor of the marriage of Michael
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& granddaughter of
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mother of Patti Caplan
●Patti Caplan
Honor of the arrival of Joyce Brown’s
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Honor of the Bar Mitzvah ceremony
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PRAYER BOOK FUND
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January 2015
13
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DISCRETIONARY FUND
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Memory of Joe Garcia
●Rosalie Garcia
14
Memory of Arthur Eden, husband of
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Levy & grandfather of Perri Levy
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Memory of Ilene Meyers,
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●Vally Coggshall
Memory of Ann Niebloom’s brother
●Phyllis Grenet
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●Fran Parness
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●Betty & Ed Litto
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Appreciation of Temple Beth Sholom
●Fred & Bernice Gillman
Speedy recovery of Shira Rosenblatt
●Fran Parness
Honor of the Bar Mitzvah ceremony
of Justin Elliot Flaks,
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●Lynda & Arthur Greenberg
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Appreciation of Rabbi Scolnic
●Eve Gold
●Donna Greene
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●Hinda Massey
●Ellyn Ross
●Artie & Reena Seltzer
Honor of the Temple recognition &
sukkah plaque for Julius Hyatt
●Mitch & Joanne Hyatt
Honor of Ann Niebloom’s
special birthday
●Phyllis Grenet
(Continued Rabbi from page 2)
natural ways. Here is a story that illustrates what I mean.
There was a Jewish man who was an Army combat
helicopter pilot for 12 years. He fought in Operation
Desert Storm -- the Persian Gulf War of 1991. While he
was in Saudi Arabia, he was prohibited by military order
from outwardly showing that he was Jewish. That meant
he could not wear a Star of David, a mezuzah or a Chai
pendant. He was even advised to remove the word Jewish
from his dog tags!
The reason? To protect Jewish soldiers should they be
captured by the Iraqis and also because the Saudis were
sensitive that non-Muslim soldiers were on Saudi soil
defending the holiest sites in Islam: Mecca and Medina.
December rolled around and this soldier received an
envelope marked Top Secret! The big secret? There was
going to be a Chanukah party! The Jewish soldiers in his
division and the neighboring division were invited. A
dozen other Jewish soldiers gathered in the middle of the
Saudi desert about 300 kilometers from anywhere to
celebrate Chanukah. The man says: "I'm not an observant
Jew, I'm not a religious guy, I'm not even sure I could say
the blessings over the candles. But when a Jewish chaplain
arrived after driving across an empty desert to be with
us, lit the menorah candles with us, said the blessing and
then served us potato latkes and gefilte fish, it was one of
the most powerful spiritual Jewish experience of my
life...in part because I was there in Saudi Arabia with my
fellow Jews."
Now you might not think that this is a story about
spirituality, but it would be your spiritual narcissism
showing. This is not spirituality as in a mystical experience
where you feel transported out of your body, or when you
January 2015
Honor of the birth of Noah Shure,
grandson of Jimmy Shure
●Lauren & Bill Ortman
Honor of Howard & Dale Spaner’s
anniversary
●Howard & Linda Sadinsky
Honor of Amanda Steinberg’s
Bat Mitzvah ceremony
●Howard & Linda Sadinsky
Thanksgiving donation
●Jeffrey & Ellen Davis
feel one with nature, or when you commune with ghosts
like the characters in Ghost Hunt.
This story is a real-life example that says that for Jewish
people, being Jewish and Spirituality can overlap and
happen simultaneously.
I don’t know much about Japanese anime, but what
animates Jewish people, the meaning of life itself, is
being with other people.
By the way, does the Torah have any ghost stories?
Maybe. Jacob is on the bank of the river and some
mysterious stranger comes and wrestles with him all
night. And when dawn is about to break, the stranger
needs to go. Some commentators think the stranger is
G-d, some think it’s an angel. But it is interesting that
the stranger needs to go before the sun comes up. Is it
some kind of demon or dark spirit that only comes out at
night? Jacob himself thinks that he wrestled with G-d,
and his name becomes Israel, Yisrael, the one who
wrestles with G-d. But to read the Torah in a Jewish way
is to be open to all possibilities.
So my grandsons and I are watching Ghost Hunt, and we
are open to what’s going to happen. We’re not sure if
there are ghosts or not, or if any of the characters are
more attuned than others, even though we think it’s the
main character Mai who is really the one who feels the
most.
We have this openness to what’s going on in this world,
and we think that there’s more to this world than meets
the eyes. We’re watching, and thinking, and each of us
will decide what we believe. For us, that’s what it means
to be Jewish.
Rabbi Scolnic
15
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