Professional Documents
Culture Documents
November 2011 Bulletin
November 2011 Bulletin
Bulletin
November 2011
BETH AM
Tishri / Cheshvan
Honoring and celebrating our Veterans and all those serving in the Armed Forces Yes, the new education and multi-purpose wing is open
RABBI'S MESSAGE
I was privileged to be awarded an Honorary Doctoral degree by The Jewish Theological Seminary at a special convocation in New York City. With this degree, JTS's faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees expresses the traditional wish expressing respect: ?' ? ???Your strength gives strength to rabbis who have served the Jewish ? community for more than twenty-five years in the cause of Conservative Judaism and its Traditional expression of Judaism throughout the world. I was ordained in 1978 upon completing a 6-year graduate program. Many Conservative congregations in the 1970s were still non-egalitarian: Torah honors and the responsibility to be part of a minyan were reserved only for men. Needless to say, only men were allowed to become rabbis. It was a different world! Today, in 21st century America, the Conservative movement is egalitarian. It is virtually unthinkable to tell our daughters and granddaughters that they can be physicians, lawyers, even the President of our country, but they cannot be equal to me on any and every level of Jewish participation and leadership. Similarly, our approach to Judaism has evolved to reflect the major spiritual and sociological challenges of each generation: interfaith and gay/lesbian inclusivity, maintaining identity in a non-Jewish (and sometimes anti-Jewish) world, and the staggering advances in technology and biomedical research. Conservative Judaism identified throughout the world as Masorti (Traditional) began as the commitment to conserving Jewish Heritage within the framework of the Talmud. It is the most Jewishly-authentic approach to confronting the challenge of integrating tradition with modernity. The Conservative community has its own distinctive approach to issues, one that is coherent and yet pluralistic, thoughtful and yet oriented to action, traditional and yet responsive to the present. One of my first teachers in graduate school, Dr. Elliot Dorff, defined the nature of our approach to Tradition very succinctly: Conservative Judaism involves a combination of commitment, flexibility, tolerance, and intellectual vigor that has characterized Judaism historically and that has made it the wise Heritage that it is. To practice it requires maturity and responsibility in both action and thought. It is an especially authentic way of being Jewish. Elissa's father, Rabbi Kassel Abelson Past President of the Rabbinical Assembly and Chair-Emeritus of the Committee on Law and Jewish Standards authored a statement of definition and affirmation: As Conservative/Masorti Jews, we believe that Torah is an on-going process that began with the Bible. It is the continuing reflection on the cumulative traditions of our People in the light of the experiences of each generation. We believe that halakha Jewish practice addresses itself to the needs of the present, shapes and extends earlier norms and practices in the light of expanded knowledge and ethical sensitivities. As Conservative/Masorti Jews, we lift our eyes not to heaven above, but to heaven on earth; not to heaven beyond life, but to heaven within life itself. Our congregations mission statement presents our perspective of Jewish Tradition with precisely that sense of commitment and vision: Beth Am recognizes that Judaism is an ongoing process of adapting ancient forms to the modern context of society, and of filling those traditional forms with new meaning. CBA is a warm, joyful, uplifting and caring congregational family of families, guided by the principle of inclusivity so that social, educational and spiritual involvement is open to every membership household. I am honored by the Jewish Theological Seminarys recognition of service as a Conservative/Masorti Rabbi, but the true honor is my being listed in the program as the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Am in Longwood. Our congregation fits the uplifting definition of Conservative/Masorti Judaism in every way.
Rabbi Rick Sherwin [email protected]
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We need your financial support through the Capital Campaign or, it is not too late to contribute to the High Holy Days Campaign. With your support we will continue our transformation into the future.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Happy 5772 to all! As I was writing this article I ran across a very relevant quotation from John F. Kennedy, thirty-fifth President of the USA in which he states, Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. We at Beth Am have now reached a major turning point in developing our future. The High Holy Days are behind us and at least for another year we are prepared to move forward making Beth Am a very special place for all of us. Under the leadership of Robyn Colley and Rachel Shapiro our congregation is buzzing with enthusiasm from many parents regarding new activities and programs. It's taken a lot of hard work, and to see it all come together is truly something special and amazing. Can you believe that it is just one year since our congregational meeting last November? Last year after a board meeting as I walked to my car I stopped to look back at our building and it made me think of a deserted race track with its orange colored parking cones randomly positioned thought out the parking lot and next to the main building was our portable classrooms with its skirting falling off from the weather and light poles covered with rust. Instead of classrooms the portable had the appearance of a deserted construction office with broken exterior lights. We concluded our High Holy Days this year I had the opportunity to meet face to face with many of our congregants regarding the many changes to Beth Am that have occurred over the past year. We now have a new and revitalized school that is second to none, a new driveway entrance and new landscaping. Yes and we did it in less than one year obtaining building permits from Seminole county and completing construction compliant with current Building and Life Safety codes.. and even our entire building has been given a well-deserved fresh coat of paint. I hope that by now most of you are getting a sense that Beth Am is undergoing a significant transformation, and if we want to keep it going we need the continuing support of every single one of you to continue.
To date, 60 members of our congregation enjoyed exploring Israel a family in 2007 and in 2009 to fulfill the mitzva of Tmikhat Yisrael, Supporting Israel. Each tour in the past has offered a spiritually inspiring experience specifically designed for the group. We fully toured Israel from coast to coast, up to the Lebanese border and across to the Golan Heights, then back down to Jerusalem. One highlight of our most recent tour was a morning service at the Wall lead by six Bnai Mitzva where each one read from the Torah, and everyone received an aliya. We will again offer this opportunity to both teens and adults. The 5772 trip is tentatively set to leave on June 12, 2012, for a full 10 days of touring. We need a minimum of 30 people for the trip to take place. We are planning to schedule an information meeting in December. Please contact Rabbi Rick <[email protected]> if you are considering the POSSIBILITY of joining the group, fulfilling one of the highest mitzvot in Jewish Tradition, and enjoying the experience of a lifetime.
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Your Care Team Members Sondra Karesh Pritchard My name is Sondra Karesh Pritchard and I was born in Atlanta, Georgia where I lived until I got married in August 1956. I have three children Mark, who lives in Ft. Worth, Texas; Dale who lives in Atlanta, Georgia; and Marsha, who lives in Apopka, Florida. I now live with Marsha, her husband Marty (Stein) and their children, Aleah and Rebekah. I worked as an x-ray technologist in Fayetteville for many years after attending the University of Alabama and Medical College of Georgia I was asked to be a member of the Care Team by Robyn Colley. I have organized spaghetti dinners (before Friday night services), helped serve at the Ice Cream Social/Onegs and assisted whenever I was asked. I hope to continue to assist them in their endeavors in the future. ADULT BAT/BAR MITZVA SERVICE
HOW TO CONTACT US
407.862.3505 [email protected] www.CongBethAm.org Please direct all correspondence to: P.O. Box 915756 Longwood, FL 32791-5756 We're located at: 3899 Sand Lake Road Longwood, FL 32779
CBA Office Hours Saturday, Sunday & Mondayclosed Tuesday thru Friday 9:00 am3:00 pm Wednesdays during School until 6:00 pm
JACOB ALSTEIN
Nov.5 8 Heshvan Lekh Lkha
Jacob Samuel Alstein, son of Minna & Gil Alstein and brother of Adam and Hannah will be called to the Torah for the first time as a Bar Mitzva on Saturday Nov. 5. Jacob is in the seventh grade and an Honor Student at Teague Middle School. He is a passionate football and basketball fan and he is a member of the Longwood Ravens Youth Football Team where he plays the positions of Offensive Line, Defensive End and Kicker. __________________________________________
For the 2011-2012 year, Womens League has selected the theme of Hiddur Mitzvah beautifying or embellishing a mitzvah. In keeping with this theme, CBA Sisterhood is offering an opportunity for interested congregants to make beaded kippot. Eva Gaber will lead the instruction and you will be able to choose from a variety of bead colors, shapes and sizes. The program will be held on November 13th following the congregational meeting which begins at 10 am. CBA Sisterhood is offering brunch following the meeting, the beaded kippa class and childcare (during brunch and class). If you want to have brunch and make a kippa the cost is $15. For just the brunch or just the class it is $10. Childcare is $5 per family. A family rate of $20 is available for 2 adults for brunch and class with $5 additional for childcare. Childcare includes lunch for the children and a movie. If you have a child in Religious School, he/she can join the childcare group when school is dismissed. Come for the meeting, stay for brunch and take a classall in one place! You can make a kippa for yourself or your wife, your mother or your sister or for a friend. It will be fun and creative and all done within the CBA community. What could be better? Please RSVP by November 10th so that we can assure the proper supplies and prepare the brunch. You may pay at the door, but please let us know that you will be coming! RSVP to Cathy Swerdlow [email protected] or 407 862 2374. CBA Sisterhood is proud to welcome new members: Dilly Clarke, Betsy Batwin, Michele Bourne, Celia Rosenberg and Beth Oxborough! It is never to late to join our Sisterhood! The membership form can be found on our synagogue website! At our September meeting there was interest in getting a Shabbat morning Yoga class started. The class would be from 9 to 10am as a preparation for Shabbat worship. The class would be open to both men and women. If you would be interested, please let me know. Bshalom
eBay at CBA
While doing your summer cleaning, did you find things you just dont want or cant use but theyll have some value to someone? If so, please donate these items to us it's a win-win situation. You support Beth Am and get the tax deduction we sell the items on eBay and other venues and use the pro, activities and programming at Beth Am. Please call Herb (407.774.9695) if you have any questions or to arrange for pickup of your unused treasures.
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November 2011
Congregation Beth Am
Sun
STUDY & DISCUSSION GROUP MEETS AFTER KIDDUSH LUNCHEON EVERY
6 9:30 am Religious School 10:00 am Adult Education 11:00 Adult Bnai Mitzva 7
Mon
1
Tue
2
Wed
3
Thu
Fri
4 6:20 pm 8:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat 5
tb#
9:00 am Mitzva Class
Sunset 6:38 pm 12 9:00 am Mitzva Class 6th Grade Siddur Service Veterans Day Observance Sunset 5:34 pm 17 7:00 PM Book & Movie Clubat Panera Bread on Forest City Road 7:30 PM Sports Shooting Club @ CBA 18 5:12 pm 19
8 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING 5:00 pm Religious School (Winter Springs) ELECTION DAY
OFFICE CLOSED
14 OFFICE CLOSED
15
16
Sunset 5:31 pm
20 9:30 am Religious School 10:00 am Adult Education 11:00 Adult Bnai Mitzva
21
22 No Religious School
24 HAPPY THANKSGIVING
25 5:10 pm
26
No Mitzva Class
27 No Religious School
28 OFFICE CLOSED
29
30
Calendar information is subject to change. Please refer to Calendar on Events page of our website for current information. -7-
IN MEMORIAM
Catering By Artisans
(Your CBA Caterer)
As a Congregational Family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Simmie Golub on the loss of her aunt BESS DONOCOFF Lois Smith on the loss of her father SIDNEY SPECTOR Denise Jaffe Remembering her grandmother JANE AGER Norm & Marlene Levin as they remember the loss of Norms father HAROLD LEVIN HA-MAKOM Y'NA HEM
delicious food an impressive presentation personal, caring attention every last detail taken care of unbeatable pricing catering profits to benefit Beth Am Then...
Catering By Artisans is your only choice! For information, contact: Sheri Rosenberg 321.356.1529
We Welcome New Members Melissa Dugdale Mitchell & Marilyn Lustig Ellis & Marilyn Wilensky
WE THANK hbr hdwt
Support Beth Am AND celebrate your special occasion with custom invitations and announcements. We carry a full line from Regency, Encore and Checkerboard. You can also order a tallit for yourself or for your child's Bat/Bar Mitzva. Contact Debbie Davids at 407.869.0238.
Steve Leibowitz and Scott Halperin for repairing the Sukka Millie Harris & Rose Lazoritz for their help in preparing the monthy bulletin for mailing
SHOFAR: The Sounding of the Shofar is one of the most emotionally stirring moment of spirit, recalling the sound heard by the Hebrews standing at the foot of Mount Sinai accepting the gift of Torah. It the sound of the Shofar that reminds us of our Covenant, and that we are called upon to be Lor Goyim, a source of light for the nations of the world. We thank Dr. Neal (who arranged and organized the sounding of Shofar) and these Baalay Tki-a who answered the call: Eli Alman Steven Botwinik Eva Gaber Noah Goldberg Phil Kaprow Neal Silverstein Bruce Weinstein Lloyd Werk
TORAH READERS: The Torah reading and Haftara presents the theme of each service and provides the central pillar of commitment and conviction to reflecting the Image of God in which each of us is created. We thank Dr. Davids (who organized and arranged the High Holy Day Torah readings), Phil Brown (who addresses this mitzva over the holidays and Shabbat) and our Baalay Kri-a and Haftara participants: Myron Ascher Craig Blattner Benjamin Davids Debbie Davids Mark Davids Rabbi Moe Kaprow Morris Rashy Recent Bnai Mitzva
SUKKA BUILDERS: The Sukka is our reminder that we need to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, and to offer thanks for those who make sure to grow and harvest the crops of the field so as to provide the basic staples of life, those who gather the eggs, and those who feed the herds and slaughter meat in a humane manner so that we are provided with meat. We thank our Sukka builders: Greg Alman Kevin Colley Jeff Grushka Jordan Grushka
Yyasher Kohkhem to each of you and to all of you for giving strength to our congregation through the holiday season. ETROG & LULAV: The Lulav and Etrog are reminders that we must gather from the four corners of the earth, and to included all people in our vision for the future redemption of the world. We thank Myron & Allison Ascher for enabling us to fulfill the important mitzva of Ntilat Lulav.
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Thank you all for your help in preparing, setting up And cleaning up for Break the Fast.
Aaron Davids Benjamin Davids Debbie Davids Mark Davids Melissa Dugdale Becky Goldstein Elyse Jacobs Phil Kaprow Nancy Mendel Barry Nager Risa Page Marcia Rosen Sheri Rosenberg Rhonda Scorzelli Nomi Sherwin Arlene Silver Blake VanBurndt Eric Weinstein
NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
1 2 2 3 4 6 8 10 Michal & Shlomith Cohen Marilyn & Mitch Lustig Celia & Steven Rosenberg Jen & Tom LoMedico Marilyn & Sherman Miller Karen & Gary Klein Karen & Mark Estrin Susan & Mark Schulman 11 Nicole & Steven Botwinik 17 Nancy Brown Abrudescu & Nicholas Abrudescu 20 Ellen & Ken Solomon 22 Christina & Gary Michaelson 24 Suzzie & Ron Bobele 25 Lisa & Craig Fishman 25 SuzAnne & Gary Kaltbaum 27 Pam Bellet & Alan Zemel
MEMORIAL PLAQUES
A plaque on the Memorial Board in our Sanctuary is a fitting way to remember family members whom we recall with warmth and affection. To honor the memory of a loved one with a plaque, please submit your request (accompanied by payment of $360) to our office. The form is available in our office or on the secure Payments Page of our website, where you can also make payment.
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4 5 6
8 9
10 11
12 13
15
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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 6 6 Mike Bartfield Steve Jaffe
Bernadette Silverstein
Faith Greenberg Lucy Seidler Sam Woociker Mike Abrams Bernice Shapiro Elissa Sherwin Melissa Stricker Helen Tishman Zach Golub Phil Kaprow Paige Rosenblatt Evelyne Ambroise Andrea Behn
6 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 12
Michael Stricker Justin Barber Michael Cayado Melissa Harac Shayna Mendel Michael Mendel Mark Schulman Richard Goldstein Larrie Greene Samara Halperin Ethan Pollack Diane Siegel Lon Winter
Doreen Bierenbaum
13 13 14 14 14 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 18 18 18 18 19
Vanessa Stein Devon Stern Matt Feinman Emily Schlansky Bill Weiss Eric Gair Rabbi Moe Kaprow Kelly Green Barry Miller Quinn Solomon Fern Loory Joanne Weiss Jack LoMedico Dylan Mendel Hadyn Shear Sheryle Woodruff Robert Dorman
19 19 19 19 20 20 21 21 21 21 21 22 22 23 23 24
Sarah Dorman Josh Helman Holly Roark Ruthie Rubin Sherril Bracco Sheldon Weiss Mark Estrin Madeline Feinman Mitchell Lustig Brittany Macleod Garrett Yopack Reid Intro Shaina Kaprow Jacob Lewis Marlene Steinfeld Jason Eichenholz
25 26 26 27 27 27 27 29 29 29 30
Cyndie Elman Ilene Sabulsky Rhonda Scorzelli Leslie Kutner Sara Kutner Gail Lewis Cathy Swerdlow Steven Bierenbaum Logan Ulch Linda Zlatkiss Rachel Suberman
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SUPPORTERS OF BETH AM
ONEG/KIDDUSH SPONSORS
Sara & Phil Kaprow, Daniel and Shaina, in celebration of the 70th birthday of Saras father Bob Memis Harriet Margot & Phil Margot, in celebration of their son Daniel becoming a Bar Mitzva Morris & Sheila Rashy, in celebration of Tollefson Baby Naming Kristina & Jason Tollefson, in celebration of Misha Tollefsons Baby Naming
GENERAL FUND
Heddy & Michael Bernstein, in memory of Manny Soski Mike & Sheri Berren, Ice Cream Social for raising money for the Enjoy the City coupon books Howard & Kim Finkelstein, in memory of Lee, Bea & Steven Finkelstein Carol Francis, in memory of brother, Rabbi Mark Loeb Hilda Frishman, in memory of father Benjamin Elman and in memory of husband Fred Frishman Helene Gold, in memory of mother-in-law Belle Gold, in memory of father, Joseph Levy & father-in-law, Samuel Gold Mary & Lloyd Lavin, A big thank you to Nancy Kucaba for all her help Don Seligman, in memory of mother Julie Seligman-Feuer Marc & Diane Siegel, in memory of father David Siegel Neal & Bernadette Silverstein, in memory of mother Anne Silverstein Karen Stroup, in memory of mother Leah Bat Schmuel Jerrey Weiss, in memory of mother, Judith Weiss
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Sunday, November 13, 2011 10:00 AM Sanctuary at CBA AGENDA: Approval of By-Laws Election of 2012 Board of Directors Annual Update 2012 Budget 20122013 Officers President Immediate Past President Steve Leibowitz Jim Riola
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substitution and to vote as the proxy sees fit with respect to all matters that may come before the Annual Meeting of Members of Congregation Beth Am to be held at the Congregation, 3899 Sand Lake Road, Longwood, Florida 32779 on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. and at any adjournments, continuations or postponements of that meeting. Said proxy is hereby granted full power to vote and act for me in my name and place, in the same manner, to the same extent and with the same effect as though I might vote were I present at said Meetings, granting to the said ___________________________________ the full power of substitution and revocation. I hereby revoke any Proxy previously given with respect to the Meeting. Signature ________________________________ Dated: November _____, 2011
substitution and to vote as the proxy sees fit with respect to all matters that may come before the Annual Meeting of Members of Congregation Beth Am to be held at the Congregation, 3899 Sand Lake Road, Longwood, Florida 32779 on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. and at any adjournments, continuations or postponements of that meeting. Said proxy is hereby granted full power to vote and act for me in my name and place, in the same manner, to the same extent and with the same effect as though I might vote were I present at said Meetings, granting to the said ___________________________________ the full power of substitution and revocation. I hereby revoke any Proxy previously given with respect to the Meeting. Signature ________________________________ Dated: November _____, 2011
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