Congregation B’nai Israel2710 Park AvenueBridgeport, CT 06604www.cbibpt.org Service

Highlights Chanukah

Last year, Chanukah threw us a curve by arriving on Thanksgiving. This year it returns in its more traditional time slot. We celebrate the Festival of Lights from December 17 to December 24. And Congregation B’nai Israel offers plenty of great ways to celebrate.The highlight is the annual Shabbat Chanukah service and dinner, which takes place this year on Friday, December 19. The festivities begin with a special Shabbat service at 6:00 p.m., featuring the Junior Choir. A Shabbat dinner follows, with latkes on the menu, of course.The cost for dinner is $10 for adults and $8 for children under 12. Families are asked to bring a salad, vegetable side or dessert.

The night is also BYOM – Bring Your Own Menorah. The Temple will provide the dreidels.To attend the dinner, RSVP to Lynn in the Temple office at lynn@cbibpt.org

or (203) 336-1858. Latkes & LeeVeesBut wait, there’s more. The Latkes and LeeVees Concert takes place December 20 at the Temple. It begins at 5:30 p.m. with a special performance by the Macaroons for preschool-age children. Feel free to bring your homemade latkes to be judged by a panel of celebrity judges at 6:00 p.m. after Havdalah. The LeeVees then take the stage at 6:30 p.m. The LeeVees, featuring Adam Gardner of GUSTER and Dave Schneider of The Zambonis, have released the critically acclaimed record “Hanukah Rocks” (Warner Brothers/Reprise Records).

Volume 156, Issue 5 Kislev/Tevet 5775 December 2014

From the Rabbi’s Desk …............ P.3ARZA Elections ......................… P.3BIFTY …..................................... P.4Shabbat Services Schedule …..... P.4Rabbi Schultz ….......................... P.5Adult Jewish Learning …............ P.6From the Education Center …..... P.7Bonim Preschool …..................... P.8One of Us …................................ P.9

Inside This Issue

Festival of Lights

Many hear the name Al Jolson and think of the first words ever heard in a feature film, the landmark 1927 version of “The Jazz Singer.” And yet, while he played a key role in ushering in the era of the “talkie,” there is so much more to talk about when it comes to Al Jolson.

B’nai Israel congregant Jon Sonneborn is one of the leading authorities on Al Jolson. Join us on Friday, December 12, for a memorable presentation by

Sonneborn. The one-hour program will begin at 8:15 p.m., following the Shabbat service and dinner.

Jolson was America’s first superstar and the highest-paid performer in the first third of the 20th century. And yet almost everything we think we know about Jolson is either incorrect or so badly taken out of context that it might as well be. Sonneborn will explore

World’s Greatest Entertainer

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Chanukah is universal, even reaching Antarctica. Learn about Don Hyman’s unique celebration

on Page 6..

Give the Gift of Light!See Page 2 for details.

2 What’s happening at temple? Get Hashavua, our weekly email. Send your request to Lynn at lynn@cbibpt.org.

December Bulletin BoardA Temple Of ArtistsCalling all artists! The second annual B’nai Israel Art Show is being planned for the first week in February. So enter your paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture and photography. If you are interested in exhibiting your talents, contact Rabbi Prosnit.

Welcome! Welcome!A warm welcome to our newest members. We look forward to their participation in our many programs and hope their affiliation will not only enrich their lives, but that of our congregation.Jonathan and Bailey Orell, and OliverValley Circle, Fairfield

Sharing our Joy…Congratulations to: Debbie and David Ross, in honor of the wedding of their daughter, Rachel Ross, to Harry WolffSue and Steve Klein, on the birth of their grandson, Nathan Alexander, son of Scott and Kate Klein.

Sincere SympathyWe extend our sympathy to the bereaved families of:

Isaac Eines, father of Rachel SchwartzEstelle Glass, mother of Patty GreenManny “David” Wohl, father of Allysa BarnettJohn Kenneth Levi, father of Andrew LeviShirley Gilbert, mother of Judy PanthauerLeon Rosenthal, stepfather of Ronnie DubrowinBess HalpertGunther Stile, husband of Joy Stile and father of Twody Schless

The Macaroons are that rare kids band that kids and parents both love. They are also the only band in the world with a bagel mascot named Billy.Give the Gift of LightYet, you do not need to wait until late December for the holiday. Take advantage now of B’nai Israel’s community-building Gift of Light Fund-raiser. Send beautiful Chanukah candles and greetings to your family and friends in the Temple community. The candles will be beautifully wrapped and hand-delivered by a special team of

Chanukah helpers. Plus, this year, you can enter your order online and send personalized greetings to each recipient! Go to the Temple website for more details, and watch your email for your family’s unique link to use our new online ordering system. Please place your order by Sunday, December 7.If you would be willing to help wrap and/or deliver candles, please contachen at mcohen@cbibpt.org.

CHANUKAH .............. Continued from page 1

James Prosnit, D.D. ............................ RabbiEvan Schultz ................................... RabbiArnold I. Sher, D.D. ............... Rabbi EmeritusSheri E. Blum, D.M. ........................... CantorRamon Gilbert, D.M. .......... Cantor EmeritusIra J. Wise, R.J.E. .......... Director of EducationRobert H. Gillette, R.J.E. ... Educator EmeritusAlexa Cohen .......... Early Childhood DirectorAbby Rohinsky ............... Director of Facility

OfficersSamuel J. Rosenberg ........................ PresidentMichael Blumenthal .......... 1st Vice PresidentLarry Levine ............................. Vice PresidentShari Nerreau ........................... Vice PresidentJulie Pressman .......................... Vice PresidentLori Underberger ............................ TreasurerJim Greenberg ................. Assistant TreasurerEvelyn Rubak ................................... SecretaryJoe Varon .......................... Financial SecretaryMindy Siegel ........... Immediate Past President

2710 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604(203) 336-1858 • www.cbibpt.org

The Bulletin of Congregation B’nai Israel is published every month except July.

Affiliates

Marisa Underberger ............................................ BIFTY Advisor/Youth Engagement SpecialistCaroline DelAngelo & Harper Wise .......................................................... BIFTY Co-Presidents

3Item of the Month: Soup and stew for the Norma F. Pfriem Urban Outreach Initiatives, Inc. – Feel the Warmth Soup Kitchen.

From the Rabbi’s Desk A Surprise Gift, a Noble/nabel Legacy

I didn’t know Florence Nabel until shortly before she died. I have a hunch that very few of you knew her either. She was shy and introverted and as lovely as they come. She never married and lived with her disabled brother until his death a couple of years ago. I met her at that time and made it a point to stay in touch. She came to the temple only on occasion.

When I received word that Florence had died, I was quite concerned that there would be hardly anyone at her graveside funeral. To this day the saddest funeral I have ever officiated at took place many years ago when I was a young rabbi in Canada. The only two people present were me and the man’s executor. I resolved at that point never to allow that to happen again, so I asked some of our Temple leaders to come even though they didn’t know her. Imagine my relief upon arriving at the cemetery to find an unexpectedly large number of people who over the years had been touched by Florence’s life: A neighbor, the man who cut her grass, her plumber, her hairdresser, a distant cousin. She was a wonderful baker, who made a living making lemon meringue pies and other goodies for some of the local restaurants. Some of the restaurant owners and managers attended, too. Each one wanted to be

present and share a reflection because this unassuming, sweet woman touched their lives in a very genuine way – as she had touched mine.

Sometimes we just never know how we’ll make our mark or what our impact or legacy will be.

Weeks passed and one day our synagogue president, Sam Rosenberg, came to me saying that Florence included the temple in her will. I was surprised because Florence was an infrequent visitor to the synagogue and I wondered if I had somehow misjudged the depth of her connection to us. She touched so many people in her life and maybe we had touched her in ways I had not realized. The dollar amount was not large, but simply including us showed the synagogue’s importance to

Florence and how she wanted us to be a part of her legacy. Sam and I agreed that the most fitting place for her bequest was our Endowment Fund, so future generations could benefit from her generosity.

Our congregation is remarkably generous with their time, effort and, yes, money. But I do believe one place we’ve fallen short and missed the mark is encouraging people to contribute to our Endowment Fund. It is the one place where we can pass on a legacy to the generations which follow us, ensuring the longer-term financial stability of the congregation. I do believe we touch so many people in so many different ways and yet we are often preoccupied with today that we don’t think about tomorrow. Florence’s contribution surprised me, and helped me realize that perhaps others would also be grateful to make the synagogue part of their legacy if we only asked. So, going forward, Sam, Rabbi Sher, Cantor Blum and I are starting an endowment campaign, speaking with congregants about a donation now or in the future towards a critical foundation of our community. Florence Nabel touched me and her generosity will touch others for years to come. I hope many of us will consider joining her.

The Elections Are Over? Not This One!You may have thought that the elections were over in November, but there is still one critical vote coming – electing delegates to the World Zionist Congress (WZC) that will convene in Israel in the fall of 2015.

The first Zionist Congress took place in 1897 under the leadership of Theodor Herzl. Now, the Congress meets every five years to determine many important issues in the State of Israel, including

how funds are distributed through the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish National Fund. This is our opportunity as Reform Jews to have a significant say and to influence decision making.

ARZA, our Reform Zionist organization, explains: “The composition of the American delegation [to the Congress] is critically important to Reform Jews in the United States and Israel because the American delegation of 145 delegates

is the largest delegation from outside of Israel to the Congress. The decisions of the Congress influence hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, over $4 million of which is currently allocated to the Reform Movement each year. In addition, the Congress will help determine the leadership of the major global Jewish organizations, budgetary decisions, and policy in Israel and worldwide.”

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4 Tell us your B’nai Israel story. See One of Us on Page 9 for details.

BIFTYIt is never too late to join BIFTY! Come to our December events. All are welcome!

All events are held in the BIFTY Lounge from 7:00-8:30 p.m.: December 11— Ice Skating in WestportDecember 18 – Chanukah Party

Chag Urim Sameach from BIFTY!

Gathering after our Israel Trivia program.

World’s Greatest

Entertainer Continued from page 1

SHABBAT SERVICE SCHEDULE(Fridays at 6:00 p.m. where indicated, preceded by an Oneg Shabbat at 5:30 p.m.)

Friday, December 55:30 p.m. Mishpacha Shabbat6:00 p.m. Service

Torah Portion – Vayishlach, – Gen. 32:4-36:43 Haftarah – Hosea 11:7-12:12

Saturday, December 68:00 a.m. Service8:00 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Griffin Wirth,

son of Jeffrey and Kim Wirth 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah

11:00 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Samantha Serlin, daughter of Jeffrey and Annie Serlin

Friday, December 12

6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion – Vayeishev, Gen. 37:1-40:23 Haftarah – Amos 2:6-3:8

Saturday, December 138:00 a.m. Service9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast9:30 a.m. Torah Study9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah

11:00 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Abigail Rosenbaum, daughter of Howard and Julie Rosenbaum

Friday, December 19 6:00 p.m. Chanukah Service with the

Junior Choir Torah Portion – Mikeitz, Gen. 41:1-44:17 Haftarah – Zechariah 4:1-7

Saturday, December 20 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah 11:00 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Sophie Lipset,

daughter of Jennifer Lipset Friday, December 26

6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion – Vayigash, Gen. 44:18-47:27 Haftarah – Ezekiel 37:15-28

Saturday, December 278:00 a.m. Service9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast9:30 a.m. Torah Study9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah

Jolson the man and the legend, as we watch and listen and rediscover the American Jew who in life was billed “The World’s Greatest Entertainer,” but in death became known as “The Sweet Singer of Israel”.

Al Jolson was born in 1886 in what is now Lithuania. His family immigrated to the United States when he was seven. Jolson would go on to a stellar career in vaudeville, movies and popular music. The “St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture” once declared, “Jolson was to jazz, blues, and ragtime what Elvis Presley was to rock ‘n’ roll.”

Find out about BIFTY’s goals and plans from BIFTY members and new advisor Marisa Underberger,

in the January Bulletin.

5Do you want your news in the Bulletin? Email editor Scott Smith at ssmith@cbibpt.org.

From Rabbi Schultz Mar Ukba and the December Dilemmaother

The month of December stirs a wide array of feelings and emotions. It is a time of reflection on the past year, of holidays, family, celebrating the miraculous and, of course, eating latkes. For many individuals, couples and families, December is also a time of thinking about our charitable giving – how much money we want to give to tzedakah and to whom. I often know that December has arrived just by the sheer number of envelopes and emails I receive from non-profit organizations asking for year-end donations (I try not to be swayed by the free tote bags).

My partner Jenny and I sit down and try to think intentionally about how we give our money, but it is not so easy. Do we give more money to less organizations or less money to more organizations? Do we donate to small organizations or large ones? Jewish or non-Jewish? Local, national or international organizations? Or Israeli non-profits? The questions are real and difficult, and each year after we send in all of our checks, we always wish we could have somehow figured out a better system for determining how and to whom we give tzedakah.

I recently, however, came across a story from the Talmud that may help guide our process as we think about year-end charitable giving:

Mar Ukba was a renowned scholar. Every day, on his way home from the Beit Midrash (the Jewish house of study), he would slip 4 zuzim under the door of a poor man who lived in the neighborhood. One day, the poor man thought, “I will go and see who is being so gracious to me.” On that very day, it happened that Mar Ukba was late in returning

from the Beit Midrash, and his wife came by to see what was keeping him. On the way home, Mar Ukba, accompanied by his wife, stopped by the poor man’s house, as usual, and stooped to slip the zuzim under the door.

At that moment, the poor man opened the door to greet them. Mar Ukba and his wife fled and hid in an oven from which the coals had just been swept. Mar Ukba’s feet were burning, but his wife said, “Lift your feet and put them on mine.” Mar Ukba became upset [because his wife was clearly the recipient of a miracle and he was not]. But his wife said to him: “[I have merited this miracle] because I am usually at home, and my gifts are immediate and direct.” Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 67b

In this Talmudic story, the author presents us with two models of giving. Mar Ukba gives anonymously; he has no relationship with those he helps nor does he understand their specific needs. Mar Ukba’s wife, on the other hand, gives face-to-face; she understands those she helps and engages with them based on their specific needs. Mar Ukba is so intent on staying anonymous that he eventually finds himself in a furnace with his wife, hiding from the poor man. It seems that his wife is rewarded (another December miracle) for her approach to giving, while he is punished.

There are two lessons we can glean from this story:

1) Know and understand who you are giving to. Take some time to research the organizations that come to you asking for donations. How do they operate? How do they spend their money? What are their real needs? Do you feel a personal connection to the organization?

2) Money is not the only way to give. At this time of year organizations are always looking for volunteers to help with soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters. Operation Hope (www.operationhopect.org) is just one wonderful organization right in Fairfield that is always looking for people to help out at the pantry or help prepare meals.

Our Talmudic tale highlights the importance of knowing and understanding those that we support, to take the extra time to build a connection with a particular organization so that we may all have a very meaningful December.

“Each year after we send in all of our checks, we always

wish we could have somehow figured

out a better system for determining how and to whom we give

tzedakah.”

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B’nai Israel member Don Hyman, a retired journalist and communications consultant, fulfilled a boyhood dream in late 2013 when he joined an expedition to Antarctica. Traveling with scientists and adventurers from around the world, he explored Antarctica’s Palmer Peninsula. His trip also coincided with the start of Chanukah, and gradually a very personal Chanukah story unfolded.

From the moment of departure by ship from Argentina, his cameras captured wildlife, fantastic ice sculpture, ancient glaciers melting into the sea and remnants of man’s efforts over the last 100-plus years to live in this challenging environment, a continent without a country.

Hyman says his Antarctic experience can be summarized in a few words:

Grandeur; Vastness; Beauty; Loneliness; Malevolence; and as with Chanukah, Rededication.

He will share more words and photos on Sunday, December 21 at 10:00 a.m. Please joins us.

Chanukah in Antarctica

B’nai Israel congregants can be your customers, too! To advertise in the Bulletin, contact Nina King at nking@cbibpt.org.

Adult Jewish Learning at Congregation B’nai IsraelAdult RoundtableThursday, December 4, 12:30 p.m.A discussion about current events for anyone who wants to go beyond the headlines. Facilitated by Gloria Katz.

Join us the first Thursday of every month, and bring a sandwich, your opinion and an open mind.

Jews and MoneyLifelong Learning – Fridays at Noon, December 5, 12Rabbi James Prosnit will focus on Jewish attitudes toward money – applying both an ancient and modern lens to a study that combines sacred text and

historical perspective. What is the Jewish attitude toward money? Is there nobility in poverty? Is affluence a sin? Over the centuries we have been accused of being socialists and capitalists; beggars and wealthy financiers – how have such divergent attitudes evolved and shaped the image and reality of the Jewish people? This a reprise by popular demand of the class Rabbi Prosnit gave on Monday evenings last year!

Rosh Chodesh—Women’s Group with Rabbi Suri KriegerThursday, December 18, 7:30 p.m.The waxing and waning of lunar cycles has been a guiding force for women throughout the ages, both literally and spiritually. Since the Jewish feminist movement reclaimed Rosh Chodesh in the 1970s, women have been gathering on a monthly basis to acknowledge and celebrate. The form of this celebration

has taken on many faces – ancient text, contemporary outreach, food and fantasy.

The Jews in the Time of JesusM o n d a y Midrasha – Mondays at 7:00 p.m., December 1, 8, 15, 22 As we head into the season so im-portant to our Christian neighbors we wonder about the Jewish life of Jesus. Who were the Jewish people in the first century? What did they believe? How were they organized? Do some of the recent best-sellers that have tried to un-cover some “truths” about the historical Jesus teach us about the Jewish experi-ence in the 1st Century? Rabbi James Prosnit leads the conversation.

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7What’s happening at temple? Get Hashavua, our weekly email. Send your request to Lynn at lynn@cbibpt.org.

From the Education Center The Fellowship of the Jim

Okay, I admit I channeled my inner nerd for the title. But actually it works. I want to tell you more about the Jim Abraham Fellows Program that Rabbi Prosnit described earlier this year. But first I want to tell you about Jim Abraham. A great deal has been said about him both during his lifetime and after he died in 2013. He was a past president of B’nai Israel. He was involved in the Union for Reform Judaism, Teach for America, served in the U.S. Army and worked most of his life as a leader and mentor in human resources at G.E. He was also a member of my family, first figuratively and then after his daughter Joan married Audrey’s brother, Michael, literally.

Most important to me, he chaired the committee that hired me 20 years ago this coming spring. I have been told there are some upcoming festivities to mark that occasion. I want to make sure we remember who led the effort to make it happen. And Jim served as a mentor to me and to a great many of the men and women who have led this congregation over the years. He was a strong advocate for being involved in

the Jewish community in general and in the congregation and the Reform Movement in particular.

The Jim Abraham Jewish Leadership Fellowship was established to assist in the development of potential, future synagogue leaders through their participation in educational programs and opportunities. The ultimate goal is to assure the perpetuation, continued growth and vitality of Reform Judaism locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The Fellowship is designed to support young adults (late teens to twenties) who display significant interest and seriousness in their approach to Jewish values and education as well

as who show leadership potential as demonstrated by their academic ability, and/or active involvement in Reform Jewish programs and activities.

Fellowships are awarded to partially subsidize participation of worthy candidates in programs that promote the development of Jewish leadership skills. Programs may include: Judaic High School Programs (not including Merkaz), leadership academies, conferences, song-leading institutes and Israel programs of academic merit offered by Hebrew Union College, The Union for Reform Judaism, the North American Federation of Temple Youth or similar institutions committed to the perpetuation of liberal Jewish values.

To apply be a Jim Abraham Jewish Leadership Fellow, go to http://bit.ly/JAFellows and download the application. Complete it and send it to the Education Center, attention Jim Abraham Fellowship.

L’shalom,Ira J. Wise, R.J.E.Director of Education

So it is critical we all vote and support the Reform Movement’s slate in the WZC elections. Voting will take place from January 15 to April 30 next year. You will be able to register and vote online in one session. Please cast your vote for ARZA – REPRESENTING REFORM JUDAISM. (Paper ballots will also be available for those who choose not to vote online.)

Also, we ask that you go now to www.reformjews4israel.org and take the pledge to vote in the election. While

this is not required to vote, it will ensure you receive information on how to vote when the elections begin. Cards to take the voting pledge are also available at the Temple. Just fill one out and leave it in the box in the lobby.

To vote, you must be 18 by June 30, 2015, Jewish and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. And yes, there is a cost. When you register, you will pay a fee to the American Zionist Movement to cover administrative costs of the election. The fee is $5 for those

18 to 29, and $10 for those 30 and older. Think of it as an investment in the future of Reform Judaism in Israel.

We will distribute more information as January 15 draws nearer, but please mark your calendars now to vote as early in the voting period as possible. This is OUR chance to have our Reform voices heard and to promote our ideals of pluralism and equality in the State of Israel.

■ Your ARZA–WZC Election Team

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fall fun at bonim preschool

B’nai Israel alum and Major League Baseball pitcher Craig Breslow was inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame this year.

A few sprinkles did not stop our Bike Parade.

Bailey and Ryan enjoying their trip to Benedicts Agway.

Jessica and her Mom celebrating Shabbat

Harrison is our Student of the week.

Weekly Ballet enrichment class.

Ben proudly shows off his kippah!

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You hear the name Congregation B’nai Israel and you rightfully think of a place of worship. We are, after all, a synagogue. Yet, more than the place, we are a congregation – a gathering of people. Our paths to B’nai Israel are distinct and individual. These profiles spotlight some of those journeys to our congregation. Find out what makes each of you One of Us.

It is tempting for many of us to think of Jim Greenberg as “the chocolate guy.”

He has led chocolate tastings and educational programs at B’nai Israel that many will long remember. He sees chocolate and its core ingredient, cocoa, as a force for good in the developing world, providing jobs, income and an improved quality of life. Tikkun Olam. He sits on nine different confectionery industry boards. Jim is the fourth generation in his family to run Union Confectionery Machinery, the privately held company his great grandfather founded in 1912. Based in the Bronx, the company is the world’s largest supplier of production machinery for the chocolate, confectionery, baking, snack food and pharmaceutical industries, plus many others.

His job takes him across the country and around the world. Often, he is busier than he would like to be. That is where B’nai Israel comes in.

That is because Jim more accurately might be called “the Shabbat guy.” He tries to be at B’nai Israel each Friday night. Usually he is there with his wife, Lisa, and their younger son, Sam. He also attends the 8:00 a.m. Shabbat morning service.

“My weeks are very, very hectic. I travel constantly. As a family, we carve out the time to go to Temple on Shabbat and normally don’t do anything else,” Jim says.

Rest. A break from the week’s madness. Reflection. Joy. Renewal of spirit. A reminder of the gift of life. All of that and more come to Jim Greenberg at B’nai Israel as he observes Shabbat. “We don’t allow other things to compete with that time. We make Shabbat sacred. And that is a 180-degree turn from how I grew up,” Jim says.

Jim’s father came from an Orthodox home in Brooklyn. His mother came from an American-assimilated home in New London, complete with a Christmas tree. His mother’s family, the Dreyfus clan, are direct descendents of Captain Alfred Dreyfus of the infamous Dreyfus Affair. Jim believes their assimilation was inevitable in part due to that connection.

Growing up in Westport, his family “celebrated” both Christmas and Chanukah. Bar Mitzvah for Jim was a bit delayed. He was 47. Being called to the Torah “at that stage of my life, of my own accord and on my own terms” was a very powerful experience for him. He saw his oldest son, Michael, become a Bar Mitzvah in 2005 and his wife become an adult Bat Mitzvah the following year, and decided that he, too, wanted the same for himself.

Jim, who served as a member of the temple Board of Trustees for five years,

is now the temple’s Assistant Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee. In his former role as president of the temple Brotherhood, the Fairfield resident has helped to lead and sponsor an array of activities appealing to a wide range of members.

“Our temple is filled with serial doers. We have so many wonderful leaders and volunteers,” Jim says.

Jim often helps counsel temple members who face employment gaps and other personal challenges. The temple has been there for him as well. “I’ve taken counsel from every rabbi that has served this congregation since we joined (in the late 1990s), plus Cantor Blum and Ira Wise,” he says.

His counsel to new temple members? “All of us can feel like the new kid in town or the new kid at school, but people have to realize that, even though B’nai Israel is a low-key, informal and warm place, one must make an effort to get involved, to have a conversation, to come to Shabbat service and talk to people in order to build relationships and to extract the full power of the synagogue experience,” Jim says.

Jim believes existing members have a similar obligation. “When you reach out to a new person, or even someone that you see regularly but whom you may not know well, it forges a bridge and allows everyone to feel more comfortable and apt to come back. There is a certain loneliness that exists without personal connection, and the temple is a wonderful place to connect.”

■ By Don Hyman

We want to know what makes each of you One of Us. Please share with us your Congregation B’nai Israel story. Email the B’nai Israel Storytellers at ssmith@cbibpt.org.

One of Us: Jim Greenberg Finding His Sweet Spot

Item of the Month: Soup and stew for the Norma F. Pfriem Urban Outreach Initiatives, Inc. – Feel the Warmth Soup Kitchen.

Jim Greenberg, right, with Mel Gordon, chairman of the board of Tootsie Roll Industries

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DonationsPlease note that only contributions of $10.00 or more will be acknowledged with a card and Bulletin listing.

Rabbi Prosnit Discretionary FundDiana and Jon August, in memory of Alfredo Quintero.Edie Baum, in memory of husband, Jim Baum.Douglas and Kathryn Brown, a donation.Jerry Demner, a thank you to David Beier.Bob Ford, in honor of Clergy Appreciation Day.Ruth and Eric Gross, in memory of Stephen Lessler, father of Terri Green.Carter and Susie Johnston, in memory of Jill Tarlov.Alice and George Kelly, in memory of mother, Ruth Zimroth.Marge and Paul Krubiner, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch’s 40th Anniversary, Grandparenthood and a Milestone Birthday!The Ledvich and Goldshteyn Families, in honor of Mikhail and Katy Ledvich on the birth of their daughter, Vanessa Adele.Lee Lester, congratulations on all of the season’s blessings to Rabbi Prosnit and family.Laura and Dudley Orr, in memory of mother, Sylvia Washton; in appreciation of Rabbi Prosnit.Laura Sydney-Pulton, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch’s grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit; in memory of Judy Panthauer’s mother, Shirley Gilbert.Abigail Schine, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit.Twody and Bob Schless, in appreciation for Sadie’s baby naming.Rachel and Paul Schwartz, in memory of Isaac Eines, father of Rachel Schwartz; in appreciation of Rabbi Prosnit.Marilyn and Jack Selig, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit, Rabbi Schultz, Cantor Blum and our grandson, Dustin Brown, in thanks for the beautiful services relating to Dustin’s Bar Mitzvah. Debbie, Dan, Matthew and Jaime Viens, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit’s 25 years of service, Mazel Tov to Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on their 40th Anniversary and the birth of grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit, and in honor of Jim’s special birthday.Terry Wasserman and Andrew Lom, in appreciation.

Nancy and Joseph Wertheim, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit.Sheila and Burton Yaffie and Family, in loving memory of father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Bernard H. Seigel; in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit.Florence Yasser, in memory of Evalyn Akin.Ronnie and Fred Zinn, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit.

Rabbi Schultz Discretionary FundNatalia and Ken Feinstein, in appreciation of Rabbi Schultz for leading Maya’s baby-naming celebration.Bob Ford, in honor of Clergy Appreciation Day.Rosanne and Harvey Greenstein, in appreciation for making Leah and Barry’s wedding so very special.Laura and Dudley Orr, in memory of mother, Sylvia Washton; in appreciation of Rabbi Schultz.Barb and Gil Saltman, their Children and Grandchildren, a thank-you to Rabbi Schultz for a wonderful Rosh Hashanah Beach Service.Marilyn and Jack Selig, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit, Rabbi Schultz, Cantor Blum and our grandson, Dustin Brown, in thanks for the beautiful services relating to Dustin’s Bar Mitzvah. Suzie and Artie Weissman, Talia, Maya, Lee and Lindsey, with warm thanks to Rabbi Schultz.

Music FundDouglas and Kathryn Brown, a donation.Bob Ford, in honor of Clergy Appreciation Day.Muggs Lefsetz, in memory of dear friends, Barbara Haflich and Estelle Glass; best wishes to Randy Reich on his recovery.Lee Lester, congratulations on the marriage of Cantor Blum’s beautiful daughter, Rachel Ginsburg, to that lucky guy, Noam Schaap. Sheryl and George Santiago, in memory of Shirley Gilbert, mother of Judy

Panthauer.Marilyn and Jack Selig, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit, Rabbi Schultz, Cantor Blum and our grandson, Dustin Brown, in thanks for the beautiful services relating to Dustin’s Bar Mitzvah. Esther Spiegel, in honor of Cantor Blum on the marriage of daughter, Rachel Ginsburg, to Noam Schaap.Laura Sydney-Pulton, in honor of the marriage of Cantor Blum’s daughter, Rachel Ginsburg. Ronnie and Fred Zinn, in memory of Stephen Lessler, father of Terri Green.

Enhancement FundSusan and Stan Baron, in appreciation.Mark and Barbara Edinberg, in honor of Abby and her staff for their thoughtfulness and diligence; in honor of Liz Nigrosh, Anne Kirsch and Wendy Berkowitz, for their contributions to the High Holy Day Services.Myrna Kaufman, in memory of mother-in-law, Dorothy Smith.Stanley and Judith Lessler, in memory of David Lessler.Alice Madwed, in memory of mother, Frieda Ente.Edward and Mary McCourt, in memory of Jack Newman, husband of Karin Newman.Kelly and Glen Reznikoff, in memory of Shirley Gilbert, mother of Judy Panthauer.Bernice Rosch, in memory of my dear mother, Sophia Miller.Lawrence A. Sax, in memory of Manny Wohl, father of Allysa Barnett.Joann Webber, in memory of parents, Lois and Benjamin Feld.Ronnie and Fred Zinn and Family, in loving memory of Hank Silverman.

Nursery School Scholarship FundSerena and Arnie Sher, to Judy Panthauer and Family, in honor of Shirley Gilbert.

Religious School Enrichment FundSuzanne Shane, in memory of Estelle Glass, mother of Patty Green.

Religious School Scholarship FundSchool Volunteer Association of Bridgeport, in honor of Abby Rohinsky and her custodial staff.

Do you want your news in the Bulletin? Email editor Scott Smith at ssmith@cbibpt.org.

11

Donations

High Holy Day AppealContinued From Page 16

Please note that only contributions of $10.00 or more will be acknowledged with a card and Bulletin listing.

Rabbi Arnold Sher Social Action FundBarbara Green and Jeffrey Orell, in memory of dear friend, Barbara Haflich.Judy Green and Michael Blumenthal, in memory of Barbara Haflich; in memory of Stephen Lessler, father of Terri Green.Sam and Ellen Rost, in memory of Estelle Glass, mother of Patty Green.Sheryl and George Santiago, in memory of dear friend, Jill Tarlov, wife of Michael Wittman, mother of Matthew and Anna Wittman.Serena and Arnie Sher, in loving memory of Estelle Glass, mother and grandmother.Susan and Howard Sherman, in memory of Frances and Ralph Howard, parents of Susan Sherman.Mady Shumofsky and Laura Brown, in honor of Claire and Allan Shumofsky; in appreciation of Rabbi Prosnit.

Vision Loan Reduction FundBob Ford, in memory of Jesse Goldbaum.Patti and Samuel Rosenberg, in memory of Frania Rosenberg.

Jim Abraham Education Fund for Jewish LeadershipLaura Sydney-Pulton, in memory of Jill Tarlov, wife of Michael Wittman, mother of Matthew and Anna Wittman.

Prayer Book FundDr. and Mrs. Charles Applebaum, in loving memory of Sylvia Washton.Chris and George Markley, in memory of Estelle Glass, mother of Patty Green.Barbara Panisch, in memory of Estelle Glass, mother of Patty Green.

Alan H. Weinstein Scholarship FundJoni and Michael Greenspan, in memory of Estelle Glass, mother of Patty Green.

Gillette Judaic Enrichment FundRuth and Eric Gross, in memory of Barbara Haflich.Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park, in honor of Andrew DelAngelo’s Bar Mitzvah fundraiser at Rockin’ Jump.

Arnold and Doris Tower FundSteve and Ellen Tower, in memory of Arnold, Bobbi and Bitsy Tower. David and Lee Lester Kesher FundLee Lester, in memory of beloved son, David Lester; in memory of brother, Nelson Lovett; in memory of sister, Ruthie Lovitt. Rabbi Martin Library FundCarol Barsky and Dale Demner, in honor of Claire and Allan Shumofsky on their 50th Anniversary.Mady Shumofsky and Laura Brown, in honor of Claire and Allan Shumofsky; in appreciation of Rabbi Prosnit.Dale and Jerry Demner, in memory of Sidney Slive and Anne Weinstein.

Endowment FundDouglas and Kathryn Brown, a donation.

Fun Fact: Bridgeport’s Klein Memorial Auditorium was a gift to the city by a B’nai Israel congregant.

Victor and Irma GurvitzBennett and Nancy HerschJudith HochstadtSylvia and John HodinDon and Wendy HymanRoger JacksonJanet JurowAmy L. KaplanJanice and Marc KatzMyrna KaufmanAndrea and Irv KernBrad and Tara KernerLisa KnicosGeoffrey and Melanie KoorisLinda and Gene KoskiEileen and Edward KrasnowLou and Dee LandmanCarol and Stephen LandsmanBeth LazarAleksey and Raisa LedvichMuriel LefsetzLois and Bob Lesser

Ilse LeviGerry and Harvey LevineHallie LevineRichard and Gail LopatinLinda and Larry LudwigRuth MadwedErnest MaleckiMuriel MannCharlene and Allen MarxNora MayersonMelissa and Perry MolinoffAlan and Sylvia NeigherKarin NewmanAlan and Joan NewmanLinda Liefland & Jon OrleansLouis and Roberta PabianJudy and Peter PanthauerKen and Nina RabineJudy RankellKelly and Glen ReznikoffBarbara RifkinAdam and Emily RosenJulie and Howard Rosenbaum

Michelle and Joseph SalemBarbara and Gilbert SaltmanLee SalzbergSheryl and George SantiagoNaomi SchafferAbigail SchineTwody and Rob SchlessRachel and Paul SchwartzSandy and Bob ShermanWilliam and Lorraine SmithBarbara and Derek SolomonNorman SolomonDeanna and Randy SpartachinoEsther SpiegelRhea SpiegelEric Stein and Dyann RossFrancine SteinLaura Sydney-PultonStephen and Ellen TowerAnne Tranquilli-BausherMatthew and Patti WunderHoward and Ondy Zuckerman

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Pillar of CongregationBarbara AbrahamJudi and David BeierLuise and Ed BurgerRichard and Joanne KrantzBob and Helen NattJerry and Jane PressmanJames Prosnit and Wendy BlochPatti and Samuel RosenbergLinda and Brad RothbaumMindy and Jeff SiegelJon and Cleo SonnebornRichard and Susan Walden

Benefactor of CongregationRobert Ford / Jes GoldbaumLisa and Jim GreenbergRobin and Larry GreenhallMarcia Cohen and Mark HotchkissAndy and Carol LubinFran and Rob MorrisAmy and Glenn RichJerry Saunders and Elaine AppellofLori and Dan UnderbergerJoseph and Leslie VaronDavid Zeldis

President’s CircleMarty and Alayne BurgerJon Davis and Evelyn RubakBari DworkenStacy and Rob GigliettiPaula and Robert HerzlingerShirley, Sam, Joel and Michael JacobLena “Lee” LesterMonica and Michael LightmanSteven and Julie PressmanMarc and Elaine SilvermanDebora and Michael WeismanKen and Cindy WestAdele and Larry Zuckerman

General ContributionDavid Abbey and Deborah GoodmanMyra AdlerBonnie AltermanAndrew and Gina ArnoldJoel and Sylvia AskinaziClaire L. BakerLinda and Brian BarlaamCarol and Nate BarskyJeffrey and Wendy Bender

Larry and Audrey BernsteinMarilyn BissellSamuel and Barbara BoyarskyLaura and Bruce BravermanBarbara BreslerDouglas and Kathryn BrownDavid and Alexa CohenMichael Connolly & Myra ShapiroLilla and Milton CooperJerome and Dale DemnerRandy DorfmanMark and Barbara EdinbergLinda and Michael Epstein Laurie and Dean GauglerMarvin and Joann GelfandJoel and Iris GoldfieldYakov and Tamara GoldshteynVladimir and Klara GoldshteynDonna and Avie GoldsteinSeth and Amy GordonDaniel and Terri GreenLaurel and Hank GreenbergLiane May and Peter GreeneEric and Ruth Gross

High Holy Day AppealThank you to everyone who contributed.

Continued On Page 11