Messages from the Mountain, November 2010

Number 615 November 2010/ Cheshvan 5771

November: A Month for Learning With the Fall Holidays a memory, and

Chanukah still a month away, November has

become a month dedicated to Jewish learning.

It is “Jewish Book Month” — a great time to

check out a book from the Zork Library, which

continues to collect outstanding books of

Jewish interest. It also includes a “Global Day

of Jewish Learning” on November 7, in which

Jews from all over the world will gather in

spaces both physical and virtual to study

(learn more at 1people1day.org — at press

time, the website has a few glitches, but

hopefully they’ll be worked out by the time

you read this). I encourage everyone to

explore these options for independent

learning.

Closer to home, in our own community,

November 14 brings Yom Limmud, a day of

learning at the Jewish Community Center.

Registration and check-in begin at 12:15 pm,

and sessions are held throughout the

afternoon. There is, frankly, an embarrassment

of riches on the program, and you’ll no doubt

be forced to make tough choices about which

sessions to attend. The cost is $8/person, or

$14/household, and child care is available

throughout, at no charge. Please see your copy

of the Jewish Voice or visit the Jewish

Federation online (www.jewishelpaso.org) to

learn more about the sessions being offered by

El Paso’s rabbis and gifted laypeople.

Learning at Temple Mount Sinai is a year-

round affair, of course, with Torah Study and

other opportunities for personal growth filling

our calendar. This month, in addition to our

regular engagement with the weekly Torah

portion (each Saturday morning at 9:30 am in

Zielonka Hall), our weekly opportunity to

learn the truths our own bodies have to teach

us through Yoga Practice (also in Zielonka

Hall, Wednesdays at 10 am), and our chance

to engage the texts of our tradition in their

original tongue through Adult Hebrew

(Wednesdays at 6 pm), I’ll be offering a

session, in two different settings, on a timely

topic: bullying. With so much in the news

about bullying, both the old-fashioned kind

and the newer phenomenon of “cyber-

bullying,” we’ll take a look at a fascinating bit

of text and see what it might teach us. This

learning will take place on Sunday Morning,

November 7 at 10 am, and on Tuesday,

November 9 at 11:45 am (as part of our

“Lunch and Learn” series).

I look forward to learning with you, this

month and every month.

Rabbi Bach

Page 2 November 2010/ Cheshvan 5771 Messages from the Mountain

Worship Schedule November-December

November 5-6

Parashat Toldot Friday, November 5

Candlelighting, 5:56 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm

Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm

Saturday, November 6 Torah Study, 9:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 7:25 pm

November 12-13

Parashat Vayetzei Friday, November 12 Candlelighting, 4:51 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm



November 19-20

Parashat Vayishlach Friday, November 19 Candlelighting, 4:47 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm



Shabbat Moring Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:17 pm

November 26-27

Parashat Vayeshev Friday, November 26 Candlelighting, 4:45 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm


Saturday, November 27 Torah Study , 9:30 am


December 3-4

Parashat Mikeitz/Chanukah Friday, December 3

Candlelighting, 4:44 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm

Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm Chanukah Dinner following the Service

Saturday, December 4 Torah Study , 9:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 Havdalah, 6:14 pm

December 10-11

Parashat Vayigash Friday, December 10 Candlelighting, 4:44 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm


Saturday, December 11 Torah Study , 9:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 Bat Mitzvah of Bree Meyer

Havdalah, 6:15 pm


November Birthdays

November Anniversaries

November 1 Larry Bach Ralph Garcia Manny Schydlower November 2 Trish Belbel Rona Dictor Alyssa Goldman Brian Karch Carina Ramirez Shelby Robalin * November 3 Jordyn McCoy Cindy Metrikin Erin Reiter November 4 Or Belkin * Keith Myers Teri Rosen November 5 Tiff Christiansen Leor Goldstein * Lorraine Holaschutz Dick Krasne * Leah Levy Ron Marcus Meredith Rotwein Scott Stein

November 6 Dannah Meyers * Bryan Schonberg * November 7 Cliff Eisenberg November 8 Roberto Assael * Macy Gluck November 9 Stacy Berry Bert Blackburn * Sylvia Delgado * Scott Feldt * Aaron Goldfarb Mia Papa Rochelle Saks November 10 Lauren Blumenfeld Laura Brannon-Rosales Iris Burnham November 11 Daniel Metrikin Erin Schrier * Richard Zehden

November 12 Elise Ehrlich Dana Frank Liza Karch Mark Post * Charles Yates November 13 David Karp November 14 Frankie Lerner Kris Mickenberg November 15 Margie Landau * Phillip Lauterbach Myrtle Rubin Stuart Schwartz November 16 Adam Frank November 18 Chantal Assael Nicole Assael Jay Gladstein November 19 Jo Ann Burman Jackson Burton Buddy Schwartz

November 20 Harrison Gaman Debby Robalin November 21 John Eger Henry Geller November 22 Corey Fruithandler John Shecter November 23 Channah Kimmelman November 25 Maria Klein November 26 Marcia Dahlberg November 28 Dawson Christiansen * Jewel Reinhardt Albert Schwartz November 29 Michelle Assael David Kern Douglas Schwartz November 30 Ada Marcus *

November 1 Howard & Mona Goldberg* Abe & Annette Goldberg Mark & Joyce Post November 6 Chantal Assael & Carlos Fernandez November 7 Ed & Jacqui Babenco Steven & Ellen Wilson

November 8 Paul & Ellen Gulbas November 10 Rebecca & Alan Krasne November 12 Charles & Carmen Yates Doug & Emma Schwartz * November 14 Fifi Heller-Kaim & Boris Kaim

November 15 Leon & Judy Feldt November 17 Manny & Laura Corral November 18 John & Nicki Meehan November 22 Tricia & Chris Holderman November 23 Monica & Carlos Escobar

November 25 Hy & Marilyn Silverstein November 27 Henry & Harriet Geller David & Jeryl Marcus Bob & Elaine Prensky * Jon & Toby Purvin November 28 Eddie & Susie Goldman * Special 5 or 10 year

Birthday or Anniversary


...to Ben Loeb & Quyen Nguyen, on the birth of their son, Ryan Samuel

Nguyen Loeb.

Mazel Tov! Congratulations...

B’ruchim Haba’im—Welcome New Members!

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

...to Arlene Sonnen on the death of her mother, Sylvia Gershowitz.

...to Shari Schwartz on the death of her mother, Reba Swiff.

We turn the new member spotlight this month on Michael and Melanie

Alkov. The Alkov family recently moved to El Paso from California in or-

der for Michael to assume a job as a dentist at La Fe clinic. They love their

new life in scenic El Paso. Aside from practicing dentistry, Michael enjoys

attending Rabbi Bach's weekly Torah Study class and also doing

some mountain hiking. Melanie has already made many friends through

WRJ and the local Hadassah chapter. Melanie loves volunteering at Tem-

ple too! They are very proud of their two children, Nicole, 28, who works

as a hydrogeologist for CH2MHill in Phoenix and David, 24, who works

at Red Cats here in El Paso.

We also welcome to membership at Temple Carol Molloy, and Scott and

Bess Poehlmann and their son, Ulrich.

Do you know someone who is new to town, new to Judaism, or interested in get-

ting involved with a synagogue? Please help them be in touch with Susan Jaffee at

532-5959 or [email protected].


Leaves and Stones on the Temple’s Tree of Life

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.

From our friends at the Paso Del Norte Food Bank….

We at Paso Del Norte Food Bank would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Temple

Mount Sinai for your recent donation of 1,723 pounds of food.

As you know, the Paso Del Norte Food Bank provides food pantries to families who are in

need of food. With the way the economy is right now, it seems that more and more families

are seeking our assistance. Your donation will enable us to provide more families with

food.

It is heartwarming to know that the food bank has friends like you to help in our time of

need. Your donation helps us to continue with our mission. It gives our clients a little bit

more food and puts a smile on their faces. It will also assist us in alleviating some of the

stress and suffering of many families.

Again, on behalf of the Paso Del Norte Food Bank we thank you for your generous dona-

tion.

Sincerely,

Estela Mendoza

Director

Paso Del Norte Food Bank

High Holiday Food Drive


Women of Reform Judaism October brought (slightly) cooler temperatures and great company with Temple Mount Sinai’s Women of Reform Judaism. For Simchat Torah, we stood in solidarity with the Women of the Wall (http://womenofthewall.org.il/), took some photos and sent them to the website. Our group stood in solidarity with Israeli women, asking that women be allowed to wear tallitot, pray out loud and read from Torah at the Western Wall. The Women of the Wall then sent our photos along with letters to the Prime Minister and other members of the Israeli government. Ten members of WRJ gathered at Ardovino's Desert Crossing for a Girls’ Night Out on Tues-day, October 5. We took time to catch up on each other's lives, enjoy good food, and laugh. It's important to reach out to women and make connections across the community. In November, come and join Lori Gaman and her group of volunteers in baking and icing cookies for the WRJ Hanukkah Cookie Sale! We'll be making over 200 dozen dreidel and star-shaped cookies with Ghirardelli white chocolate to sell to support WRJ. Look out for order forms in your mailbox! All baking sessions will be in the TMS kitchen. Please join us for one or all dates, and remember to bring a lunch on November 2nd! Let Lori know you’re coming by emailing [email protected]. WRJ Chanukah Cookie Baking and Icing Dates: Tuesday, November 2 9:30 AM Monday, November 8 5:30 PM Sunday, November 14 9:30 AM Tuesday, November 16 9:30 AM

Reminder: Place your orders by November 12th - Cookie Pick-up begins November 19th!

Chanukah Cookie Order Form Please mail your order form and check to Temple Mount Sinai, 4408 N. Stanton, El Paso, TX 79902 Name: __________________________________________________________

Email address: _________________________(We will email when cookies are ready for pickup)

Phone Number: _____________________________

I’d like ____ dozen cookies @ $8/dozen = $________


Men of Reform Judaism

By the time this article is printed, MRJ's World Series of Baseball

fundraiser will have already ended. Winners will be printed in the next

bulletin. A major “thank you” goes out to everyone who

participated. This fundraiser supports the Jewish campership fund and,

thanks to you, at least one child who might not have had the opportunity

to go to Jewish Summer camp, will be going. Thank you for your support

of MRJ! Please contact Scott Feldt at 526-8478, or [email protected]

to get involved.

Jewish War Veterans News

We had our monthly meeting on October 17. We were honored to

host the 7th and 8th grade boys from Religious School. They are a

fine group of young men, and we enjoyed speaking with them. On

November 13, we will enjoy a service to honor our Veterans at B’nai

Zion. We are also looking forward to a Hanukkah event as well. If

you have any questions regarding the Jewish War Veterans, please

contact Scott Feldt at 526-8478 or [email protected].

Albertson’s Cash-Back Fundraiser

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, at no additional cost to you.

If you need additional key tags, they are available in the Temple office.


MERRY MITZVAH PROJECT

For the last three years, Gloria’s job has been

easier due to a very special project coordinated

by the Jewish Federation of El Paso. Friends

and families shop for a week’s worth of non-

perishable food using our suggested shopping

list. After shopping, all groceries are packed in

a sturdy carton. The boxes are delivered to a

central drop-off point by the specified date in

December and arrive at the Clinic on a pre-

arranged day in early January. There, they are

distributed - unopened – to our families. This

year, the Federation brought over 180

“GOOD” food boxes. Let’s let Gloria tell you

about the impact of this project…. Excerpted

from the Clinic Guadalupana Newsletter.

“For the last three years, God blessed us

with food baskets for our families. On a

Friday in January, the trucks came to the

Clinic with the food baskets. Our families

came to pick up the food, and John Garcia

and his crew helped carry and load the

food baskets into the ladies’ cars.

When I came to the Clinic on Saturday, all

of the comments were about the food bas-

kets. All of the ladies were sharing their

stories about getting such a wonderful gift.

One of them said, “I think I got the best

basket”, and another lady said, “What

makes you think that?” She said, “Oh, be-

cause mine had very special food. It had

macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, tuna,

and a lot of very good cans of vegetables,

and even a big box of dry milk!” And, the

other lady said, “Oh, mine had that too!”

She said, “I think that all of us had the spe-

cial baskets, not just you!” Everybody was

laughing and making comments of how

special they felt.

From the JCRC…..THANK YOU TO ALL

WHO BOUGHT AND PACKED A

BOX……. You made a difference. But this

is another year and, yes, it’s time to help

once more.

Just like last year, again the focus for

Merry Mitzvah is on food and the JCRC

of the Jewish Federation, with your help,

will make a difference to many families.

We will be providing holiday gifts to folks

serviced by the Clinica Guadalupana in

the far east colonias of El Paso County.

YOU CAN CONTINUE OUR TRADITION

OF HELPING --by filling a food box for a

family that has very little. We will pro-

vide you the boxes and a shopping

list. Perhaps your neighbors and cowork-

ers would take one, too.

• Pick up a box (or bring your gifts and

fill the container on site) at the Temple,

the Jewish Federation, or Congregation

B’nai Zion.

• Buy all the items on the Shopping List

on the next page. Boxes must be com-

plete. We cannot accept partials or sub-

stitutions. Pack them, but don’t seal.

Just fold over the top flaps.

• Deliver items with forms to a Drop-Off

Point by Dec 23.

• Enjoy that Merry Mitzvah feeling.


Merry Mitzvah Shopping List

4 cans soup (chicken noodle, beef vegetable) 1 lb. bag pasta 1 large (plastic) jar/can spaghetti sauce 4- 8 oz. cans tomato sauce 4 boxes macaroni & cheese 2-16 oz. cans corn 2-16 oz. cans green beans 1 lb. bag pinto beans 1 lb. bag white rice 2-16 oz. cans fruit 2 cans tuna 1 (plastic) jar peanut butter 1 box saltine crackers 1 box powdered milk

READY FOR DELIVERY: Did you close and fold over the flaps? (Remember these boxes will be stacked in a truck for delivery.)

Lunch and Learn, November 9 at 11:45 am

Our next Lunch and Learn will be Tuesday, November 9 in Zielonka Hall at Temple.

The session will begin with lunch at 11:45 am, followed by study and conversation.

This month, we’ll see what Judaism has to say about the nature of bullying.

Lunch is $10, and reservations may be made by calling the Temple office, or online.

Your RSVP helps us purchase food wisely — please let us know if you’ll be attending.


A Final Gift

by

Donna G. Munch

I clutched the phone tightly in my perspiring

hands as my niece, Jill, held the phone to my

dying mother’s ear thousands of miles away

in Philadelphia. “Goodbye, Mom,” I whis-

pered. “Rest in peace; I love you.”

A myriad of emotions flooded me. I had of-

ten visualized this scenario, particularly dur-

ing the past five years since my mother had

fallen stricken with Alzheimer’s. In my heart

I always believed that somehow we’d resolve

our issues prior to her death. A fantasy that

one day she would truly love me for “me”

and not merely as an extension of herself. I

dreamed of seeing her eyes shine with re-

spect, admiration, and unconditional love—

proud of the woman that I had become. But

now that dream would never come to frui-

tion. The finality of death shattered my life-

time illusion of having a mother who loved

me.

I had tried so hard over the years to please

and take care of her. From my earliest child-

hood memories I found myself in a role re-

versal. In my mind’s eye I see myself com-

forting my mother; patting her hand, whis-

pering soothing words, and telling her every-

thing would be okay. My mother was always

sickly, always nervous, always angry, always

sad, and everyone tiptoed around trying not

to upset fragile Lily. “Just do whatever your

mother wants you to do,” my father would

advise. “Just don’t upset her.” For when she

was upset with my sister and me, he fell vic-

tim to her wrath as well.

I always felt a tremendous weight of respon-

sibility bearing down on me, a burden that

no child should have to carry. At five years

old I remember her confiding in me about

her health and marital woes. I could barely

comprehend what she told me, but somehow

felt compelled to fix her problems.

I can remember her hysterics; throwing

things, slamming doors, suicide threats, and

angry and hurtful words. She lashed out

pent-up rage and frustration at life’s misfor-

tunes. My mother abused us physically as

well as emotionally, while my father stood

by and watched. The physical wounds

healed, but the emotional ones scarred me,

damaging my psyche and self-esteem.

I tried to be the perfect daughter, trying hard

not to add to her troubles. So I became a peo-

ple pleaser, always putting others’ needs

ahead of my own and believing I was re-

sponsible for their happiness. I tried to be the

best—the best daughter, wife, mother, friend,

student, employee—but it was never enough.

I was never enough. I felt unworthy of love.

My mother always made a point to tell me

how much prettier my friends were, how

much smarter and kinder her friends’ chil-

dren were.

She crushed my hopes, dreams and aspira-

tions. In her eyes, I was merely a girl, viewed

as inferior. “If you were a boy,” she’d say,

“we’d join a synagogue and worship to-

gether, and you would become a Bar Mitz-

vah. If you were a boy, we’d send you to col-

lege. But since you’re a girl, you can get a

secretarial job like I did and then find a man

to marry you to take you off our hands.” I

believed that being a girl meant I wasn’t

good enough. “Your father always wanted a

son,” she’d add. “It’s your fault we have

marital problems. He’s jealous of the atten-

(Continued on page 11)


tion I give to you and your sister.”

I knew I wanted more in life, but didn’t

know how to achieve it without parental

support. So I became a perfectionist with

unrealistic expectations, critical and judg-

mental of myself as well as others.

When I was six, my grandfather took me

to Garden Pier in New Jersey to audition

to sing in a children’s concert. I loved to

sing and belted out “This Old Man” over

the boardwalk of Atlantic City. When my

grandfather told my mom that I had audi-

tioned, she said, “Pop, she’s going to em-

barrass me!” I’ll never forget his fiery eyes

and reddening face and bald head as he

bellowed, “Lillian, you should be encour-

aging your children, building their self-

confidence, not destroying it!” Now that

I’m an adult I can step back objectively,

pushing emotions aside, and understand

that my mother projected her own feelings

of inadequacy and low self-esteem onto

her children.

As a child I negatively sought attention by

becoming ill, but that never worked be-

cause she was incapable of caring for any-

one. When something bad happened in

my life: surgery, a miscarriage, failed mar-

riages . . . a part of me thought maybe, just

maybe, this time she’ll feel my pain and be

there for me. But it never happened. It was

likewise for joyous occasions: marrying,

earning a college degree after twelve

years, landing prestigious jobs, giving

birth to a beautiful baby boy, and publish-

ing a book. But she was also incapable of

sharing my triumphs.

So I finally moved thousands of miles

away, however, emotionally, that glimmer

of hope, never wavered. It lay dormant

within my heart, only to lead to further

disappointment and rejection. When I paid

visits to Philadelphia with my young son,

I thought he would bring her joy as he had

brought me, only to have her utter her dis-

content over the inconveniences we

caused her. I began visiting less fre-

quently.

And then she grew older, succumbing to

the disease she most feared, Alzheimer’s,

which had claimed her sister’s life a few

years earlier. I tried to get her the help she

needed, but my father was in denial and

fought my assistance, so I stepped back. I

finally succeeded in getting her homecare

until my father became incapacitated and

incapable of caring for her, and then I

needed to place her in a nursing home.

By December 2006, I was separated from

my husband of twenty-two years, and my

15-year-old son opted to live with his fa-

ther. I knew it was time to pay my parents

a final visit. My father lived in a different

nursing home, battling neuropathy that

crippled him. He was still in denial about

my mother’s mental state, insistent she

was acting this way merely to aggravate

him.

It had been a couple of years since I had

last seen them and nothing prepared me

for the visit to my mother’s home. I

walked into the community room while a

young man strummed his guitar and sang.

The dementia patients swayed to music

from their era.

A nurse pointed to my mother as I shook

my head in disbelief. This could not be my

(Continued on page 12)


mother! My once youthful-looking mother

now looked ninety-nine, instead of her sev-

enty-nine years. Her beautiful thick, black

hair had turned snow white and cut in a bob.

She appeared shrunken, her once full figure

now rail-thin. She stared at me with vacant,

unrecognizing eyes as I stood there blinking

back a torrent of hot tears. I took her frail

hand and kissed her cold, leathery sunken

cheek.

I had never been able to reach my mother, we

never connected, and now I realized we never

would—she was gone forever. Words finally

came to my lips, and I found myself singing a

song she had sung to me as a child. “ ’A’ ”

you’re adorable,” I sang, remembering every

word, all the way through the alphabet. A

spark of light came to her eyes as she clasped

her hands together, trying to murmur the

words of the song. She then smiled, kissed my

hand, and whispered in a strained and raspy

voice, “I love you.” I had reached her! The

song fleetingly brought her back to the pre-

sent from that dark tunnel of despair, a tunnel

she had been lost in for most of her life. A mo-

ment later that blank, glazed look reappeared,

but I rejoiced in that fraction of a minute

when I reached her.

My father died on April 28, 2007, but we

never told my mother; her mind was too far

gone. Yet, I believe she intuitively knew

through her remaining senses. My parents’

emotional bond was stronger than her insidi-

ous disease. On the one-month anniversary of

my father’s death, she stopped eating. And a

week later she joined him and finally lay at

peace.

I now wear the gold bracelet she wore when

she passed away. It contains Stars of David

delicately encircled on it. I never take it off,

for it is my final connection to my mother. It’s

also a reminder to accept people for who they

are—flaws and all—and love them anyway.

We all possess the power to make choices: We

can choose to dwell on the misfortunes of life

and how we feel cheated, or we can focus on

life’s blessings, learning to love and validate

ourselves and others. I choose the latter.

Parent Workshop, November 7, 10 am

On Sunday, November 7 at 10 am in the Temple Boardroom, Rabbi

Bach will be conducting a bullying workshop for parents. The many

recent incidents that have occurred around the country have brought

this issue to the forefront of our lives. Come and discuss this impor-

tant and timely topic with Rabbi Bach.


Gesher (bridge in Hebrew) is a hands-on Jewish learning program run by Temple

Mount Sinai for children from birth through four years and their parents. Throughout

the year, children and parents explore Jewish holidays and Jewish ethics through the

vehicle of play.

Our rich curriculum, designed by Marci Karch, includes singing, movement, stories,

craft projects, snacks, and more. Gesher meets at Temple Mount Sinai in Zielonka Hall

from 10 to 11 am approximately twice a month. There is an $80 per family registration

fee for this program.

During October, the Gesher

class met to learn “What’s

Jewish about Peanut Butter

and Jelly” and “What’s Jew-

ish about Vegetables.” We

learned about important Jew-

ish values, their Israel con-

nection, and special blessings

we say when we eat these

foods. We took a field trip to

the pre-k and kindergarten

class to share the story of

Yossi and Laibel making Pea-

nut Butter and Jelly for Shabbat. Additionally, we brought our friends sandwiches to

demonstrate the important Jewish value of Hazan et Hakol (feeding everyone.) In our

second October class, we set up our own shook (market place) and tasted a variety of

fruits and vegetables. Here, we focused on the equally important Jewish value of

Shmirat HaGuf (caring for the body.)

Our November class (only one class this month) will meet on Sunday, November 14,

to explore “What’s Jewish about Cats and Dogs.”

We hope your family will join us for a year of Jewish fun and learning. Please contact

Marci Karch at [email protected] or 585-7833 for complete registration informa-

tion. It is not necessary to be members of Temple Mount Sinai to join this class.

Gesher


A Special Mitzvah Project in Grades 7-8

On September 26, during Sukkot, our 7th and 8th

grade students met in the Art Room to decorate quilt

squares for a Mitzvah Project, “A Quilt For

Drew”. The students did not know anything about

the recipient of the quilt until Chris Ponsford, our

Enrichment Facilitator, showed the students pictures

and explained the project.

Drew Wakefield is a 14 year old boy from Denton

who has Down’s syndrome and has had leukemia

since he was 2 1/2 years old. When he went into

remission years ago, the doctors told his parents that

there was less than a 1% chance of the cancer

returning. Then, those odds continued when Drew passed the five year cancer-free mark.

Unfortunately, Chris informed the students, Drew was diagnosed with recurring leukemia last

June. The first two chemotherapy sessions were not successful, so Drew was scheduled to have a

bone marrow transplant beginning October 4, in Fort Worth.

Drew's two brothers, Grant and Joel, were tested as possible marrow donors, but were not

matches. With the help of the National Bone Marrow Registry, a human donor and cord blood

donation match were found. The donor, however, is not a viable choice because of the urgency of

time.

Sunday, September 26, the students created beautiful quilt squares wishing Drew courage, mazel and

their support for recovery. Throughout the week, Chris sewed the pieces together to create the face

layer of the quilt. On Sunday, October 3, Chris brought the face layer of the quilt so the students

could see it and take a group picture with it. Following the picture taking session, Rabbi Bach led the

students in praying our healing prayer, Mi Shebeirach, as we sent our hope, well wishes and positive

energy to Drew.

The Ponsford’s two daughters are attending college

in Denton, where they learned about Drew. Chip

and Chris will visit their daughters and take the quilt

with them to deliver it to Drew at Cook Children’s

Hospital.

Drew's story can be followed on

www.caringbridge.org/visit/myfrienddrew.

If you are interested, people can be tested with a

mouth-swab kit to be listed in the National Bone

Marrow Registry. They can go to www.marrow.org

to request a kit.


Be Your Child’s Role Model!

In religious school, we teach our children that Judaism is not just a

religion, but a way of living your life. In the Torah we learn that

all of our relationships are about honoring self and others. One

lesson we stress to our students is G’Milut Chasadim—doing acts

of random kindness. Throughout the school year, students are en-

couraged and taught lessons about being kind and doing good

deeds. However, December 12th , we go the extra mile and pro-

mote an “All School Mitzvah Day”. This year we are participat-

ing in three different projects:

• Honoring the elderly Michelle Blumenfeld has graciously volunteered to head this

year’s Mitzvah Day projects and Becky Horowitz of the Visiting Nurses Association, helped

to identify the specific needs of the elderly. On October 17, Michelle presented this year’s

Mitzvah Day projects to students and faculty. The children are very enthusiastic about

helping the “Bubbes and Zaidie’s” of El Paso.

• From October 17 through December 12 the classes will be collecting the following

items: Pre-K and Kinder: baby wipes; Grades 1-2: new wash cloths; Grades 3-4: Ensure

or Boost drinks; Grades 5-6: Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash; Grades 7-8: Carnation

Instant Breakfast.

• We count on our TMS Community, including parents, grandparents, students and

faculty, to make our Religious School Mitzvah Day a success.

• If you would like to do more for the VNA-Hospice, they need fitted and flat sheets

for hospital beds (extra long). We challenge all the families to go the extra mile and

each bring a set of new sheets for a Hospice patient.

• Hidden Treasures Please look for Hidden Treasures in your closets, drawers and toy

boxes. Search for clothes, toys, DVD’s, books and other items you have outgrown.

Please start bringing your treasures to Religious School between October 17 and Decem-

ber 12th. We will collect these items at school in the Resource Room and donate your

gently used items to less fortunate children. Please, no furniture.

• Packages from Home On December 12, our Mitzvah Day culminates with a luncheon at

11:30 a.m. in Schwartz Hall to raise money for A Package from Home. This organization

sends care packages to Israeli soldiers. All parents and grandparents are invited to join

us and help us raise money for this worthy cause. Please let us know if you will be join-

ing us by sending us your RSVP to Grace Bir at [email protected].

A Season for Mitzvot — October 17-December 12


Every other year, Rabbi Bach presents the Sacred Choices Curriculum to our 7th and 8th grade stu-

dents. This curriculum provides teens with a foundation on which they can make informed, responsi-

ble decisions about their health and behavior; it equips them with age-appropriate tools to help steer

through friendships and relationships, and offers Jewish answers to many of their questions about

sexual behavior, avoiding the temptation to speak generally about values without grappling with the

hard issues.

September 26, parents of our 7th and 8th grade students met with Rabbi for an overview of the curricu-

lum, a Q&A session and a discussion about how this program, as a joint effort between the parents

and Rabbi, will support our youth through their growth and development into young Jewish adults.

The students attended their first session “Communication and Assertiveness”, October 3, in their

classroom. The schedule of the sessions is as follows:

October 10—Session 2 – Self Worth – I Am A

Gift

October 24—Session 3 – Self Control – Who Is A

Hero?

November 7—Session 4 – Friends and More

than Friends

November 14 - Session 5 – Everyone’s Doing It!

Peer Pressure

Sacred Choices

Parents and grandparents of third through ninth

grade students: Here is a wonderful opportunity

to send your child to Israel in partnership with

the Jewish community. SKIP (the “Send a Kid to

Israel Partnership”) allows you to start a savings

plan now, so that when that time comes there

will be funds to pay for an extended summer ex-

perience in Israel. In the past, many students

from El Paso and across the nation have enjoyed

unforgettable summer programs in Israel.

The plan is designed so that your yearly contri-

butions of $300 will be matched with $150 from

Temple Mount Sinai and $150 from the Jewish

Federation of El Paso. All contributions, plus in-

vestment earnings, are available to use on a high

school or young adult peer-group program in

Israel.

The program is open to students in grades three

through eight whose parents are members of

Temple. Students who did not have the opportu-

nity to be enrolled in the third grade can still be

enrolled in grade fourth through eighth.

If you would like to learn more about this special

opportunity, please contact Grace Bir via e-mail

at [email protected] or on her cell,

269-4331. We look forward to having your child

share in the dream of one day visiting Israel with

others his or her own age.

REMINDER: To parents whose child(ren) are

enrolled in SKIP, your contribution is due by De-

cember 15, 2010.


Religious School in Pictures

The 4th and 5th grade students enjoyed partici-

pating in their Jewish Cooking enrichment class,

where they learned to prepare stuffed cabbage,

meat balls and a sweet treat – caramel apples.

This enrichment session was lead by Chris and

Chip Ponsford. >>>

Rabbi Bach affixes a mezuzah to the en-tryway of the Relgious School and Tem-ple offices, while the students look on. <<<

On October 3rd, during the Parent and

Grandparent Day, the 6th grade stu-

dents, parents and grandparents

worked on Family Trees and discussed

their family’s history. This project

helped set the stage for the sixth graders

upcoming Jewish American curriculum.

<<<

The Pre-Kinder and Kinder students are busy working

on their “Six Days of Creation” art project. >>>

.

In the first grade, we discussed Adam and Eve and how each was a helpmate to the other. In teaching the lesson, we took the opportunity to discuss the idea that we are all created equally by God in his image. Though we may have a different skin color, body shape, hair color, etc. we are all God's children and we should be kind and respectful to one another as such. <<<


Looking for something special for Chanukah? Stop in

and check out the multitiude of new arrivals!

• TAX FREE DAY: Wednesday, December 1, 2010—

1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Regular Hours Sunday, December 5, 2010 — 9:30 am to

12:00 pm

MSTY/MINI-MSTY NEWS

September 30 through October 2,

MSTY joined the rest of NFTY-

Southwest at Fall Kallah in Phoe-

nix. We had 13 MSTY members

attend this awesome event. The

MSTYites got to meet their fellow

classmates from the region, as well

as participate in services, pro-

grams, and a "NFTY-SW's Got Tal-

ent" social.

On Sunday, October 24, mini-

MSTY enjoyed a trip to La Union Corn Maze, after Religious School and lunch at

Temple.

There are a couple of upcoming events:

• Mini-MSTY goes bowling. Date to be determined

• November 13—MSTY joins all Jewish teens from El Paso for a Havdallah on

Ice at the County Coliseum ice rink.

Mini-MSTYites and MSTYites, keep an eye on your inbox and your Facebook

wall for notes from Stacy, and make plans to join us!

Temple Gift Shop Chanukah Sales


Editorial Note: This short description of Reform Judaism is printed each

week along with the announcements at our Shabbat services. It is an

accurate description of our modern, yet rooted, expression of the Jewish faith.

Throughout history, Jews have remained firmly rooted in Jewish

tradition, even as we learned much from our encounters with other

cultures. Nevertheless, since its earliest days, Reform Judaism has

asserted that a Judaism frozen in time is an heirloom, not a living

fountain. The great contribution of Reform Judaism is that it has

enabled the Jewish people to introduce innovation while preserving

tradition, to embrace diversity while asserting commonality, to affirm

beliefs without rejecting those who doubt and to bring faith to sacred

texts without sacrificing critical scholarship.

Reform Judaism affirms the central tenets of Judaism - God, Torah

and Israel - even as it acknowledges the diversity of Reform Jewish

beliefs and practices. We believe that all human beings are created in

the image of God, and that we are God’s partners in improving the

world. Tikkun olam — repairing the world — is a hallmark of Reform

Judaism as we strive to bring peace, freedom and justice to all people.

Reform Jews accept the Torah as the foundation of Jewish life

containing God’s ongoing revelation to our people and the record of

our people’s ongoing relationship with God. We see the Torah as God

inspired, a living document that enables us to confront the timeless

and timely challenges of our everyday lives.

What is Reform?


Tributes from September 21 to October 20, 2010

Amelia G. Krohn Basic Judaism Collection

in honor of Amelia Krohn's Special Birthday by

Jim Levy & Liz Goodman-Levy, David & Susie

Novick, Matt & Elizabeth Krohn, Evelyn

Goodman

in honor of Ellen Goodman's Birthday by Evelyn

Goodman

Caring Community Fund

in memory of Sylvia Gershowitz by Bill & Anne

Spier

Ethyl Oppenheimer Bima Flower Fund

in memory of Edgar L. Schnadig & Ruth Jean

Schnadig by Isabel Schnadig

in memory of Emily Lapowski by David & Susan

Schecter

in memory of Herbert & Phylis Shecter by John &

Kristine Shecter

in memory of Luisa Adar by Roger & Trish Belbel

in memory of Max Blumenthal by Sister

Blumenthal

in memory of Olga Bowman by Arnold & Lila

Bowman

in memory of Regina Reisel Kellen by Mimi

Gladstein

in memory of Richard Carvajal by Bill & Jessica

Carvajal

in memory of Samuel Shabtai Bir by Simon &

Grace Bir

in memory of Sarah Silverman by John & Rita

Silverman

in memory of Vernon Carvajal by Bill & Jessica

Carvajal

Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund

in memory of Sylvia Gershowitz by Bob & Elaine

Krasne, Ruth Braun

Friedman/Bloom/Rothstein Outdoor Chapel

in memory of Sylvia Gershowitz by Phil & Ann

Rothstein

General Donations Fund

in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by

Douglas Waters, April Tessmer, Martin & Lily

DeVos

in memory of Anna Main by Anne Hollander

in memory of Bob Brown by Marty & Bonnie

Colton, Norma Levenson

in memory of Jerry Harris by Dick & Toni Harris

in memory of Mary Karsch by Sara Mansfield

in memory of Ruth Robinson by Lucy Garcy,

Eleanor Howell, Sharon Stein, Ben & Barbara

Rosenberg, Bob & Carol Teplitz

in memory of Sylvia Gershowitz by Stuart & Shari

Schwartz

in memory of Vivian Corn by Paul Raudenbush

Isadore Kahn Memorial Fund

in honor of Joan Cherno's Special Birthday by

Stuart & Frances Kahn

Jon Heller High Holiday Flower Fund

in memory of Sylvia Gershowitz by Bob & Sara

Shiloff


Krasne Discretionary Fund

in memory of Blanche Brown by Bob & Elaine

Krasne

in memory of Ruth Robinson by Marty & Bonnie

Colton, Bob & Elaine Krasne

in memory of Sylvia Gershowitz by Marty &

Bonnie Colton

MAZON

in memory of Bob Brown by Charlie & Sue Zaltz

Prayer Book Fund

In memory of Jesus Aldama by Raquel Aldama

In memory of Sanford Norman Belkin by

Bernadine Belkin

Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund

in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Ronney

Robinson, Becky Horowitz

in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach & Cheryl &

Norman Gordon by Steven & Ellen Wilson

in honor of Bud & Charlotte Ramenofsky's Special

Anniversary by Evelyn Goodman

in honor of Loree Furman's grandson, Jason

Furman Bar Mitzvah by Allen & Marlene Levine

in honor of Susan & Mike Jaffee's Special

Anniversary by Evelyn Goodman

in memory of Betty Lazar & Ethel Baar by Steven

& Ellen Wilson

in memory of Ruth Robinson by Molly Rosen

in memory of Vernon & Richard Carvajal by Bill

& Jessica Carvajal

Roth Campership Donation

in memory of Jennie & Herbert Roth by Tony &

Lindsay Gronich

in memory of Jennie Roth by Bruce & Ann

Gronich

Ruth Kahn/Andrew Kahn Rose Garden Fund

in honor of Joan Cherno's Special Birthday by

Buddy & Ellen Dorfman

in memory of Geri Given by Jeff & Wendy Siegel

in memory of Sylvia Gershowitz by Stuart &

Frances Kahn

Onegs and Kiddushes

in honor of Consecration Class of 2010 by Terren

& Maria Klein

in memory of Alexander Pollak by Steven & Ellen

Wilson

in memory of Olga Bowman by Arnold & Lila

Bowman

in memory of Richard Carvajal by Bill & Jessica

Carvajal

in memory of Vernon Carvajal by Bill & Jessica

Carvajal

Syd Dictor Memorial Fund

speedy recovery to Rona Dictor by Marty & Jody

Klein

Youth Fund

in honor of Mary Heins' Special Birthday by Abe

& Annette Goldberg

in memory of Lindsay Gronich's mother by Abe &

Annette Goldberg


Yahrzeits for November 2010

November 5-6, 2010

Freida Albin

Eddie Alperson

Leo Anderson

Zelda Camhi

John Crohn

Esther Goldberg Davidow

Haim Ettinger

Nathan Feldt

Katherine Frank

Esther Freifeld

Manuel Garciagodoy

Henry Gerofsky

Tarow Ty Hayashi

Irma Katz

Donald Stanley Klein

Jill Kreitman

Fredenick McPhail

Herman Meyeroff

Adalaide M. Ratner

Nathan Rybak

Mary Streim

Luis Zork

November 12-13, 2010

Evelyn Axelrod

Ester Blumenfeld

Moshe Yitzchak Davis

Morton Fierman

Linda Ginsberg

Henrietta Heins

Harriet Mervis

Benjamin Oliver

James A. Oppenheimer

Frank Parker

Ethel Rod Pittle

Louis Reinhardt

Oskar Rosen

Rose Krause Rosenberg

Izzy Tudzin

Jeffrey Howard Weiss

Maurice Zaltz

November 19-20, 2010

Jane Bargman

Margaret Blaugrund

Florence Citterman

Ralph L. Coffman

Sylvia Cohen

Angie Doke

Louis Edelman

Herman Aaron Fass

Asher Milton Feinberg

Ruth Feld

Libby Geller

Sol Glazer

Fanny Sattinger Goodman

Bea Hollander

Senora Kaufman

Helen Kern

Edmund Klein

Motel Kozakish

Eleanor Lapowski

Lena Bromberg Levenson

Solomon Luger

Annie Dashefsky Markowitz

Lucille Oppenheimer

Bella Rivin

Henry Silverman

Stephen Weiss

November 26-27

Morris Bernard

Elayne Bernat

Irwin Brand

Lillian G. Braude

Leona Goldfarb

Julius Grunebaum

George W. Harris

Sadie Hoffman

Mollie Itzkovitz

Leo Kenoffel

David Kohlman

Oscar David Leeser

Min Markowitz Levinson

Anita Mark

Kayla Marks

Joseph A. Miller

Edna Nussbaum

Sarah Potash

Anne Prensky

Francine A. Raileanu

Leo Rosen

Roberta Rosen

Rosa Rosen

Marvin Sheiness

Mary Snider

Betty Wildstein

December 3-4, 2010

Keren-Av Bernbaum

Bernard M. Blumenfeld

Nan Christianson

Henry Cohen

Corrine Alice Coleman

Fred Collatz

Romolito Escobar

Eva Garcy

Isedore Bernard Goodman

Jon Heller

Abe Hill

Sam Hoffman

Rebecca Horwitz

Joshua N. Kahn

Louis Kahn

Eva Lapowski

David Levine

Eleonore Mayer

Helen Meyeroff

Miriam Myers

Adele A. Oppenheim

Ida R. Pollet

Manny Ponsford

Art Robalin

Marilyn Rolf

David Schecter

Jack Schecter

Edgar L. Schnadig, Sr.

David Sheffer

Frederic Stanley Strelitz

Philip Terk

Evadina Vargas


Name: (please print): _________________________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________ Telephone: ______________________________________ Chanukah Cookies: #_______ dozen at $8/dozen Total amount for cookies ______ Chanukah Dinner: Temple member _______ adults at $10, _____ kids (5-12) at $5 Non-Member/at-the-door ________ adults at $15, _____ kids (5-12) at $8 Total amount for dinner _______ Grand Total (Cookies + Dinner)________ Payment Method: Checks, payable to Temple Mount Sinai, or Visa, M/C or Discover. If paying by credit card, please complete the following information:

o Visa o M/C o Discover Acct #: Exp date: ________

Your credit card receipt will be mailed to your billing address. A convenience charge of the greater of $1 or 2.5% of the transaction will be added.

Signature:

Date: __________

Chanukah Dinner Response Form

Use this form to…

• Order your Chanukah cookies from WRJ; and/or

• Make your reservations for the Chanukah Dinner on

December 3 (RSVP by November 29)

You may make out one check, payable to “Temple Mount

Sinai,” and we’ll take care of the rest.

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 Bulletin Editor ............................................ Mark 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

David Leffman ................................................... Vice President

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

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

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

Trustees

Rick Amstater, Joyce Davidoff,

Scott Feldt, Lori Gaman, Susie Goldman,

Jack Heydemann, Maria Klein, Hal Marcus,

Susan May, David Novick, Debby Robalin,

Phil Rothstein, Mark Schrier, Jane Snow

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.

Mailing Address

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage

PAID

EL Paso TX

Permit No. 1386

Documents

Messages from the Mountain, November 2010