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Number 617 January 2011/ Tevet 5771
Todah Rabbah, Ellen, Tina and Ed! I had the great pleasure to speak with a fifth-year
rabbinical student at my alma mater, the Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, near
the end of December. Sandra is currently writing
her rabbinical thesis on the phenomenon of
“para-rabbinics” in the Reform Movement, and
she interviewed me about Temple’s decision to
invest in becoming a “multiple-shaliach
congregation” several years ago. She was curious
to know how Ed Solomon, Ellen Goodman, and
Tina Wolfe our sh’lichei kehillah (literally,
“emissaries of the community”) functioned, what
roles they fill, how they had been accepted by the
community, and more.
I think Sandra expected a brief call, but we
wound up speaking for just shy of an hour (tip of
the day: if you want a good chunk of a rabbi’s
time, call him or her on December 23; it’s a very
quiet day, he’s lonely, and he won’t let you hang
up!). Her very well-structured interview, and her
willingness to speak with me about what she’d
learned left me feeling very good about the
decision we made, and the fruits it has borne.
Ellen went first, in 2003 and 2004. Ten-day
sessions at HUC-JIR each summer, retreats
during the intervening winter, and ongoing
study with her classmates led to her certification
as a “Synagogue Associate.” Ed and Tina
followed in 2004 and 2005. With three sh’lichim,
Temple was well-covered when I left El Paso for
several weeks during the summer of 2005 on
sabbatical. Leading services, teaching Torah
study, providing pastoral support, and (sadly)
officiating at several funerals…our sh’lichim did it
all.
But Ed, Ellen and Tina are not just “pinch-hitters”
for the rabbi when he is away. They have been
my partners on the bima for Sabbath and holiday
worship. Furthermore, they have each continued
to grow in skills and talent, and have taken on
leadership in various aspects of Temple’s
religious life. Ed has become an outstanding
Torah chanter and Hebrew teacher, Ellen a gifted
life-cycle officiant, and Tina a sensitive and
caring mentor for those choosing to become
Jewish. Temple would be a different, and poorer,
place without their enthusiasm and dedication.
From my conversation with Sandra, I learned
that Temple really hit the “sweet spot” as far as
para-rabbinical training is concerned. Shortly
after Ed and Tina’s cohort, the program was
significantly pared back, and relocated. A much
shorter program, without the exposure to the
HUC-JIR faculty, took its place, and our
movement seems to be poorer for that fact. But
our congregation has been blessed, many times
over, by the actions we took several years ago.
May the blessings only continue, for many years
to come.
Thank you, sh’lichim!
Rabbi Bach
Page 2 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Worship Schedule January—February
December 31-January Parashat Va’era
Friday, December 31 Candlelighting, 4:54 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, January 1 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:25 pm
January 7-8 Parashat Bo
Friday, January 7 Candlelighting, 5:00 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm Baby-naming of Mateo Briseno
Saturday, January 8 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:30 pm
January 14-15
Parashat Beshalach Friday, January 14
Candlelighting, 5:05 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, January 15 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Shabbat Shirah — A Service in Song
Havdalah, 6:36 pm
January 21-22 Parashat Yitro
Friday, January 21 Candlelighting, 5:12 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, January 22 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:43 pm
January 28-29
Parashat Mishpatim Friday, January 28
Candlelighting, 5:18 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, January 29 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:49 pm
February 4-5
Parashat Terumah/Rosh Chodesh Adar Friday, February 4
Candlelighting, 5:25 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
February 5 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:55 pm
Page 3 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
January Birthdays
January Anniversaries January 2 Dick & Robin Krasne January 4 Damon & Janice Cross-land* 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* January 23 Irvin & Alicia Nadler January 24 John & Gloria Lavis January 26 Ben & Ruth Taber
January 29 Meyer & Mindy Marcus *Special 5 or 10 year Birth-day or Anniversary
January 1 Judah Lesser Carla Levin Del Raney
January 3 Marilyn Rotwein*
January 4 Connor Goldsberry Wesley Holderman
January 5 Simon Karch Miriam Yarber
January 6 Judah Horn* Garrett Levin
January 7 Beth McCoy Sydney Reiter Tania Schwartz* Alison Westermann*
January 8 Nicky Munch*
January 9 Josiah Meyer
January 10 Eddie Knipp* Juan Valdez January 11 Sally Strelitz
January 12 Michael Alkov Jaime Arbona* Ruth Stolaroff
January 14 Randi Cabrera
January 15 Rita Burman Stuart Kahn*
January 16 Benjamin Hirsch Alexandra Holderman Madison Holderman
January 17 Abe Ettinger Shirley Washer*
January 18 Mimi Lait Jerry Levy David Schecter David Schonberg
January 19 Vanesa Lomeli Carmen Yates January 20 Leah Pearlman Ann Rothstein
January 22 Lane Frank
January 23 Sofia Escobar Sue Feldblum* Marlene Golden Jaime Papa
January 24 Sarah Ames Paul Lazovick* Tina Wolfe
January 25 Madison Nadler Graham Ogle*
January 28 Levi Eisenberg Gene Finke Anna Sofia Loeb* Lola May Elaine Prensky Danielle Scher
January 29 Ofek Belkin Ellen Gulbas Ruth Katz January 30 Jane Rosen
January 31 Bob Duran Stephen Valdes
Page 4 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
...to Major General Howard B. Bromberg, United States Army, for the Presidential appointment to the rank
of Lieutenant General and assignment as Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff, United States Army
Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia. He most recently served as Senior Commander for Fort Bliss,
Fort Bliss, Texas.
...to John Briseno and Samantha Pittle Briseno on the birth of their son, Mateo; grandparents are Alan and
Mimi Pittle.
...to Erin Purvin and Jeremy Wynn, who were married on December 19 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Parents are
Jon and Tobi Purvin; grandparents are Gene and Muriel Tucker, and sisters are Robyn Purvin and Stacy
Berry.
...to Stacy and Buck Shapiro on the birth of their daughter, Brooklyn Paige; grandparent is Jan Reed; Great
grandparents are Jay and Marilyn Mendeloff and Robert and Phyllis Shapiro.
...to Marne and Derek Van der Voort on the birth of their son, Peter; Great grandmother is Judy Leonard.
Mazel Tov! Congratulations…
B’ruchim Haba’im—Welcome New Members!
Hamakom Y’nachem—May God Bring Comfort...
...to Beth McCoy on the death of her cousin, Marlene Rivkin Hyman.
...to Joan Eftis on the death of her son, Sander Starr.
...to Beth McCoy on the death of her uncle, Morton Rivkin.
Do you know someone who is new to town, new to Judaism, or interested in getting involved with a synagogue? Please help
them be in touch with Susan Jaffee at 532-5959 or [email protected].
Albertson’s Cash-Back Fundraiser
Please remember to use your key tag each time you shop for groceries at Albert-
sons. 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.
We welcome our recent new members, Jennifer and Ron Pratt and their children, Julia and Curtis. Jennifer is a fundraising professional, working with area schools and organizations. Ron is a deputy with the Sheriff's depart-ment and is also enlisted in the Army Reserves. Julia is in 7th grade and enjoys playing the oboe. Curtis, a 5th grader, loves martial arts. We also want to welcome new member, Ilana Kresch from Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Page 5 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Lunch and Learn, January 11 at 11:45 am
Our next Lunch and Learn will be Tuesday, January 11 in Zielonka Hall at Temple.
The session will begin with lunch at 11:45 am, followed by study and conversation.
This month, Rabbi Bach’s topic will be, “What do we mean by ‘faith’?”
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.
Weekly Meditation, Tuesdays beginning in January
A weekly meditation “sit” will begin in
January, 2011, on Tuesday evenings at 6
pm.
Rabbi Bach is joined by co-facilitators Mary
McIntyre and Nancy Schwartz. All three
have some experience meditating. They
share a commitment to a regular medita-
tion practice, and recognize that a group
environment provides support for that
practice.
Our weekly sits will be held in the Krupp
Chapel, and will consist, for the most part
of...sitting. We will open with a chant to
center, and one of the facilitators will offer
some focus and instruction for practice.
There will also be time at the end for ques-
tions and sharing. But come prepared to sit
in silence, opening heart and mind to what
arises.
For more information and to confirm your
interest in attending, call Mary at 915-490-
7359 (for those who called last Spring,
please call again so we can update our po-
tential attendee list).
Sits begin on January 11, and continue each
Tuesday following.
Announcing Temple Mount Sinai’s next trip to Israel – January 1-12, 2012
If you are interested in making a pilgrimage to Israel with us, please plan to attend
a trip interest meeting on Tuesday, January 18, at 7 pm at the Temple. You may
RSVP for the meeting by contacting Alanna Bach. At the interest meeting, we will
present the itinerary and pricing for the land portion of the trip. Airline pricing
will be available in mid-February.
If you have any questions, please contact Alanna Bach at 328-6062 or
Israel—January, 2012
Page 6 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Women of Reform Judaism
The Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) at Temple Mount
Sinai hosted our annual Chanukah Dinner on Friday,
December 3rd. The evening began with a wonderful
Shabbat service, featuring Shir Chadash (our choir) and
some cherished Chanukah songs. Nearly 100 people at-
tended services and dinner, which began with each ta-
ble lighting their family chanukkiot, filling the room
with a warm glow. The dinner consisted of traditional
Chanukah fare, including potato latkes and sufganiyot
prepared lovingly by WRJ members. And there was a
twist this year! WRJ members donated briskets that
they prepared, which allowed for a wonderful diversity
of styles (sweet, BBQ, etc), each delicious in its own
right. Rabbi Bach had made a reference to "loaves and
fishes," which seemed very appropriate because the turn
-out was a bit larger than expected, but with all the food donations along with the
hard work of our members, lead by WRJ President Amissa Burton, everyone was able
to enjoy a delicious meal with a few leftovers to spare! Thank you to everyone who
helped make cookies, briskets, prepare tables (the napkins were folded so beauti-
fully!), coordinate everything and help with clean-up!
Members of WRJ enjoyed their second an-
nual Game Night in December. The casual
get-together at the home of Becky Myers be-
gan with Alanna Bach lighting candles for
the seventh night of Chanukah and leading
us in a brief, insightful discussion about the
holiday. The rest of the evening was filled
with the clicks of Mah Jongg tiles and
laughter. Mah Jongg winners included Les-
lie Beckoff, Stacy Berry, Sue Feldblum, and
Marilyn Silverstein, but everyone was a winner as a good time was had by all, begin-
ner and veteran player alike.
Page 7 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
WRJ Book Group meetings are always popular with our sister-
hood members and this year's book takes a look at Jewish women
in a sisterhood in Memphis, Tennessee. We will be discussing The
Ladies Auxiliary by
Tova Mirvis on the
first Tuesday of the
month, January 4, at
your choice of time
and place. At 11:30 am,
we will meet at Montevista, 1575
Belvidere, for lunch ($8.00 for non-
residents) and a book review led by Al-
ison Westermann. At 7:00 pm, we will
meet at the home of Laura Tate Goldman for dessert and a book review led by Cindy
Graff Cohen. Even if you haven't read the book,
please join us at either time/place; we'll fill you
in on the novel's basic story and issues. Copies
are available at the Sunland Park Barnes & Noble
store behind the counter (under the name
Cohen). Please let Cindy know by Sunday, Janu-
ary 2, if you are attending: 833-4526 or 203-3538
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.
Page 8 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Religious School Mitzvah Day
Mitzvah Day & Taco Lunch Fundraiser ... Successful and Enjoyable
On Sunday, December 12, we gathered in Krupp Chapel. As students walked into the Chapel, they
placed their donated items on the Bimah. Rabbi led us in T’filah, Michelle Blumenfeld thanked the
students and faculty for their donations and encouraged all to continue doing Acts of Random
Kindness throughout the year. Grace gave an overview of the Mitzvah Day activities for the morn-
ing.
After T’filah students and teaching assistants helped take all the items from the Chapel to the Re-
source room to be sorted for delivery. Every one then returned to their classrooms for a G’Milut
Chasadim lesson from 10:00 – 10:45 am.
This year we decided to honor the elderly with our main mitzvah project. Michelle Blumenfeld
volunteered to head this year’s Mitzvah Day projects and Becky Horowitz, with Visiting Nursing
Association’s, helped to identify their clients’ specific needs: baby wipes, new wash cloths, Ensure
or Boost drinks, Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash, Carnation Instant Breakfast, fitted and flat sheets
for hospital beds (extra long), plus the items that went into the gift bags.
At 10:45 the students started working on their Mitzvah projects:
The Pre-kinder through second grade (led by teachers and teaching assistants) worked on “Well
Wishes” cards to put in the gift bags. The third through eighth grade students decorated forty
cloth bags for the forty patients, assisted by VNA nurses. The bags included a lightweight throw
blanket, shampoo, rinse, body cream, toothpaste, toothbrush, notepad and pen, wooden handle
bell, M&M’s and two lollipops.
Becky Horowitz, VNA-Hospice representative, visited the classrooms to thank the students for
their donations and to talk about Hospice and answer the students’ questions. Our VNA guests
were very grateful for all the items donated by our students, parents, faculty and our Religious
School.
Additionally, we collected items donated by students (“Hidden Treasures “Mitzvah Project) during
this time. Everything we collected will be donated to the children at La Clinica Guadalupana.
At 11:30 am, we all gathered in Schwartz Hall for lunch and socializing. We sold tacos, salsa,
drinks and yummy treats and we raised $470. The money collected at this lunch is being saved for
a special Religious School Tzedakah Project “Packages From Home”. Money we raise at the next
Taco Lunch Fundraiser (planned for March 6 during our Cultural Celebration), will be added to the
$470 to buy packages for an Israeli Army Unit.
A very special "THANK YOU" to everyone for their generous donations, to Simon Bir, David
Wolfe, Ed Solomon, Elisa Gluck, JoAnn Farley, the Feldt's, Shana/Carly/Gabe Levin, and Ellen
Goodman for all of their help in the kitchen, to Sally Parke, Joyce Davidoff, Ethan Reiter, Meredith
Heins, Matthew Bowman, Leah Gluck, Gabe and Carly Levin for helping out during the sale. We
also truly appreciate Frank's assistance during our Religious School projects and events.
On Monday, December 13, Michelle delivered the forty gift bags to VNA. Thank you Michelle!
Page 9 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Page 10 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Temple Mount Sinai/Congregation B’nai Zion
Chanukah Family Event
As one of our parents commented, “From be-
ginning to end, this year’s Chanukah Family
program was WONDERFUL. My son had a
blast painting his glass menorah cups and his
father’s hands, we loved the story-time with
Rabbi Chaya (she gets so passionate and ani-
mated and the kids loved her) and the edible
menorah room was perfect and so much fun.
Best of all for us, was the special performance
up on the stage in Schwartz Hall when my
son joined the “big kids” as they sang Chanu-
kah songs. All in all, bravo and thank you for
all the work that went into planning such a
great event.”.
On Sunday, December 5, as families entered
the Chapel, Lisa Mitchell (B’nai Zion), Mere-
dith Heins, Maddie Goldfarb, and Alex and
Daryl Stein checked-in our B’nai Zion and TMS
families and provided them a pre-printed
nametag indicating the time frame and activi-
ties for the entire Chanukah Family Event.. As
families were greeted, they were handed Cha-
nukah activity sheets and Chanukah silly
bands.
We gathered in the Chapel. Rabbi Bach led us
in Chanukah songs and the dreidel spiel and
right after, Grace gave families an overview of
the morning’s activities.
Families were divided into two groups; group
one went downstairs to the classrooms to work
on a Chanukah craft. During this time, the par-
ents in group two stayed with Rabbi Bach for a
Chanukah lesson and their children were es-
corted to the Library for a storytelling (Hershel
and the Hanukkah Goblins) session with Rabbi
Chaya. After 20 minutes of learning and story-
telling, group two parents and children re-
united in Zielonka to create an edible Cha-
nukiahs. At 10:35, families in group one and
group two swapped activities.
Our Chanukah program began at 11:15 in
Schwartz Hall. Pre-Kinder through second
grade students (dressed in Chanukah deco-
rated white T-Shirts) sang three Chanukah
songs; “I have a little Dreidle”, “S’vivon” and
“I Am a Latke”. TMS seventh and eighth grade
students preformed the story of Chanukah, di-
rected by Tina Wolfe. Everyone enjoyed the
program.
Right after the program, Rabbi Chaya and
Rabbi Bach lit the Chanukah candles and led
the blessings, then Grace asked the families to
help themselves to Latkes and Chanukah cook-
ies. Kaylen Duran handed out gelt and drei-
dels to enjoy as families socialized, and a Cha-
nukah Goblin picture-taking session was avail-
able in Schwartz Hall.
A very special “Thank You” to our latke mak-
ing crew – Simon Bir, Arlene Sonnen, David
Wolfe, Jaime Papa and Ed Solomon. They
whipped up over 400 yummy latkes.
Thank you, Tina Wolfe and Michelle Blu-
menfeld for your help making the Chanukah
cookies. Debbie Marcus and Randee Mansfield
(TMS Gift Shop) we appreciate your support of
our Religious School. We had a wonderful set
up crew: Helene Solomon, Carly Levin, Shana
Levin, Angela Feldt, Monica Escobar and
Monica’s two nephews who created the picture
taking poster of Hershel and the Chanukah
Goblins. As always, we certainly appreciate
Frank Hernandez for the hard work that goes
into in setting up before the events and picking
up after the events. “Thank You” Frank.
Page 11 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Got pictures of life at TMS that you’d like to share?
Post them to our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/tmselpaso
Page 12 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
MSTY/mini-MSTY News
On Saturday, December 11, 8 members of MSTY/mini-MSTY and 6 members of BETY/BEMY (from Las Cruces), along with 4 advisors, met at Bob-O's at 3:00 pm to play laser tag. We played 3 rounds and the kids had a blast. We then packed up at 5:15 pm and headed to Temple. At Temple, we made dinner (pasta, bread, and salad), while everyone else did a mixer to get to know each other better. We had a havdalah service and dinner. Even though there wasn’t a great turnout for this event, everyone that attended had a really good time. Hopefully this will become an annual event. There are a couple of upcoming events this month. The ADL Confronting Anti-Semitism workshop is on January 9 (details are below). The NFTY (National Federation of Temple Youth) Social Action Weekend (SAW) will be held January 20-23 in Phoenix. It is a wonderful annual event when the kids get an opportunity to participate in community service with their Jewish peers from the Southwest region.
ADL—Confronting Anti-Semitism Workshop
January 9, 2011
Plan to attend a helpful workshop with your children on Sunday, January 9, 2011 to learn
how to respond to anti-Semitic jokes and remarks. This program is brought to you by CLAL:
Community Learning and Leadership and presented by the Anti-Defamation League
Southwest Region, based in Houston.
10:00 am- Noon Grades six through eight - Temple Mount Sinai
2:00 pm-4:00 pm Grades nine through twelve—JCC 405 Wallenberg
Parents and students are strongly encouraged to attend together. All youth welcome, regardless of
affiliation. No charge. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 584 4437.
Gesher — Learning for Young Children
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 par-
ents explore Jewish holidays and Jewish ethics through the vehicle of play.
Our rich curriculum, designed by Marci Karch, includes singing, movement, stories, craft pro-
jects, snacks, and more. Gesher meets at Temple Mt. Sinai in Zielonka Hall from 10 to 11 am ap-
proximately twice a month. There is an $80 per family registration fee for this program.
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 information. It is not
necessary to be members of Temple Mount Sinai to join this class.
Page 13 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
From the Healing Resource Center Grief Digest is a publication purchased by the Jo Ann
Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center. There are
many wonderful articles to read and explore. If you
would like more information, contact Susan Jaffee at
532-5959 or [email protected].
Nurturing Yourself, The Physical Realm
By Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Reprinted with permission from Grief Digest,
Centering Corporation, Omaha, Nebraska,
402.553.1200.
Your body may be letting you know it feels
distressed. Actually, one literal definition of the
word “grievous” is “causing physical suffering.”
You may be shocked by how much your body
responds to the impact of your loss.
Among the most common physical responses to
loss are troubles with sleeping and low energy.
You may have difficulty getting to sleep. Perhaps
even more commonly, you may wake up early in
the morning and have trouble getting back to sleep.
During your grief journey, your body needs more
rest than usual. You may also find yourself getting
tired more quickly—sometimes even at the start of
the day.
Sleeping normally after a loss would be unusual. If
you think about it, sleeping is the primary way in
which we release control. When someone in your
life dies, you feel a loss of control, so you don’t
want to lose any more control by sleeping. The
need to stay awake sometimes relates to the fear of
additional losses. Therefore, you may stay awake
because you want to prevent more loss. Some
grieving people have even taught me that they stay
awake hoping to not miss the person who died in
case he or she returns. If you have this experience,
be assured you are not crazy. It is a normal part of
searching and yearning for the person who died.
Muscle aches and pains, shortness of breath,
feelings of emptiness in your stomach, tightness in
your throat or chest, digestive problems, sensitivity
to noise, heart palpitations, queasiness, nausea,
headaches, increased allergic reactions, changes in
appetite, weight loss or gain, agitation, and
generalized tension—these are all ways your body
may react to the loss of someone loved. If you have
a chronic existing health problem, it may become
worse. The stress of grief can suppress your
immune system and make you more susceptible to
physical problems.
Right now you may not feel in control of how your
body is responding. Your body is communicating
with you about the stress you are experiencing!
Keep in mind, however, that in the majority of
instances, the physical symptoms described above
are normal and temporary.
Good self-care is important at this time. Your body
is the house you live in. Just as your house requires
care and maintenance to protect you from the
outside elements, your body requires that you
honor it and treat it with respect. The quality of
your life ahead depends on how you take care of
your body today. The “lethargy of grief” you are
probably experiencing is a natural mechanism
intended to slow you down and encourage you to
care for your body. Be certain to “talk out” your
grief. Many grieving people have taught me that if
they avoid or repress talking about the death, their
bodies will begin to express their grief for them.
The following “Twelve Commandments of Good
Health” are good advice for anyone, but especially
for anyone in mourning. While this is by no means
an all-inclusive list, it should get you off to a good
start. Quit procrastinating and adopt that now
famous Nike mantra, “Just do it!”
1. Stop Smoking Right Now
Smoking can kill you. Stopping smoking can add
years to your life. The main ways smoking kills are
(Continued on page 14)
Page 14 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
by heart disease, lung disease or cancer. Again, if
you smoke you are being self-destructive. It’s
poison, pure and simple. Tobacco kills more than
350,000 Americans every year, making it the leading
cause of premature death in the United States. If
you can’t stop on your own, get help.
2. Eat Less Fat
Perhaps you realize you should eat less fat, but you
eat it anyway. Why? Because is tastes good and it’s
a habit. In rebuttal: There are a lot of other things
that taste good and you can change bad habits. Fat
clogs your arteries and causes heart attacks and
strokes. My family physician wife, Susan, tells me
that foods high in saturated fats are the worst
offenders. These foods also tend to high in
cholesterol ad do some of their damage by building
up a plaque on the walls of your arteries. These
buildups are what lead to heart disease. The reality
is that the more your blood vessels are narrowed by
fat and cholesterol, the less oxygen will be circulated
in your body and the more fatigued you will feel.
The American Heart Association recommends
getting no more than 30 percent of your daily
calories from fat. The less the better.
3. Exercise Your Heart
Think of your heart as an engine in your car. Let’s
say you abuse it by driving it thousands of miles
and never performing maintenance on it. And then
one day in the middle of a drive it just stops. Don’t
abuse your heart. It is the engine that keeps you
alive. Each day it beats one hundred thousand times
and pumps sixteen hundred gallons of blood over
sixty thousand miles of vessels. Your heart is your
best friend. Support it every chance you have.
One way to support your heart is to condition it.
Aerobic conditioning trains your heart, your blood,
your lungs in ways that they can deliver more
oxygen faster and more efficiently to the body. Just
30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week can
keep your heart and lungs healthy. Do what you
most enjoy. Walking, jogging, swimming and
cycling are very good forms of aerobic exercise.
4. Exercise Your Muscles
The American College of Sports Medicine now
recommends weight training for every adult. The
earlier you start weight training, the more muscle
you will keep in older age. Muscle conditioning is
vitally important, yet often neglected. There are two
aspects to muscle fitness: endurance and strength.
In a weight-training program, lifting lighter weights
with more repetitions increases endurance, while
lifting heavier weights with fewer repetitions
increases strength. As you age, muscle strength
declines more quickly than endurance.
The reality is that if you don’t use your muscles, you
will lose your muscles. Get help from a professional
trainer to assist you in creating the right weight
training program for you.
5. Exercise Your Mind and Spirit
The demands of grief—on top of your everyday
commitments—prime you for plenty of stress.
Building in some regular physical exercise lets you
“get away” from the demands of an all-too-often
hectic life. Exercise will help you experience an
enhanced sense of well-being.
Exercise has a calming effect on the body and the
mind. We know that people who regularly exercise
say they handle pressure better, feel more confident
and are happier and less depressed than those
people who don’t exercise. In other words, exercise
not only benefits the body, it benefits the mind and
the spirit. Even if you think you are in great
physical shape, exercise anyway.
6. Get Adequate Sleep
Sleep is restorative. It allows you to live. Sleep
allows your mind and body a chance to perform day
-to-day maintenance and repairs. Choose to get
enough sleep. Determine how much you need to
feel your best and then make every effort to get it.
Try to go to bed at a similar time each night, and get
up at a similar time each morning. Begin to
completely relax an hour or so before you go to bed.
Limit caffeine and alcohol intake.
7. Establish a Relationship with a Physician
(Continued on page 15)
Page 15 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Making our health a priority requires creating a
relationship with a trusted physician. Do you
know that some people spend more time selecting a
veterinarian for their pets than they do selecting a
doctor for their bodies? That’s if they pick a doctor
at all. Simple as it may seem, finding and making
use of a good doctor can be one of the most
practical choices you can make toward leading a
healthier and longer life. Think of physicians as
coaches—trained professionals—who know how to
help keep you healthy. If you don’t already have
one, find one now and work to create a health-
partnership.
8. Slow Down
Being too busy to see a doctor is only one symptom
of a fast-paced, hurry-up lifestyle. For many
people, the feeling of being rushed permeates their
entire life. Are you living out the “squeeze it all in”
mentality? Are you simply too busy? Do you have
to leave one commitment early to go to another?
If you can allow yourself to slow down, your
perception will change. Life will become easier and
more enjoyable. You will work smarter. You will
discover that your quality of life is generated from
within instead of being imposed from the outside.
As you slow down you may find that much of what
you previously thought was essential can actually
be postponed, delegated, or even ignored. Instead
of waiting to enjoy your life when everything is
done, allow yourself to enjoy the journey.
9. Rest and Relax
Set aside time every day for some rest and
relaxation—a minimum of thirty minutes. (I can
hear some of you right now. “I just don’t have
time!”) Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your day
off or weekend off are your time for rest and
relaxation. You may find yourself running around
trying to pack everything you haven’t had time to
do into this short time. Build in rest and relaxation,
and when you do, don’t feel guilty. Your times of
rest are every bit as important as your times of
being productive. Remember, rest restores!
10. Stay Fluid
Many people aren't aware that one of the easiest
ways to stay healthy is to drink lots of water. Think
of water as the oil that lubricates the mind and the
body. The universal recommendation is six to eight
glasses (10-12 ounces each) of water a day.
11. Laugh—A Lot
Humor is good medicine. Research demonstrates
that laughter stimulates chemicals in the brain that
actually suppress stress-related hormones. Also,
respiration and circulation are both enhanced
through laughter. If you’re in grief, you may not
feel like laughing very much right now. But as
your journey progresses, find ways to build
laughter into your life.
12. Invest in Major Relationships
When it comes to your physical, emotional and
spiritual wellbeing, don’t underestimate the
importance of your family and friends. Whether
it’s your spouse, significant other, children or close
friends, the people you turn to for support can play
an important role in your wellbeing.
Connected relationships with your family and
friends can motivate you to take care of yourself—
to eat right, exercise and get regular medical care.
Your family and friends can be an important buffer
from the stresses of everyday life. Yet, like a
garden, family and friend relationships must be
tended. You can’t expect to get much, if anything,
out of these relationships if you are too busy.
Slowing down from your busy life and spending
time with family and friends will invite you to
experience intimacy, play, compassion, respect,
kindness, joy and gratitude. If you are able to be
truly present to your family and friends—without
agendas, expectations, and preoccupations—you
will feel more connected to each other by love.
(Continued from page 14)
Page 16 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Tributes from November 21 to December 20
Amelia G. Krohn Basic Judaism Collection
in honor of Lynn Krohn's Special Birthday by Matt & Elizabeth Krohn
Campership Fund
in memory of Dorothy Kovan by Bob & Susie May
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Bob & Susie May
in memory of Sam Hoffman by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
Caring Community Fund
in memory of Dorothy Kovan by Keith & Becky Myers
in memory of Ken Given by Gershon & Barbara Ettinger
Cemetery Fund
in memory of Ken Given by Valerie Barnett
Choir Fund
speedy recovery to Bill Spier by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
Ethel Oppenheimer Flower Fund
in memory of Anna F. Rosenberg by Ruth Braun
in memory of Corrine Alice Coleman by Steve Rosenberg
in memory of Elayne Bernat by Julian Bernat
in memory of Francine Raileanu by Jerry & Haidi Appel
in memory of Henry Cohen by Sue Feldblum
in memory of Jack Marcus by Mildred Marcus
in memory of Joseph Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim
in memory of Evelyn Axelrod by Wendy Axelrod
in honor of Bree Meyer’s Bat Mitzvah by Josh & Jenny Meyer
Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund
in memory of Edy Fierman by Gary & Judith Weiser, Aaron & Judith Chinn, Marc & Pam Bernat, Tom & Edna Gordon, Bob & Elaine Krasne, Marty & Bonnie Colton, Jay & Kathryn Hollander, Deborah Epstein
Friedman/Bloom/Rothstein Outdoor Chapel
in memory of Dorothy Kovan by Sam & Gayle Belford
in memory of Jack Hirsch by Phil & Ann Rothstein
General Donations Fund
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Gordon Mahon, Douglas Waters
in honor of Albert Schwartz's Special Birthday by Skip & Teresa Schwartz
in honor of Miriam Goldfarb's Special Birthday by Ann Louise Leeds
in memory of Dorothy Kovan by Larry & Joyce Anenberg, Marty & Bonnie Colton, Norma Levenson, Bill & Anne Spier, Irene Oppenheimer, Ed & Lory Oppenheimer
in memory of Edy Fierman by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer
in memory of Judith Nankin by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Nancy Heydemann, Marc & Mimi Spier
in memory of Ken Given by Edward & Evelyn Schwartz, Mark & Dori Fenenbock, Nancy Heydemann, Robert & Merle Navarro, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Bob & Jane Snow, Ed & Lory Oppenheimer, Ann Louise Leeds
in memory of Leona Goldfarb by Bob & Shirley Goldfarb
in memory of Reba Swiff by Mark & Dori Fenenbock, Dick & Marlene Fass, Nancy Heydemann
in memory of Ruth Robinson by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer
in memory of Sadie Hoffman by Chet & Jan Frame
in memory of Sander Jeffrey Starr by Harris & Kay Hatfield
Jeffrey Levy Fund
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Madge Plese
in memory of Ken Given by Madge Plese
Josh & Frances Kahn Endowment For Youth Fund
in memory of Joshua N. Kahn by Alan & Jean Kahn
Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Phil & Judy Bargman
in memory of Ken Given by Phil & Judy Bargman
in memory of Larry Gladstone by Phil & Judy Bargman
Page 17 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Krasne Discretionary Fund
in appreciation of Bob & Elaine Krasne Happy Chanukah by Allen & Marlene Levine
in honor of Jennifer & Jason Schwartz's Marriage by Bob & Elaine Krasne
in memory of Bob Washer by Bob & Elaine Krasne
in memory of Dorothy Kovan by Bob & Elaine Krasne
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Dick & Robin Krasne
in memory of Judy Nankin by Marty & Bonnie Colton
in memory of Ken Given by Marty & Bonnie Colton, Bill & Anne Spier
speedy recovery to Bill Spier by Bob & Elaine Krasne
speedy recovery to Scott Stein by Dick & Robin Krasne
Landscape Special Projects Fund
in memory of Bruce Keidan by Lyndon & Randee Mansfield
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Sue Bendalin, Paquita Litt
Lauterbach Youth & Campership Fund
in memory of Ken Given by Bernie & Judy Lauterbach
MAZON Donation
in memory of Dorothy Kovan & Norma Aaronson by Edward & Evelyn Schwartz
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Jim & Marian Daross
Nathan Goldman Zadie Fund
in memory of Edy Fierman by Estelle Goldman
Prayer Book Fund
in appreciation of Shari & Stuart Schwartz Happy Chanukah by Svetlana Ulrich
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Azucena Monzon, Douglas Waters
in honor of Becky & Keith Myers' Special Wedding Anniversary by Stuart & Shari Schwartz
in memory of Dorothy Kovan by Bud & Charlotte Ramenofsky, Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
in honor of Jennifer & Jason Schwartz's Marriage by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
in memory of Bob Washer by Bill & Anne Spier
in memory of Rebecca Horwitz, Philip Terk & Abe Hill by Bob & Sara Shiloff
in memory of Sander Starr by Bob & Sara Shiloff
in memory of Sonia Katz by the Katz Children
in memory of William Katz by the Katz Children
in memory of Aida & Moses Halkin and Sonia & William Katz by the Katz Children
in memory of Josh & Frances Kahn by Sandi & Mike Carpenter
in memory of Sarah & Blane Katz and Sonia & William Katz by the Katz Childen
In memory of Richard Carvajal by Bill & Jessica Carvajal
Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Michael Tomor, Stan Nankin, John & Gloria Lavis, Leonard Starr, Joan Starr-Eftis
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach & Sammy Holaschutz by Jon & Arlene Sonnen
in honor of Nancy Schwartz's new granddaughter, Eden Adele Peled by Barbara Berliner
in memory of Bob Washer by Peter Shugart
in memory of Dorothy Kovan by Bob & Jane Rosen, Barbara Berliner
in memory of Jack Hirsch by Bob & Jane Rosen
in memory of Judith Nankin by Arnold & Lila Bowman
in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by Bob & Jane Rosen
in memory of Ken Given by Bernie & Judy Lauterbach, Barbara Berliner
in memory of Oscar David Leeser by Arthur & Rhoberta Leeser
speedy recovery to Beth Lipson by Bob & Jane Rosen
speedy recovery to Cheryl Gordon by Bob & Jane Rosen
speedy recovery to Harriet & Marvin Roth by Bob & Jane Rosen
SKIP Donation
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Robert & Jane Warach
Onegs and Kiddushes
in honor of Bree Meyer's Bat Mitzvah by Josh & Jenny Meyer, Simon & Grace Bir
in memory of Anne Elizabeth Hawkinson by Lietzie Belford
in memory of Fan & I.B. Goodman by Gershon & Barbara Ettinger
in memory of Helen Kern by Martin Kern
in memory of Jon Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim & Boris Kaim
in memory of Leo Rosen by Sig & Olga Rosen
Page 18 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Assistive listening devices are available at the entrance to our chapel and sanctuary.
Please ask a greeter for assistance.
If you have inadvertently left Temple with one of these devices, please return it as soon
as possible. These headsets are programmed to be used only in our Sanctuary and
Chapel, and many of them have disappeared, meaning that they are not available for
congregants who use them at services. If you find you have one of these (perhaps in that
drawer with all the yarmulkes!), please return it to the Temple office so that it may be
put back into service.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Congregation Mount Sinai Cemetery
If you have not yet obtained plots in the Temple Cemetery for yourself and your family
members, now would be an excellent time to do so before the price increase takes effect on
February 2, 2011. If you desire to purchase a plot or plots at the current price of $1,000 please call
Sally Parke at 532-5959 at your first opportunity. If you wish to extend your payments, an
approved payment plan of 20% down, with equal installments over the next 4 years, is available.
Just a reminder, our Cemetery hours are Sunday through Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and closed
on Saturday.
The future of the North American Jewish community is being shaped by divergent forces unlike those we
have confronted in the past. The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), Central Conference of American Rab-
bis (CCAR) and Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) are convening a Think
Tank to provide creative leadership in addressing these trends and are asking for input from the public.
Feedback will be used to direct the Think Tank's discussions and will help identify core issues, trends
and challenges to the Reform Jewish community. This work will result in a shared understanding about
future possibilities and directions for the Reform Movement. Think Tank discussions will include topics
such as:
• Communal: How does technology change the nature of community building and affiliation?
• Financial: The nature of community in an era of "free" and financial uncertainty.
• Post-Denominationalism: What does it mean to be a denomination/movement in a culture that is in-
herently anti-institutional?
Congregations and individuals are invited to participate in several public forums that will impact the
work of the Think Tank and the future of Reform Judaism. Organizers will be soliciting feedback from all
participants at the conclusion of the forum and will be sharing this feedback with the Think Tank. Please
visit www.urj.org/thinktank for more information.
Reform Movement Think Tank
Page 19 January 2011/Tevet 5771 Messages from the Mountain
Yahrzeits for January 2011 December 31, 2010-January 1, 2011 Lillie Alpern Solomon Appel Jeanette Braunstein Mary Cherno Mollie Cohen Lee Crawford David Dichter Benjamin S. Feinberg Milton Fink Alfred Finke Harry Jacob Finke Sherman Bernard Given Anna Gopin Frieda Gordon Hedwig Grunebaum Sarah Katz Coleman Kovan Ida Ovsay Bernard Rothbardt Edward Rubin Sam Scherotter Herbert M. Schwartz Dorothy Solomon Laura Sommer Chad Michael Vojtas Isabell Weinblatt January 7-8, 2011 Rose Appel Manuel W. Blaugrund Lena Brent Ada F. Calisher Nell Carvajal Edward Cohn Mark Cohn Rose Fidell Cousins Audrey Given Sylvan Golden Werner Kohlhagen Jennie Levy Lewis Levy Marion Ogron
Irving Potashkin Harry Rosenbloom Robert Louis Rosenthal Mel Schwartz David Sopkin January 14-15, 2011 Mona Aarons Milton Amstater Meyer B. Berkman Idas Brannon Arthur Bromberg Rae Bromberg Alma Curry Walter Daniels Ruth Dula Rudolph Edelman Regina Freier Eisner Lillian Cousins Fiedell Mary Gold Stanley Robert Golden Geroge Gregory Joseph Halkin Freddy Kahn Edith Kallman Rifka Kozakish Sara Krasne Hyman Mendeloff Harold Novak Fannie Schwartz Nandor Schwartz Clarence Rochmill Solnick Cheri Spier Sandra Tyler January 21-22, 2011 Louis Alpern Armando Alvidrez Evelynne Belford Bernice Bibo Merton Bilsky Rose Cohen Jean B. Feinberg Phyllis Fruithandler
Blanche A. Goldberg Harry Goldstein Ricki Gross Josephine Holguin Bertha Juda Gladys Kenoffel Helen Krapin Samuel Lauterbach Max Levenson Fred Levy William Levy Leonard Lipson Hilde Mason Albert Nedow Max Prensky Sidney Prensky Frieda Schatz Maurice Schwartz Molly Steinman Ralph T. Talpis Lillian Tucker Cruz Villegas Al Weiss January 28-29, 2011 Marcelina Alvidrez Abe Barnett Robert Borschow Jack Armond Cohn Rebecca Cohn Jack Domnitz Edith Schill Feinberg Meyer Furman Pauline Glazer Frieda Goldberg Estelle Harrison Gene Hawkinson Ruth Kern Morris Kozak Robert Lait Juanita Maddux George Michael, Jr. Herbert Potashkin Janice Levy Rosenberg
Yetta Sandler Glennon Schall Lillie Talpis Aaron Vooles February 4-5, 2011 Horst Arndt Melittia Axelrod Anna Bailen Bertha Berg Janet Berkenfield Gisela Bernat Lucy Bleiberg Barney Brickman Sarah Brody David Coleman Roberto Duran Raul Falcon Raymond Garmel Max Eli Goldberg Leah Gordon Aaron Heller Hannah Horwitz Florence Adler Jacob Simon Kahn Sandra Kern Leon Krupp Charles Lowenbert Shannon McQueary Harold Nussbaum Michael (Mickey) Robalin Mildred Rosenbloom William Saltzman Henry Scherr Jeffrey Schweitzer Mary Smith Gertrude Spier Anna Turetsky Celmira Vaughn Rose Weinberg
Staff
Rabbi ............................................................... Larry Bach Rabbi Emeritus ............................................... Ken Weiss Administrator ................................................ Sally Parke Administrative Assistant .................... Buddy Schwartz Religious School Director................................ Grace Bir Outreach Director ........................................Susan Jaffee Youth Advisor ............................................... Stacy Berry Rabbi’s Assistant ........................................... Elisa Gluck 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