THE MESSENGER
“Offerings of the Heart”
The names of our
Torah Members
are inscribed on the
sculpture in our
Community Room.
ETERNAL LIGHT MEMBERS
These members provide financial assistance and synagogue membership for families who are enduring
financial hardship, as well as a full religious education for their children.
CHAI MEMBERS
These members provide financial assistance and membership for
families who are enduring financial hardship.
Our Torah Members These generous individuals have voluntarily chosen to support our Synagogue at a higher level of dues
than is required, in order to help other Jews who are less fortunate and in need of assistance.
Anonymous
David Korn
Stephen & Merilee Obstbaum
Joni Rosen
Ann Rosenberg
Myrna Weissman
Mordechai & Suzanne Warshavsky
Mercy Cohen
Lior & Andrea Elrom
Harvey & Barbara Fishman
Regina Friedman
Seymour & Nancy Green
Renee Gruenspecht
Marvin & Shirley Kochansky
Daniel Kraut & Eve Kohut
Joseph Lempel
Irwin & Karen Meyers
Joseph & Tikva Ofeck
Abraham Ravid
Seligman & Phyllis Rosenberg
Sheila Scherl
Norm & Florence Silverberg
Michael Glantz & Heidi Skolnik
Barry & Barbara Sussman
Charlotte Winter
From the Rabbi’s Study
Notes from the Cantor
Sisterhood
4
6
7
Donations
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Calendar
8
9
11
2019 President’s Council 2020
GUARDIAN LEADERS Gifts of $25,000 or more
*
Reggie Feuerstein
Congregation Sons of Israel
Steven & Suzette Kolitch *
The President’s Council was established to recognize and honor our “Leadership Donors”
who contribute $1,250 or more to our Kol Nidre Annual Fund.
These generous individuals are the “Financial Guardians” of our synagogue.
BENEFACTORS Gifts of $5,000 - $9,999
Sisterhood
PATRONS Gifts of $2,500 - $4,999
Anonymous (2)
*
Seymour Blechman
Alvin & Nili Cohen
Loren & Lori Wasserman
BUILDERS Gifts of $1,750 - $2,499
Anonymous
Renée Gruenspecht
Joni Rosen
SUSTAINERS Gifts of $1,250 - $1,749
*
Anonymous (3)
Mark & Audrey Altschul
Martin & Rochelle Carus
Milton & Doryne Davis
Ira & Anna Erlichman
Regina Friedman
Alice & Arnold Grodman
*
Ruth Korn
Jerome & Barbara Margolin
Stephen & Merilee Obstbaum
Joseph & Tikva Ofeck
Marvin & Judith Platt
Terry Plawker
Leo & Mary Rettig
Richard & Nancy Schiff
Laurie Singer
Gregory & Nancy Vorbach
Myrna Weissman
Ellen Yuder
*
*
FOUNDERS Gifts of $10,000 - $17,999
Estate of Ken Feldman
Anonymous Gary & Lisa Maier *
CHAI-FOUNDERS Gifts of $18,000 - $24,999
(* Indicates a Charter Member since 1995)
SAVE THE DATE!
Congregation Beth Israel of the Palisades
and Congregation Gesher Shalom/ JCC of Fort Lee
Cordially Invite You To Attend Our
Second Night Passover Seder Thursday, April 9th, 6:30pm
Conducted by Rabbi Kenneth Stern and Rabbi Eric Wasser
King Achashverosh was Finnish
with his disobedient wife Vashti.
"You Congo now!" he ordered her.
After she had Ghana way, the king's
messengers went Roman the land to
find a new queen. And India end,
the beautiful Esther won the crown.
Meanwhile, Mordechai sat outside
the palace, where the Chile Haman would Czech up on
him daily. "I Haiti you because you refuse to bow to
me!" Haman scolded Mordechai. "USA very stubborn
man. You Jews are such Bahamas! If you keep this up,
Denmark my words ---- I will have all your people
killed! Just Kuwait and see, you Turkey!"
Mordechai went into mourning and tore his clothes - a
custom known as Korea. He urged Esther to plead with
the king. The Jews fasted for three days and grew very
Hungary.
Esther approached the king and asked, "Kenya Belize
come to a banquet I've prepared for you and Haman?" At
the feast, she invited her guests to a second banquet to
eat Samoa.
PURIM MESSAGE
The king asked, "Esther, why Jamaica big meal like
this? Just tell me what you want. Unto half my United
Kingdom will I give you." Esther replied, "Spain-full
for me to say this, but Haman is Russian to kill my
people."
Haman's loud Wales could be heard as he carried
Honduran this scene. "Oman!" Haman cried bitterly.
"Iraq my brains in an effort to destroy the Jews. But
that sneaky Mordechai - Egypt me!!!"
Haman and his ten sons were hanged and went
immediately to the Netherlands. And to Sweden the
deal, the Jews were allowed to Polish off the rest of
their foes as well. "You lost your enemies but Uganda
new friend," smiled the king.
That's why the Purim story Israeli a miracle. God
decided to China light on His chosen people. So now,
let's celebrate! Forget all your Syria's business and
just be happy. Serb up some wine and Taiwan on!
Happy Purim!!!
We had a memorable visit to the YIVO
archives on February 26!
1) Ledger Book from Block 8 at Auschwitz
2) Wooden cover of a Rosh HaShannah book
presented in appreciation to the head of the Lodz
Ghetto administration (Judenrat), Chaim
Mordechaj Rumkowski, 78 years ago.
3) & 4) Illustrations from the book along with the
signatures of the nearly 20,000 students who were
in Rumkowski's charge.
5) Archivist Jessica Podhorcer talks to our group
about the autobiographies (handwritten originals
are on mats on the table) submitted in the 1930's as
part of a series of competitions that YIVO
sponsored. The winner of the last contest was
supposed to be announced on September 1, 1939,
the day that Germany invaded Poland....
1) 2)
3 & 4)
5)
On the Road with the Rabbi to the MET
Esther in the Scroll and on the Canvas
March 19th
11:00 am $25/person space limited
A Post Purim Visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art led by Dr. Aaron Koller.
Your fee must accompany your reservation
Priority given to shul members
PURIM: A MULTI-GENERATIONAL CELEBRATION—OUT OF THIS WORLD Purim . It was usually done by a “Badchen.” The term
“Badchen” is derived from the Aramaic “Badah” (to
make merry), designating a comedian, jester, buffoon or
entertainer.
The “Purim Shpiel” was where many
famous Jewish entertainers developed
their talents. When Yiddish theater
started to flourish, many people
participated in Purim by gravitating
towards the Yiddish stage. These
names have been known to some of us
for more than half a century. They
include: Molly Picon, WEVD Radio
personality Zvee Scooler, Celia Adler,
contemporary Chassidic performer Lipa Shmeltzer,
Fyvish Finkel and my favor ite, Moyshe Oysher.
Come fulfill the injunction of Megillah Esther (Chapter
9 verse 22) “to observe (Purim) as days of feasting and
merrymaking.” Enjoy the special songs associated with
Purim, and lets not forget the Hamantaschen.
Remember Passover is only 30 days away!
A Freilach’n Purim 2020
Let me begin by stating that Purim
is not just for kids!
On Purim, Jews around the world
will hear and read along with the
Megillah
of Esther.
It will be
read near
the end of the Ma’ariv service
on Monday evening, March 9th
and again during the Shacharit
service the morning of March
10th.
I love the raucous, giddy and silly fun that Purim allows
us to have. Erev Purim is an evening when we see so
much energy coming from people of all ages! This
holiday, in the company of our fellow congregants, can
become valuable, perhaps in a personal way. It allows
us to establish a bond with our fellow worshippers as
we make connections that become significant.
Long before television or comedy clubs, the Jews of
Eastern Europe developed a way to laugh and make fun
of themselves and the world outside of the shtetl on
Sale of Hametz
(Please submit no later than March 26, 2020) I/We authorize Rabbi Kenneth Stern to act as my/our agent to sell all of my/our
Hametz (food items, cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery) that may be located in
my/our home(s), office(s) or car(s).
Signature(s) ____________________________________________________________
Print Name(s) __________________________________________________________
Address________________________________________________________________
Please Note: It is customary to accompany this authorization with a donation, which will be used
to help provide provisions for the poor. Those wishing to do this should enclose a check in any
amount made payable to: Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund.
Our Mishlo’ach Manot Project is going very well!
Our volunteers are ready to assemble the packages on
Thursday, March 5th and make deliveries on Sunday,
March 8th.
So far the financial support of our congregation has
been excellent!
Our synagogue is the major recipient of the profits
from this endeavor. In next month’s column we hope
to list the causes in Israel and the US that we also
support.
*****************************
We extend our deepest sympathies to the
family of Alma Katz.
She and her husband, Bill, regularly attended Shabbat
services, congregational dinners, our Rabbi’s trips,
lectures and Sisterhood Book Club meetings. They
will be sorely missed.
Purim Celebration
Sisterhood urges everyone to join the JCC of Fort Lee and Congregation Beth Israel of the Palisades
Monday March 9th at 7:30pm for the Megillah reading, costume parade
and refreshments.
The Celebration will be held at 1585 Center Avenue, Fort Lee.
Sisterhood Book Club
Tuesday, March 17th - 1:00pm
The Lost Girls of Paris
By Pam Jenoff
Refreshments served
Our reserved books are available
at the Fort Lee Public Library.
Book Club will be held at
301 Bridge Plaza North
Chairpersons
Kathy Grazian & Naomi Altschul 201-592-0463 201-568-9274
Books, Books, Books
Please join the Sisterhood Book Club, which is
in its eleventh successful year. We are a group of
enthusiastic avid readers (men and women) who
enjoy lively book discussions. The book
selections deal mostly with Jewish content but
some are of a secular nature.
Look for the current flyer in the synagogue
office or on the table before services at 1585
Center Ave Fort Lee.
DONOR IN HONOR OF
Hennie Ostrower
Marilyn Saposh
Alice & Arnold Grodman
Mary & Leo Rettig
Iris Coleman
Iris Coleman
Madelyn & Richard Danoff
Karen & Mark Halpern
Andrea & Lior Elrom
Sisterhood
Alice & Arnold Grodman
Larry Lesh & Terry Gottlieb
Iris Coleman
Iris Coleman
Iris Coleman
Martin Lesh’s 80th Birthday
Harry Richman
Get Well Elsie Zielberger
Get Well Marilyn Saposh
Our Sages taught:
The giving of tzedakah is as great as all
the other mitzvot together —
Bara Batra 9a
THANK YOU TO OUR SYNAGOGUE CONTRIBUTORS
Our condolences to . . .
The family of ]
GERTRUD BUCHLER
~ The family of
]
JEROME GOLDFISCHER
~
REVA STRASFELD
On the loss of her husband ]
WALTER STRASFELD
~ The family of
]
ALMA KATZ
DONOR IN MEMORY OF
Bill Katz
Bill Katz
Sherry Fishman
Franco’s Mother
Franco’s Mother
Cynthia Freeman
Cynthia Freeman
Cynthia Freeman
Cynthia Freeman
Cynthia Freeman
Cynthia Freeman
Donations listed were received in January
Siddurim have been
dedicated by:
Sylvia Gosberg in memory
of her mother Ellen
Schoenfeld
Marjorie Kalman-Kutz in
memory of her mother
Florence Kalman and her
father Max Kalman
301 Bridge Plaza North Fort Lee NJ
Jewish Community Center of Fort Lee Gesher Shalom
SUPPORT CONGREGATION GESHER SHALOM’S
TWICE DAILY MINYAN
Includes breakfast & conversation!
Morning: Monday - Friday at 7:00 am
Evening: Sunday - Thursday at 7:45 pm
MARCH BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
1 Erika Krauss
1 Ira Smilovitz
2 Samuel Jivotovsky
4 Joseph Ofeck
5 Ann Bloch
5 Kenneth Eisenstein
6 Marlin Dickman
6 Regina Friedman
8 Nadia Fuentes - Uliss
10 Chase Barnett
12 Eloise Polinsky
12 Fred Wolodiger
14 Susan Davis
16 Helene Rabin
16 Joni Rosen
17 Avielle Jivotovsky
18 Richard Fasman
20 Brooke Leon
22 Erwin Dickman
22 Stuart Goldsmith
23 Marilyn Saposh
25 Laura Koszer
26 Marlene Perkal
27 Jack Reisner
29 Milton Davis
1 Shirley & Marvin Kochansky
11 Nancy & Seymour Green
14 Nili & Alvin Cohen
18 Beth & Howard Schefflan
26 Suzette & Steven Kolitch
26 Sally & Michael Seymour
30 Stuart Goldsmith & Jeffrey Gordon
30 Alice & Arnold Grodman
PLACE YOUR
AD HERE
Call Kathy Grazian
201-592-0463
BRIDGE OPTICIANS 301 Bridge Plaza North
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
201-944-6440
Harrison L. Rosenberg
Anthony Bravo David Mandel
Lila Mordoh Lisa Stein
Re-Inventing the Bible Thursdays at 10:30 am
Join Rabbi Stern as we discover the amazingly creative juices of the classical rabbis! They were masters at spinning yarns, embellishing narrative, and inventing out of whole cloth to really make the Bible come alive through what they called Midrash Aggadah.
Using Louis Ginzberg's one-volume The Legends of the Bible (you can buy a used copy online for less than $10), we will contrast the biblical text with these rabbinically enhanced narratives.
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Daily Service Times Mon -Thur 7:00am & 7:45pm Friday 7:00am & 7:00pm Saturday 9:30am & Minchah Sunday 9:00am & 7:45pm
1 5 Adar 2 6 Adar 3 7 Adar
Sisterhood Board Meeting 1:00 pm
4 8 Adar 5 9 Adar
Rabbi’s Class 10:30am
Sisterhood Mishloach Manot Packing 11:00am at CBIOTP
6 10 Adar 7 11 Adar
Service 9:30 am
8 12 Adar
Daylight Savings time
9 13 Adar Purim Celebration at CBIOTP 7:30pm
10 14 Adar
Office Closed
Megillah Reading at CBIOTP 6:30am
11 15 Adar
12 16 Adar
Rabbi’s Class 10:30am
13 17 Adar
14 18 Adar
Service 9:30 am
15 19 Adar
16 20 Adar
17 21 Adar
Sisterhood Book Club 1:00pm
18 22 Adar
19 23 Adar On the Road with the Rabbi 11:00am
20 24 Adar Bible Study 11:30am
21 25 Adar
Service 9:30 am
22 26 Adar
23 27 Adar
24 28 Adar
25 29 Adar
26 1 Nissan
Rabbi’s Class 10:30am
27 2 Nissan Bible Study 11:30am
28 3 Nissan Service 9:30 am
29 4 Nissan
30 5 Nissan
31 6 Nissan
MINCHAH 6:30PM
KI TISSA
MINCHAH 6:15PM
6:43PM
MINCHAH 5:00PM
TETZAVEH
MINCHAH 6:15PM
VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI 6:50PM
VAYIKRA 6:58
PURIM
SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
All Shabbat Services (Friday evening, Shabbat morning and
Minchah) will be held at CBIOTP 1585 Center Ave Fort Lee.
Daily morning and evening services will be held at
301 Bridge Plaza North, Third floor.
5:35PM
Rabbi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenneth A. Stern
Cantor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Zim
Rabbi Emeritus . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irving Spielman
Messenger Editor . . . . . . . . . . . .Yael Gevertzman
Sisterhood
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethel Chesen
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martha Shemin
Financial Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Bloch
Corresponding Secretary . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Davis
Recording Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . Rochelle Carus
Men’s Club
President/Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Stern
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marvin Kochansky
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Altschul
Vice Presidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrea Elrom
Wayne Koby
Richard Schiff
Ira Smilovitz
Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arnold Insler
Secretaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Niles Burton
Iris Coleman
Joan Alter Ethel Chesen
Regina Friedman Hilda Froelke
Hugh Gilenson Seymour Green
Vera Kishinevsky Dan Kraut
Howard Schefflan Laurie Singer
Alan Stern Nancy Vorbach