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

Volume 156, Issue 3 Tishrei/Heshvan 5775 October 2014

Bulletin Board ............................. P.2From the Rabbi’s Desk ............... P.3BIFTY ......................................... P.4Bonim Preschool ......................... P.4Rabbi Schultz .............................. P.5Adult Jewish Learning ................. P.6From the Education Center ........... P.7Ribs Champions ........................... P.8One of Us ................................... P.9Shabbat Services Schedule ....... P.16

Inside This Issue

In the marketing world, they call it branding. You see the image, and you immediately know who the company or organization is and what it stands for. Think Apple’s iconic rainbow-colored logo, Nike’s swoosh or the Boston Celtics’ leprechaun.

Congregation B’nai Israel decided it was time for a bit of rebranding. A new logo was sought that would hopefully convey the long tradition of Judaism with a more modern, more vibrant attitude. You can see the winning design to the right – though the black-and-white image does not do justice to the full effect of the new look. Please check out the true, color version on the temple website.

(Editor’s Note: The old logo remains in place on the Bulletin masthead for this issue, but the new logo will make its permanent debut in the November issue.)

So why was this version selected?

“The clergy, professional staff, and lay leadership believe it conveys compactly our faith and diversity, while also invoking the stained glass panes in our sanctuary,” congregation President Sam Rosenberg wrote recently in his weekly Hashavua email. “We deliberately tried to keep it semi-abstract because our community is a resource for our members in so many different ways and perhaps each congregant might infuse it with their own, personal meaning.”

Change does not come easy, and it

always takes some adjustment, but Sam says the initial reactions have been quite positive. Not that the selection process always went smoothly.

“Many people were involved in this effort, but we are truly grateful to Pamela Fink and Susan Zweibaum, who spent countless hours speaking to congregants, lay leaders, synagogue staff and the graphic designer developing this logo,” Sam wrote. “The drafts seemed interminable but the outcome is wonderful.”

A New Window into B’nai Israel

It’s a busy holiday schedule this month, spanning the spectrum of emotions. October begins with our period of deepest reflection, Yom Kippur.

Once again, the 6:30 p.m. Kol Nidre services on Friday, October 3, will be simulcast on WVOF 88.5 FM. Services continue on Saturday, with something throughout the day to try to keep your minds off fasting. A full calendar of

Holy Day events can be found on Page 3.

For those looking for meaning in their fast, Rabbi Prosnit offers multiple reasons why we pursue this self-sacrifice. You can find his column on Page 3.

We then pivot to more joyous occasions, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Rabbi

Reflection and Rejoicing

Continued on Page 6

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

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.

Hallie Levine Sklar, Johanna, Theodore and GeoffreyOak Bluff Drive, FairfieldBeth and Brad Jones, Charlie and KateCollege Park Drive, FairfieldDavid and Jodi Berman, Ethan and RebeccaTowne House Road, FairfieldRebecca and Nicholas Blondin, and Alice Woodbine Lane, FairfieldMarcy and Jamie Begian, and BraydenUnquowa Road, FairfieldElaine Boughton Clayton, Jonah and Ari Boughton Rayfield, Road, WestportJonathan and Jennifer Dizney, Rachel and HannahLafayette Drive, TrumbullGretchen and Lee Goldstein, Hayden and MiloBrianna Lane, EastonJodi and Ethan Kostbar, Dylan and ZoeEdgewood Place, FairfieldDavid and Beth Messler, Jack and WilliamRevere Lane, TrumbullScott and Shari Pearlman, and LillyEast Common Road, EastonAdam and Stephanie Schechter, Harry and BenHollydale Road, FairfieldJodi and Mark Zuccerella, Cooper and KaseyRock House Road, EastonMickey and Candace HerbstSide Hill Road, WestportRoger JacksonJennings Road, Fairfield

AARP Driving Class with Instructor Ernest MaleckiMondays, September 29, October 27, and December 1, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Temple LibraryPlease join our congregant, Ernest “Ernie” Malecki, who is well versed in training this four-hour, one-day class designed by AARP for senior drivers. Not only will Ernie give you tips to save on your insurance costs, but more importantly, he also will offer driving tips that may save your life and the safety of those around you. Please

pre-register to Ernie directly by calling (203) 922-0048 or by email at enmalecki113@gmail.com. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members (make checks payable to AARP).

Plea to Religious School Parents:Return Your Library Books We have an excellent collection of children’s books in our temple library. Unfortunately, our selection is depleted when borrowed books are not returned. PLEASE search your home in all possible places books can hide – under beds, behinds sofas, in closets, the trunk of your car, old backpacks, even mixed

Bulletin Board

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

Sharing our Joy…Congratulations to: Dianne and Louis Landman, on the birth of their granddaughter, Hannah Jade, daughter of Adam and Melissa LandmanRabbi James Prosnit and Wendy Bloch, on the birth of their grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit, son of Jonathan Prosnit and Erin GleesonDr. Lawrence and Ellen Dinkes, on the birth of their grandson, Henry Benjamin Farkas, son of Michelle and Jason Farkas

Continued on Page 4

Sincere SympathyWe extend our sympathy to the bereaved families of:Melvin Silverman, husband of Beverly SilvermanJeanette Friedman, sister of Estelle GlassBarbara HaflichSylvia Washton, mother of Laura Orr

3Item of the Month: High Holy Day Food Drive (See Page 5)

From the Rabbi’s Desk A Meaningful Fast

I remember hearing of a debate that waged at a Jewish Country Club. Should the club, open for golf on Yom Kippur, close the snack bar?!!!

It seems the power of the Yom Kippur fast is on the minds of even the most peripheral of us. Studies of the religious practice of American Jews suggest that the two most widely observed rituals are the Passover Seder and the fast on the Day of Atonement. Interesting that overeating and not eating at all have become so central to the lives of Jews. Even those who never set foot in the institutions of Jewish life find some vestige of observance on these two occasions.

For those of us well committed to Jewish living, how much more so does fasting effect and affect the holiest day in the calendar? But why and how does fasting increase the meaning of the day?

As we approach Yom Kippur, you might want to consider four different rationales and see if any of them resonate with you.

We FAST AS PENANCE – It is a day of self-reflection, confession of sin and repentance, so perhaps a bit of self-affliction can help us in the process. We don’t whip ourselves or do things that can cause lasting pain, but maybe a bit of discomfort is appropriate as we express remorse and seek forgiveness from God

for our failings. Such a display of regret may show a higher degree of sincerity on our part.

We FAST AS A SELF DISCIPLINE – The message of the day is that we have power to take control over our lives and make appropriate choices. What better way to internalize that message than taking charge (at least for one day) of something so basic to what we do and how we live? If I can withhold my eating and discipline myself today, perhaps I can refrain from unhealthy actions moving forward.

We FAST AS A MEANS OF FOCUSING THE MIND ON THE SPIRITUAL – At the heart of this practice is a desire to shift our attention from the body’s immediate needs and to focus on more spiritual concerns. The logic goes something like this: When

we fast, we are faced with admitting our frailty. In that weakened state, we examine the parts of ourselves that are fragile and strengthen them with meditations and supplications. We are free to concentrate on the soul and forget about our physical body.

We FAST AS A MEANS FOR AWAKING COMPASSION – For us this day of fasting is one of choice. For others in our world, however, hunger is a daily experience. Our fast is an act of solidarity with those who are food deprived and is a commitment to be more responsive to alleviate their situation. Our gifts to Mazon or our contributions to the Annual High Holy Day Food Drive are an outward and practical expression that the fast compels.

I’m also mindful that for some in our community who have health concerns, are pregnant or are nursing, this fast is prohibited. Since fasting is so central to the day, it deprives them of a meaningful connection. Perhaps we need to consider other actions that can reclaim some of the power of the ritual.

A Yom Kippur greeting has long been Tzom Kal – an easy fast. But someone once suggested to me that a more appropriate wish is “a meaningful fast.” May that be the wish for the sacred day ahead!

Holy Days ScheduleKol Nidre — Friday, October 36:30 p.m. Early Service (this service will be broadcast on WVOF 88.5 FM)8:45 p.m. Late Service Yom Kippur — Saturday, October 410:00 a.m. Morning Service: Sanctuary10:00 a.m. Morning Service: Tent10:00 a.m. Youth Program: Grades Pre-K thru 3rd (advance registration required)

1:30 p.m. Family Service (no ticket required)2:45 p.m. Afternoon Service 4:45 p.m. Yizkor Service (no ticket required) 5:45 p.m. Neilah Concluding Service (no ticket required) Sukkkot 2014Wednesday, October 8Join us for an evening of festive celebration:

Sukkah Decorating, 5:30 p.m. Hang fruits and gourds, or make and hang paper chains and other decorationsFamily Service, 6:00 p.m.Rejoice in this new season

Potluck Picnic, 6:30 p.m. Bring a nut-free dish that serves eight and stay for dinner. Last names A-L, please bring a main dish; last names M-Z, please bring a side dish.

Continued on Page 4

4 We wish you blessings and peace in 5775.

Fittingly for the new year, it’s a new beginning for BIFTY, as Marisa Underberger joins B’nai Israel as BIFTY advisor and youth engagement specialist.

Actually, Marisa rejoins BIFTY. She is a lifelong member of B’nai Israel, having served as BIFTY president as a teenager. She now works for Teach for America in Bridgeport.

She hits the ground running in her new role, as BIFTY boasts a full month of events. Here is the October schedule:

(All events in BIFTY Lounge unless otherwise noted)

October 9, 7:00-8:30 p.m. – BIFTY Welcome Event (If you’ve never been

to BIFTY, this is a great first event!)

October 11, Time TBA – Apple Picking at Silverman’s Farm, 451 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT

October 23rd, 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Israel Trivia Night

October 30th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Challah-ween party!

On Rosh Hashanah you should have received a paper bag from one of our BIFTY teens. Please fill it with the instructed foods and return it to B’nai Israel on Yom Kippur morning. Our teens will be in the parking lot collecting the bags. All food will be donated to the Connecticut Food Bank. Thank you for your generosity!

BonimApples & Honey

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”

– Benjamin Franklin

We have so much to celebrate: The Jewish New Year and a new school year here at Bonim Preschool. We had a fabulous start, welcoming 75 students to our new school year. The first few days are sometimes filled with tears both happy and sad, but the happy ones definitely outweighed the sad ones this year.

The children are all adjusting very well to school. Their days are filled with music, both with Cantor Blum as well as in their individual classrooms. “Apples and Honey for Rosh Hashanah” can be heard throughout the halls as the smell of apple cake, honey cake and homemade muffins waft from the kitchen. Little feet walk throughout the building on their way to Jump Bunch (our weekly indoor creative movement class), gymnastics with Miss Cathy and Miss Harriet, tennis, Kung Fu, science and many more exciting activities. We have something for everyone.

We look forward to an exciting and fun-filled year. L’shana Tova!

Alexa Cohen

BIFTY

Change is in the Air

From left, BIFTY board members Harper Wise, Becky Molinoff, Caroline DelAngelo, Kaleigh Karnal, Jenna Rosenberg, Melanie DelAngelo, Alex Taylor, Zoe Lehrhaupt and Marisa Underberger (Advisor)

in with your own book collection – then return any you find to the basket on the library desk. Our religious school students will be thankful!

Latkes and LeeveesSaturday, December 20Join us to celebrate Hanukkah with a children’s concert featuring the Macaroons, and a latke contest with celebrity judges and prizes. See more details in the November Bulletin.

Thursday, October 9Sukkot service, 10:00 a.m. Includes yoga and other fun activities for preschool-age children (10:30 a.m.)

Greater Bridgeport Jews Sukkot party, 8:00 p.m.20s and 30s and young adults, join us for some fun schmoozing in the sukkah!

Wednesday, October 15Simchat Torah celebration!Flag-making, 5:30 p.m. Design a flag or banner to wave in the Torah scroll procession during the service.

Family Service, 6:00 p.m. Sing along with the Junior Choir, dance, march with the Torah, and watch as it is completely unfurled before our eyes.

Bulletin Board Continued from page 2

Holy Days ........................ Continued from page 3

5What’s happening at temple? Get Hashavua, our weekly email. Send your request to lynn@cbibpt.org.

From Rabbi Schultz Five New Ways to Celebrate Sukkot

Help Bring a Fast End for Hunger

The holiday of Sukkot is just around the corner. In the book of Leviticus we are instructed, “For seven days teishvu in the sukkah.” (Leviticus 23:42) The term teishvu means you shall “dwell” in the sukkah. What exactly does that mean?

In the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, the contemporary code of Jewish law and practice, it explains that to dwell means you literally make the sukkah your home for seven days. “Just as you live in your home all year,” it says, “so now, during Sukkot, the sukkah should be your principal residence. There you should bring your fine china and elegant tablecloths. You should eat drink, study, spend your leisure and sleep in the sukkah. Even conversation with friends should be held in the sukkah.” The text instructs us to the do this so that we fully experience what it must have been like for the Israelites to dwell in these temporary structures as they wandered through the desert. (Then again, did the Israelites really have fine china and tablecloths?) It is also another means of remembering the Exodus from Egypt.

There are many great ways to celebrate and observe the holiday of Sukkot. We have many programs at the synagogue designed for all age and affinity groups to come and have a meal in the sukkah. We are happy to help you build a sukkah of your own in your backyard; we can even bring a crew to help you build it!

Just email me that you’ve always been curious to have a sukkah, and maybe this is the year. We’ll be there to support you! My email is eschultz@cbibpt.org.

In addition to those ways of celebrating Sukkot, here are five more ways that you can mark the holiday of Sukkot with your family:

• Come have a meal at the synagogue Sukkah. It is a mitzvah to eat a meal in the sukkah! If the sukkah is available, call some friends, pack a dinner or order some pizzas, and have a lunch or dinner in the sukkah. Just call our office at (203)336-1858 to make sure the sukkah will be available and that the building will be open. We’d love to have the sukkah always filled with community members!

• Welcome a new guest into your home. Sukkot is also about welcoming guests, or ushpizin, into your home. Is there someone you met at synagogue or in town

that you might want to get to know better? Invite them over as a Sukkot mitzvah. It’s a great way to build new relationships!

• Take a look at Sukkah City. Sukkah city was an artistic sukkah design competition in 2010 that took place in New York City’s Union Square. The website is still up and active, and they are working on a documentary about the event. If you have a few spare minutes with your kids, go to http://www.sukkahcity.com/ and scroll through the different sukkahs. Vote on which one you like the best!

• Watch Ushpizin online. This acclaimed Israeli film takes place during the holiday of Sukkot. The plot, briefly: “Moshe and Mali are broke and praying for a miracle. Suddenly they find an abandoned sukkah, he is the beneficiary of charity, and two escaped convicts arrive to be their ushpizin (guests).” You can watch the film for free on YouTube: http://youtu.be/UgiCDDGdnv4, or simply go to YouTube and search “Ushpizin.” This movie is for adults.

• Find opportunities to be outside. Eat outside. Go apple picking. Enjoy one last meal on the beach. Hike. Camp in the woods or in the backyard. It’s a way of marking Sukkot!

Lai-shev Basukkah:

As we fast on Yom Kippur, we have a chance to help those who go hungry by no choice of their own. Please contribute to the annual BIFTY Yom Kippur food drive.

On Rosh Hashanah you should have received a paper bag from one of our

BIFTY teens. Please fill it with the instructed foods and return it to B’nai Israel on Yom Kippur morning. Our teens will be in the parking lot collecting the bags. All food will be donated to the Connecticut Food Bank at 74 Linwood Avenue in Fairfield.

The private, nonprofit Connecticut Food Bank works with corporations, community organizations and individuals to solicit, transport, warehouse and distribute donated food. Please remember the temple welcomes food donations for our community all year round.

6

Adult Jewish Learning at Congregation B’nai Israel

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

Adult Round TableThursday, October 2, 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.

T’shuvah, Slichah, Gaza – Repentance, Forgiveness and WarSaturday, October 4 at 1:00 p.m.In 1948, on the eve of the War for Independence, Golda Meir apocryphally told King Abdullah of Jordan: “I can forgive you for killing

our children. I cannot forgive you for making our children kill yours.” During these Days of Awe – the Yamim Noraim – we are called to repent

and to forgive. After a summer of Operation Protective Edge, we need to come back from the brink. Join Ira Wise on Yom Kippur afternoon for a conversation and study session on how we might move forward and perhaps seek shleimut – wholeness in our world and our land.

Meanwhile, Back in Europe, Part ILifelong Learning – Fridays at Noon, October 10, 17, 24 and 31Last year we followed the Jewish Diaspora into Muslim Lands – across North Africa, Arabia and into Spain. At the same time – the Middle Ages – we found ourselves spreading throughout Europe as well. This year Ira Wise will take us on a visit to Prague, Krakow and points west. No need for a Eurail Pass!

Parenting Jewishly Monday Midrasha – Mondays at 7:00 p.m., October 27, November 3, 10 and 17You are a good parent. You must be, since you practice it every day. Pundits often joke that there is no instruction book for being a parent. But the Torah, the Talmud and our tradition do give us some very useful guideposts in raising children who are self-sufficient, confident menschen. (A mensch is a good person who lives an ethical, values-driven life.) Ira Wise will help us find our inner Jewish Parent, and we will discuss methods for applying this learning with our own children.

Jews and MoneyLifelong Learning – Fridays at Noon, November 7, 14, 21, December 5 and 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 course is a reprise, by popular demand, of the class Rabbi Prosnit gave on Monday evenings last year!

Rosh Chodesh—Women’s Group With Rabbi Suri Krieger Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., October 23, November 20 and December 18The 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.

Reflection and Rejoicing

Continued from Page 1 Schultz takes a look at the importance of the sukkah on Page 5.

Some of you build your own sukkah at home, and the Temple even can offer some hands-on help to you. For those who wish to immerse themselves in Sukkot without the construction hassles, there are plenty of opportunities to dine in the Temple’s own sukkah.

Simchat Torah provides one of the Jewish year’s most unique experiences, the full unscrolling of the Torah around our sanctuary. It is a truly memorable and awe-inspiring service.

Again, a full calendar of these events can be found on Page 3.

7Food for the Soul: To help with the Oneg Shabbat, contact Naomi Schaffer at naomilev@optonline.net.

From the Education Center – Repairing the world together

Tikkunim

Have you ever heard of the ARI? His actual name was Rabbi Isaac Luria, and he lived during the 16th century in Tzvat, Israel. (ARI is an acronym for Adoneinu Rabbeinu Isaac – our master, our rabbi, Isaac.) He taught a wonderful midrash about the creation of the world:

Before the universe was created, God filled all of the space that was or could be. To make room for creation, God withdrew Godself (kind of like when you suck in your belly for a photo) in an act called tzimtzum. Now God had all of this Divine matter that had been withdrawn to create the space and needed to put it somewhere. God fashioned vessels from clay taken from the new earth and put the Godstuff inside them. Being made of clay, they couldn’t hold all of that awesomeness, so they exploded. Sparks of Godstuff (nitzotzot) and shards of broken vessels (klipot) scattered everywhere.

The ARI taught that our job was to repair the broken part of our world – to discard the klipot and gather up the nitzotzot. When we do deeds of loving kindness, when we help

another and when we live as if we are created in the image of God, we do that repair work. Repairing the world is called Tikkun Olam – a phrase many of us have heard and know well.

Tikkun Olam has been on the B’nai Israel agenda for a century and a half. For longer than I have been at B’nai Israel, our students have participated in an optional mitzvot program during the period leading up to their becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. That continues to be the case as Judy Green Blumenthal steps up to take the baton from Elaine Chetrit, who has stewarded our students so ably for so many years.

I want to tell you about something new Judy has brought to our work. We are creating a new program: Tikkunim – repair people. Tikkunim is a new program for all sixth-grade religious school students and their parents. It is a hands-on (experiential) program designed to expose students to different types of mitzvot and help guide them toward the kind of Mitzvah Project they would like to do in honor of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Students will learn about agencies in the community and personally experience the meaning of mitzvah through self-exploration and discovery. There will be a variety of mitzvah offerings in the Fairfield County community and in the synagogue from which students will choose four. Mitzvah offerings will include Torah (learning), Avodah (prayer) and Gemilut Hasadim (kindness). Each student (and a parent) will be required to fulfill four mitzvah opportunities by the end of the school year. After each mitzvah, students will be asked to complete a brief reflection. Students and their families are invited to celebrate their accomplishments and share their experiences at a community Shabbat.

Registration has already begun, and the first sparks will be gathered in a few weeks!

L’shalom,

Ira J. Wise, R.J.E.

Director of Education

Finding sparks at the Feel the Warmth Food Pantry.

8

B’nai Israel Rocks the Ribs

Item of the Month: High Holy Day Food Drive (See Page 5)

September 7 was a day of firsts for Congregation B’nai Israel.

Team B’nai Israel, also known as “Kiss My BBQ,” won the prize for Best Ribs at the First Annual Southern New England Kosher BBQ Championships at Congregation Beth El in Fairfield.

Sponsored by B’nai Israel’s Sisterhood and Brotherhood, the winning team consisted of Ken Rabine, Norci Kochman, Larry Kochman and Bruce Wettenstein, with assistance from Caren Schwartz, Nina Rabine and Sue Klein. Cooking started Saturday evening and went through the night to slow-cook brisket, ribs, chicken and chili.

At the competition the next day, six certified judges evaluated the food, not to mention the many festival attendees. More than 20 teams, some including professional chefs and restaurant owners as well as several previous winners of other championships, dueled with B’nai Israel’s novice cooks. The teams featured names like Bubbe-Q and Burnt Offerings.

When they announced that Team B’nai Israel won first prize in the Rib competition, everyone went wild. It was a great learning experience.

The event organizers expect that next year more teams will be interested in competing, so watch for the dates.

The ribs victory was not the only first for B’nai Israel. As the last of the competition’s awards were handed out, the judges gave way on the main stage to a local rock band, making its public debut. The Rock Godz energized the crowd with a set of classic rock-and-roll that featured songs from the likes of Tom Petty and Deep Purple.

The catch is the Rock Godz are a group of Fairfield sixth-graders, featuring prominently B’nai Israel religious school students Ethan and Jordan Weisblatt. Ethan kept a driving beat on drums, as Jordan stood out on keyboards and backing vocals.

Bnai Israel’s Kiss My BBQ team members, above from left, Bruce Wettenstein, Larry Kochman, Norci Kochman and Ken Rabine proudly show off their first-place trophy for Best Ribs at the recent First Annual Southern New England Kosher BBQ Championships. Near right, Jordan Weisblatt plays keyboards for the Rock Godz, while brother Ethan, far right, mans the drums. The twins are Kitah Vav (sixth-grade) students in our religious school.

9

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. True, we gather here in the common interest of being Jews, but in truth, our paths to B’nai Israel are distinct and individual. For some it’s spiritual, others it can be educational or social, and for some it is a sense of belonging. We want to know what brings you and your fellow congregants to B’nai Israel, and what you have truly discovered here. These profiles spotlight some of those journeys to our congregation. Find out what makes each of you One of Us.

Looking back, there were many signals in 19-year- old Tiffany Garcia’s life that led her to become a Jew by Choice.

She was fascinated by the ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn, where she lived with her grandmother when she was six years old. As a lonely 10-year-old searching for refuge in the library, she discovered “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and she was deeply moved and disturbed by the book, spending many hours independently researching the Holocaust. At age 12, when her brother took her into his house to avoid her placement in foster care, she developed a strong connection with his Jewish girlfriend, who took Tiffany under her wing, teaching her about the gift of Shabbat, the meaning of the Seder, the joy of Hanukkah, delicious traditional Jewish foods and the peace and tranquility of being in the sanctuary during services.

After some troubled years experimenting with drugs and self-destructive behaviors, Tiffany yearned for a greater connection with God. She considered becoming a born-again Christian, which had helped her sister turn her life around, but she was uncomfortable

with the belief system. She looked into becoming a Muslim but found that the teachings did not resonate with her. “I had the feeling of God in my life, but I felt that I didn’t fit anywhere,” she says.

Then came another sign: In the fall of 2012, a favorite high school teacher, who was Jewish, suggested that Tiffany might find her place in Judaism.

Tiffany reached out to several Reform synagogues in the towns around Stratford, where she was living with her mother, but none returned her calls or followed up on her request to talk about converting. Finally, she called B’nai Israel, and she was immediately connected with Rabbi Evan Schultz. When she came to the synagogue for her first meeting, she started to cry and told Rabbi Schultz, “I feel like I’m finally at home.”

Tiffany talks emotionally about how the B’nai Israel clergy and community welcomed and embraced her. Despite her dyed red hair, her tattoos and her youth, she did not feel judged. People simply accepted her for who she was and, to her surprise, seemed to actually like her.

She studied with both Rabbi Schultz and Rabbi Jim Prosnit and Elaine Chetrit for over a year and describes lively discussions about the meaning of Torah, which have led to a better understanding of herself and how to manage life’s challenges within a Jewish framework. “If I’m having a tough week,” she says, “I say to myself ‘Shabbat is almost here.’”

Tiffany describes the day in November 2013 when she was officially welcomed into the community as a Jew-by-Choice as “the best experience of my life.” After immersing herself in the mikvah bath and chanting the ritual prayers, she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and peacefulness. “I knew that now I was finally Jewish!” she says.

After her conversion Tiffany was eligible to participate in a Birthright trip to Israel, and the experience strongly reinforced her commitment to a Jewish life and the Jewish people. Again, she felt welcomed, at peace and as if she was finally home.

She recently returned to Israel to continue to build her Jewish life – to “grow toward what God intends for me,” she says – and to reconnect with a very special young Israeli soldier she met on the Birthright trip.

Her life’s journey continues, but Tiffany Garcia has found her permanent place in Judaism.

BJS

We want to know what makes each of you One of Us. We are the B’nai Israel Storytellers, a group of your fellow congregants gathering the stories of what brought you to our congregation and what you have found here. Please share with us your Congregation B’nai Israel story. Email us at ssmith@cbibpt.org.

One of Us: Tiffany Garcia A Choice that Seemed Meant to Be

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

Tiffany Garcia found a place to connect at B’nai Israel and a home in Judaism.

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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 FundSusan Bauchner, in memory of father, Arnold Kaplan.Susan Bauchner and Ellen Gittleman, a thank you to Rabbi Prosnit, in memory of our parents, Arnold and Bobby Kaplan.Judi and David Beier, warm wishes to Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on their 40th Wedding Anniversary.Ken Berger, in memory of father, Jerome Berger.Laura and Bruce Braverman, Mazel Tov to Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of their first grandchild, Ezra.Luise and Edward Burger, Mazel Tov to Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of their first grandchild, Ezra Jules.Joan and Stanley Carp, wishing Randy Reich a full and speedy recovery.Fredell Cederbaum, in memory of Sherman Greenwald, beloved of Shirley Lantz; in memory of Jeannette Bloom Friedman, sister of Estelle Glass; in memory of Lorraine Waynik; in memory of Barbara Haflich.William Greenspan, a donation.Victor and Irma Gurvits, in memory of Jack Newman, husband of Karin Newman.Paula and Bob Herzlinger, Mazel Tov to the Prosnit/Bloch family on the birth of grandson, Ezra Jules Prosnit.Janice and Bernie Jacobs, in honor of Ezra Prosnit, grandson of Rabbi Jim Prosnit and Wendy Bloch, Mazel Tov on your first grandchild; Mazel Tov to Jonathan Prosnit and Erin Gleeson on their new addition Ezra; wishing a speedy recovery to Randy Reich.James Kauders and Barbara Abramo, in appreciation to Rabbi Prosnit.Mollie and David Keller, thanks to Rabbi James Prosnit for being in the right place at the right time.Beth Lazar, Mazel Tov to Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of their first grandchild, Ezra.Aleksey and Raisa Ledvich, in memory of mother, Emilia Ledvich, and grandmother, Adel Dovolskaya.Bonnie and Manny Lobel, a thank you and in appreciation to Rabbi Prosnit for visiting Manny. Sandra Michaelson, in celebration of the marriage of Marcia and Stephen Falk’s daughter, Elizabeth.

Deborah and Edward Portnay, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch, on the birth of their first grandchild, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit.Julie and Steve Pressman, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch, on the birth of their grandson, Ezra.Beth and Randy Reich and Family, in memory of mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Vivienne Goldstein.Beverly Silverman, in memory of husband, Melvin Silverman.Roberta and Sanford Small, in memory of Roberta’s mother, Lillian Stein, on the 50th anniversary of her death; in memory of Roberta’s father, Abraham Stein, on the 25th anniversary of his death; in memory of Sanford’s mother, Bertha Small.Jonathan and Cleo Sonneborn, in honor of the birth of Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit.Dr. Norman and Marilyn S. Weinstein, in honor of the 30th anniversary of Amy and Glenn Rich.

Rabbi Schultz Discretionary FundLaura and Bruce Braverman, with appreciation.Mark and Barbara Edinberg, in celebration of Rabbi Schultz’s musicality, and having moved into his new home.Bonita and Manny Lobel, a thank you and in appreciation to Rabbi Schultz for visiting Manny.

Music FundWendy and Jeff Bender, in thanks for your generous donation of the cellist on Yom Kippur.Laura and Bruce Braverman, Mazel Tov to Cantor Blum on the marriage of her daughter, Rachel Ginsburg, to Noam Schaap; in loving memory of mother, Beatrice Burger. Luise and Edward Burger, congratulations on Rachel’s marriage.Mark and Barbara Edinberg, in honor of Rachel’s wedding.William Greenspan, a donation.Mollie and David Keller, thanks for it all.Beth Lazar, in appreciation of Mark Edinberg’s musical gifts and Liz Nigrosh and Anne Kirsch’s beautiful singing; a sweet New Year to Congregation B’nai Israel.

Aleksey and Raisa Ledvich, in memory of Uncle Yuri Sotnik. Daniel Rifkin, in memory of his father, Bill Rifkin; in appreciation to Cantor Blum.Sylvia and Alan Neigher, in honor of Rachel and Noam’s marriage, Mazel Tov!

Enhancement FundEdie Baum, in loving memory of her mother, Rose Needell Holtzman; father, Meyer Needell; and father-in-law, Samuel Baum.Evelyn and Bob Baum, in memory of dear friend, Jack Newman, husband of Karin Newman.Beatrice Berger, a donation.Laura and Bruce Braverman, wishing a full and speedy recovery to Randy Reich.Alicia Brown, in memory of her brother, Joel Leonard.Luise and Edward Burger, in honor of Mindy Siegel, thank you for a job well done as President of the Congregation; in honor of Sam Rosenberg, congratulations on becoming President of the Congregation; in memory of Barbara Levine, wife of Hal Levine; in memory of Barbara Haflich, mother of Jan Feinman and Kim Gleit.Sheila Lieff, in memory of Jeanette Friedman, sister of Estelle Glass.Mr. and Mrs. Howard Levinson, in memory of Melvin Silverman, husband of Beverly Silverman.David and Louise Linsky, a donation.Allan and Harriet Nelson, in memory of Ken Green, beloved father of Lori Krangle. Paul Rosch, in memory of father, Meyer Rosch.Gail Smith, in memory of Melvin Silverman, husband of Beverly Silverman.

Sylvia Prosnit Adult Education FundBarbara Abraham, in honor of the birth of Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit.Judi and David Beier, Mazel Tov to Jake Prosnit on his graduation from graduate school; Mazel Tov to Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of their grandson, Ezra Jules.Elaine and Juda Chetrit, Mazel Tov to Anne and Bob Citrin on the marriage of Kim to Rob Shames.

Item of the Month: High Holy Day Food Drive (See Page 5)

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

Rosalind Gordon, in memory of mother, Annie Ruskin.

Nursery School Scholarship FundGail and Peter Weinstein, get-well wishes to Randy Reich; congratulations to Carol and Ralph Loew on Tiffany’s marriage; good luck to Vivian and Norman Greenberg on their move; congratulations to Gail Bushell on Dana’s marriage.

Religious School Enrichment FundSuzanne Shane, in memory of Jeanette Friedman, sister of Estelle Glass.

Religious School Scholarship FundChris and George Markley, in loving memory of Mary Nahabedian.

Rabbi Arnold Sher Social Action FundBari Dworkin, in honor of the anniversary of Wendy Bloch and Rabbi Jim Prosnit.Linda and Al Smardin, in memory of Jack Newman, husband of Karin Newman.

Jim Abraham Education Fund for Jewish LeadershipBarbara Abraham, in honor of the wedding of Barbara Abramo and Jim Kauders.

Paula and Bob Herzlinger, in memory of Leah Herzlinger; in memory of David Rosenberg.

MazonMyrna Kaufman, in memory of father, Robert Newman.

Prayer Book FundLaura and Bruce Braverman, in loving memory of Barbara Haflich.

Alan H. Weinstein Scholarship FundJoni and Michael Greenspan, wishing a complete and speedy recovery to Debbie Weinstein; Mazel Tov to Barbara Abramo and Jim Kauders on their marriage.

Gillette Judaic Enrichment FundAndrew DelAngelo, a donation from the bake sale that I had, which was one of my Bar Mitzvah projects.

Slepian Floral FundSheila Madow and Sandra M. Friedman, in memory of Marshall L. Madow, beloved husband and father; in memory of Susan Panisch, beloved niece and cousin.

Barbara Panisch, in memory of Marshall Madow; in memory of Jeanette Friedman, sister of Estelle Glass.The Panisch Family, in loving memory of Susan Panisch.

Rabbi Martin Library FundSusan Bauchner, in memory of grandfather, Simon Kaplan.

Etz Chaim Living Torah FundMollie and David Keller, in memory of Jack Newman, husband of Karin Newman.

High Holy Day Bima FlowersValerie and Jim Neary, thank you for donating the bima flowers.

College students and families, to stay connected with the temple, send your information to lynn@cbibpt.org.

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

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

Friday, October 10 5:30 p.m. Mishpacha Shabbat 6:00 p.m. Service

Torah Portion – Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot – Exod. 33:12-34:26 Haftarah – Ezekiel 38:18-39:7

Saturday, October 11 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 Eden Pleasure-

Kranowitz, daughter of Jennifer Pleasure and Jeremy Kranowitz

Friday, October 17 6:00 p.m. Service

Torah Portion – B’reishit, Gen. 1:1-6:8 Haftarah – Isaiah 42:5-43:10

Saturday, October 18 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. Bar Mitzvah of Hunter

Kadish, son of Jeffrey Kadish and Shelley Hassman Kadish

Friday, October 24 6:00 p.m. Service

Torah Portion – Noach, Gen. 6:9-11:32 Haftarah – Isaiah 66:1-13, 23

Saturday, October 25 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. Bar Mitzvah of Nathanial

Epstein, son of Robert Epstein and Miriam Kelliher

Friday, October 31 6:00 p.m. Service

Torah Portion – Lech L’cha, Gen. 12:1-17:27 Haftarah – Isaiah 40:27-41:16

Saturday, November 1 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. Bar Mitzvah of Jack Sjoberg,

son of Amy Axelbank and Kenneth Sjoberg

Oneg HelpHelp us provide food for the soul. If you would like to volunteer to bring in treats for the Oneg, contact Naomi Schaffer at naomilev@optonline.net. You can drop them off at any time that’s convenient for you.