23
from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 www.ti-stl.org Congregation Temple Israel is a caring, inclusive community committed to living Reform Judaism and participating in the sacred destiny of the Jewish people and Israel through education, worship, and repair of the world. a special shabbat worship experience honoring our leaders 127 th annual congregational meeting friday, january 10, 2014 appetizers & wine - 6:00 pm service & program - 6:30 pm special oneg shabbat reception to follow see page 3 for more details.

from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    2

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

from strength to

December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774

Volume XXXIII / Number 3www.ti-stl.org

Congregation Temple Israel is a caring, inclusive community committed to living Reform Judaism and participating in the sacred destiny of the Jewish people and Israel through education, worship, and repair of the world.

a special shabbat worship experience

honoring our leaders 127th annual congregational meeting

friday, january 10, 2014

appetizers & wine - 6:00 pmservice & program - 6:30 pm

special oneg shabbat reception to follow

see page 3 for more details.

Page 2: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

DECEMBER WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sunday, December 1, 2013

4:00 p.m. Thanksgivukkah Service,

Dinner, and Celebration

Friday, December 6, 2013

6:00 p.m. Tot Shabbat

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Worship

Saturday, December 7, 2013

9:45 a.m. Bible Study

11:00 a.m. Shabbat Worship

Bar Mitzvah of Jason Garland

son of Burt and Amy Garland

Torah Portion: Genesis 45:25-28, 46:1-7

Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:24-28

Friday, December 13, 2013

6:00 p.m. Pre-Oneg

6:30 p.m. Shabbat B’Shir

Saturday, December 14, 2013

9:00 a.m. Shabbat Worship

9:45 a.m. Bible Study

Torah Portion: Genesis 50:15-26

Haftarah: I Kings 2:7-12

Friday, December 20, 2013

6:00 p.m. Pre-Oneg

6:30 p.m. Learners’ Shabbat

Saturday, December 21, 2013

9:00 a.m. Shabbat Worship

9:45 a.m. Bible Study

Torah Portion: Exodus 3:1-10

Haftarah: Isaiah 28:9-13

Friday, December 27, 2013

6:00 p.m. Pre-Oneg

6:30 p.m. Shabbat Worship with HaShemesh

Saturday, December 28, 2013

9:00 a.m. Shabbat Worship

9:45 a.m. Bible Study

Torah Portion: Exodus 7:14-24

Haftarah: Ezekiel 29:8-12

2 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

Join us for Shabbat worship and learning!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, AT 6:30 P.M.Rabbi Isaac Luria: Lion Among the Ruins

Learn about the brief life and profound work of one of

the most influential mystics in all of rabbinic history.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, AT 6:30 P.M.Jews, Torah, and Baseball

You won’t want to miss this discussion of two great

traditions and why they matter so much to us.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, AT 7:30 P.M.Kabbalah: Jewish Mystics and Mysticism

in the Digital Age

Discover how an ancient Jewish tradition applies to us,

and half of Hollywood, today.

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, AT 7:30 P.M.Messiah: Who or What is the Jewish Messiah?

If Jews don’t believe that Jesus was the messiah,

what do we believe?

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, AT 6:30 P.M.The Wicked Son: Anti-Semitism, Self-Hatred,

and the Jews

Rabbi Alper will discuss David Mamet’s searing collection

of essays based on the question: “Which child is the best

representation of our own time – the wicked, the wise,

the simple, or the one who does not know to ask?”

RABBI ALPER TO BEGIN NEW SERMON SERIES

Page 3: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

at aGLANCE

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 3 page

from strength to

This has been a year of new twists to longstanding

Temple Israel traditions. We began our Jewish year

with beautiful and unique High Holy Day worship

experiences at the JCC. Now, we are adding a new

twist to our annual congregational meeting on

Friday, January 10, 2014.

We invite you to join us for “From Strength to

Strength,” a special Shabbat worship experience

honoring our Temple’s lay leaders and encompassing

the 127th Annual Meeting of the congregation.

In Judaism, when one completes a chapter of Torah,

it is customary for the congregation to proclaim:

“Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek,” “Be strong, and let

us strengthen one another.” On this Shabbat we

will celebrate and honor the leaders of our

congregation who have helped Temple Israel grow

“from strength to strength.”

Our evening will begin with pre-oneg appetizers

and wine at 6:00 p.m. The service will follow at

6:30 p.m. Throughout this special service created by

our Rabbis for this occasion, we will recognize our

outgoing President and Board members, and elect

and install our incoming Board officers and trustees.

In keeping with the theme of our service,

we will honor several individuals for their

extraordinary efforts to help our congregation

grow “from strength to strength.” The Presidential

Award for Continuing Excellence (PACE) will be

presented to Board officers Neil Marglous and

Dee Mogerman, and Membership and Development

Coordinator Amanda Radman, for their leadership

in planning our High Holy Day services at the JCC.

The PACE award was created in 1995 by President

Leonard Adreon “to recognize the continuing efforts

of long-serving leaders of the congregation.”

In addition, David Chassin, Ted Greenberg, and

David Rosenberg will be honored as Pillars of the

Temple for their tremendous help in addressing our

facility needs. The Pillar of the Temple Award was

established by Rabbi Mark L. Shook in 2005 to

“give recognition to congregants who seek no

plaudits or honors for themselves, but give

tirelessly for the well-being of the congregation.”

Our celebratory evening will conclude with

an Oneg Shabbat dessert reception.

Watch for your invitation arriving in the mail soon.

a special shabbat worship experience

honoring our leaders 127th annual congregational meeting

Page 4: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?Rabbi Amy Feder

and people of all faiths, an opportunity to take a day that

is sacred for some and make it sacred for all.

We may not be celebrating the birth of Jesus, but most

of us have the day free from work, school, and other

obligations – an entire day that can be spent on holy

activities and making these dark winter days a little

brighter for people in need. Whether or not we feel

that Christmas is “our” holiday, it would be a wasted

opportunity to let it pass by unrecognized when it is a

day that so many people, regardless of their faith, need

extra cheer.

An easy way to do this is by participating in the

Jewish and Muslim Day of Service (See page 15.)

Temple Israel is a sponsoring organization of this

amazing event, which brings together people of different

backgrounds and faiths in community service projects

all around St. Louis. There are projects for every age

group, and you can sign up to volunteer and learn more

at http://www.stljewishmuslimdayofservice.org.

Projects include everything from visiting people at

nursing homes to delivering presents to needy families

and so much more. I am proud to say that this year, the

rabbis’ family will be celebrating Christmas. We may not

have lights, presents, or cookies (okay, there may be

cookies), but we will take it as just one more day to help

enrich our Jewish selves with the work of tikkun olam as

we make the world a better place.

[email protected]

There has been much ado this year about

Thanksgivukkah, the rare convergence of Thanksgiving

and the first day of Hanukkah that we celebrated just a

few days ago. And while I’ve certainly enjoyed (at least

to a point) the recipes, decoration ideas, and other fun

facts that have been published and discussed over the

past few months about it, the whole time I’ve had one

pressing thought in my mind: Forget Thanksgivukkah!

What are we going to do about Christmas?

Perhaps that seems like a strange question coming

from a rabbi. Yet for many Jews, and not just those of

us in interfaith families, the early timing of Hanukkah

this year presents a serious dilemma. When American

Jews created the concept of Hanukkah gift giving, it

prevented us from feeling excluded during Christmas.

If Hanukkah and Christmas are at least in the same

month, we can still get into the holiday spirit while

maintaining our Jewish practices. This year, though,

by the time Christmas rolls around, our dreidels and

menorahs will long have been packed away. How can

we help ourselves from feeling excluded from the

Christmas spirit?

My short answer is: We shouldn’t. That may be easier

said than done, and many of us will continue to wrestle

with questions about customs like Santa, colored

lights, and stockings. But those traditions are the least

important aspects of Christmas in the truest sense of

the holiday, regardless of what faith one practices.

What is more important is that Christmas offers Jews,

4 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

Page 5: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

CHUTZPAHRabbi Michael Alper

Every year since I’ve been at Temple Israel, I have had

the luxury and pleasure of being able to teach adult

education classes on a variety of Jewish subjects.

From Talmud to yiddishkeit and everything in between,

it has been exciting to see which topics appeal to which

learners, what subjects will grab the attention of our

congregants, and which ones don’t pack the right punch.

But of course, when it comes to Jewish study, there’s

really only one place you need to go: the Torah.

There’s a famous midrash about rabbis Hillel and

Shammai that I’m sure many of you know. The story

goes that there was once a man who wanted to know

everything there was to know about the Torah and about

being Jewish, and he asked each of these great rabbis

to teach him…while standing on one foot. Shammai

was immediately offended and sent the man away.

Hillel calmly raised one foot and replied, “What is hurtful

to you, do not do to others; all the rest is commentary,

go and learn it.” His lesson is beautiful for two reasons.

The first, of course, and the one most commonly

acknowledged, is the Jewish version of the Golden Rule.

But the second is equally important and often missed.

To truly do right and to truly know Judaism, one has to

be constantly studying Torah. There is so much wisdom,

intrigue, and drama in the Torah that one could, and

should, study it every week, every day of one’s life, as

each day a new lesson or teaching might arise.

So, as much as I have loved delving into different and

strange Jewish texts with many of you, starting next

month we are getting back to basics. Every Tuesday,

beginning January 7 from 12:15-1:15 p.m., we will be

studying the weekly Torah portion over lunch. The Torah

is neatly divided into portions so that each week we will

be reading the same stories that Jews across the world

will be studying, and have been for ages. I promise you,

it will help center you and your life more than you could

ever imagine. Bring a brown bag lunch, bring a Bible, or

bring nothing at all, but be ready to share. I look forward

to seeing you then.

[email protected]

templeNEWS

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 5 page

Page 6: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

6 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

TIFTY HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE BENEFITTING CAMP RAINBOW

BAKING PUMPKIN PIES WITH A PURPOSE

Page 7: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 7 page

templeHAPPENINGS

It was standing room only at Temple Israel on Friday, November 1,

when friends, students, colleagues, congregants and fans of

good historical fiction came out to celebrate Rabbi Emeritus

Mark Shook’s debut novel, The Ezra Scroll.

A pre-oneg wine reception preceded an abbreviated Shabbat

service. A lively book talk by Rabbi Shook followed. Then it was

on to an oneg Shabbat dessert buffet featuring home-baked

treats by congregants as readers lined-up for a signed copy

of The Ezra Scroll.

To learn more about The Ezra Scroll and to purchase copies

of the book, visit www.ezrascroll.com. The book is also

available at amazon.com.

RABBI SHOOK PRESENTS ‘THE EZRA SCROLL’

Page 8: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

8 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

SHABBAT BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS

Are you celebrating a birthday in January?

If so, be sure to join us for Shabbat worship

on Friday, January 17, at 6:30 p.m.

All adults and children with January birthdays

will be called to the bimah to receive a special birthday

blessing from the rabbis.

Going forward, the third Shabbat of each month,

in addition to being our Learners’ Shabbat,

will also now be Birthday Shabbat!

We look forward to celebrating with you!

BOOK DRIVE FOR SUCCEEDING WITH

READING

Temple Israel is hosting a book drive

to benefit Succeeding with Reading. Succeeding

with Reading is a comprehensive literacy

system that builds reading and writing skills

and inspires a love of reading in low income

children who struggle with reading.

The program is currently offered at two

schools: Jefferson Elementary School

and Bryan Hill Elementary School,

both located in St. Louis City.

In addition, we will be donating books

to children and families in five mixed-income

neighborhoods in North St. Louis including

Murphy Park, O’Fallon Place, Renaissance

Place, North Sarah, and Arlington Grove.

We are seeking donations of new

and gently used books that are appropriate

for children and adults of all ages.

A book collection bin is located by the

May Chapel entrance.

For more information about

Succeeding with Reading,

visit www.urbanstrategiesinc.org

or contact Josh Goldman at 314-335-2900.

Page 9: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 9 page

worth NOTING

DECC STUDENTS CELEBRATE PJ DAY

Page 10: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

Last month I highlighted our new Art teacher at

DECC. This month, meet our new Nature teacher,

Naomi Landis Forseter. I also invite you to visit our new

Nature Room. This incredible hands-on space has been

made possible thanks to the generosity of our DECC

Parents Committee.

NATURE PROGRAM AT DECC by Naomi Forseter

“My name is Naomi Landis Forseter and I am the

Nature teacher at DECC, a mom to a red lizard, and a

TI congregant! If you have not had a chance to stop by

to meet the DECC animals, please feel free to visit our

Nature Room on the lower level of the Preschool.

Prior to having my son, I was a zoo keeper in both the

Bird and Primate departments at the Saint Louis Zoo.

I also previously worked in Washington State with large

cats and in Arizona with a colony of chimpanzees.

My love for animals has defined me my whole life, and

I devoted many years to studying them. It is an honor to

be able to share this love and knowledge with the DECC

children. Many of the children have the same innate

passion for the animals that I possess. Others who were

hesitant to even sit in the circle with the animals the first

couple of weeks are now begging to hold and pet our

furry friends.

Each week we have a specific animal or animal-related

topic that we focus on through books, songs, art

projects, games, and dance. At the end of each session,

we interact with one or more of the growing collection

of animals: two guinea pigs, two rats, a bunny, a dwarf

hamster, fish, and three tadpoles on their journey to

becoming aquatic frogs. This is just the beginning of this

new program at DECC. Our furry family will continue

to grow! Preschool parents know that when their

children come home with either an animal-related art

project or an animal sticker, they have had Nature class

with Miss Naomi! Learning about animals and having

practical experience with them will help children’s

minds grow and develop a love and compassion for

other beings. It is an honor to be their guide as they

discover the beautiful world of animals.

Fun fact for all: Monkeys have tails; apes do not!

“So if you see a chimpanzee, a gorilla, or an orangutan,

you are looking at our first cousins. We share about

98 percent of our DNA with chimpanzees.”

A FINAL WORD FROM LESLIE So please come spend some time at DECC and meet

Naomi. She is another one of our great team of

teachers at DECC.

[email protected]

DEUTSCH EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER OF TEMPLE ISRAELLeslie Wolf, Director

10 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

October 31 was

“wear your PJs

to school” day at

DECC.

Page 11: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

school NEWS

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL HAPPENINGSMarisa Reby, Director

It is so hard to believe that it is December already.

The school year is nearly half over! This month I am

turning this space over to our 2nd grade class teachers.

2ND GRADE By Evie Bernstein and Marti Maurer

We are pleased to be co-teaching 2nd grade this year.

Our curriculum from the Institute of Southern Jewish

Life (ISJL) includes Jewish holidays and life cycle

events. We are also having a great time in Hebrew class

and find that our students are excelling in our new online

learning center offered through the Behrman House

publishing company.

We recently had a fun-filled family program that

involved touring Israel through the five senses.

Students and parents experienced Masada through

an archaeological dig (touch); open air markets with

fresh herbs and spices (smell); listening to prayers at

the Kotel and writing our own prayers (sound); making

Flat Stanley dolls to eventually send to our sister school

in Yokneam, Israel (sight), and sampling freshly-made

Israeli salad and hummus (taste).

Our Flat Stanley/Stella dolls are part of an ongoing

piece of curriculum on Israel. This semester, our dolls

are having their photos taken while our students

perform Gemilut Hasadim (acts of loving kindness).

We will post their photos on our 2nd grade bulletin

board. Later this year, our Stanley/Stellas will travel to

our sister school in Israel and get to know our Israeli

counterparts and their families.

We are trying to be “Hooked on Hebrew” in 2nd grade,

and our students have surpassed our expectations this

year! We will be making a special pancake breakfast for

our students to celebrate their enthusiasm and their

new Hebrew skills. We have also invited special guests

for that morning — our rabbis!

[email protected]

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 11 page

Temple Israel Consecration Class of 2013-5774

Page 12: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

ENGAGING OUR YOUTHStephanie Rhea, Youth Groups Advisor

12 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

Our Temple Israel youth groups have a busy December planned.

Shake off the winter blues at these great youth group events!

Friday, December 20, at 6:30 pm

Learners’ Shabbat – “Speaking Out When It’s Hard.”

Youth post-b’nai mitzvah through high school are invited

to write kavanot (prayers with intention) on this theme

to read during the service. Musicians and artists are

welcome to participate as well. Join us for dinner

at Fallon’s Bar and Grill following the service.

All TI youth participating in the service eat free!

Tuesday, December 24, at 10:00 am

TIFTY is hosting Family Cookie Decorating for Police

and Firefighters. Bring the entire family to Temple Israel

to decorate sugar cookies that will be delivered to

Creve Coeur fire and police stations.

The cost to participate is $3 per family member.

Each person will receive four cookies to decorate.

Proceeds will benefit Camp Rainbow, a summer camp

for children with cancer and other blood related diseases.

RSVP by Friday, December 20.

January 17-20, 2014

Winter Chavurah is coming! This regional event over

the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend is for high school

youth and will be hosted by Temple Sinai in Denver, CO.

Early bird registration is $430. Scholarship assistance

is available.

For more information or to RSVP for any of these

programs, contact Stephanie Rhea, [email protected]

or 314-432-8050.

TIFTY members entertained guests

at a recent international dinner. From left, are Hannah Snidman,

Kelsey Culp, Erin Wides, Tyler Andreasson,

Rebecca Bloom, and Teddy Vincent.

Page 13: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

2013 DECEMBER

SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT

For the most up-to-date news on TI programs and events, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter, connecTIons. E-mail [email protected] or visit www.ti-stl.org.

174:30 pm - Hebrew Lab

7 pm - 7th Grade Program

7:30 pm - Boy Scouts Meet

159:30 am - Religious School

9:30 am - Crafting for Community

9:45 am - Sunday Series

11 am - Alef-Bet for Adults

11:30 am - Confirmation Class

1610 am - Judaism for Beginners

7:30 pm - Boy Scout Troop 11 Committee Meeting

18 19 206 pm - Pre-Oneg

6:30 pm - Learners’ Shabbat

219 am - Shabbat Worship

9:45 am - Bible Study

23DECC Winter Break

10 am - Judaism for Beginners

22Winter Break - No Religious School

27DECC Winter Break

6 pm - Pre-Oneg

6:30 pm - Shabbat Worship with HaShemesh

24DECC Winter Break

10 am - TIFTY Cookie Decorating

2 pm - Temple Offices Close

25DECC Winter Break

Temple Building Closed

Jewish-Muslim Day of Service

26DECC Winter Break

289 am - Shabbat Worship

9:45 am - Bible Study

12104:30 pm - Hebrew Lab

7:30 pm - Board of Trustees

7:30 pm - Boy Scouts Meet

89:30 am - Religious School

9:30 am - Crafting for Community

9:45 am - Sunday Series

11 am - Alef-Bet for Adults

11:30 am - Confirmation Class

9DECC Conferences - No School

10 am - Judaism for Beginners

7:30 pm - Boy Scout Troop Committee Meeting

119:30 am - Study Group

136 pm - Pre-Oneg

6:30 pm - Shabbat B’Shir

149 am - Shabbat Worship

9:45 am - Bible Study

30DECC Winter Break

10 am - Judaism for Beginners

29Winter Break - No Religious School

31DECC Winter Break

2 pm - Temple Offices Close

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 13 page

79:45 am - Bible Study

11 am - Shabbat Worship Bar Mitzvah of Jason Garland

66 pm - Tot Shabbat

7:30 pm - Shabbat Worship and Oneg

512:30 pm - Rabbis’ Roundtable Luncheon

34:30 pm - Hebrew Lab

6 pm - Club 56 Lounge Night

7 pm - 7th Grade Program

7:30 pm - Boy Scouts Meet

1No Religious School

4 pm - Thanksgivukkah

210 am - Judaism for Beginners

7 pm - Executive Committee Meeting

4

Page 14: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

Bible Study

Join Rabbi Shook for Bible Study every

Saturday morning at 9:45 a.m. Current topic:

The Book of Ruth.

Crafting for Community

Sundays, December 8 and 15, from 9:30 a.m. -

11:45 a.m. in the Gathering Place at the Temple.

Join Jody Chassin in learning fun and easy crafts

to make and donate to organizations that serve

people in need.

Rabbi’s Roundtable

Thursday, December 5, at 12:30 p.m. Join one

of our rabbis for lunch and a lively discussion

of current events or any topic of interest to

participants. The cost for lunch is $10.

RSVP to Evie Bernstein, 314-434-3937.

Sunday Series

December 8 and 15, 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.

“Creating Spiritual Pathways Through Music”

with Rabbi Feder. Rabbi Feder will teach how

music can be used to enrich your personal

spiritual life. All are welcome to attend,

especially those who usually sing only in

the shower!

For more information on adult education

programs, contact Rabbi Alper, [email protected]

or 314-432-8050.

FEED THE MIND... NOURISH THE SOUL

14 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

Torah Study with Rabbi Alper

Tuesdays, beginning January 7, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Bring a brown bag and a Bible for a fun,

fascinating study of the weekly Torah portion.

Everyone is welcome.

Alef-Bet for Adults

Wish you could follow along with the

prayers in services or help your kids with

their Hebrew homework? Ever wondered if

one day you might be able to have a bar or

bat mitzvah yourself? Join Rabbi Feder on

the bridge Sundays, from 11:00-11:30 a.m.,

when Religious School is in session.

No classes on December 1, 22, and 29.

Judaism For Beginners (and we’re all beginners)

Mondays, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Join Rabbi

Feder for a casual introduction to Judaism

class. We will discuss everything from life

cycle to theology to holidays, and everything

in between! This class is perfect for Jews,

those considering conversion, and those in

interfaith families. All are welcome to come

and learn; no question is too basic or too

tough. Babysitting will be available.

ewNewN

Page 15: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 15 page

worth NOTINGTZEDAKAH BOX DONATIONSOur religious school students are learning about

the Jewish value of tzedakah. Each month during the

school year, one of our classes researches and selects a

charitable organization to receive the donations made to

our Temple Israel tzedakah box. The students also create

a poster highlighting the work of the organization they

have chosen. For November, Debbie Schultz’s 3rd grade

class selected Saint Louis Children’s Hospital as the

recipient of our tzedakah box donations.

Our 5th graders, taught by Katy Paul, are selecting

the charity for December. Be sure to check their poster

next to the tzedakah box in the May Chapel foyer to see

who they have chosen. We hope you join our students

in supporting these great causes with your tzedakah

box donations.

JEWISH-MUSLIM DAY OF SERVICE PLANNEDDrawing on the shared value of community service,

the Islamic Foundation of Greater Saint Louis and the

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), through its

Milford and Lee Bohm Social Justice Center, will sponsor

the third annual Jewish and Muslim Day of Service on

Wednesday, December 25. Volunteers are invited to

meet at the Jewish Community Center Staenberg Family

Campus Arts and Education Building at 9:00 a.m. for a

welcome bagel breakfast prior to proceeding to one of

more than 20 community service sites that day.

For more information or to register for the event,

visit http://www.stljewishmuslimdayofservice.org or

contact Gail Wechsler at JCRC, [email protected]

or 314-442-3894.

Page 16: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

Mazal Tov to Joanne and Dan Schwartz

on the birth of their grandson,

Maximillian Vaughn Pearson,

born on October 21, 2013 to children

Becky and Matt Pearson of Milwaukee, WI.

Mazal Tov to Jean and Rick Millner on the birth

of their granddaughter, Everly Rose, born to

children Brian and Stessie Millner.

Mazal Tov to Ralph W. Kalish, Jr., partner at

Husch Blackwell, who has been named to the

Webster University School of Communications

2013-2014 Advisory Board.

Mazal Tov to Patty Bloom, Tom Eidelman

and Burt Garland, who will complete the

2013 Millstone Fellows program for emerging

and established leaders in the

St. Louis Jewish community this fall.

Mazal Tov to Arthur S. Margulis,

who has been selected by

Best Lawyers as 2013 Lawyer of the Year

for White Collar Criminal Defense.

Mazal Tov to Connor Spirtas on being crowned

Ladue High School Homecoming King.

Todah Rabah to our October Shabbat greeters:

David Aronson, Carol Cohen, Fred Cohen,

Karen Berry Elbert, Allan Epstein,

Jayme Fingerman, Carla Feuer, David Geddes,

Rob Litz and Adam Wallis.

Todah Rabah to our book signing helpers:

Terry Bloomberg, Myrna Hershman,

JoAnne Levy, Rise and Bob Schnurman

and Carol Shook.

IN OUR TEMPLE FAMILY

16 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

WELCOME NEW MEMBERSBryan & Lindsay Bess

CALLING ALL BAKERS!Do you love to bake?

Join our Temple Israel Oneg Shabbat baking brigade!

On occasional special Shabbats throughout the year,

we look to volunteers to provide home-baked treats

for our Oneg Shabbat on Friday nights.

There is no obligation.

We’ll contact you when we have a need and you

participate at your convenience.

If you would like to join our list of volunteer bakers,

please contact Amanda Radman at [email protected]

or 314-432-8050.

Page 17: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

worth NOTING

GIFTS OF SECURITIES TO TEMPLE ISRAELAs you plan your year-end charitable giving, please

consider a tax deductible contribution to Temple Israel.

Your generosity helps to sustain our congregation.

If you plan to make a gift of securities to Temple Israel,

please contact JoAnn Stephan in the Temple office,

314-432-8050 or [email protected] for our current

routing and account information.

CONSIDER AN IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER GIFT TO TEMPLE ISRAELAs you prepare for year-end charitable giving,

remember that you have until December 31, 2013 to

use the IRA charitable rollover provision to make a gift

to Temple Israel. Under this provision, those who are

70 or older can give as much as $100,000 a year from

their individual retirement accounts directly to eligible

charities, without having to include any of the transfer

as part of their gross income. The transfer must be

made directly from the IRA to Temple Israel.

Your IRA charitable rollover transfer to Temple

Israel counts towards your minimum required annual

withdrawal from your IRA. By taking advantage of this

provision, the funds you transfer will not be included in

your taxable income. In some cases, a charitable rollover

transfer can lower your taxable income, placing you in

a more favorable tax bracket. Using IRA assets for the

charitable rollover can also reduce your taxable estate.

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 17 page

$750 One month of Friday Shabbat music

$600 One month’s Tot Shabbat program

$200 One month of Internet service

$200 Sponsor a Shabbat Pre-Oneg

$100 Supplies for one Religious School class.

To fulfill a wish list item, mail a check payable to

Temple Israel to:

TEMPLE ISRAEL WISH LISTP.O. Box 790379St. Louis, MO 63179

Donate online by credit card at www.ti-stl.org/wishlist.

Please specify the item you are funding. Contributions

will be recognized in future issues of the Dateline, so

please let us know if you prefer to donate anonymously.

For more information, contact Carol Wolf Solomon,

Director of Development and Communications,

[email protected] or 314-432-8050.

TEMPLE ISRAEL WISH LISTIn each issue of the Dateline, we highlight a variety of

needs at Temple Israel where your generosity can make

an immediate impact.

TWO WISHES ARE GRANTED! Thank you to Leonard and Martha Weinstock for their

generous donation to sponsor a one-year Confirmation

Scholarship, and to Joseph Silverman for underwriting a

chaperone for an out-of-town youth group event.

Page 18: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

BERNADINE S. SILVERMAN SENIOR CITIZEN’S FUNDIn memory of Dr. R. Scott Berger Sunny and Jerry Silverman

BROADCAST FUNDIn memory of Samuel L. Bierman June R. Bierman

DEUTSCH EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER FUNDIn memory of Laurie Stern’s uncle Annette and John Fudemberg

TEMPLE ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDIn honor of the marriage of Lauren Marglous and H. Peter Steffen Cathy and Randy Arst

FRIEDA & LESTER HANDELMAN EARLY CHILDHOOD ART FUNDIn honor of the Bat Mitzvah of Katie Scherck Natalie and Neil Handelman

HARVEY M. GILLERMAN BOOK AND MUSIC FUNDIn memory of Harvey Gillerman Roberta Gillerman

HARRY STEINER FAMILY FUNDIn honor of Ralph Goldsticker’s Birthday Andi and Larry Goldsticker

HELEN AND MYRON SCHWARTZ ARK AND PRAYERBOOK FUNDThank you to the following donors who have dedicated one or more copies of our new Mishkan T’filah prayer book.

In memory of Ruth and Sam Brown Sari Hausler

In memory of Irving and Margie Wildenberg Sari Hausler

TEMPLE ISRAEL GENERAL FUNDIn honor of the birth of Felix Berger Diana and Jim Rothbarth

In honor of the naming of Wendy and Mark Ludwig’s granddaughters, Rebecca and Jessica Diana and Jim Rothbarth

In honor of the great year at Temple Israel Barbara and Marvin Guter

In honor of the marriage of Lauren Marglous and H. Peter Steffen Cathy and Randy Arst

KAHN FOUNDATION FUNDIn memory of Marvin Abraham Davidson’s birthday Thelma Davidson

KIRK NACKMAN GARDEN FUNDIn honor of Phil Horwitz’s birthday Susie and Rick Berg

MILLARD S. COHEN CARING COMMUNITY FUNDIn memory of Millard Cohen Susie and Bob Schulte

RABBIS’ DISCRETIONARY FUNDIn appreciation of Rabbi Shook officating at the marriage of Lauren Marglous and H. Peter Steffen Shelley Marglous

In honor of Dani Wides’s Bat Mitzvah Nancy Wides

In honor of Amy Berger’s marriage Cindy and Alex Berger

In honor of our wedding Kim and Jim Dalton

In honor of Bryce Bussard’s Bar Mitzvah Lee and Gene Deutsch

In appreciation of Rabbi Feder Frances and Gary Lazaroff

We gratefully acknowledge these tributes received as of November 11.

18 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

Page 19: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

decemberTRIBUTESRABBI MARK AND CAROL SHOOK CAMP UPKEEP FUNDIn memory of Sidney Faber Beverly Faber

SHIRLEY POST BIMAH FLOWER FUNDIn memory of Roslyn Epstein Littmann and Ellis Carl Littmann Susie Littmann Schulte and Family

WOLF SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDIn appreciation of Evie Bernstein Hildegard and Herman Rochman

In appreciation of Pamela and Michael Dern Hildegard and Herman Rochman

YAHRZEIT FUNDIn memory of Jack Ansehl Suzanne Lasky

In memory of Ann Lawton Arenberg Paul Arenberg

In memory of Mark Brodsky Mary R. Brodsky

In memory of Donald Cornbleet Suzy and Jim Cornbleet

In memory of Ronald Feldman Betty Feldman

In memory of James D. Fox Marilyn and Sam Fox

In memory of Simeon Golomb Robert N. Stone

In memory of Ralph Elliott Kaplan Linda Wielansky

In memory of Sylvia H. Kawin Janice and Stanley Gitt and Family

In memory of Joseph Kraus Linda and Jerry Kraus

In memory of Arnold B. Lippmann Lynne and Michael Lippmann

In memory of Michael Martin May Erin Wolfman

In memory of John Patrick O’Gorman Shean, Sheri, Harry and Charlie O’Gorman

In memory of Adele Reby Jacob W. Reby

In memory of Sidney Rich Geri and Mel Rich

In memory of Dora Rothstein Cathy Rothstein

In memory of Lauren Beth Schwartz

Marjorie Katz

In memory of Miriam Spector Stephanie and Brian Spector

In memory of Gussie Abramson Spirtas Arnold Spirtas

In memory of Sanford Tex Jennifer and Bryson Hartranft

In memory of James W. Thomeczek Levy-Thomeczek Family

TIn memory of Wilbur Zweig Rosanne Zweig Tessler

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 19 page

ONEG SHABBAT

November 1

We thank the following Oneg Shabbat bakers for

Rabbi Shook’s book publication celebration:

Elaine Alexander, Chairperson Evie Bernstein,

Max Bridge, Amy Fenster Brown, Vera Cohen,

Karen Comensky, Pamela Dern, Carol Gusdorf,

Marti Maurer, Diane Packman, Hildegard Rochman,

Barbara Sandmel, Lynn Schneider,

Nancy Solomon, Sheila Stanton,

and Natalie Wolfman

SHABBAT SPONSORS

Page 20: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

CREATE A WARM FEELING THIS WINTERTemple Israel is serving as a collection site for the

annual Cheshvan Outerwear Drive sponsored by the

Bohm Social Justice Initiative of the Jewish Community

Relations Council. We will be accepting donations of

gently worn men’s, women’s and children’s coats,

gloves, and hats through December 6.

Items can be placed in the designated collection bin

located in the vestibule by the May Chapel entrance.

The outerwear items we collect will be distributed to the

International Institute to assist recent immigrants and

others in need.

WHAT’S NEW AT NEW MT. SINAI?The 20 percent off sale at New Mt. Sinai will be ending

soon. Any purchase at New Mt. Sinai is 20 percent off

the regular price, including interment fees for those

who already own property at the cemetery. In addition,

New Mt. Sinai makes a contribution of up to 10 percent

of your purchase price to Temple Israel when you make

your purchase.

Looking ahead to spring, New Mt. Sinai will host a

Memorial Day weekend concert by members of the

Saint Louis Symphony on Sunday, May 25, in the

Community Mausoleum. This concert will be free and

open to the public.

The Staff and Board of New Mt. Sinai Cemetery wish all

of you a happy Hanukkah. We hope to see you at some

of the upcoming events here at the cemetery.

Dan Brodsky

Executive Director

Live audio broadcasts of Shabbat and holiday

worship services at Temple Israel make our

worship accessible to those who are homebound.

To listen by phone:

Dial 1-800-846-4808, enter account code 8053.

To listen online:

Visit www.ti-stl.org, click on the

“Listen to Worship Services Live” link.

We are grateful to the generous donors

to our Broadcast Fund who make these

broadcasts possible.

LISTEN TO SERVICES LIVE!

20 page / December 2013 / Congregation Temple Israel DATELINE

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of:

Sheila Radman Balk

Dolores Safron

CONDOLENCES

Do you have a few hours to spare during

the week from time to time to assist with stuffing

envelopes for Temple mailings?

This is a great opportunity to meet and get to

know other congregants while helping the Temple.

There is no lengthy time commitment. Each session

generally lasts no more than two-three hours. We

will call when there is an upcoming mailing; you

volunteer as often as you wish.

If you would like to add your name

to our volunteer envelope stuffing brigade,

please contact Jean Millner, [email protected]

or 314-432-8050.

MAILING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Page 21: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

weREMEMBER

Names listed have been placed in Perpetual Memorial. For information as to how you may place a loved one’s name in Perpetual Memorial, please contact Sydney Masin at [email protected] or 314-432-8050.

www.ti-stl.org / December 2013 / 21 page

December 22 - 28

December 15 - 21

December 29, 2013 - January 4, 2014

December 8 - 14

December 1 - 7

Joan AachRose Lander AachJennie Sacks BlumenfeldLulu C. EnochCarl K. FiresideJoseph Russell FragerMabel Pitzel FrankDr. Newton M. FreundMary Garber

Irma GerchenLillian GreenSamuel F. HackerAnna K. HagenDavid HuberAlexander IssermanMollie KaySofia KodnerMargaret Wolff Kohn

Mollie Tannenbaum-KohnPauline Ghertner KuttenSarah LappemanAnita Lockmyer PrelRosalind Mahler PufelesAnnabelle RittenbaumAdolph H. RosenbergIda RosenbergJennie Machol Salinger

Jacob SchuchatLillie SchwartzBerthold SchweizerLouis SteinHarry TenenbaumRachel WassermanOscar WildmanArthur Zeve

Earl A. AlexanderIsaac AppleNathan BalkSanford J. BernheimerVictor BloombergSaul BrodskyIsadore BrownRuth Anne CohenMorris DanknerHerman FishmanHarold C. FudembergWilliam Henry Goldman

Henrietta Rothschild GoldstickerPhil GrodskyJoseph GuckenheimGerald R. HarrisBetty Birnbaum HearshSophie HeilingCarolyn Bauman IsaacsMeg Schield KalishShirley Price KatzJacob KernerJeannette Grollnek Koplar

Simon LandauerVolf M. LevinIrene MandlebaumNathan MathesLee MeyersMaurice M. NewmanCorrine G. PetchaftMinnie PuttermanDoris Siff RossenGideon SchillerAlexander SchonwaldEsther Kreisman Schwartz

Bill SharonSamuel J. ShureMaurice C. SiegfriedJacob SigoloffDavid B. SommersKatie StadinFannie Horowitz SteinbaumFred SteinerJoe P. StoneLillie Levy StraussLouis D. Victor

Nellie Winter WeaverLois S. WilkersonMildred Bernstein Wise

Frances AachHaskel AllenHerman BarkenIsaac BelotserkovskyTillie BowmanAlex CarafiolJoseph L. CohenPaul CohenRose EngelDavid Fechenbach

Essie Schiele FechenbachLisette B. Steiner FisherIda Levitt FriedmanRose GoldbergGertrude Blumenau GoranRachel Scheuer HaasLee R. HartManning KalishJ. Steven KesslerHarry Kingsbacker

Sam KoplarMeyer KopolowSamuel H. LibermanAnna Froim MorganEvelyn Raff NassauerAlbert RosenbergJack B. SchillerBarney Ralph SchucartLouis M. Schukar

Solomon ShankmanLena ShapiroFrederick I. SteeleJerome W. SteeleBelle P. SteinerAlfred StraussPeter TraninRose WarrenRose Weinstein

Jean WingErwin Victor Winston

Nathan AltschulSarah Schweitzer AltschulF. Bert BaerOtto Josef BaerIlse E. BambergerSigmund J. BarackHenry Lyon BergDavid “Toots” BergerMilton M. BergerHarry BrandtJack BromburdLillian B. BrownHarry A. Cohen

Judith M. CohenMorris CohenIsadore DanknerMary Bradshaw FarrellDr. Max FendlerAdolph FremderIda Seidel FriedmanJoanne K. FrohlichsteinPhilip R. FuchsJoseph Glaser, Jr. Sarah Esther GoldbergRose GoodmanZelda Greenberg

Mark Jensen HarrisMaud O. HeymanHerman S. HollanderMaier Herman IsenbergCharity Roberts KalishCarl KatzLouis F. KorachFlorence Baum KurlanderMartin M. LandisAlfred Thomas LevyMoe D. Levy

Kurt J. LindnerWilliam M. LivingstonSidney ManheimerLillie MedalieBenjamin MeisenbergBernard NeumetzgerAmelia F. PaulStella Diamant PerlesMildred RobertsBess B. RobinsonHelen Wolff RubensteinAlbert SaiferAlbert Schield

Alberta Kulman SchieldFannie D’jalien SchieldJacob SchieldScott Andrew SeidlerBeatrice SigoloffJacob SimonGoldie I. SmithN. Robert WegusenClara Levy WeilAlbert WeissJudith Susman WolffMoses Wolff

Bertha AronsonJulius A. BaerBetty Roth BernardFlorence CohenHarold W. DubinskyElizabeth EisemanEdith Morgan FrankBertha Landau FreedDavid T. FriedmanRose Glaser

Lillian Kohane GlickEtta GoldringMark E. GoodmanNathan GrazmanDr. Nathan HirschbergLouis HurwitzElliott A. JacobsJoseph KohnLouis LevyBenjamin L. Liberman

Augusta Freund LittmannIrving J. LondySamuel C. LowensteinHarry A. MeyerSelma Cohen MeyerCharlie D. MillerS. Farrel MillerDavid PasternakJacob RabinBen William Sanders

Meta Scheuer SangerDr. Jacob SchermerStanley Ries SchuchatMarguerite Freedman SchwartzDavid C. SimonAaron SolomonRichard S. SosnaSherwin “Bud” SteinbergSadie Fraley Stix

Ulysses C. Weinstock

Page 22: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

HOLIDAY GROCERY SHOPPING? USE TI SCRIP GIFT CARDS!Order Scrip gift cards from today for all your holiday

grocery shopping. You can support the Temple by using

the cards at Dierbergs, Whole Foods and St. Louis Bread

Company. We receive a percentage of every gift card

purchased.

If you shop at Schnucks, no gift card needed! Contact us

to receive a free Schnucks community card. Have the

cashier swipe it every time you shop and the Temple

automatically receives a percentage of your purchase.

Order gift cards online at www.ti-stl.org/scrip or contact

Diane Packman, [email protected] or 314-432-8050.

GIVE-A-MEAL-A-MONTH

For the month of December, the Harvey Kornblum

Jewish Food Pantry is looking for these specific

items in order to assist the community in need:

Canned Fruit, Canned Pasta with Meat,

Canned Vegetables (corn, green beans,

peas and carrots), Canned Tuna Fish,

Tomato Sauce and Spaghetti Sauce,

Kosher Food, Healthy Cereal,

Toilet Paper, Toothbrushes and Toothpastel

Items should be brought to our collection site by

the May Chapel. For further information, please

contact Louise Levine, 636-227-1259.

Page 23: from strength to - Congregation Temple Israel 2013... · 2016-05-13 · from strength to December 2013 Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 Congregation Temple Israel is a

PERIODICALSPOSTAGE

PAIDAT ST. LOUIS

MISSOURI

TEMPLE ISRAEL DATELINEDecember 2013Kislev / Tevet 5774 Volume XXXIII / Number 3 www.ti-stl.org

STAFF

Amy Feder, RabbiMichael Alper, RabbiMark L. Shook, Rabbi EmeritusEli K. Montague, F.T.A., Executive DirectorLeslie Wolf, Director, Deutsch Early Childhood CenterMarisa Reby, Religious School DirectorCarol Wolf Solomon, Director of Development and CommunicationsAmanda Radman, Membership and Development Coordinator

OFFICERS

JoAnne Levy, PresidentDee Mogerman, Vice President, President ElectDavid Chassin, Vice President, FacilitiesCarol Cohen, Vice President, MembershipHarvey Harris, Vice President, Community RelationsMichael Weiss, Vice President, StrategyNeil Marglous, Secretary, Tikkun Olam/Social ActionPamela Dern, Assistant Secretary, Tikkun Olam/Social ActionCathy Goldsticker, TreasurerDiana Rothbarth, Assistant Treasurer

NOTE: Temple Israel Dateline (USPS: 128-700) is published monthly except bi-monthly June-July by Congregation Temple Israel. Periodicals postage paid at St. Louis, MO. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Temple Israel Dateline, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141-7670

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.Wednesday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

CONTACT US

Phone: 314-432-8050Fax: 314-432-8053www.ti-stl.org

TEMPLE ISRAEL DATELINE#1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin DriveSt. Louis, MO 63141-7670

Creating Spiritual Pathways Through MusicSundays, December 8th and 15th 9:45 to 11:15 am

Join Rabbi Feder and discover how music can be used to enrich your personal spiritual life.

All are welcome - especially those who sing only in the shower!

See page 14 for details.