8 Shevat 5775 January 28, 2015 Rabbi Dr. Daniel M. Zucker, D. D. Shabbat Services - Fridays, 7:30 PM - Saturdays, 9:15 AM Family Services - First Friday of the month at 7:00 PM Morning Minyan: Sundays, 8:00 AM; Mondays and Thursdays, 7:00 AM Beginning February 2015 1st Friday—Family Services at 6:15pm 2nd & 4th Friday—Traditional Services at 7:30pm 3rd Friday—Creative Services with Music at 7:30pm MARK YOUR CALENDAR Sunday School: Sundays 9:00am-Noon Hebrew School: Tuesdays 4:30-6:30pm Weekly Tuesday Evening Minyan at 6:15pm Tu B’Shvat Seder—Tuesday, February 3rd 4:45-6:15pm Shabbat Dinner hosted by the Judy Bieberfeld Friday, February 6th—Services at 6:15pm Honoring our Newer Members Lasagna Dinner (dairy free/gluten free available) following services RSVP Judy (Bieberfeld@verizon.net or 215-527-1083) by February 2nd Board of Governors—Monday, February 9th at 7:15pm Rabbi Zucker out of town February 19th through February 24th (call the office in case of emergency) Hamantashen Baking—Saturday, February 21st at 6:30pm Purim Basket Packing—Sunday, February 22nd at 9:00am Torah Study—Saturdays 12:00-2:00pm Adult Education: Ethics from Our Ancestors—Tuesdays 7:30-8:15pm Adult Education: Understanding Our Prayerbooks - Tuesdays 8:15-9:00pm “If I am not for me, who will be for me? If I‘m only for me, what am I? And if not now, when?” (Hillel, Pirke Avot 1:14) Last month I asked everyone to become involved in helping to prepare for and to man our upcoming Jewish Heritage Festival on May 31st. The purpose of the festival is to raise funds for our congregation as well as to publicize the existence of our synagogue. One could say that this falls under the rubric of Hillel’s first question. This month I am asking everyone to think beyond our own congregation and community and concern themselves with the needs of Conservative/Masorti congregations in Israel by joining in the vote for this year’s World Zionist Organization Congress and voting for MERCAZ—the Conservative Movement’s party in the international WZO Congress. Why is this important? The more votes that MERCAZ gets, the more seats it controls in the Congress which helps determine allocations for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Israel such as the Masorti/Conservative Movement. Each vote that MERCAZ gets means that our pluralistic, egalitarian movement gets to build more institutions in Israel, thereby helping to make Israel a better democracy and home for all Jews, whether religious or not. This falls under Hillel’s second question. To vote, and anyone Jewish and 18 years of age by June 30, 2015 can vote, please go on line at www.mercazusa.org and click on the link concerning the WZO Congress election. If you have questions, you can click on the links that provide background answers before you vote. It costs $10 per person to vote, a small fee that helps underwrite the cost of running this election. Voting began on January 13, 2015 and is open until April 30, 2015. As Hillel’s third question reminds us, there’s no time like the present to get things done! But if you can’t do so immediately, PLEASE try to get your vote in before Pesach. On behalf of all non-Orthodox Jews worldwide, Thank you! Elsewhere in this bulletin you will find an invitation to join us for the joyful celebration of our fourth annual Tu’B’Shvat Seder to be held on Tuesday, February 3rd . P L E A S E, RSVP by the deadline so that we can make proper food preparations and allow everyone to enjoy the Seder’s repast. Elena and Rahel, Yehudit, Haim and Naomi, Fortine, Amiel, Adriel, and Avishai join me in wishing everyone a very joyful Tu B’Shvat. B’virkat shalom, Rabbi Daniel M. Zucker Rabbi Daniel M. Zucker BY DECREE OF HAMAN, VIZIER OF AL PERSIA AND MEDEA: Purim is coming on Wednesday, March 4th. All actors, mimes, readers, or producers are hereby notified to supply the rabbi with ideas for dramatizing the Megillah reading. Be there, or be a triangle, like ME! Rabbi’s Schedule of Events, News & Reminders Our Rabbi in the Community: Rabbi Zucker is now serving as a volunteer chaplain for the Pottstown Cluster, and continues to serve bi-weekly as rabbinic-chaplain at Manorcare on North Charlotte Street. Rabbi Zucker lead an “Annotated Kabbalat Shabbat—Ma‘ariv Service” on Friday, January 16th as we hosted 55 students from the Hill School and their teachers for their annual visit. Thank you to those who came out on a chilly winter night to help make a minyan that evening. Rabbi Zucker participated in the Pottstown 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Commemoration service, reading and chanting a portion of the prophetic Book of Amos, one of Dr. King’s favorite scriptural passages. High Schoolers: Gratz Jewish Community High School in Reading: If you are in grades 8-12 you can study Jewish subjects and possibly obtain college credits. Classes meet 6:00 to 8:30 PM Sunday evenings and transportation to Reading is available in both directions. The second semester starts on January 25 th and runs to May 17th. If interested, please speak to Rabbi Zucker ASAP. Adult –Ed: Pirke Avot-Ethics from Our Ancestors: Come join our study-discussion group centering on the study of this favorite tractate. Class is held on Tuesday evenings, 7:30-8:15 PM. Understanding Our Prayerbooks: How We Jews Talk to God. This Tuesday Class is open to all adults and post b’nai mitzvah. It does not require Hebrew skills; it will help make sense of our prayer services. Come join us 8:15-9:00 PM. Introduction to the Talmud: Tractate Berakhot Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 PM we are studying Tractate Berakhot—the first tractate in the Talmud. We use the English edition of the new Steinzaltz Koren Noé Talmud Bavli, Berakhot. All are welcome; knowledge of Hebrew is helpful but not necessary. Parashat HaShavua’—The Weekly Torah Portion Shabbat Study Group: We meet for two hours of Torah study of the weekly portion immediately after the Shabbat Morning Kiddush ‘Oneg (Noon until 2:00 PM). All are welcome. We look at the text from the ‘Etz Hayim Humash as Rabbi Zucker presents insights from archaeology, history, midrash, commentaries and Hasidic lore as collected in his commentary on the Humash–Sefer Or-Eli. Is there a subject that you would like to study as part of our Adult Ed. Program? Please contact Rabbi Zucker so that he can arrange to have the class taught here. Daytime classes are possible, too. A word from your librarian….. Throughout the year, as a child in our Religious School celebrates a birthday, parents and family members ask for ways to acknowledge these special occasions. Why not donate a new book to our synagogue library to mark the occasion! Melanie Giardina, our synagogue administrator, has designed an impressive book plate for each book that is donated, with a place for the child’s name, the occasion, the date and the name of the donor. Claire Pettigrew has a “wish list” with most books priced at less than $15, or you may choose your own book with Jewish content. Unlike cupcakes, books have no sugar, no trans-fats, no crumbs and a shelf life of many, many years. GENERAL In memory of Sydney Weiss: Alvin Weiss In memory of Howard Kostiner: Myrna & Marty Rawdin In memory of Rabbi David Wortman: Myrna & Marty Rawdin In memory of Suzanne Collins: Cindy Collins & Family To mark the Yahrzeit of Herman L. Rudolph: Claire & Dan Pettigrew In appreciation of Rabbi and Congregation: Kathleen MacDonnell To mark the Yahrzeit of Sol Borger: Flip & Laurie Borger To mark the Yahrzeit of Sue Collins: Bill Collins TORAH REPAIR To mark the Yahrzeit of Jacob Yasno: Ree & Len Hoffner ROBERT S. POLLAK MEMORIAL In memory of Agnes Regina Heyman: Arnold Markowitz In honor of Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Marcus’ 60th anniversary: Henry & Fran Pollak To mark the Yahrzeit of Murray Fine: Henry & Fran Pollak In memory of Roz Grossman: Henry & Fran Pollak PRAYER BOOK To mark the Yahrzeit of Sol Borger: Rich & Barbara Borger CEMETERY To mark the Yahrzeit of Abraham Huss: Lesley, Robert & Sean Misko To mark the Yahrzeit of Dora Huss: Lesley, Robert & Sean Misko Thanks to all who sent Leagrams for my birthday...Melanie Giardina Creative Service On Friday, January 23, we celebrated our first Creative Service of 2015. A lively service, it included alternative readings and featured Tom Faranda playing guitar. We invite all of you to the next Creative Service which is scheduled for Friday evening, February 27, at 7:30pm. Please remember that Judy Bieberfeld is sponsoring the Shabbat Dinner on family night, February 6, at 6:15pm and our Traditional Friday evening service is scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Fridays at 7:30pm each month. Yahrzeits for the Month of February (Shevat/Adar 5775) Louis Sager Lawrence Sager Leonard Strom Barry Sankey Zelick Kaplan Stephanie Windrim Estelle Lasko Frances Litvin Dixie Burrows Lori Harter Samuel Menkowitz Elliot Menkowitz Wolf H. Amber Jean Ruth Amber Gayle Wolf Gertrude Berger Marilyn Altschull Harry Bomstein Dr. Stuart Clark Sol Berman Allen Berman Samuel Liss Bonnie Blank Stanley P. Berger Marilyn Altschull Theresa Dauer Phyllis Princenthal Murray Fine Frances Pollak Murray Kressen Debbie Simmons Stanley Bressler Janet Prince Dora Huss Lesley Misko Jacob Yasno Ree Hoffner Herman Michael Lilyan Prince Jeannette Neumann Marcus Neumann Gerald Princenthal Josephine Charnoff Phyllis Princenthal Monday, 2/2/2015 Shevat 13, 5775 father Wednesday, 2/4/2015 Shevat 15, 5775 uncle Thursday, 2/5/2015 Shevat 16, 5775 father Thursday, 2/5/2015 Shevat 16, 5775 sister Saturday, 2/7/2015 Shevat 18, 5775 mother Saturday, 2/7/2015 Shevat 18, 5775 father Sunday, 2/8/2015 Shevat 19, 5775 husband father Monday, 2/9/2015 Shevat 20, 5775 grandmother Thursday, 2/12/2015 Shevat 23, 5775 grandfather Friday, 2/13/2015 Shevat 24, 5775 father Sunday, 2/15/2015 Shevat 26, 5775 father Monday, 2/16/2015 Shevat 27, 5775 uncle Monday, 2/16/2015 Shevat 27, 5775 mother Tuesday, 2/17/2015 Shevat 28, 5775 brother Wednesday, 2/18/2015 Shevat 29, 5775 father Friday, 2/20/2015 Adar 1, 5775 father Friday, 2/20/2015 Adar 1, 5775 mother Friday, 2/20/2015 Adar 1, 5775 father Wednesday, 2/25/2015 Adar 6, 5775 brother Friday, 2/27/2015 Adar 8, 5775 mother Saturday, 2/28/2015 Adar 9, 5775 brother husband 5775 Tu B’Shvat Seder @ HsE When: Tuesday, February 3rd, 4:45-6:15 PM Where: HsE Social Hall What: A Seder celebrating Tu b’Shvat! Why: ‘Cause it’s the birthday of the trees! Who: Our HsE Religious School and the entire HsE family How: RSVP: Call/e-mail HsE office by noon, Friday, Jan. 30th ! What’s on the menu: Fruits and nuts + 4 cups of wine (adults) & 4 cups of grape juice (non-adults) Cost: Free. Donations gratefully accepted. Shabbat Shalom - Hey! You spoke, we listened! We have some exciting changes in store for 2015! At our focus groups this summer, our congregants indicated they would like to see a mix of traditional services and some more creative services for our Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday night. Thank you to those who participated in the ad-hoc ritual revamp meeting and those that helped to hammer out the details of the new services and schedule: Jack Wolf, ritual chair, Rabbi Zucker, Claire Pettigrew, Myrna Rawdin, Allan Altschull, Flip Borger, Miryam Nygaard, Stuart Clark, Janet Prince, Gary Gross and Amy Wolf. Here is our new monthly schedule of Friday night services: 1st Friday - Family Services - 6: 15 p.m., followed by Shabbat dinner - to be hosted/sponsored by a different family each month. 3rd Friday - Creative Service with Music - 7:30 p.m. - A lively service with alternative readings and guitar, played by congregant Tom Faranda. 2nd & 4th Friday - Traditional Service - 7:30 p.m. We need families to host/sponsor Shabbat dinners! It doesn’t need to be fancy or elaborate, and we will help plan a menu and prepare the meal. You can also combine forces with another family and host together! We anticipate there will be between 20-40 people for each dinner. February 6th - Sponsored by Judy Bieberfeld March 6th - Sponsored by the Manley family April - no dinner due to Pesach May 1st - Sponsored by the Messing family June 5th– Sponsored by Bunny Gross July 10th - open August 7th - open Please contact Amy Wolf if you would like to host/sponsor. Shalach Manot Baskets March 5th is Purim this year. You recently received a letter from Jewish Women’s League inviting you to participate in our annual Shalach Manot Basket project, making it easy and fun to surprise and delight friends and family with a container of goodies. A Shalach Manot Basket traditionally contains at least one baked item and one liquid. Our Kosher Shalach Manot Baskets fulfill these requirements and much, much more! We include: DELICIOUS HAMANTASHEN, HAND-BAKED WITH LOVE ONE BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF FRUIT CANDY AND NUTS A SPECIAL PURIM GROGGER SEVERAL SURPRISE ITEMS Also, again this year, we will be selling individual hamantashen for $8.00 per dozen. You must pre-pay your order and include it on your form to be returned by the deadline of February 16, 2015. They will be delivered with your basket. We will be baking hamantashen on Saturday, February 21 and packing baskets on Sunday, February 22.. Please come to help; it is a lot of fun and we will supply snacks and wine. In Our Community Our thanks to Meredith Manley for volunteering a week of her time during winter break from Amherst College to clean and organize rooms and storage areas in the school wing. She did an amazing job! Meredith is the daughter of Congregation members Wendy and Tim Manley. Her Bat Mitzvah was held at our Synagogue on May 23, 2009. Congregation Hesed shel Emet mourns the untimely passing of long-time member Marion Mackey on December 21st. Marion joined the Congregation after completing her studies with Rabbi Melody Johnston in 2000. She was active in our Sisterhood and remembered fondly by our senior members. She is survived by daughter Teresa and son Richard Jr. May her soul be bound up in the bond of life. '‫ת' נ' צ' ב' ה‬ We are sad to announce the passing of Roz Grossman, the widow of our late Rabbi Herman Grossman. The Grossmans served our Congregation in the 1960’s and eventually moved to Israel. The Grossman were the parents of three sons, Tuvie, Joel and Daniel, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Roz was in charge of music for our Religious School and produced many plays and Purim extravaganzas. She assisted in producing two shows—”Fiddler on the Roof” and “Fiorello” which starred members of our Congregation. Condolences to the Princenthal family on the passing of Frances Princenthal who was a very long time member of our Synagogue. Grave side services are at our cemetery on North Hanover Street on Wednesday, February 28, at 11:00am. Get well wishes to Howard Sokol who is recovering at home following surgery for a fractured hip. You shop. Amazon Gives. · Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Bnai Brith Int’l - Pottstown Chapter whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Bnai Brith in turn supports the congregation by donating all the proceeds from the program! · AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. · Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com. · Use this link to get started! http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7408626 · Make sure you are connected to Bnai Brith Pottstown each time you log in to your Amazon account - the Smile logo will appear at the top left of the page and the organization name will be display! Thank you! · Contact Amy Wolf at amywolf.515@gmail.com or 610-705-0846 if you have any questions. Mixed Metals Recycling Fundraiser A friendly reminder from the metal recycling department… Please keep the aluminum can separate from the steel cans in the marked containers. Examples of aluminum cans are soda, beer, and small cat food cans. Steel cans are usually soup and vegetables. We don’t make any money on steel cans, but I will take them as a courtesy to you if your home recycling doesn’t take them. However, aluminum is our biggest money maker, so keep them coming! Thanks, Judy Judy Bieberfeld Bieberfeld@verizon.net Save the Date! Jewish Heritage Festival Sunday, May 31, 2015 11 am - 5 pm We are in the early planning stages of this major event and fundraiser for our synagogue! The day will include: • Art presentation by world-renowned artist Mordechai Rosenstein • Food, lots of great food! • Yiddishe theater, presented by the Reading Theater Group, Israeli -inspired dancers, shofar blowing and more! • Vendors presenting Judaica, books, jewelry, etc. • Jewish history and holiday displays  Tours of the sanctuary & Torah display  How can you help? • Join the planning committee - we need lots of great minds and ideas to put together a successful event. We meet every Tuesday, 6:15 pm in the library. • Solicit ads for our program • Donate your time on the day of the event - we need “all hands on deck” • Prepare food - we will prepare and freeze as much food ahead of time as we can! • Donate a basket - for our basket raffle. We need 5 or 6 really nice baskets of various themes/products Congregation Hesed Shel Emet 575 North Keim Street Pottstown PA 19464