Messages from the Mountain, March 2010

Number 608 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770

First Seder, March 29 — Communal Seder, March 30

next month, Rabbi Jonathan Slater: April 9-10

We are delighted to welcome Rabbi David

Forman of Jerusalem to El Paso on Sunday,

March 14. From Sunday to Wednesday, he

will teach at Temple and around town.

David‟s presence is sponsored by the El Paso

Jewish Federation‟s CLAL initiative and by

Rabbi Bach‟s Discretionary Fund.

Rabbi Forman is the

founder of Rabbis

for Human Rights.

He served as RHR‟s

chairperson

between 1988 and

1992 and between

2002 and 2003. He

has held a number

of key leadership

positions during his rabbinic career,

including Director of the Israel Office of the

Union of American Hebrew Congregations,

where he led the struggle for religious

pluralism in Israel. Prior to that, Rabbi

Forman was the chairperson of Interns for

Peace (1984-1986), Founding Chairperson of

both the Jerusalem Council for Soviet Jewry

(1973) and the Cincinnati Council for Soviet

Jewry (1970); Vice-Chairperson of

Seminarians for Peace, and a member of

Clergy and Laity against the War in Vietnam

(1968-1972). He was also a “Freedom Rider”

in the summer of 1964.

Rabbi Forman will speak several times

during his visit to El Paso, including the

following public talks:

At 3 pm on Sunday, March 14, he will

speak in Zielonka Hall on “Jewish

Schizophrenia in the Land of Israel.”

On Monday at 7:30 pm, he will speak at

the El Paso Catholic Diocese‟s Pastoral

Center (499 St. Matthew‟s Street, in the

Mission Valley) on “Jerusalem: Holy City

to Three Faiths.”

Rabbi Forman will be our guest teacher at

Lunch and Learn on Tuesday at 11:45 am,

speaking on the topic, “Can a Jewish

State be a Democratic State?”

Finally, on Wednesday at 7:30 pm in

Zielonka Hall, he will speak to his thirty

years of living in the Land of Israel: “A

Retrospective.”

All of these talks are free and open to the

public; those who wish to purchase a lunch

for the Tuesday session may do so for $10.

RSVP‟s are very helpful (particularly for

Tuesday) and can be made by calling Buddy

at the Temple office or by sending a note to

[email protected].

Rabbi David Forman, Scholar-in-Residence March 14-17, 2010

Page 2 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain

Worship Schedule

March 5-6 Parashat Ki Tisa Friday, March 12

Candlelighting, 5:49 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm

Family & Hadassah Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm

Saturday, March 5 Torah Study, 9:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am

March 12-13 Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei

Friday, March 13 Candlelighting, 5:54 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm



March 19-20 Parashat Vayikra Friday, March 19

Candlelighting, 6:58 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm



March 26-27 Parashat Tzav

Friday, March 26 Candlelighting, 7:03 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm

Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm



April 2-3 Pesach

Friday, April 2 Candlelighting, 7:08 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm


Saturday, April 3 Torah Study, 9:30 am


April 9-10 Parashat Shmini Friday, April 9

Candlelighting, 7:13pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm


Saturday, April 10 Torah Study, 9:30 am



What a gift the folks at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center have given us Jews,

scheduling their annual Celebrity Waiters Spaghetti Dinner for Saturday, March 27. Just two

days before the first Seder, we can take a break from our Pesach preparations and enjoy a hearty

meal of soon-to-be-forbidden pasta!

But seriously, folks…the coincidence of Las Americas‟ spring fundraiser and our festival of

freedom is about more than a last bit of leaven. In truth, the timing is perfect because Las

Americas is an organization dedicated to principles that are at the heart of Passover, and at the

heart of what it means to be Jewish. “You shall know the heart of the stranger…for you were

strangers in the land of Egypt.” “Stranger,” or ger in Hebrew, is a word that marks those who

are marginalized in a society. It often appears alongside two other words, yatom and almanah,

“orphan” and “widow,” forming a trio of the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable.

By providing free and reduced-cost legal aid to people such as immigrant women seeking

protection from abusive spouses, unaccompanied minors caught up (through no fault of their

own) in our nation‟s immigration court system, and people seeking asylum from political

persecution all over the world, Las Americas embodies timeless Jewish values.

My first encounter with Las Americas was several years ago, when I provided an affidavit for a

young Jewish man seeking relief from political and racial persecution in the Former Soviet

Union. I‟ve been an admirer of the organization ever since, and last year was invited to serve

on its Board of Directors. With that honor comes (of course) the responsibility of selling tickets

to the spaghetti dinner…and with that task comes this bulletin article.

I invite you to learn a bit more about Las Americas when intern Karen Vortbedt shares some

stories at our Friday evening service on March 19. I invite you to consider directing some of

your tzedakah dollars to this very worthy cause. And most of all, I invite you to join Alanna and

me at the spaghetti dinner on Saturday, March 27. It begins at 7 pm, at St. Pius X Catholic

Church. Tickets are $30 each, and are available directly from me, or in the Temple office.

Shalom,

Rabbi Bach

From the Rabbi’s Study…

Editor’s Note... With this issue, Tara and I are assuming the duties to edit and see to a timely publication of „Messages from the Mountain‟. It is our hope to expand the bulletin to include more about the happenings of the members of our congregation. We invite all to submit articles and information to be reviewed for inclu-sion in future editions. Additionally, we are always open to suggestions and comments that will make what you receive in these pages more useful and informative. You can email me at [email protected]. Thank you . Mark Schrier


January Birthdays

January Anniversaries

January 1 Carla Levin Del Raney *

January 3 Marilyn Rotwein James Holderman Nathan Wiener *

January 5 Simon Karch Miriam Yarber

January 6 Judah Horn Garrett Levin

January 7 Beth McCoy * Sydney Reiter * Tania Schwartz Alison Westermann

January 8 Nicholas Munch

January 9 Josiah Meyer

January 10 Eddie Knipp Juan Valdez

January 11 Sally Strelitz

January 12 Jaime Arbona Ruth Stolaroff

January 15 Rita Burman Stuart Kahn

January 16 Benjamin Hirsch Alexandra Holderman Madison Holderman

January 17 Abraham Ettinger Shirley Washer

January 18 Mimi Lait Jerome Levy Jennifer Litt David Schecter David Schonberg *

January 19 Glenda Bromberg

January 20 Leah Pearlman Ann Rothstein

January 22 Lane Frank

January 23 Sofia Escobar Susan Feldblum Marlene Golden Jaime Papa

January 24 Sarah Ames * Paul Lazovick Tina Wolfe *

January 25 Madison Nadler

January 27 Robyn Purvin

January 28 Levi Eisenberg Eugene Finke Anna Sofia Uni Loeb Lola May Elaine Prensky Danielle Scher

January 29 Ofek Belkin Ellen Gulbas * Ruth Katz * Maureen Ley *

January 30 Jane Rosen *

January 31 Robert Duran Stephen Valdes *

January 2 Dick & Robin Krasne

January 4 Damon & Janice Crossland

January 5 Dick & Marlene Fass

January 6 Andrew & Peggy Feinberg

January 7 Rick & Leslie Otis

January 8 Allan & Amy Goldfarb

January 11 Scott & Tania Schwartz

January 12 Jerry & Julie Kallman

January 15 Merton & Laura Goldman *

January 16 Peter & Tova Herman

January 17 Frank & Susan Kamoroff *

January 22 Bob & Sara Shiloff

Janaury 23 Irvin & Alicia Nadler *

January 24 John & Gloria Lavis

January 26 Ben & Ruth Taber

January 29 Meyer & Mindy Marcus


February Birthdays

February Anniversaries

February 1 Miriam Kotkowski

February 2 Nirit Belkin Mitchell Puschett Carl Ryan

February 3 Marcus Appel Mollie Kern Mila Marcus * Stanley Marcus David Metrikin

February 4 Joyce Jaffee Justin Mendeloff Gary Nadler

February 5 Amanda Marcus

February 6 Sandra Meehan

February 7 Susan Novick

February 8 Elizabeth Goodman-Levy

February 9 Dori Fenenbock Dara Leffman * Miriam Pittle

February 10 Jacob Colvard Skip Litt

February 11 James Daross Elizabeth de Vos * Gershon Ettinger Shirley Nussbaum Alan Pittle

February 12 Aaron Bodor * Robert Snow

February 13 Christopher Burton * Jerry Kallman Samuel Schwartz Kristine Shecter *

February 14 Mimi Gladstein Laura Knipp * Thelma Krugman Bernard Lauterbach Valentina Restrepo

February 15 Jacqueline Babenco Zachary Gopin

February 16 Valerie Barnett * Clarissa Colvard Hannah Gopin Harry Nagler

February 17 Renaye Feldt Elizabeth Schydlower

February 19 Jan Frame Paul Gulbas Karen Ivey

February 20 Judy Amstater William E. Carvajal Marian Daross Frank Kamoroff Suzanne Nagler Olga Rosen

February 21 Louis Alpern Hilda Reedman * Susan Schwartz Jacquelyn Spier

February 23 Alicia Nadler * James Scherr

February 24 William Carvajal

February 25 Jerry Appel Paige Chapman

Anne (Billy) Spier *

February 26 Cindy Graff Cohen Margaret Negrete *

February 27 Jennifer Ehrlich Melanie Shapiro *

February 29 Charles Kovan *

February 1 Tony & Robin Furman *

February 2 Ralph & Rosa Garcia

February 4 Lou & Marie Robbins

February 5 Daniel & Michelle

Blumenfeld

February 17 John & Kristine Shecter

February 18 Mark & Jackie Heins *

February 19 Jeff & Wendy Siegel

February 21 Ken & Barbara Given

February 22 Gershon & Barbara

Ettinger *

February 24 Bill & Jessica Carvajal David & Susie Novick

February 25 Jim & Marian Daross

February 26 Scott Stein & Margaret

Negrete

February 27 Bill Belford & Vicki Smith


March Birthdays

March Anniversaries

March 1 Ross Dahman Lauryn Rosen Karen Spivack *

March 2 Helaine Bach Bruce Gordon * Sarah Heins Tess Mansfield *

March 3 Jaiden Kimmelman Susan Krupp *

March 4 Esther Bach Carmela Levitt March 5 Ellyce Kimmelman

March 6 Ethan Blumenfeld Brittain Chapman * Alexander Jaffee Jeffrey Katz * Irene Zimmerman

March 7 Harrell Rice Stephen Riter *

March 8 Randee Mansfield Samantha Pittle-Briseno

March 9 Judy Bargman Nina Baskind Julian Borschow Benjamin Loeb Joshua Shecter

March 10 Rachelle Nedow Gary Weiser

March 11 Joyce Davidoff Lydia Duran

March 12 Lyla Bass Burton Cohen Chad Fruithandler Leonard Heller * Evee Marcus Patricia Marcus E.E. Ponsford Noel Rosenbaum Gene Tucker

March 13 Ethan Katz * Iris Sauermilch

March 14 Abe Goldberg Rachel Horn Jim Levy Frances Niethamer Jane Snow

March 15 Simon Bir Carly Robalin

March 16 Mark Heins

March 17 Michelle Blumenfeld Monica Escobar * William Freundlich Anthony Mullen Ben Taber

March 18 Jonathon Gopin Jimmie Parker

March 19 Thomas Dula

March 20 Dora Goldstein Barry Mann *

March 21 Brandon Gulbas * Theodore Krapin

March 22 William Bass *

March 23 James McCarthy Stanley Nankin

March 24 Bertha Blackburn * Martin Colton * Catherine Glen-Puschett Michele Nadler Jonathan Purvin

March 26 Alan Ames * Sylvan Landau *

March 27 Melinda Marcus

March 28 Soheil Nazarian * Frankie Post Tibor Schaechner March 29 Zachary Wilson

March 30 Holli Berry Bonnie Colton Tony Furman * Fifi Heller-Kaim David Mansfield *

March 31 Janet Keeton Louise Rice

March 3 Dan & Leba Hirsch *

March 4 Lowell & Shirley Nussbaum

March 9 Ben Loeb & Quyen Nguyen

March 14 John & Bita Mobbs

March 15 Mark & Tara Schrier

March 16 Larry Lesser & Laurie Davis

March 18 Gary & Lisa Nadler * Carl Ryan & Suzi Davidoff

March 19 Bryan & Joani Schonberg

March 20 Jerry & Haidi Appel

March 21 Bill & Marcia Dahlberg

March 24 Adam & Dana Frank

March 25 Brion & Elisa Gluck * Sid & Fay Kligman Richard & Marilyn Rotwein

March 26 Alan & Honey Phelps

March 29 David & Tita Kaplan


Hamakom Y’nachem—May God Bring Comfort...

to daughters Edi Brannon and Lee Schwartz, siblings Frances Blumenthal and Albert Schwartz, and wife

Moraima Schwartz, on the death of Herbert Schwartz

to Rose Falcon on the death of her aunt, Hope Garcia

to Mimi Lait, Sue Bendalin & Joan Cherno on the death of their brother Albert Feinberg

to Amissa Burton on the death of her Aunt, Shannon McQueary

to Curtis, Jimmy & Billy Spier on the death of their Cousin, Cheryl Spier

to Alan Karp on the death of his father, Murray Karp

to Boris Kaim on the death of his Aunt, Grazia Boram

to Friends & Family on the death of Terry Liebman

Mazel Tov! Congratulations...

to parents Ashley & Michael Mansfield, grandparents Randee & Lyndon Mansfield, and great-

grandmother Sara Mansfield on the birth of Avery Katherine Mansfield on December 15, 2009.

to Becky & Keith Myers on the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer, to Christian Giese, son of Libby

Perez & Jim Giese.

to Leni Berry on the birth of her twin grandsons, Sammy & Mikey, born December 4, 2009. Parents are

Michael & Ilana Hernandez.

to Scott and Angela Feldt, parents, and Leon and Judy Feldt, grandparents, on the Bar Mitzvah of

Edward, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on January 16.

to Charles and Carmen Yates, whose daughter Carmen was admitted to the California Bar.

to Bruce and Shelly Gopin, parents, and Sheldon and Carolyn Gopin, grandparents, on the Bar

Mitzvah of Zachary, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on February 13.

to Rabbi Larry and Alanna Bach, parents, and Sue Feldblum, grandmother, on the Bat Mitzvah of

Helaine, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on February 27.

to the Schwartz and Shecter Families, and particularly grandmother Nancy Schwartz and great-

grandfather Albert Schwartz, on the birth of Eden Adele Peled to Jerami Shecter and Nir Peled.

We welcome David Rothbardt, Michael Slayton, and Stuart and Dannah Meyers to membership at Temple!

We are also delighted to welcome the Lesser family to membership at Temple, and to turn this month‟s spot-

light on them. Larry Lesser, a UTEP mathematics education professor, has had several of his original songs

(e.g., "Healing Song") performed at Temple and elsewhere. His b'shert Laurie Davis, a neuroscience re-

searcher and manual/massage therapist, has a passion for making traditional Judaism welcoming and acces-

sible. Their son Judah, a 4th grader at the El Paso Jewish Academy, loves building/inventing, nature, science,

math, and music.

New Members


Save the Date: March 7th

All are invited to join us for the TMS

Religious School Cultural Celebration on

March 7th, from 11:00 to 12:30, at Temple

Mount Sinai, in Schwartz Hall.

During this event, our first through sixth

grade students are given an opportunity to

present a cultural aspect of Judaism at the

Cultural Celebration. Being Jewish is a part

of our whole life, as expressed through

reading, sports, music, art, comedy, movies

and food. Our students are researching,

preparing, and creating displays for us to

learn from and appreciate during the

Cultural Celebration.

Join us as Religious School first grade

students express their Jewish identity

through Art. The second grade students

will present Jewish Folk Dance. Have a

taste of Jewish foods prepared by third

grade students and our Madrichim. Fourth

grade students will bring to light some of

our Jewish authors. Learn about some

Jewish artists and admire fifth grade

students‟ art work. And the sixth grade

students will explain and highlight

accomplishments of Jews in America.

The Tzedakah project during this event is

“A Package From Home.” We will adopt

the Elite Combat Unit consisting of thirty-

four soldiers who help protect Israel. Each

package contains a letter offering thanks

and encouragement to the soldiers. The

packages are filled with socks, warm hats

and gloves, t-shirts or two-piece long

underwear sets, candy and snacks,

toiletries, batteries…etc.

We need to raise $1,000 for thirty-four

“Packages From Home.” On November 8th,

during our Religious School Mitzvah Day

and Taco Lunch Fundraiser we raised $400,

to go toward this Special Tzedakah Project.

Also, our students will donate their

Tzedakah money collected from February

1st through March 7thth. Additionally, on

March 7th at noon we will sell tacos

(including vegetarian tacos), dessert, drinks

and Mrs. B‟s salsa.

Plan to join us on March 7th from 11:00 a.m.

to 12:30, for the Cultural Celebration and

stay and enjoy a taco lunch while visiting

with each other in Schwartz Hall. If you

would like to place a special order for salsa

or tacos, please send Grace Bir an e-mail

[email protected].

To learn more about our “Package From

Home” Tzedakah Project, please visit

apackagefromhome.org

Religious School Cultural Celebration

mailto:[email protected]


Do you know that you can honor or remember a loved one with a leaf or a stone on the Tree of Life? This beautiful work of art is displayed on the wall in the foyer at Temple just outside the Sanctuary.

For a minimum donation of $300 for a leaf or $3,000 for a stone, the brass will be engraved according to your instructions and will remain on the Tree of Life forever. Your donation becomes part of the Foundation Trust and benefits Temple Mount Sinai in perpetuity.

For more information, contact Sally Parke at the Temple office at 532-5959.

Leaves and Stones on the Temple’s Tree of Life

At the request of a builder, El Paso City

Council has been in discussion to revise the

city ordinance on accessible housing. The

revision would reduce construction of Type A

apartments (units with walk in showers) from

5% to 2%. Three months ago, persons with

disabilities and advocates persuaded the City

Council to extend the requirement of 5% for 6

months. Builders and members of the disabled

community were asked to set up a database for

accessible apartments. Action by City Council

is expected in the coming weeks.

Because we are an aging population with

physical limitations, increasing the need for

walkers, canes and wheelchairs, we believe

there is an increase in the demand for

accessible apartments. Please write or call your

City Council Representative and let them

know how you feel.

From the Social Action Committee

Please remember to use your key tag each time you shop for groceries at Albertsons.

All you need to do is have the card scanned when you check out. Temple will earn 1% of your shopping total each time you scan the card. If you have a card from another

organization, you may scan more than one card and thereby benefit both organizations.

If you need an additional key tag, contact the Temple office.


Sandra Troyer Kern Memorial Endowment Fund

At the recent Friday night service commemorating the first yahrtzeit of Sandi‟s death, I

announced the creation of the Sandra Troyer Kern Memorial Endowment Fund at

Temple. I‟d like to thank my father Martin and my sister Suzan for helping me provide

the initial funding to create this Endowment in Sandi‟s memory. Sandi‟s Fund will

now serve, in perpetuity, to help pay for activities and programs at Temple‟s Religious

School which Sandi loved and where she taught for nearly 15 years.

Earnings from Sandi‟s Fund will initially cover costs of the “It‟s A Girl‟s Thing” (IAGT)

program for 7th and 8th grade girls at Temple. IAGT is a wonderful program Sandi

loved very much and which has meant a lot to our daughter Mollie and her friends at

Temple. Sandi‟s Fund also will be renovating and refurnishing the IAGT lounge and

resource room to make that a really special and warm place for the girls to gather. That

room will be dedicated to Sandi‟s memory with a plaque on its door and pictures and

other memorabilia of Sandi inside the room. For as long as there is a Temple Mount

Sinai, this room will serve to lovingly honor Sandi.

Over time, as Sandi‟s Fund grows through reinvestment of some of its profits and

through additional donations, the Fund‟s earnings will help Temple pay for many of

the programs and activities of the Religious School. Thereby, Sandi‟s name and mem-

ory will live on and benefit, both today and in future generations, the Religious School

and children of Temple she cared so deeply about.

If any of you are so moved, you can help us grow Sandi‟s Fund by giving a gift to

Temple in Sandi‟s memory. To do so, simply write a check payable to Temple Mount

Sinai, designate the “Sandi Kern Fund” on the memo line and send it to Temple Mount

Sinai, 4408 North Stanton, El Paso, Texas 79902. By contributing to Sandi‟s Fund, you

will join us in honoring Sandi‟s memory by supporting the programs and activities at

Temple which she loved so much. Thank you!

David


On the First Anniversary of Sandi’s Death

It‟s hard to believe we‟ve been once around the sun since Sandi‟s physical presence left us and her spirit went on her way Much of that year has been an involuntary journey on a relentless roller coaster ride through time, watching as surreal questions form in mist and fall like rain on parched earth: How is it possible she is gone? Are we really still here without her? From that roller coaster, I‟ve watched this first yahrtzeit approaching like an unknown object coming from the distant desert on a long, straight road kicking up dust, gathering momentum, creating anticipation and dread What was at first a dot on the horizon became recognizable as something more, the features gradually coming into focus then arriving, suddenly, like an unwanted visitor at the doorstep An emissary from death carrying contradictions in its hands: the icy pain of missing her, with the warm memories of her love the sorrow of her passing, with hoped-for comfort from the passing of time And in that doorway within, which the dull blade of sorrow has carved with a persistent and unyielding hand, I find a heart yet beating that knows much more of love than it ever knew before In those moments of knowing, the roller coaster stops and questions crystallize in air, no longer needing answers as love surrounds everything that was, is and will ever be And my thoughts circle back to a gratitude which holds no contradictions: for blessings of time shared, ways our lives transformed and became better and for the love, most of all, that still fills my mind and heart In these moments, the mind recalls what the heart always knows our journey here is brief, our passage just an instant in God‟s eyes but love, once found, stays with us for all of time David Kern February 1, 2010

In loving memory of Sandra Troyer Kern

7/5/52 – 2/1/09


Movie and Mitzvah Night

What could be more fun than playing games with

your friends, enjoying dinner, doing a mitzvah,

and watching a good movie?! On Saturday,

December 5, eighteen Noar students gathered at

Temple Mount Sinai to do just that. Noar is a

Jewish youth group for third, fourth, and fifth

graders run by Temple Mount Sinai. The goal of

Noar is to bring Jewish children from across the

community together for fun and good deeds.

The Noar students who attended the Movie and

Mitzvah Night played dreidel (to get ready for

Hanukkah), celebrated Havdalah with Rabbi Bach,

and enjoyed a yummy pizza dinner. After dinner

the students participated in a mitzvah project,

writing letters of support to Israeli soldiers. These

letters have been sent to Israel to be included in

the care packages that “A Package from Home”

puts together.

Following the letter writing we played a couple of

fun games to get to know each other better and

then it was time for hot chocolate, popcorn, and

the movie “Up”. The students had a fabulous

time and wanted to know when we were getting

together again.

UTEP Miners Basketball Trip

Saturday, February 6, was a good night for the

UTEP Miners! Thirty-five adults and students

from the Jewish community cheered the UTEP

basketball team on to victory over Tulsa. The

group included children from ages six through

fourteen and some of their parents. The children

came from the Noar and Mini-MSTY youth

groups, which together cover third through eighth

grades.

Before the game we gathered at Temple Mount

Sinai for snacks, mixer activities, and

Havdalah. Following Havdalah we drove to the

home of Rabbi Larry and Alanna Bach and then

walked down to the Haskins Center. The next two

hours were full of cheering, smiles, snack sharing,

and friendly conversation. The evening was

enjoyable and we all look forward to next year's

basketball outing. Go Miners!

If you are interested in having your third through

fifth grader involved in a Jewish youth group

please contact Alanna Bach at 532-5959 or

[email protected]. If you are

interested in having your sixth through eighth

grader involved in a Jewish youth group, please

contact Alison Westermann at

[email protected] or 532-5959.

Noar News and Reviews

[email protected]

[email protected]


Gesher (bridge in Hebrew) is a hands-on

Jewish learning program run by Temple Mt.

Sinai for children from birth through four

years and their parents. Throughout the year

children and parents explore Jewish holidays

and common preschool themes with a Jewish

twist (like “What‟s Jewish about Frogs and

Toads?” and “What‟s Jewish about Colors?”)

Our rich curriculum, designed by Alanna

Bach, includes playtime with thematic toys,

singing, movement, stories, craft projects, and

thematic snacks. Gesher meets at Temple Mt.

Sinai in Schwartz Hall from 10 to 11 am

approximately twice a month. If you are

joining us for the first time in January, there is

a $40 per family registration fee for this

program.

In February, Gesher met twice - once to

explore “What‟s Jewish about Butterflies” and

once to learn about Purim. We laughed, ate

celery and peanut butter butterflies,

decorated groggers, listened to stories, and

played with our friends. If this sounds like

fun, you‟re welcome to come join us in March.

The March Gesher class will meet on

Sunday, March 7, to learn about Passover,

the holiday of Jewish freedom.

During our Passover class we will hear the

story of our escape from slavery, read a

couple of Passover books, create a Passover

craft, sing and dance, and enjoy a snack of

matzah and cream cheese.

We hope your family will join us for Jewish

fun and learning. Please contact Alanna Bach

at [email protected] or 532-5959

for complete registration information. We

hope your family will join us for Jewish fun

and learning. Gesher is funded in part by the

Jewish Federation of El Paso and all families

are welcome to attend.

Gesher Refresher

[email protected]


Tributes — November 20-December 21

Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund:

in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Skip & Teresa

Schwartz, Fifi Heller-Kaim & Boris Kaim, Michael Tomor,

Bettye Kohlhagen, Mildred Marcus, and Wendy Axelrod

in honor of Ann Louise Leeds‟ Special Birthday by Bernie

& Judy Lauterbach

in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special Anniversary

by Bud & Charlotte Ramenofsky

in honor of Phil Alpern‟s Special Birthday by Sara

Mansfield

in memory of Harry Miller, Werner Kohlhagen, Phyllis

Fruithandler by Bettye Kohlhagen

speedy recovery to Martin Kern by Bill & Miriam

Goldfarb

Lothar Blumenthal Fund:

in memory of David Crohn, Michael David Crohn &

Adrianne Crohn by Gloria Crohn

Campership Fund:

in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Andy Saucedo

in memory of Beatrice Pollack by Jeralyn F. Scher &

Michael Sarnoff

Caring Community Fund:

in memory of Adele Gordon by Edward & Evelyn

Schwartz

Cemetery Fund:

in memory of Evelyn Axelrod by Harrell & Louise Rice

Syd Dictor Memorial Music Fund:

in honor of Mike Abrams' Special Birthday by Rona

Dictor

in memory of Dodie Redler by Rona Dictor

Falk Religious School Endowment Fund

in honor of Harvy Falk's Special Birthday by Bob & Sara

Shiloff

Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund:

in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Ron & Judy

Blumenfeld

in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld‟s Special

Anniversary by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg

in memory of Edward Sochat by Ron & Judy Blumenfeld

General Donations Fund:

in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Douglas

Waters, Bruce & Kristen Applebaum

in honor of Albert Schwartz's Special Birthday by Tibor &

Ann Schaechner

in honor of Channukah by Allen & Marlene Levine

in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special Anniversary

by Carolyn Feinberg, Irene Oppenheimer, Mimi Lait,

Tibor & Ann Schaechner

in honor of Leni Berry's twin grandsons by Nat & Nanci

Maddux

in honor of Martin Kern's Special Birthday by Bob & Sara

Shiloff

in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Tibor &

Ann Schaechner

in memory of Anita Mark by Bud & Charlotte

Ramenofsky

in memory of Bruce Litt by Ann Louise Leeds

in memory of David Stolaroff by Sharon Cotter

in memory of Edward Sochat by Larry & Joyce Anenberg

in memory of Leah Brody by Rosilyn Rivkin

in memory of Martha Goldberg by Ann Louise Leeds

in memory of Our Loved Ones by Bob & Sara Shiloff

in memory of Evelyn Axelrod by Ann & Tibor

Schaechner

speedy recovery to Julian Borschow by Abe & Annette

Goldberg

speedy recovery to Mimi Lait by Ann Louise Leeds

speedy recovery to Susie Novick by Bud & Charlotte

Ramenofsky,Bill & Marcia Dahlberg


Jon L. Heller High Holiday Flower Fund:

in memory of Frank Ruiz by Fifi Heller-Kaim

Kahn Endowment Fund:

in memory of Joshua N. Kahn by Alan & Jean Kahn

Ruth Kahn and Andrew Kahn Rose Gardens:

in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by Bill &

Miriam Goldfarb, Gershon & Barbara Ettinger

Krasne Discretionary Fund:

in appreciation of Elaine & Bob Krasne by Marlene &

Allen Levine

in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by Ruth

Braun

in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Ruth Braun

Landscaping Fund:

in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special

Anniversary by Dick & Toni Harris, Valerie Barnett

in honor of Lillian Silberman's Special Birthday by Dick

& Jean Scherotter

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger:

in honor of Albert Schwartz's Special Birthday by

Edward & Evelyn Schwartz

Oppenheimer Flower Fund:


Anniversary by Jeanne Moye

in memory of Anna F. Rosenberg by Ruth Braun

in memory of Corrine Alice Coleman by Steve Rosenberg

in memory of Dina Davidoff by Joyce Davidoff

in memory of Eleanor Mayer by Sister Blumenthal

in memory of Jack Marcus by Mildred Marcus

in memory of Leona Goldfarb by Bob & Shirley Goldfarb

in memory of Marla Stein by Scott Stein Family

in memory of Oscar David Leeser by Arthur & Rhoberta

Leeser

in memory of Robert H.Given by Barbara Given Behne

Novick MSTY Campership Fund:

in memory of Goldie Schleicher Lerner by Henry &

Harriet Geller

Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center:

in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Barry Solomon's 50th Wedding

Anniversary by Phil & Judy Bargman

in honor of Ron & Judy Blumenfeld's Special Wedding

Anniversary by Phil & Judy Bargman

Special Oneg or Kiddush:

in memory of Elayne Bernat by Julian Bernat

in memory of Henry Silverman by John & Rita Silverman

in memory of Jon Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim

in memory of Joseph Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim

in memory of Leo Rosen by Sig & Olga Rosen

in memory of Rose Bilsky by Estelle Goldman

in memory of Anne Elizabeth Hawkinson by Lietzie

Belford

Tree Of Life

in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by

Louann Pranses, Sydney Goltz, Eddie & Laurie Knipp

Rabbi Ken & Sue Weiss URJ Youth Travel Fund:

in appreciation of Greta Duran & Lori Gaman by Alison

Westermann and Stacy Berry

in honor of the Marriage of Amy Weiss & Scott

Levingston by Bill & Anne Spier

Zork Memorial Library Fund:

in honor of Paquita‟s Litt's Special Birthday by Bill &

Miriam Goldfarb, Lillian Silberman, Phil & Judy

Bargman

in memory of Jerry Harris by Ruth Braun

Tributes — November 20-December 21


Tributes — December 22-January 29

Alfred Blumenthal Video History Fund

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bruce & Erline

Gordon

Campership Fund

in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by D. F. Tavana

Caring Community Fund

in honor of Sue & Frank Kamofoff's Special

Anniversary by Bob & Elaine Krasne, Bob & Sara

Shiloff, Marty & Bonnie Colton

Cemetery Fund

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Dorothy Borschow

Choir Fund

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bill & Anne Spier,

Donna Munch

Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund

in honor of Ruth Katz's Special Birthday by Stuart &

Frances Kahn

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Jay & Mary Heins,

Ruth Oppenheim

Friedman/Bloom/Rothstein Outdoor Chapel

in honor of Fanny Laufer Special Birthday by Karl

Friedman

in memory of Fae Tyroler by Phil & Ann Rothstein

General Donations Fund

in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Douglas

Waters

in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Nat &

Nanci Maddux

General Donations Fund

in honor of Jane Rosen's Special Birthday by Bill &

Marcia Dahlberg, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Dick & Jean

Scherotter, Norma Levenson, Sara Mansfield, Steve &

Marlene Golden

in honor of Lola May's Special Birthday by Anne

Hollander

in honor of Robert & Naida Lipson's Special

Anniversary by Sara Mansfield

in honor of Sam Ellowitz's Special Birthday by Bud &

Charlotte Ramenofsky

in memory of A. Lee Crawford by Pat Crawford

in memory of Alma Curry by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg

in memory of Eddie Sochat by Jim & Anne Spier

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bill & Miriam

Goldfarb, Bob & Jane Snow, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Bud &

Charlotte Ramenofsky, Buddy Schwartz, Curtis &

Jacquelyn Spier, Dick & Jean Scherotter, Dick &

Marlene Fass, Bill & Marcia Dahlberg..

Dick & Toni Harris, Don & Margie Henderson, Doris

Pryzant, Edward & Evelyn Schwartz, Eleanor

Goodman, Irma Oppenheim, Jim & Anne Spier, Joyce

Davidoff, Ken & Barbara Given, Lillian Silberman,

Marty & Bonnie Colton, Nat & Nanci Maddux, Norma

Levenson,

Schmid, Broaddus, Nugent & Gano Accountants,

Stephen & Heather Caine, Stuart & Shari Schwartz,

Sally, Joseph,& Marlyn Strelitz, Barbara & Gershon

Ettinger

in memory of Leah Brody by Rosilyn Rivkin

in memory of Ivan Chavez by Olivia Chavez

in memory of Joe Siegel by Alan & Mimi Pittle

in memory of Laura Sommer by Jon & Arlene Sonnen,

Sylvia Gershowitz

in memory of Murray Karp by Stuart & Shari Schwartz

Jon Heller High Holiday Fund Donation

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Fifi Heller-Kaim &

Boris Kaim


Isadore Kahn Memorial Fund

in honor of Keith & Becky Myers' daughter, Jennifer‟s

engagement by Stuart & Frances Kahn

in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by

Buddy & Ellen Dorfman

in honor of Stuart Kahn's Birthday by Buddy & Ellen

Dorfman

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Stuart & Frances

Kahn

Amelia G. Krohn Basic Judaism Collection

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Jim & Patricia

Krohn

Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center

in memory of Ed Sochat by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer

speedy recovery to David Rothbardt by Bud &

Charlotte Ramenofsky

Krasne Discretionary Fund

in honor of Bob & Naida Lipson's Special Anniversary

by Marty & Bonnie Colton

in honor of Jane Rosen's Special Birthday by Bill &

Anne Spier, Bob & Elaine Krasne, Marty & Bonnie

Colton

in memory of Alma Curry by Bob & Elaine Krasne

in memory of Audry Given by Marty & Bonnie Colton

in memory of Eddie Sochat by Marty & Bonnie Colton,

Bill & Anne Spier

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bob & Elaine

Krasne, Ruth Braun

Landscape Special Projects Fund

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Audrey & Eitan

Lavi, Suzie & Lillian Schaechner

MAZON Fund


Anniversary by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer

Special Oneg or Kiddush

in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Leon &

Judy Feldt, Scott & Angela Feldt

in memory of Josefina Holguin by Fifi Heller-Kaim &

Boris Kaim

E Oppenheimer Flower Fund

in honor of the baby naming of Cara Sala by Valerie

Frost

in honor of Edward Feldt‟s Bar Mitzvah by Angela &

Scott Feldt

in memory of David Dichter & Dorothy Solomon by

Edward & Helene Solomon

in memory of Effie Parker & Herman Klee by Jim &

Carol Parker

in memory of Florence Adler Jacob by Terren & Maria

Klein

in memory of Hedwig Grunebaum by Jim & Carol

Parker

in memory of Hilde Mason & Bertha Juda by Jim &

Carol Parker

in memory of Jacques Belbel by Roger & Trish Belbel

in memory of Jean Feinberg by Steve Feinberg & Susan

Foote

in memory of Phyllis Fruithandler by Ross & Linda

Fruithandler

in memory of Sara Krasne & Harold Novak by Bob &

Elaine Krasne

Prayer Book Fund

in memory of Lucy Bleiberg by Al Bleiberg

Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund

in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Estelle

Goldman

in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Julian Bernat

(Continued on page 18)



Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund (continued)

in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Ron & Judy

Blumenfeld

in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Sara

Mansfield


Anniversary by Ross & Linda Fruithandler

in honor of Stella Couch's naming by Charles & Carry

Couch

in memory of Bing Borschow by Molly Rosen

in memory of Eddie Sochat by Judy Leonard

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Judy Leonard, Molly

Rosen

in memory of Murray Karp by Ross & Linda

Fruithandler

in memory of Regina F. Eisner by David Eisner

SKIP Fund

in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Donna

Munch


Anniversary by Tony & Lindsay Gronich

in honor of Sam Ellowitz's Special Birthday by Larry &

Joyce Anenberg

in honor of Sue & Frank Kamoroff's Special Anniversary

by Larry & Joyce Anenberg

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Tony & Lindsay

Gronich

in memory of Cheri Spier by Larry & Joyce Anenberg

A & S Stolaroff Fund

in memory of Beulah Schuadig by William Loventhal III

& Rita Loventhal

Youth Fund

in memory of Murray Herschel Karp by Dennis & Anat

Reiter

Zork Library Fund

in memory of Bruce Litt by Jim & Patricia Krohn


Religious School Toner Cartridge Fund You‟ve heard the saying “One Man‟s

Trash is Another Man‟s Treasure”. As part of a Religious School Fundraiser, may we be the recipient of your used (empty) toner and ink cartridges? They can be any brand or size of toner/ink cartridge available.

Staples Office Supply will give us a $3.00 credit (to buy supplies for our Religious School) for each toner or ink cartridge we bring in.

We will collect the toners/ink car-tridges at Temple and periodically make trips

to Las Cruces to redeem them for credit at the Staples Office Supply Store.

I will make arrangements to pick-up your used toner and ink cartridges. Thank you for your support. Please contact me at [email protected] or 532-5959, ext. 27. Thank you,


YAMS is the newest chavurah--affinity group at

Temple! These young adults range in age from

22-39 and are passionate about their Judaism.

The group meets monthly and would love for

you to join them. Each month features Jewish

learning and community building.

Along with their monthly events YAMS are

actively engaged with the Center Against

Family Violence. Danielle Scher, organizer of

YAMS states, “Think globally, act locally! As

members of YAMS we are committed to the

Jewish teaching of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the

world.” As YAMS we are rooted into our local

community and can only begin to repair the

world by helping those around us. Therefore,

YAMS is collecting all of those little toiletries

(shampoo, conditioner, soap ,lotion) that you

pick up at hotels. These will all be donated to

the Center Against Family Violence in El Paso

(http://www.cafv.org). There will be a box at

Temple for anyone who wants to make a

donation.”

In February, the group met at Crawdaddy‟s to

learn how to make mixed drinks (Tequila and

Tefilah) . Rabbi Bach led a discussion on how to

make prayer a part of today‟s busy lives.

For the month of March they plan to have a movie night (date pending) and would love to see more congregants participating. Again, bring your toiletries! If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact Danielle Scher ([email protected]) or Hedy Uecker ([email protected]) and they will be more than happy to assist you.

Young Adults of Mount Sinai (YAMS)

Community Passover Seder at TMS Tuesday March 30th at 6:00

The Temple will be hosting a community Passover seder. Adults: $18 Children (5-12): $9 Children

Under 4 are free. Please RSVP by March 23 by calling 532-5959 or email:

[email protected]. “Let all who are hungry come and eat”

Upcoming Community Events Passover Family Event at TMS Sunday March 28th from 9:30—12:00

El Paso families are invited to Temple for a morning of Passover games, crafts and a model seder.

Please RSVP to Alanna Bach at [email protected] by Wednesday March 24.

Second Annual Jewish Women’s Retreat May 14-16, 2010

Join Temple Mt. Sinai for our second annual Jewish Women‟s Retreat in the beautiful Sacramento Mountains. Take this opportunity to remove yourself from the pressures of everyday life in El Paso and focus on friendship, Judaism, and personal growth. The weekend programming will be a mixture of prayer, adventure, and relationship building. We will stay in hotel-style accommodations at the Sacramento Methodist Assembly Retreat Center. This year‟s programming promises to be as fabulous as last year‟s – this is an event you won‟t want to miss! For more information or to RSVP for the retreat, please contact Alanna Bach at [email protected] or 532-5959.




Do you have children in first grade or

younger? Do they like to sing and dance? Do

they like to sit in a circle and listen to stories?

If you answered yes to any of these questions,

please bring your children and join us to

welcome Shabbat at our special B‟nai Shabbat

services once a month. B‟nai Shabbat is an

experiential Shabbat service conducted on the

bimah in the main sanctuary at Temple. At the

service there will be candle lighting, singing

with Rabbi Bach, and joyful praying.

B‟nai Shabbat participants are invited to join

the rest of the congregation at 5:45 pm for a

delicious oneg prepared by Simon Bir.

Following the oneg, childcare will be available

the children. Parents are invited to enjoy an

adult service beginning at 6:15 pm.

Please join us for the B‟nai Shabbat Service on

Friday, March 12, at 5:15 pm in Temple‟s

main sanctuary. To RSVP for the service or

for more information please contact Alanna

Bach at 532-5959 or

[email protected].

B’nai Shabbat

Take the opportunity to learn with friends as our Lunch and Learn series continues on March

16. We‟ll begin at 11:45 am as a delicious lunch is served.

Rabbi Bach will take a break from teaching and be a student this month, as our guest teacher,

Rabbi David Forman, explores the topic, “Can a Jewish State be a Democratic State?” Learn

more about Rabbi Forman on the front page of this bulletin.

Future lunch and learn dates are April 6 and May 4.

Lunches are $10 each. Please send in your check if you want to prepay or call Buddy Schwartz

at 532-5959 or email him at [email protected]

Lunch and Learn, March 16 at 11:45 am


The Torah places great stress on the fact that Passover occurs in the spring. In biblical times, the month in which the holiday fell was called Aviv (spring). During the first exile in Babylon, the months were given Babylonian names. Passover's month was renamed Nisan. Although the name shifted, the Hebrews upheld the Torah's insistence on the link of spring and Passover.

Critical scholars believe that the date connects spring festivals (the Feast of Unleavened Bread from pastoral roots and the Paschal lamb from shepherd traditions) that were absorbed into the Passover holiday. In this view, the earlier ritual elements were incorporated and reinterpreted as historical reminders of redemption. Many traditional scholars have objected to any attempt to place the Torah in a cultural context. Some, such as Maimonides, have seen no religious objection to having the Sinaitic revelation transform earlier elements into the Torah's theological/historical pattern, as long as its divinity is upheld.

The Torah stresses both the agricultural and the historical aspects of Passover. There is a strong but subtle relationship of nature and history in the Bible's teachings. The human being is a body/soul fusion. Somatic states affect the mind just as strong emotions--jealousy, anger, lust--

rack the body. Because the spiritual and the biological are intertwined, shifts in one dimension translate into shifts in the other. The reward of righteousness is long life; living in harmony with the divine blessing yields prosperity and fertility. Moral evil pollutes the land; cruelty to other humans drives away the Divine. The fullest spiritual development will take place when the peo-ple feel secure and rooted in the land. In the messianic age, when humans will "know" God, peo-ple will dwell under their own trees and vines in peace and harmony.

Thus, in the Bible, human and natural phenomena are read at two levels simultaneously. The Hebrew Scriptures are this-worldly. Nature is true substance; the world of biological phenomena is not illusion. Yet, while these phenomena are real, they also reflect the divine realm, which transcends nature. The people of Israel are at once a human family with self-interests, sibling ri-

valries, and daily cares, and also witnesses of Divine Presence in the world. The land of Israel is at once a land of milk and honey, of rain and mountain springs, and the land on which God keeps a divine eye from year's beginning to year's end.

Biblical language and symbol point to spring as the proper season for deliverance. The rebirth of earth after winter is nature's indication that life overcomes death: spring is nature's analogue to redemption. Life blossoming, breaking winter's death grip, gives great credence to the human yearning for liberation.

A correct reading of the spring season would hear its message of breaking out and life reborn at the biological level simultaneously with an Exodus message of good overcoming evil, of love overpowering death, of freedom and redemption. The Bible envisions a world in which moral and physical states coincide, when nature and history, in harmony, confirm the triumph of life. The Exodus paradigm suggests that the outcome of history will be an eternal spring. Read with a historical/theological hermeneutic, spring is Exodus.

Why is Passover in the Spring?


The following is a reflection prepared for a program

I’m currently enrolled in, the Institute for Jewish

Spirituality’s Rabbinical Leadership Program. I

share it here, and hope it prompts some theologizing

on your part.

In seminary, the arch-rationalist Professor of

Philosophy, Alvin Reines (z”l), was on a

mission to break his students of their theism. I

don‟t believe I was much of a traditional theist

to begin with, but I wasn‟t hostile to the

concept or its adherents, and so I pushed back

against his teaching, hard. One moment from

class has stuck with me, and even now is the

framework in which I place my own

theological reflection.

Reines was on a tear that day, railing against

religious supernaturalism. “We know that

Euclid was all wrong about space! Einstein

proved it! Parallel lines meet! Space bends! To

insist that it doesn‟t in the face of scientific

evidence makes as much sense as maintaining

the existence of an invisible „Person‟ who

creates and guides the universe! Traditional

Jewish theology is to reality as Euclid is to

Einstein!” (It made an impression, and I think

that‟s more or less verbatim, including the

exclamation points).

My response (not verbalized; there was no

point in arguing with Dr. Reines): “Yeah, but

I‟d rather have Euclid measure my floors for

tile.” If I want to know the space of a room,

Euclidian geometry is indispensible and

quantum mechanics rather useless.

This “Euclid-Einstein tension” metaphor stuck

with me, and has helped me to navigate my

world. So much of my life takes place in

measurable spaces: hospital rooms, the living

room at a shivah minyan, and even the Chapel. I

find the notion of a personal, providential

deity often brings tremendous comfort in those

places, and I am quite comfortable reflecting

back others‟ affirmations of that God. I don‟t

feel the need to convince anyone that their

belief system is wrong, even if it isn‟t one that I

necessarily share. If “God wanted…” offers

someone a measure of relief from pain, then

who am I to argue? On the other hand, I also

know that many people are wrestling as I am

with the idea of God-as-Process, and they are

often delighted to find that their rabbi shares

their more inwardly-oriented, mystical

theology.

I am increasingly at home with non-theistic,

process theology. To return to the metaphor, I

find that non-Euclidian geometry is the best

way for me to measure the area of my yoga

mat, or that of my desk, covered with

commentaries of the early Hasidic masters and

latter-day teachers like Art Green. I feel best

when I‟m aware of divine shefa and chiut

animating me (and everything), all at once. I

am less moved, personally, when I talk to God,

the transcendent Other.

Ultimately, I believe that both of these ways of

relating to Divine Reality are metaphors, more

or less useful to different people in different

moments, and I‟m grateful to have an

elementary grasp of both of them and the

flexibility to speak through each.

As always, I’d be delighted to know your thoughts.

Shalom,

Rabbi Bach

more from the Rabbi’s Study…


Temple Mount Sinai and Congregation B‟nai

Zion came together on Sunday, December 13,

for a community Hanukkah family event. The

morning was full of laughter, fun, learning, and

creating. It all began at 9:15 am with

registration, dropping off mitzvah gifts, and a

Hanukkah quiz. Once everyone had arrived we

proceeded into the chapel for a Hanukkah sing-

down with Rabbi Bach, Ray Sias, and Bill

Radcliff. Then the answers to the quiz were

revealed with prizes to those who answered

correctly.

Next eight “characters” from the Hanukkah

story came up in full costume to introduce

themselves to the group. A little taste … the

Hanukkiah told us, “Count my branches, there

are nine. One for each day, a candle will shine.

Using the shamash we light from left to right.

Lighting one more candle each night”.

The next part of the morning included learning

activities by ages: The 0-4 year olds had a

special play and craft room. The 5-11 years olds

separated into classrooms for age appropriate

lessons. The middle schoolers joined Rabbis

Rosenthal, Bach, and Leon for a mixer, story,

and a discussion. Parents accompanied their

children in these special activities.

To conclude the morning everyone came

together in the social hall for the EPJA Drama

Club‟s production of “The Chanukah Candle

Caper”. During the morning Temple Mt.

Sinai‟s Men of Reform Judaism prepared five

different types of latkes. After the play the

middle schoolers judged the latkes for the Lip

Licking Latke Contest. The winning latkes were

prepared by Scott Feldt - the family special

latkes!

This was a fabulous community celebration

enjoyed by over 200 people!

Community Hanukkah Celebration

Staff

Rabbi ..................................................................... Larry Bach

Rabbi Emeritus ......................................................Ken Weiss

Administrator.......................................................Sally Parke

Administrative Assistant ............................Buddy Schwartz

Religious School Director .......................................Grace Bir

Outreach Director .............................................. Susan Jaffee

Family Educator ................................................ Alanna Bach

Youth Advisors .......... Stacy Berry and Alison Westermann

Bulletin Editors ................................. Mark and Tara Schrier

Building Manager ..................................... Frank Hernandez

House Keeping ............................................ Ramona Pinales

Accompanist.................................................. Linda McClain

Officers

David Kern ............................................................. President

Shari Schwartz .............................................. President-Elect

Marian Daross ................................................ Vice President

Greta Duran ................................................... Vice President

Ellen Goodman .............................................. Vice President

Jon Sonnen...................................................... Vice President

Tommy Goldfarb ........................................... Vice President

Stephanie Calvo ...................................................... Secretary

Marcia Dahlberg ..........................Immediate Past President

Trustees

Rick Amstater, Olivia Chavez, Joyce Davidoff,

Scott Feldt, Lori Gaman, Susie Goldman,

Jack Heydemann, David Leffman,

David Mansfield, Hal Marcus, David Novick

Debby Robalin, Phil Rothstein

Temple Mount Sinai 4408 North Stanton Street El Paso, TX 79902 Phone: 915-532-5959 Fax: 915-533-0092 www.templemountsinai.com

Temple Mount Sinai is the Reform

Jewish congregation serving El

Paso, Texas.

We are a congregation of

supportive, caring and diverse

people with a rich history.

Temple is a place for prayer, ritual,

spirituality, education, wholeness

and healing, social action and

celebration.

Join us as we explore, through these

elements of sacred living, the

richness of Jewish faith and

tradition.

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Messages from the Mountain, March 2010