March 2014 Adar I / Adar II 5774

Transcription

March 2014 Adar I / Adar II 5774

March 2014
Adar I / Adar II 5774
The newsletter of Beth El Synagogue
 Durham’s first synagogue 
FROM OUR RABBI:
To What Do We Say Amen?
Amen. Jewish tradition takes that word seriously. ‫ אמן‬is
related to the word ‫אמת‬, meaning “truth.” Amen declares,
“What you have said is true!” Amen delineates the boundary of
community. In his Laws of Blessings (1:13), Maimonides writes,
“One should not respond Amen if the person reciting the blessing
is a gentile1, an apostate, a Samaritan…” When I am with my
Christian friends and they end their prayer, “in Jesus’ name,” I feel
excluded from the community and I do not answer Amen. But if
their prayer language is more general (“God” “Creator”), I answer
Amen, grateful for their ecumenicalism and our religious common
ground. The word Amen raises the issue: to what do we agree,
consciously or unconsciously?
I recently saw The Book of Mormon at DPAC. Without
spoiling the plot, a group of Mormon missionaries arrive in Uganda
and join a group of villagers who are singing and dancing to a song
when, all of a sudden, one of them discovers that the words of the
song curse God (Even in the month of Adar, I cannot reproduce the
words here ). What I remember is how, at the end of the number,
the audience, myself included, applauded. As we clapped – a
modern Amen – many questions ran through my mind: “What am
I applauding? The music? The actors? Am I saying Amen to the
villagers cursing God? Am I comforting the villagers by allowing
the villagers to give voice to their suffering as they cry out to
(against) God?” The writers of The Book of Mormon quite
brilliantly used humor to provoke important questions in the
audience about what we agree to, wittingly and unwittingly.
Purim is coming. We will dress in our costumes and drink
our scotch, grog our groggers and read the book of Esther, in which
it is written, “The Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves
together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew
300 men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand. The
other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves
together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies,
and slew of them that hated them 75,000 --but on the spoil they laid
not their hand-- on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the
fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting
and gladness.” Like writers of a musical, The Book of Esther uses
humor and fun to challenge our assumptions about ourselves and
that to which we give our assent, wittingly or unwittingly. The
megillah reading is a ritual enactment that pushes us from within
to confront the possibility of Jewish annihilation and the ethics of
protecting ourselves from those who want to kill us.
1
Rabbenu Asher (1259-1327, Germany/Spain) and Rabbi Moses
Isserles (1520-1572, Poland) say that one should respond Amen to a
gentile’s blessing as long as they are not known to worship any alien gods.
(Continued on page 27)
Purim 5774
Saturday, March 15
8:00pm: Gather in the Beth El lobby
for havdalah.
The Megillat Esther will be read in both the
Main (8:15ish) & Orthodox Kehillah (8:30pm)
Sanctuaries following the havdalah service.
All are encouraged to attend in festive costume.
Jew Man Group will perform during the
megillah reading in the Main Sanctuary.
Watts Nu? Haman's Gotta Go Dance Party
Post megillah reading Saturday night in the Social Hall
Our own Watts Street Band will once again rock our socks
off with 50's & 60's rock & roll, jazz & of course, klezmer!
Sunday, March 16
Services including Megillat Esther reading
will start in the Orthodox Kehillah at 9:00am
and in the Main Sanctuary at 9:30am
Followed by our annual
Purim Carnival
Sisterhood-made hamentaschen!
Exciting games & fun prizes!
Inside this issue:
Committee Contacts…………………………...….....2
Gabbaim Schedule…………….……………………...2
From our President…………………………………...3
From our Executive Director…………………….…..4
Shabbat 25…………………………………….....…...4
Social Action………………………………...…...…6-7
Sisterhood………………………………...…………...8
Hosts/Sponsors……………..…….…...…….………..9
Lifelong Learning………………..…….……………..10
B’nei Mitzvah...………………...…………………….12
Youth & Talmud Torah News…….………..…...13-15
Pesach………………………………………………...16
Contributions…...……...…....……....................17-18
Yahrzeit Reminders…………..……............…….…20
Letter from Valhalla………...………......…….........21
March & April Calendars…..………....…..........29-30
Community Connections………………………..….31
1
The Beth El Bulletin is the newsletter
of Beth El Congregation. We appreciate
any feedback and input. Non-members may
request to join our mailing list for a $25 yearly
contribution to help cover printing & mailing
costs. Bulletins are also archived online three
months at a time. The online version has
some contact information omitted for the
privacy of our members.
Bulletin Deadline
April Bulletin:
Monday, March 3
Please submit items to
[email protected]
Rabbi
Rabbi Daniel Greyber
President
Barak Richman
First Vice President
Rachel Galanter
Second Vice President
Noah Pickus
Executive Director
Casey Baker
Education & Youth Director
Elisabeth Albert
Cong. Services Coordinator
Sheri Hoffman
Publicity Assistant
Krisha Miller
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Steve Sager
Bulletin Advertising Manager
Gladys Siegel
Do you have news to share with your
Beth El community?
Graduation? Award received?
Birth of a child or grandchild?
Send notices to [email protected]
and we’ll let everyone know
by posting it in the bulletin.
Gabbai Rotation
YAHRZEITS: To arrange a yahrzeit minyan, please call
the synagogue office (919-682-1238) at least one
month in advance. To receive notification of a yahrzeit
or to list a yahrzeit in the bulletin, call the synagogue
office (682-1238).
DO YOU HAVE AN ITEM FOR THE BETH EL BULLETIN?
All items for the bulletin MUST be submitted
by e-mail to Krisha Miller at [email protected].
The FINAL DEADLINE for items for the upcoming
bulletin is the 1st workday of the preceding month.
THANK YOU.
COMMITTEE CONTACTS:
Finance
Maxine Stern
Lifelong Learning
Sheva Zucker
Membership
Sheldon Hayer
Ritual
Laura Lieber
Social Action
Debbie Goldstein
Community of Caring
Pekude Shekalim
Sally Laliberte
3/08
Vayikra
Diane Markoff
3/15
Tzav Zachor
Shula Bernard
3/22
Shemini Parah
Bernie Fischer
3/29
Tazria HaChodesh
Anne Derby
4/5
Metzora
James Tulsky
4/12
Aharey Mot Hagadol
Jon Wahl
4/15
1st day Pesach
Alan Mandel
4/16
2nd day Pesach
Roger Perilstein
4/19
Hol Hamoed Pesach
Roger Perilstein
4/21
7th day Pesach
Shula Bernard
4/22
8th day Pesach
Steve Schauder
4/26
Kedoshim
David Rubin
Eric Lipp
Rhoda Silver
CHEVRA KADISHA (BURIAL SOCIETY)
Contact David Klapper
2
3/01
Andrea Ginsberg
Orthodox Kehillah
Va’ad haChinuch
Please contact if you'd like to
request an aliyah or help lead services.
Please do not call on Shabbat or other holidays.
The Gabbaim schedule through June 2014
is available online:
www.betheldurham.org/rituallife/gabbirotation.html
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
FROM OUR PRESIDENT:
(message sent to the congregation on 2/2/14)
Thank You for a Remarkable January
"You can never say 'thank you' too many times"
This was one of the many memorable lines from January
when we gathered to celebrate Beth El's Earl & Gladys
Siegel Endowment. It was a piece of sage advice that
Gladys Siegel passed on to her president successors, and
advice that we all should live by. I'd like to follow that
advice now, as so many members of our community deserve
a "thank you" for their contributions this past month.
I first want to thank the Building and Grounds Task
Force for organizing a spectacular gathering on Sunday
morning, January 19, entitled "Reimagining Our Beth El
Home." Over 100 congregants gathered to think, dream,
reflect, and imagine how we can have Beth El's physical
plant reflect our values and enhance our Jewish experience. The energy from the committee infectiously spilled
over into the congregation's energy, and we saw that Sunday
just how dedicated so many of us are to Beth El. We all owe
enormous thanks to the Task Force for leading and inspiring
us in fruitful discussion. Thank you to Chairs Ilana Saraf,
Caitlin Pitt, and Nathan Bearman, and to members Eric
Meyers, Alexis Poss, Matthew Rascoff, Jennifer Resnick,
Sandy Berman, David Klapper, Kevin Leibel, Meytal Cohen,
Orit Ramler Szulik, Norman Weiner, and Rabbi Greyber.
I also want to thank both the
inspiration and the organizers behind
our celebration of the Endowment on
Saturday, January 25. The inspiration
of course came 13 years ago, when
Gladys and Earl Siegel gathered a
generous collection of Beth El visionaries to start our endowment. Thank
you to Gladys and to those who both
founded and continue to support our
Endowment. And we also owe enormous gratitude to:
Hunter Levinsohn, Carol Haynes, and Michelle Schrott
for organizing such a wonderful gathering, and to Don
Mazzia, Susan Levy, and Sandy & Jim Fangmeier for being
so instrumental in the event's execution
Bob Gutman, Connie Margolin, and David Rubin for
speaking so eloquently about the importance of past and
future donors to the Endowment, and to Lucy Siegel for
speaking beautifully about her parents
Kevin Ginsburg and Steve Prince, for MCing and
expertly balancing entertainment with public service
messages, and to Eric Lipp and Jared Resnick for providing
pointed visual aids
Our uniquely-talented entertainers: Off The Top, The
BoyChicks, and Jew Man Group.
Henry Greene and Krisha Miller for capturing the evening
in photos, which are available at http://bit.ly/BEEBM1-25-14
All the bakers for bringing a terrific buffet of desserts (and
special congratulations go to Mardi Zeiger for winning the
Golden Apron and to Judith Herman for bringing the dessert
that earned the most cash votes!)
And to all of those who joined us for the very special
evening, including those who have made Endowment pledges
(I am told that it is never too late to send in a contribution!)
And a final thanks for our Endowment celebration goes
to our Development Committee, which will put into action
the aspirations and values captured that evening. For those
interested in helping in our Endowment Campaign, please
contact Bob Gutman at [email protected] .
Finally, our eventful January also included saying
farewell to two beloved and longtime members of our
community, Yetta Brandt and Herb Schatzman. Just as we
can never say thank you too many times, we also can never
say it too late. We thank both Yetta and Herb, and their
families, for their many years of service, love, and dedication
to Beth El. We continue to be thankful for Yetta's remarkable
stewardship of Beth El's Sisterhood (especially our annual
Memorial Book), for Herb's signature contributions to Beth
El's last building renovation, and for the many other roles
they each played in their active lives at Beth El.
The month was a tough act to follow, to say the
least! But we all know that Beth El continues as a vibrant
place in so many of our lives, and we can look forward to
many similar opportunities to express enormous gratitude to
our fellow community members.
Todah Rabah - thank you very much,
Barak
Thank you from Gladys Siegel
We are a very special congregation and I thank
you all and our rabbis for their leadership. I had some
remarks in my purse on Jan. 25, but could not read
them without crying. My family knows this is what
happens when there is something special happening to
me or my family. It would have taken away the hard
work of the performers and preparers of the amazing
evening. So forgive me for my late thank you.
-- Hugs to all, Gladys
Todah Rabbah!
Thank you from
Jasmina Galanter and Mir Starr Samuels
to all those Beth El members who purchased bracelets
from them to help Urban Ministries and Durham's
Animal Protection Society to help homeless people and
homeless animals. They were able to donate $17.50
to each organization.
3
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Shalom Beth El! I am so glad to have the opportunity
to experience the warm and welcoming community that you
have built here on Watts Street. While my family and I
have suffered quite a bit of culture shock by trading the
craziness of New York City for the relaxed atmosphere here
in Durham, we have really enjoyed our first few weeks in the
South and look forward to taking advantage of all that life
here has to offer.
In just these few short weeks, I have been so impressed
with the communal involvement and the willingness of
volunteers to pitch in wherever they can help. A synagogue
like Beth El could not survive or thrive without that attitude
from the MoB and Sisterhood to the litany of committees and
groups. I look forward to working together to provide and
preserve the Beth El experience every time you walk through
our doors.
During my first week on the job, I had the opportunity
to spend the day with Durham Congregations In Action
(DCIA) and tour the beneficiary agencies of funds raised at
the annual CROP Hunger Walk. I consider myself lucky for
having had this opportunity to see a part of Durham that I
would not have found on my own. The experience was overwhelming and I was blown away to hear how many fellow
residents of Durham depend on the generosity of the Urban
Ministries of Durham, Meals On Wheels and The Food Bank
in order to even put the basic foods on the table every night.
It's great to see the trunk in our lobby filling up with cans that
allow us at Beth El to play our part in combating the needs of
the hungry.
In the coming weeks as I continue to get settled into
life at Beth El, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet
as many Beth El members as possible and have the opportunity to hear about your experience and things that we can do
better. If you happen to pop into the synagogue during the
week please take a moment to make your way back to the
library and say hello. You will also see me on Shabbat along
with my wife and probably chasing around our 17 month old
daughter, Sadie.
I have been so touched to be welcomed into this
community so quickly (even after my singing performance
with the Jew Man Group at the Shabbaton) and truly look
forward to continuing to keep this a special place and making
sure that everyone else in the area knows about the amazing
community we have at Beth El.
B'Shalom,
Casey
Beth El Memorial Board Plaques
If you are interested in purchasing/reserving a
Memorial Plaque, please contact Gladys Siegel.
[email protected] or 919-942-5369
4
Mazel tov to
Jaclyn Cohen, Nathan, & Eden Nussbaum
on the birth of their son/brother
Benjamin Martin Nussbaum
on February 7, 2014!
Mazel Tov to Mardi & Errol Zeiger
on the wedding of their daughter
Anita to Arthur Jacobs
on February 16, 2014!
Shabbat 25
March 7-8, & April 4-5
Our Shabbat 25 programming gives the
community a chance to connect with Beth
El throughout the 25 hours of Shabbat. We
begin with Shabbat Shirah - a joyous Friday night service led
by Rabbi Greyber using the melodies of the late Rabbi
Shlomo Carlebach plus a separate service for our youngest
members & their families. Both services begin at 6:00pm
and are followed by a community Shabbat dinner*. Our
celebration continues on Saturday with Shabbat morning
services, followed by a kiddush lunch & often an evening
study, meal & havdalah**.
Shabbat 25 represents two important values: Welcoming
and Tradition. By creating many moments throughout
Shabbat to be with the community, we hope to welcome
everyone giving as many people as possible a chance to
participate.
*Reservations for the Community Shabbat Dinner are
due by the proceeding Monday. Cost is $18 per person
13 and older / $9 per child 7-12 / no charge for children
under 7. Family maximum charge for dinner is $45. Please
mail payment to Beth El Synagogue with ‘CSD” & the dinner
date noted in the memo line. Any cancellations made after
the reservations deadline will still need to be paid for in full.
Thank you for your understanding.
Beth El is committed to ensuring that everyone in our
community can participate in all programming, regardless
of financial circumstances. If you would like to help those
in financial need attend dinner, please consider a donation
of $18 or more.
**There will not be an evening study, seudah sh'lishit, or
community havdalah service as part of the March Shabbat 25.
Instead, our celebration will conclude on Saturday afternoon
with a guided discussion of the book My Promised Land
by Ari Shavit (this is the first of a 2 part series, 3/8 & 3/15
at 1:15pm following kiddush lunch– see page for details,
advance registration & reading of the book is required).
www.betheldurham.org/rituallife/index.html#s25
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Hasan Bhatti
Reporting in from Israel
Dear Chevre,
I write to you full of wonder and gratitude.
On wonder: Today marks the beginning of the 33rd day
of my time in Jerusalem and I am between two feelings: 1)
because it doesn't feel like I've been here that long, but 2) in
that time, I have felt as if I've undergone a year's worth of
experiences (from days in Ramallah < http://bit.ly/HBram>
to planting olive trees with Palestinians on Tu B'shvat
<http://bit.ly/HBplant> to running with Bedouin children
<http://bit.ly/HSfree> to roaming the alleys of the Old City
<http://bit.ly/BHphotos> to studying the Tanya with an ultraorthodox yeshiva bocher). It's a dual feeling I'm sure I've felt
some time before but have long forgot, and the contradiction
leaves me with a sense of wonder.
Then again, for those who have lived in Israel for a
prolonged period of time and looked in all the corners of this
deep land, a contradiction here should not be such a surprise.
On gratitude: I could not have come here without the
support of many in this community, and everyone's avid
interest in my pursuits. This experience is a fulfillment of a
dream for me to really get on the ground and see/experience
the complexities of this situation that I have learned about in
books and in conversations with folks back home. I really
cannot express in words how grateful I am to everyone that
has made this possible. Thank you all so much.
I am keeping a blog
while I'm here and I
plan to write monthly
bulletin posts to keep
you updated on my
whereabouts. My focus
in both is on building
relationships with the
many people affected
by this conflict, and in
so doing, telling the
stories that I find and
reflecting on how it
pertains to my Jewish
identity. I look forward
to continuing to share my journey, and to hearing from you
regarding your reactions.
— Hasan
You can follow along Hasan's trip at
http://jthegroundup.blogspot.co.il/
Feel free to drop Hasan a line at [email protected]
should you have an interesting viewpoint to add to the mix.
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, March 9
10:30am
Main Sanctuary
A light nosh will be provided.
Beth El Art Gallery
Reproductions of Nature
by Sheila Levine
On display through March 10
Sheila has been painting for the last 10 years in both
watercolor and acrylic. She focuses on the beauty of nature,
often using images taken by her photographer husband, Sol.
She enjoys traveling with him and painting the scenes,
flora and fauna that they encounter.
April 1 to June 30, 2014
Maria Savitsky, visiting artist
Former Soviet Theater Costume Designer
Enjoy her paintings of costumed figures, African figures
and Judaic paintings of Mizra.
There will be an artist’s reception
held this spring—watch for details.
If you are interested in exhibiting your artwork at Beth El,
please contact Susan Rosefielde ([email protected]).
Professionals, students and hobby artists are welcome.
The Community is invited to
the unveiling of the headstone for
Eda Bloch
on Sunday, March 23, 12:45pm
at the Durham Hebrew Cemetery.
5
Social Action
www.betheldurham.org/socialaction/programs.html
CROP Hunger Walks
Social Action Sundays
March 2 & April 13, 10:30am-noon
Come together to discuss future projects & activities.
Light nosh provided.
Questions?
Please contact Debbie Goldstein ([email protected])
or Jacki Resnick ([email protected]) .
Join a Beth El team in the annual CROP
Hunger Walks. These events raise money to combat hunger
both locally and throughout the world. Together, Beth El
teams raised over $6000 through these two walks in 2013!
Find the walk you wish to join and/or financially support at:
http://bit.ly/nccropwalk
Chapel Hill/Carrboro: March 23
Team Captains: Gladys Siegel, Sharon Halperin & Richard Cramer
Knitting Chevra News
Durham: April 6
March 9 & April 13
10:00am-11:30am
Team Captain: Rachel Galanter
Our fall and winter project has been knitting for those who
do not use the shelters. We delivered the hats and scarves that
we made to the Chapel Hill Police Department and our contact,
Officer Allison Finch, gave them out for us. Susan Leeb, who first
proposed this idea to us, recently received an email from Allison
about the project. Allison had just received the second bag of
hats and scarves. She said that the numbers of their chronically
homeless population on the streets is down because the police
work very hard to get people into several projects. However, she
still has found grateful recipients for the hats and scarves. She
said that she thought about snapping some pictures but in the end
decided that would be too invasive of their privacy so she did not.
Allison mentioned one young man in his mid-twenties
who had obviously just arrived in Chapel Hill. When she first
approached him he became defensive and guarded. She thought
this was because he feared the hassling that traveling homeless
people normally encounter from the police. She explained that she
had some hats and scarves that he might chose from as the weather
was about to turn very cold. He was surprised, but looked through
her collection and chose a nice gray scarf.
Allison continues “I just smiled and turned and left, expecting
nothing in return. I can only imagine how differently Chapel Hill
treated him than the treatment he has received in the past. That
is one of the reasons I really like working for this town and this
department. We really do care. And so do you and your friends.
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to offer some small
kindness out there.”
Special thanks to Susan Leeb for suggesting this project
and Allison Finch for delivering the goods!
This spring, the Knitting Chevra will be making “Kaps
for Kids” for young patients receiving treatment at the UNC
Hospital's oncology department. Thanks to Roy Schonberg for
his suggestion. If you'd like to join us, we meet the second
Sunday of each month during the school year.
By the way, our clothing drive is ongoing with a slightly
different focus: when you begin shedding your winter layers
we'd love to have any hats, scarves and gloves that you don't want
or need anymore. It would be nice to have items ready to deliver
to Allison earlier next winter for people who can’t come in from
the cold. Just contact me, Hunter Levinsohn, at 919-929-6728 or
[email protected] and I'll arrange to get items from
you.
Thank you!
6
Click on the link for either the Durham walk or Chapel Hill/
Carrboro walk then follow the onscreen directions:
sign-up > join a team > Beth El (here you will find links for
joining or donating).
Beth El's Durham Team made it to the
2013 CROP Walk Honor Roll!
What will we do this year?
When I saw that Beth El's Durham team raised over
$3000 for CROP Walk and was on the honor roll for tzedakah
in 2013 I was very proud. I was invited to represent you at an
awards banquet in January to hear about how your efforts
made a huge difference.
I hope that our honor roll status is something we can
maintain. Whether you walked last year or not, I hope you
consider walking or supporting us in 2014. Ask Sandy Kronick
and Eric Cohen who brought their children Ella and Nathan
to their first CROP Walk for an unbiased view on the joys and
challenges of walking as a family. Thank you to those who
helped us to make a difference in the lives of the hungry!
Jasmina says of CROP Walk: "It's fun and I get snacks and
to be with a friend and it feels good to help people who need
food."
--Rachel Galanter
See link below for information on
helping families in need of financial
assistance with their water bills.
This program is through OWASA & the
IFC, but you do not need to be an Orange Co. resident to participate. If you
are not an OWASA customer, scroll to the bottom of the linked
page for instructions on sending direct donations.
www.owasa.org/customerService/taste-of-hope.aspx
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Register Now for the 8th annual
Beth El Blood Drive
Mitzvah Projects
March 30
9:30am-2:00pm
Playworks
To schedule your appointment:
 Log onto: www.redcrossblood.org
 Click on "Enter a Sponsor Code” (dark blue rectangle on left side
of page)
 Enter Sponsor Code: Beth El (please note the space). Leave
dates blank. Hit “go”.
 Choose March 30, Beth El Synagogue: click “Click here to
schedule an appointment to donate” (top row on right side).
 You will go to a page that says “Please Login or Register Now”.
 If you already have a user name and password because you have
done this before, use that information.
 If you have not registered on line before, you will need to go to
“New User?” on the right side of the page and click “Register
now”. Create a user name and password and enter your name:
phone number and email address. Click “Submit”.
 Once you log in or register, you will be taken to a page that says
“Schedule an Appointment”.
 Click on the time you want from the time options available.
 Then click “Confirm” or “Schedule a new Time”.
 Your appointment will be confirmed in yellow boxes. You may
want to write that down…we’re just saying. (N.B. “Double red”
means you will donate two units.)
Eliana Davis (who celebrated becoming
a Bat Mitzvah in February) is collecting
donations for Playworks as part of her Bat
Mitzvah project. Playworks is an innovative
program that aims to create a safe and healthy playing
environment for children. It provides recreation equipment
and trained “coaches” to help children play and resolve
conflicts during recess. Playworks is a national organization
that serves 14 schools in Durham. See www.playworks.org
for more information!
Eliana is collecting lightly used and new playground
equipment. Playworks would appreciate donations of balls
for different sports (soccer, basketball, kickball) as well as
cones, hula hoops, jump ropes, tennis rackets, and more!
Sign up NOW to ensure the time slot you prefer.
To volunteer to help: contact [email protected]
Other Questions: Contact Carla Fenson, [email protected]
or Laura, [email protected]
If you need help registering to donate, please contact Laura or
Carla.
Please keep in mind that Feb. 2 was your last day to give blood
elsewhere if you plan to give at Beth El on March 30th.
Food & Toiletry Drives
Remember: our food & toiletry drives
are year-round!
Green River Preserve
Craving a Treat? Need a dessert for Shabbat dinner or
some other special event? Zosia Carson DeWitt, 13 years
old, will make you delectable cookies, cupcakes, brownies,
or other treats. Buying these baked treats will help a child
in need go to summer camp at Green River
Preserve (Zosia’s mitzvah project).
Please contact her at
[email protected]
with a cc to her mother at
[email protected]. Thank you!
Almost everyday, people come to Beth El in need of food.
Your donations are much appreciated!
Pasta
Canned soups (low sodium)
Canned vegetables (low sodium)
100% fruit juice (pouches or boxes)
Raisins or other dried fruit
Granola Bars
Pudding Cups
Animal/Graham Crackers
Trail Mix
Peanut butter (plastic jars)
Canned tuna, chicken or salmon
Beans, peas & lentils (cans or dry)
Canned fruits ( in 100% juice)
Rice
Oatmeal or other hot & cold cereals
Macaroni and cheese
Popcorn
Food needs to be non-perishable and in non-glass containers.
"A double-mitzvah": Link your Harris Teeter VIC card
to our school (5883) and earn money for the Talmud
Torah while helping others. VIC cards need to be re-linked
each school year & can be linked to more than one school.
See online for instructions: http://bit.ly/BETTVIC
Need congregational support
for your mitzvah project?
Send project details to
Krisha at [email protected]
for inclusion in the monthly Bulletin.
7
Sisterhood
www.betheldurham.org/synagogue/sisterhood.html
Rosh Chodesh Adar with
Elyza Richmon Halev & Rachel Bearman
Sunday, March 2
Location: Social Hall / Time: 7:00-9:00PM
Movie Night (Movie: TBD)
Thursday, April 3
Location: Beth El Lobby & Library / Time: 6-9:30PM
Sisterhood invites all its members for a Rosh Chodesh program
next Sunday. Join members Rachel Bearman and Elyza Halev
in crafts, conversation and cookies and learn a bit about this
traditionally feminine oriented celebration. Hope to see you
there! Mothers and their teens are especially welcome.
We are reviewing Golden Globe, Oscar, and movie festival
nominees now and will announce our movie selection soon.
Stay tuned.
Erev Shabbat Services & Oneg
Friday, May 9
Location: Sanctuary, Social Hall / Time: 7:30PM
Join us for Shabbat. Everyone is welcome.
Hamentaschen Pick-up at the Purim Carnival
Sunday, March 16
Location: Freedman Center / Time: 11-1:00PM
This spring fundraiser benefits the Talmud Torah Religious
School. Our delicious kosher parve hamentaschen cookies are
made in the Beth El kitchen. We sell out every year, so it’s
best to preorder: http://bit.ly/SHhaman
Sisterhood Gift Shop
Open during office hours,
select special events, & by appointment.
If you are interested in shopping outside of office hours,
helping staff the Gift Shop or with shop related projects,
please contact [email protected].
Beth El Sisterhood Kitchen Initiative Pledge Form
Stocking and maintaining the kitchen is critical for weekly Kiddushim as well as other religious
and social functions held at Beth El. Please help improve the kitchen by making a financial
contribution to Sisterhood. The funds we collect will purchase professional quality knives, bowls,
utensils, service ware, shelving, signage, minor servicing of equipment, and more.
Please make checks payable to Beth El with “Sisterhood Kitchen Initiative”
in the memo section. Thank you.
Yes, I want to support kitchen improvements and can pledge…
___________________
$54 _______
$72 _______
$90 _______
$180 _______
Other amount $________
____________________
Your Name
E-mail
Telephone
Address (if not in Beth El Directory)
I am interested in volunteering in the kitchen to implement improvements.
8
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Shabbat & Holiday Hosts and Sponsors
March 1 Kiddush hosted by Scott & Sarah Bryce in honor of
their daughter, Ani, becoming a Bat Mitzvah
March 8 Shabbat 25 kiddush sponsored by
Joel & Adele Abramowitz
Edward Balleisen & Karin Shapiro
Peter Goldberg & Susan Cohen
Sharon Joffe
Irwin & Deborah Kahn
Alan & Maxine Stern
April 5 Shabbat 25 honoring our High School Seniors
kiddush hosted by
Andrew & Debra Bird
Stuart & Karen Factor
Samuel Grossinger & Margaret Donnelly
Len Singer & Deborah Hirsch
Doris Iarovici
Eric Mlyn & Judy Byck
April 5 Shabbat 25 Seudah Shli’shit sponsored by
Jack Leiss
Laura Flicker
Herbert (Z’L) & Eunice Shatzman
Solomon & Sheila Levine
March 15 kiddush hosted by
Sheldon Becker & Rita Lichtman
Gary & Beth Berman
Steve Cassell
Ron Grunwald & Lorisa Seibel
Sandy Kessler & Sheva Zucker
Bernard & Ada Most
Jennifer Parkhurst
April 12 Synaplex Shabbat honoring new drivers
Kiddush sponsored by
Howard & Marion Diamond
Gary & Kelly Asher
Michael Hershfield & Susan Brill Rosenthal
Vince & Ivy Wingate
Martha Hauptman
Norman Weiner & Laura Leiber
March 15 Erev Purim oneg sponsored by
Bruce Guild & Linda Convissor
Steven Bachenheimer
Elliott & Sandy Portnoy Mills
March 16 Purim kiddush sponsored by
Mark & Diane Pozefsky
Howard & Claire Rockman
Darryl Zeldin
March 22 Kiddush hosted by
Beth El Ritual Committee in honor of our Gabbaim
Doug Carlton & Lorri Gudeman
Richard Hart & Sally Hicks
Michael & Jennifer Kornbluth
Sydney & Krisha Miller in honor of their 10th wedding
anniversary
Hal Sandick & Barbra Roberman
Scott Schwartz & Tobin Freid in honor of their 10th
wedding anniversary
March 29 kiddush hosted by
Galia Goodman & Meredith Emmett
David Weaver & Laura Brody Weaver
Anthony Weston & Amy Halberstadt
Ralph & Renee Snyderman in honor of the birthdays of
Ralph's brother Theodore (z'l) and of Judith Snyderman
Laurie Wolf
Barry Yeoman
April 15, 16, 21, & 22 Pesach weekday kiddushim sponsored by
Harvey & Sandra Cohen
Thomas & Judy Coffman
Ruth Dzau
Brian & Brenda Ginsberg
Philip Goodman & Mary Butler
Barrie & Jean Hurwitz
Robert & Lynn Lefkowitz
Marjorie A. Satinsky
Lawrence & Miriam Slifkin
Gabriel & Orit Ramler Szulik
April 19 Pesach V kiddush hosted by
representatives of Chavurah Aleph:
Sandra Berman
Robert & Laura Gutman
Annette Kirshner
David & Susan Klapper
Pearl Levine
David & JoAnn Rubin
Gladys Siegel
April 26 kiddush hosted by Howard Bomze & Laura Quigley
in honor of their son, Buddy, becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Join us to honor & thank our Gabbaim
during services and at kiddush lunch on
Saturday, March 22!
9
Lifelong Learning
www.betheldurham.org/adulted/courses.html
Monthly Torah Study
Do you sometimes wish there was more time to discuss
the Parasha/Torah Portion of the Week? Well, there is!
Approximately once a month we are offering Torah
discussions led by various congregants. These are usually
held held prior to the Main Sanctuary Torah reading
(location & timing will differ).
March 29 led by Don Goldstein
April 12 (Synaplex) led by Steven Schauder
May 3 led by Susan Breitzer
Shabbat Mishnah Study
Saturday mornings at 8:45am in the Freedman Center
Feel free to attend at any time! Join Rabbis Sager and
Greyber for coffee and discussions on text from the
Mishnah. People new to Mishnah study are especially
welcome.
Where in the world is... Synagogue Life?
The Synagogue Life Committee has been on hiatus this
year. Some Synagogue Life programs have continued, such
as Seder hosting and packages for college students (see page
16), thanks to efforts by former committee members and
others. But in past years Synagogue Life has done much
more, including Bulls games, Torah of the Elders, and the
Salsa Dance. Info on some past Synagogue Life activities
can be found at http://www.betheldurham.org/synagogue/
synagoguelife.html.
If you would like to help the Synagogue Life Committee
strengthen Beth El's sense of community through social,
cultural, and hospitality programs, please contact Barak.
Pesach schedule, chametz sale form,
links to Conservative & Orthodox guides,
as well as details on seder coordination
& college student packages can be found
on page 16!
Healing Yoga
Wednesday Morning Minyan & Text Study
Services start at 8:00am on most Wednesdays & usually last
about 45 minutes. Afterward, those who can stay gather in
the social hall for coffee, treats, & a weekly study led by
Rabbi Greyber or other members. All are welcome.
My Promised Land
The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel
by Ari Shavit
Join us for a two-part guided discussion of this
controversial, thought provoking book.
March 8 & 15
following Kiddush lunch (approx. 1:15-2:45pm)
in the Beth El library
Discussion guided by: Sandy Kessler and Bob Gutman
You must read the book in order to participate in the discussions.
On March 8 the group will discuss chapters 1-8; on March 15,
chapters 9-17. Three copies of the book are available for loan in
the Beth El Library. The book is also available for a reasonable
price on Amazon etc.
There is no fee for this program but you must register in
advance. Please contact Sheri at [email protected] or
919-682-1238 x. 100 to let the office know that you will attend.
More at: www.betheldurham.org/adulted/courses.html#shavit
10
Gentle Movement, Meditation, Relaxation
10:00–11:00am in the Freedman Center
April 12* / May 10 / June 7
*Synaplex, start time may differ.
Who Should Come?
• Anyone who is looking for healthy ways to relieve the
physical and mental stresses of illness – yours or that of a
family member
• Those who are grieving
• Those with and without yoga experience (mats/props are
available for your use)
Benefits of Healing Yoga:
• Helps the recovery process; addresses fatigue, soreness,
stiffness, anxiety, and depression; deals with balance, bone
loss, immunity, and flexibility; brings peace of mind.
Participants should wear comfortable clothing.
After the class, all are welcome to join the Beth El worship
service and /or Kiddush lunch.
With generous support, Beth El has raised the funds to
purchase yoga mats, straps, foam blocks, blankets, bolsters,
and eye bags. These props help participants feel comfortable
as they sit, move, and meditate. Please join us, or if you know
someone who might benefit from healing yoga, consider
coming as a buddy.
For additional information, contact Margie Satinsky, RYT,
919-383-5998 or [email protected]
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Synaplex Shabbat is a
morning of diverse Jewish
experiences designed to
speak to the heart.
“Like” Beth El Synagogue at
www.facebook.com/BethEl.Durham
Join our discussion group at
www.facebook.com/groups/BethElDurham
and, check out Rabbi Greyber’s page:
www.facebook.com/pages/
Rabbi-Daniel-Greyber/105866049455568
By offering many different
prayer & study opportunities,
Synaplex Shabbat gives
everyone more ways
to connect with Jewish life.
Mishnah Study
A Variety of Engaging
Shabbat Morning Services
Children's Programming
Meditation
Yoga
In-depth Torah discussion
with a local scholar
AND MUCH MORE!
Interested in reading the Haftarah or Torah
during an upcoming Shabbat service?
Congregants who do this regularly/semi-regularly/
every-once-in-awhile are greatly appreciated! Even if
you've never chanted a Haftarah, if it's been a long time,
or you have thought it would be a meaningful way to
commemorate an occasion, you like the sound of the
trope, or you would just like to learn this as a new skill,
please contact Randi Smith - [email protected].
Our community will come together for a
D’var Torah by Rabbi Greyber
followed by a communal lunch
where all are welcome.
If you're interested in helping with this exciting program
contact Rabbi Greyber at [email protected].
If you would like to read a Torah portion, please
contact Jeff Derby - [email protected]
Eric Pas Jewish Camp Scholarship
Please be reminded that applications are now available
for partial scholarship funding for a Beth El family who
needs financial assistance in sending a child to a Jewish
camp. Funding will be made available on a need basis
and information will be kept confidential. In the past 15
years the scholarship fund has distributed almost $31,400
and been able to sponsor 49 Beth El children. Our children
have participated in our local Federation camp as well as
Ramah Darom in Georgia, Young Judea, and two overseas
programs. If you would like further information or an
application please call Michele Pas at 919-493-3175, or
email to [email protected].
Also, please consider making a contribution into this
fund, Beth El members’ continued financial support of
this fund will allow more of our Beth El children to have
a Jewish camp experience. Thanks, Michele Pas
The Community of Caring
We are here for YOU!
For anyone in need of a meal due to
illness, surgery, grief or other special circumstances.
For anyone who needs a ride to/from a doctor's
appointment, to the hospital or nursing home
so you can visit a friend or loved one.
For anyone who would like a friendly visitor
to see you at home or in the facility where you live.
And for anyone who would like to be a part
of this wonderful organization by participating
in any of the above.
Please call or email Rhoda Silver at:
919-688-0077 / [email protected]
11
Meet our B’atMitzvah
Please join us as our beloved
Tatiana (Ani) Lia Bryce
Ani
Friday, February 28, 2013 6:00pm
Saturday, March 1, 2013 9:45pm
is called to the Torah
as a Bat Mitzvah
Shabbat Shekalim
February 28 & March 1, 2014
29 Adar, 5774
We hope that you will join us after
the Saturday service at
a kiddush luncheon
in Ani's honor.
We look forward to
celebrating with you.
Sarah, Scott, Elena, Nina
and Ani Bryce
My name is Tatiana Lia Bryce. Everyone calls me Ani
though, because my older sisters started calling me that
and it kinda caught on. I was born on January 24, 2001
at UNC Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC (in the same room both
my sisters were born in). I am 13 years old. I spend my
days acting, singing, playing the piano, dancing, reading,
writing, drawing, laughing, hanging out with my friends
and family, watching reruns of Disney Channel, and just
being me. I participate in school musicals and plays, and
go to piano lessons every Tuesday. I’ve been taking piano
for eight years now. I go to Duke School Middle School,
and I am in seventh grade. I have gone to Duke School
since kindergarten. I don’t really have a favorite sports
team, because I don’t really enjoy or even do sports myself.
I have two sisters, Nina and Elena Bryce. Nina is 22 and
works in Washington, DC, and Elena is 26, and is spending
the year in Uganda doing medical work. My mother’s name
is Sarah Bryce, and my father’s name is Scott Bryce. I have
lived in Durham my whole life. And finally, I would like to
thank Beth El, for making this possible, and for teaching me
so much.
You are invited
to join us as
Buddy Bomze
is called to the Torah
as a
Bar Mitzvah
Friday, April 25, 6:00pm
Saturday, April 26, 9:30am
A Kiddush lunch will follow
Saturday services.
Laura, Howard, Buddy, & La
12
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Talmud Torah
FROM OUR EDUCATION & YOUTH DIRECTOR
We have finished reading the book of Exodus and have moved on to Vayikra, the book of Leviticus, the third book of the
Torah. After the exciting escape from slavery, what exciting new topic awaits us? Sacrifices. Uchh. Well, this has to be
better than the time I had to teach the entire book of Leviticus—full of all those riveting laws—for a whole year…to 4th
graders! Not that sacrifices are boring, per se--I’m sure there are more than a handful of people out there who would be
more than interested in talking about blood and gore--but that isn’t really what the sacrifices are about. Since the destruction
of the Temple, we no longer participate in animal sacrifices, yet there is still a great deal we can learn from studying this
text. God saw real value in it, so can we! I admit it is pretty hard to relate to the ritual sacrifice of animals for our own benefit.
We’ve since replaced this tradition with prayers. Though services aren’t the most popular extra curricular activity for our
students, I’d be willing to put good money on the fact that most of the kids here would rather sit through our 3 hour Shabbat
morning services, than make regular animal sacrifices.
But think about how difficult it must have been for B’nai Yisrael, to participate in such a ritual. To be so committed to a belief,
to a new, organized religion and a higher power. The Hebrew word for this kind of offering is “Olah” which means
“something that goes up.” It has the same root as the word “Aliyah,” which is also a form of the word “to go up.” We know
that when we have an Aliyah to the Torah or someone makes Aliyah to Israel, they are participating in a holy act. We often
think of God as being “above us” and therefore going “up” equals heightened holiness. So we can make the assumption that
“Olah” the burnt offering, is a way of making ourselves holier or allowing ourselves to get a bit closer to God. Vayikra literally
means “called” or “summoned”—so is sacrifice what we are being called to do? Is this what we are to believe is the essence
of Judaism? Or does this “call” refer to an overall way of life and commitment to Adonai?
I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds this practice of ritual sacrifice a bit troublesome, but is it unique to the Israelites?
The answer is no. The idea of offering ritual sacrifice to please one’s God was extremely common among the cultures and
religions of this time. During my research, I discovered that the Torah has examples of sacrifice from as early as the story of
Cain and Abel! Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of sacrifices from over 70,000 years ago! But it doesn’t formally tell
us why the practice of sacrifices started. Why does sacrifice show dedication and respect? I find it interesting that the book
of Vayikra spends a great deal of time setting up rules and regulations that will distinguish the Israelites, from other cultures
around them, yet we find ourselves reading this parsha about animal sacrifice at a time when much of the world around us
is engaging in personal sacrifice, specifically Catholics giving up something of value during the time of Lent, leading up to
Easter. Now that we no longer make sacrifices by giving a physical some-THING to God, are there personal sacrifices we
can give to show our dedication to God now? By making a personal sacrifice, we are showing our dedication and commitment to this way of life.
Think about what it feels like to put yourself in this kind of
situation. Would you rather make a sacrifice or say a prayer?
Is one easier than the other? Take a moment to think about
what it means to sacrifice something that is important to you?
Can you imagine sacrificing something you need to survive
(like an animal that provided food, transportation and more),
just like the Israelites did?!
Are you able to come up with an example of modern sacrifices we
make for the sake of our religion? Perhaps we sacrifice a few extra
hours of sleep to come to shul on Shabbat. I often sacrifice going
to see a movie that ends really late on a Saturday night since I
have to get up early to come to Talmud Torah on Sunday morning.
Sacrifices are obviously difficult, but the thing to remember is that
they teach us to value what we do have. As we move towards
celebrating Purim and Passover we are reminded of the struggles
of our ancestors and what they endured in order to stay true to
their faith. They gave up so much when they didn’t even have
everything they needed to begin with. Though we no longer make
animal sacrifices, perhaps the idea of a personal sacrifice can
serve as a connection to our past and remind us of how far we
have come as a people, as a religion, and as a culture.
Elisabeth Albert, Education and Youth Director
March in TALMUD TORAH
MARCH ‘14
S
M
T
W
Th
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1 B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring/JC
2 TT (PreK-7)
5 TT (2-6)
7 Kitah Zayin meets/Shabbat 25 Family service
8 B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
9 TT (PreK-7)/Kitah Zayin parent class/Kitah Bet Family program
12 TT (2-6)
15 B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
16 TT (PreK-7)/Purim Carnival
19 TT (2-6)
22 TS/JrJr/JC/B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
23 TT (PreK-7)
26 TT (2-6)
29 B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
30 TT (PreK-7)/Simchat Tot/Chadar Ochel
13
March in YOUTH & FAMILY PROGRAMMING
MARCH ‘14
S
M
T
W
Th
F
S
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
1 JC
AlephBet/Pre-Kadima
AlephBet
Shabbat 25 Family service
Shabbat 25 Family service
JC
Pre-Kadima
16USY
Purim Carnival
17
Tot
22Simchat
TS/JrJr/JC
Kadima
USY
23
23TS/JrJr/JC
Kadima
30 Simchat Tot
3
2
8
7
99
Aleph Bet
Pre-Kadima
(3rd-5th grade)
(K-2nd grade)
Goes to the movies!
Rockin’ Relays & Creative
Hamantashen Baking!
Sunday, March 9th
Sunday, March 2nd
Kadima
12:30 PM-2:30 PM
Simchat Tot
(6th-8th grade)
Ice Skating
Simchat Tot is a special program at Beth El
Synagogue for all families with children ages 4 &
under. Join us for this fun introduction to Jewish
education, complete with music, arts & crafts,
hands-on projects, stories and more!
Sunday, March 23rd
Email our awesome youth advisor, Julie Halpert with any questions about upcoming events, program ideas or if
you are interested in volunteering in the future. [email protected]
14
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Beth El Synagogue
1004 Watts Street
Purim Carnival!
Sunday, March 16th
11:00 AM-1:00 PM
@Beth EL ostume!
c
n
i
e
m
o
C
!

Fun Carnival Games

Prizes

Delicious Food & Purim treats

And more!
There are no formal
Talmud Torah classes
on Sunday, March
16th. Families are
encouraged to attend
the megillah reading in
the main sanctuary
prior to the carnival.
Carnival Admission:
Purchase your tickets in advance or at the door!
Tickets are 2 for $1 at the door or 3 for $1 in advance.
ALL-DAY UNLIMITED wrist bands available for $18 (does
not include food)
**Help support this annual fundraiser for
Beth El Youth and Family Programming!
15
Pesach 5774
Passover begins April 14, 2014
Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat
Beth El wants to assure that all of our members are welcomed at a
seder. As the Haggadah says, "let all who are hungry come and eat."
That means, if you have extra places at your seder, please open your
home to one or more members of the Beth El family. If you're a
member--or a university student--who can't join relatives for this
wonderful holiday, please give a member of your synagogue family
the privilege of sharing a seder with you. The seder hospitality
initiative is headed by former members of the Synagogue Life
Committee while the committee is on hiatus (see article on page
10). We are pleased to arrange for hosts and guests to enjoy the
seders together. To invite someone, or to request a place, please
contact Sheri at Beth El (919-682-1238 or
[email protected]) or contact Mardi Zeiger (919-932-5663
or [email protected]). Deadline for requests is March 31.
Pesach 5774
Sunday, April 13: Search for Chametz
Monday, April 14:
 7:30am Main Sanctuary - Morning Services
 followed by a siyyum (study for the first born)
& chametz burning
 Eat chametz until 11:05am - Burn/Sell chametz before 12:10pm
 Office closes at 12:00pm and remains closed until Thursday
morning
 7:30pm candle lighting
 First Seder
Tuesday, April 15 (Pesach I):
 9:00am Orthodox Kehillah & Main Sanctuary
(childcare for ages 1-7 available in classroom #3)
 Second Seder / Begin counting the Omer
Wednesday, April 16 (Pesach II): (childcare for ages 1-7
available in classroom #3)
 9:00am Main Sanctuary - Morning Services
 TBD Orthodox Kehillah - Morning Services
 No Talmud Torah
 8:32pm Havdalah
Friday, April 18: 7:34pm Shabbat candle lighting
Saturday, April 19 (Shabbat CH'M):
 9:00am Orthodox Kehillah - Morning Services
 9:30am Main Sanctuary - Morning Services
(childcare for ages 1-7 available in classroom #3
10:30am-12:30pm)
 8:34pm Havdalah
Sunday, April 20 (CH'M):
 9:30am Main Sanctuary - Morning Services / No Talmud Torah
 7:35pm candlelighting
The Beth El office will be closed Monday, 4/21 & Tuesday, 4/22
Monday, April 21 (Pesach VII): (childcare for ages 1-7 available
in classroom #3)
 9:00am Main Sanctuary - Morning Services
 9:00am Orthodox Kehillah - Morning Services (Yizkor)
Tuesday, April 22 (Pesach VIII): (childcare for ages 1-7 available
in classroom #3)
 9:00am Main Sanctuary - Morning Services (Yizkor)
 TBD Orthodox Kehillah - Morning Services
 8:36pm Havdalah / Yom Tov ends
16
Parents of College Students
Beth El will be sending out Passover gift packages (including a
box of matzah) to first-year college students. Please be sure the
office has your son or daughter's current college address (send to
Sheri at [email protected] by March 28). If you would
like your sophomore, junior or senior to receive a package too,
please send a check for $25.00 to Beth El Synagogue. Let us know
the name and address of the college student, and specify "Passover
package" in the check's memo line. This tradition, started by
the Synagogue Life Committee, will carry on this year while the
committee is on hiatus (see article on page 10), thanks to Kadima
and other volunteers.
Chametz Burning
For the fire-lover in all of us, we will hold a small "chametz
burning" in our parking lot at approx. 8:45am on Monday morning
(4/14). Bring your Chametz (ritual portions only please, larger
quantities should be donated to local food shelters) that morning
and take advantage of our communal fire to rid yourself of the
chametz you found the night before and prepare to enter the Seder
free from crumbs! Parents - please feel free to bring your kids
(what kid doesn't love a fire?) but please watch them carefully to
be sure nobody gets hurt!
Online Pesach guides:
Conservative: http://rabbinicalassembly.org/pesah-guide
Orthodox: http://oukosher.org/passover/passover-guide
Schedule & other resources are available online at
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/pesach.htm
In Preparation for Pesach
It’s time to sell your chametz!
You may return the following
completed statement either by mail,
drop off at the office, or send as a
digital statement via e-mail.
Bill of Authorization for Disposal of Chametz
I /We ________________________________ hereby give Rabbi
Daniel Greyber authority to sell all leaven bread (chametz) in my/
our possession as well as the place, or places, in which it may be
stored.
Signature (s) ______________________________
______________________________
Date _____________
Mail to: Beth El Synagogue, 1004 Watts St., Durham, NC 27701
Electronic authorization is also acceptable
and may be sent via e-mail to: [email protected]
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
January Contributions
Beth El Congregation gratefully acknowledges all contributions. Please send donations & dedications to Sandy Berman, our
corresponding secretary, at the Beth El address. Donations may be made via check, cash, stock transfer, or Paypal. A full
list of funds, donation forms & the direct Paypal link are available on our website’s development page & through the office.
When making a donation to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, please write a separate check payable directly to that fund.
Cemetery Fund (donations received in association with the
recent campaign will be acknowledged separately)
Nancy Perault in memory of her mother, Barbara Mildred
Kraft
Joel & Adele Abramowitz in memory of Sam Abramowitz
Howard & Marni Wizwer in memory of Rob & Sheri
Garf's father, Allen
Albrecht & Nancy Strauss in memory of mother, Bertha
Badt Strauss
Chevra Kadisha
Marshall & Rebecca Rohde in memory of their fathers
Gerard Rohde and Sieg Parker
Adele & Joel Abramowitz in memory of Herb Shatzman
Earl & Gladys Siegel Endowment (a comprehensive listing
of donations & pledges received in association with the recent
celebration will be published separately)
Barak & Laura Richman in memory of Harriet Bailin
Hal Sandick in honor of his Shabbat cohorts, Gladys
Siegel and Hunter Levinsohn
Arie & Anita Lewin in honor of Gladys Siegel
David & JoAnn Rubin in celebration of the birth of Zak
Meyers Davino, grandson of Eric and Carol Meyers
David & JoAnn Rubin in memory of Morley Fenson
David & JoAnn Rubin in memory of Harriet Bailin
David & JoAnn Rubin in memory of Paul Bossard
David & JoAnn Rubin in memory of Irene Lyons
David & JoAnn Rubin in memory of Ann Jackson
David & JoAnn Rubin in memory of Yetta Brandt
Lisa & Matt Zerden in honor of Gladys Siegel's service
and philanthropy
Margie Satinsky
Rachel & Nathan Bearman
Anne & Jeff Derby in honor of Arthur Axelbank
performing the hatafat dam brit for their two grandsons,
Jared and Caleb Derby Wright
Sheldon Hayer in memory of William Hayer
Anita & Paul Farel
Nathalie Goodrich
Harlan Gradin & Elise Goldwasser in honor of Gladys &
Earl Siegel
Gladys Siegel
Alice & Sidney Levinson
Ruth Dzau
Stephen Jaffe & Mindy Oshrain in memory of Herb
Shatzman
Michaela Davidai in honor of Mardi & Errol Zeiger's
daughter, Anita, getting married in February
Michaela Davidai in honor of Hunter Levinsohn's 70th
birthday
Don & Sheila Goldstein in memory of Herb Shatzman
Don & Sheila Goldstein in honor of Gladys and those
who planned the Gala
Miriam & Larry Slifkin
Sandy & Harvey Cohen in memory of Irene Lyons
Sandy & Harvey Cohen in memory of Yetta Brandt
Education & Youth Director's Discretionary Fund
Barbara Renner
Sheva Cohen in honor of Ariella Richman's Bat Mitzvah
Fink Programming Fund
Margie Satinsky in memory of her father, Alex Satinsky
General Fund
Alan & Maxine Stern in memory of Irene Lyons, Carol
Meyers' mother
Watts Street Band
Lesa Morrison to honor the memory of her father, Perry
E. Morrison
Alan & Maxine Stern in memory of Harriet Bailin
Alan & Maxine Stern in memory of Morley Fenson
Carol & Jimmie Haynes in memory of Mary Joan Mandel's
brother
Leslie Saper in memory of his beloved father, Louis Max
Saper
Lorraine Woodyard in memory of Henrietta "Yetta" Brandt
Mary Joan & Alan Mandel in appreciation of bimah
honors
Annetta Cobb in memory of Henrietta "Yetta" Brandt
Alan & Maxine Stern in memory of Ann Jackson, Beth
Berman's mother
Rachel & Nathan Bearman in memory of Ann Jackson
Rachel & Nathan Bearman in memory of Irene Lyons
Jean McCoy in memory of Yetta Brandt
Rick Travis in memory of Yetta Brandt
Carol & Jimmie Haynes in memory of Paul Bossard
Robert &Bonnie Busby in memory of Yetta Brandt
Robbie & Pauline Schultz in memory of Yetta Brandt
Beth & Adam Goldstein in memory of Harold Goodrich
Baker Roofing Company in memory of Henrietta Brandt
Libby & Jim Hoffman in memory of Henrietta Brandt
Beth & Adam Goldstein in memory of Sally Brown's
mother
Beth & Adam Goldstein in memory of Gabi Szulik's
mother
Carol & Jimmie Haynes in memory of Herb Shatzman
Carol & Jimmie Haynes with wishes on a speedy recovery
for the Klapper's son-in-law
(Continued on page 18)
17
January Contributions continues….
(Continued from page 17)
Gilbert Katz Scholarship Fund
Rhoda Silver in memory of Leslie Winner's uncle
Rhoda Silver in memory of Carla Fenson's father
Rhoda Silver in memory of Herb Shatzman
Library Fund
Barbara Renner
Mitzvah Fund
Rachel Galanter in memory of Carla Fenson's father,
Morley Fenson
Barbara Renner
Don & Sheila Goldstein in memory of Beth Berman's
mother
Don & Sheila Goldstein in memory of Carol Meyers'
mother
Harlan Gradin & Elise Goldwasser in honor of Rhoda
Silver's devoted friendship and help during the past year
Murry Stollwerk in memory of his wife, Carol Stollwerk
Arthur & Judith Marks in memory of Yetta Brandt for
her longstanding devotion to Beth El Synagogue
Orthodox Kehillah
Sharon Halperin in memory of her mother, Dora
Rosenblatt
Eric Pas Jewish Camp Scholarship Fund
Arthur & Judith Marks in memory of Carol Myers' beloved
mother Irene Lyons
Phyllis Dworsky in memory of Yetta Brandt, a special wife,
mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend
Phyllis Dworsky in memory of Ann Jackson
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
Irwin Kahn in memory of his father, Leon Kahn
Adam & Beth Goldstein in support of flood relief efforts
for Congregation Bonai Shalom
Harlan Gradin & Elise Goldwasser with deep gratitude
and love for our remarkable community during Corey Gradin's
illness
Laura Flicker in honor of the Men of Beth El
Barak & Laura Richman in support of flood relief efforts
for Congregation Bonai Shalom
Linda Convissor in honor of Hunter Levinsohn for making
her year sweet and meaningful
Rachel Galanter in memory of Sally Brown's mother,
Harriet Bailin
Harvey & Sandra Cohen in memory of Irving Levine
Beth Goldstein in memory of her father, Harold Goodrich
Gabriel & Orit Ramler Szulik in memory of Gabby’s
mother, Mary Zeitune de Szulik
Christopher & Natasha Blue in memory of their grandmother, Yetta Brandt
Ruth Dzau
Isaac Price
Frine Carbonell with appreciation for Rabbi Greyber
Sandra Lazarus Youth Activity Fund
Laura Flicker in honor of Ariella Richman's Bat Mitzvah
Barbara Renner
Synagogue Art Fund
Joel & Adele Abramowitz in memory of Beth Berman's
mother, Ann Jackson
Elaine Perilstein Memorial Fund
Barbara Renner
Prayer Book Fund
Laura Flicker in memory of her mother, Carolyn Flicker
Nancy Perault in memory of her mother, Barbara Kraft
18
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Beth El Funds
During this programming year, we are running a series
of articles highlighting various Beth El funds, many written
by those who helped start them or who remember the
honorees. As you read these articles please consider
directing donations to these worthy causes to honor those
who you’ve loved, but not forgotten. Let’s make sure that
through the programs supported by our special funds, Beth
El remains a “heart of many rooms.”
You can celebrate a simcha, honor a loved one,
or send “get well” wishes by contributing to Beth El.
You may donate via our secure PayPal link
or by check using the printable form online or below.
www.betheldurham.org/development
Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Todah Rabah! Thank You!
Landscaping Fund
The Landscaping Fund is intended to pay for the
betterment of our Beth El grounds. Every year we budget
for regular maintenance of the grounds, but money for
improvements such as new plantings also come from this
fund. This fund may also be used to for some of the landscaping issues mentioned in the architect’s report as part
of the strategic plan.
We have a number of needs to beautify the area
around Beth El and the Landscaping Fund has been depleted
over the years. We need to re- build this fund in order to
take some pressure off of our operating budget, so please
consider making a contribution to the Landscaping Fund the
next time you honor a friend or loved one.
Beth El Talmud Torah- 5883
“Tzedaka is equal in importance to all other commandments combined” — Talmud
I am pleased to make a contribution to Beth El Synagogue
My name
Address
City/State/Zip
In Memory of
In Honor of
phone
Please send acknowledgement to:
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

 Speedy Recovery
 Best Wishes
 Happy Birthday
 Happy Anniversary
Mail To: Sandy Berman, Corresponding Secretary 1004 Watts Street
Please apply my contribution to:
_____ Capital Maintenance Fund
_____ Cemetery Fund
_____ Chevra Kadisha (burial society)
_____ Education & Youth Director's
Discretionary Fund
_____ Sam & Jeannette Fink Programming Fund
 Bar/Bat Mitzvah
 Other
Durham NC 27701
_____ General Fund
_____ Gilbert Katz Scholarship Fund
_____ Landscape Fund
_____ Sandra Lazarus Youth Activity Fund
_____ Library Fund
_____ LifeLong Learning Fund
_____ Mitzvah Fund
_____ Orthodox Kehillah
_____ Eric Pas Jewish Camp Scholarship Fund
_____ Elaine Perilstein Memorial Fund
_____ Prayer Book Fund
_____ Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (please write a
separate check for this fund)
_____ Earl and Gladys Siegel Endowment Fund
_____ Synagogue Art Fund
19
Yahrzeit Reminders
Adar I
March
29 Garvey Haynes
1
29 Joseph Klein
1
29 Martin Bishku
1
29 Sandra Pasternak
1
Adar II
March
1 Robert Sager
3
2 Murray Fink
4
4 Leon Schoenfeld
6
7 James H. Rosenblum
9
8 David Bergman
10
11 Philip Cramer
13
12 Martha Veis
14
12 Sara Nachamson Evans 14
14 Eleanor Barclay
16
15 Samuel Lapook
17
15 Israel Freedman
17
18 Minnie Kaplan
20
19 Abraham Stollwerk
21
20 Rueben Leeb
22
20 Morris Saltz
22
20 Jace Kendrick
22
21 Harry Goldstein
23
25 Nathan Greene
27
25 Louis Guyes
27
28 Florence Margolis
30
Nisan
April
1
David Spinner
1
3
Anna Switzer Meyer
3
3
Theresa Poleski
3
3
Edith Rapport
3
3
Gussie Zeiger
3
4
Tilly Hyman
4
4
Solomon Modell
4
4
Klara Tulsky
4
7
Randi Kodack
7
8
Joan August
8
8
Emma Cohen Kresses
8
9
William Ginsburg
9
9
Rebecca Shapiro Ornoff 9
9
Marion Poleski
9
9
Bernard Shane
9
10
William Shecter
10
10
Marcella Silver
10
10
Mary Weaver
10
11
Gertrude Carrington
11
12
Ruth Leeb
12
14
Edna Clifford
14
14
Louise Clifford
14
14
Richard Clifford
14
14
Leo Friedman
14
14
William Golden
14
14
Hannah bat Levin v'Devorah 14
14
Catherine Shawn
14
14
Nathan Strauss
14
15
Joseph Belenko
15
20
Traditionally, we light a
memorial candle on the
evening before the anniversary
of a loved one's death.
Nisan
15
15
16
16
17
17
18
18
18
19
19
19
20
23
23
23
23
24
24
25
25
25
25
26
27
27
27
28
28
28
29
30
30
Will Grossman
Carl Samuel
Murray Dronsky
Jacob Kaplan
Lena Goldberg
Augusta Ornstein
Louis Fishman
Rosalie Macklin Ross
Eleanor Winfield
Benjamin Greenberg
Raymond Morley
Lily Poss Segar
Bayla Finkel
Seymour Adler
Martin Cohen
Lillian Gradin
Saul Leibel
Erwin Freedman
Bettye Siegel
Joe Cohen
Marcel Davidow
Ida Goldberg
Helen Prakin
Etta Bayer Liberman
Ethel Berman Engel
Gedale Man
Mary P. Siegel
Friedel Bachenheimer
Bernard Epstein
Benjamin E. Thurston
Israel Rockman
Sylvia Fridovich
Martin Lakin
April
15
15
16
16
17
17
18
18
18
19
19
19
20
23
23
23
23
24
24
25
25
25
25
26
27
27
27
28
28
28
29
30
30
Barukh Dayan Ha-emet
“Blessed is the Judge of Truth”
Beth El congregation extends condolences to
The Family of Herbert Shatzman.
May the Ever Present One comfort them among
the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Letter from Valhalla
Edward's Adventures in Frummieland - I
The Yiddish adjective "frum" for a male or 'fruma" for a
female literally means "devout" or "pious" "faith" or "faithful". It
is typically used to refer to an Observant Jew although in the later
case in can be used as a woman's name. Used in a sentence it
might go like this: "Did you hear that Stanley just came back
from his study abroad year in Israel? I hear he became frum." I
first encountered this work when I went off to college at the
University of Pennsylvania. The Yinglish (Yiddish-English) hybrid
of the words was "frummie". Used in a sentence it might go like
this: Two people are sitting in the Hillel dining room eating dinner.
One says to another, "Don't look now but the frummies are walking
in. Ma'ariv must be over upstairs in the shul." The invented
Yinglish word "frummieland" is analogous to Wonderland as in
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" - frummieland is the place
where the Observant Jews dwell. In the last few months I have
had some excellent adventures in frummieland which I can share
with you.
Touro College has several undergraduate campuses. The undergraduate woman's college is called Lander College for Women and
is located on the west side of Manhattan near Lincoln Center. The
undergraduate men's college is called Lander College for Men and
is located in Kew Garden Hills, Queens. Both of these colleges
have a curriculum of Judaic studies for part of the day and secular
studies the rest of the day. There are also undergraduate programs
in Flatbush, Brooklyn, which cater to men who wish to pursue their
Judaic studies at their own yeshivot and need secular coursework.
I was invited to speak to the premedical and predental students
at the Lander College for Men a few weeks ago so I accepted the
invitation and headed off. I arrived about 45 minutes before my
lecture and the Dean of the College invited me to join him in the
Beit Midrash for minchah. If you've never seen a Beit Midrash,
let me paint the picture for you: Imagine a room about the size
of two basketball courts. The periphery of the room is ringed by
bookshelves laden with tractates of the Talmud, Chumashim
and commentaries, and other Judaica - almost none of it either
in English or with English translations. The floor space is largely
occupied by rectangular tables flanked by two to four seats each.
The students are arrayed, two to four to a table, in study groups,
pouring over and debating sections of the Talmud and Torah. At
the front of the room there is an Ark with Torah scrolls for the
times when the studying is put on hold for davening.
One of the more common techniques of grappling with the
Talmud is called "the Brisker method". It was developed by
Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk. This is the same Soloveitchik
Rabbinic dynasty as Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik of Boston, the
famed leader of modern Orthodoxy and lecturer at Yeshiva
University in the second half of the twentieth century. The Brikser
Method is reductionist. It relies on very precise definitions of each
concept in a Talmudic discussion rather than taking texts at "face
value". Let me give you an example: Let us assume that two people
engage in two different types of inappropriate behavior. The Brisker
Method will make a distinction between a person who is forbidden
(for engaging in some particularly egregious behavior such as
incest) versus a person who engages in a forbidden act (a person
who does something inappropriate but not a behavior which taints
the person irretrievably).
My host and I headed downstairs to the Beit Midrash as
mincha was about to begin. There were one hundred open seats
and I proceeded to plop myself down in one of them.
"Oh no!", came the cry.
"What's the matter?", I responded, "I was just going to sit
down."
"You can't sit there," I was told, "that's the Rabbi's seat."
"What Rabbi?", I inquired. "I don't see anyone."
"He's not here", was the response," but even when he's not here
nobody sits in that seat. That's the Rabbi's seat."
I retreated to another seat; not wishing to provoke controversy
over the issue of where my backside resided. Mincha, otherwise,
proceeded without a hitch.
There are various ways to peg the perceived religiosity of
the Orthodox boys and men based upon clothes. One system is the
yamulke classification. Working your way from "the most modern"
to "the most Observant" it goes like this: knitted colored yamulke,
knitted black yamulke, velvet black yamulke. The knitted colored
yamulkes are also sometimes referred to as "the Zionists". If you
don't like that system, you can go to the hat system. Once again,
working your way from "the most modern" to "the most Observant"
it goes straw hat, black fedora, black fedora with very wide brim. In
this last group there are several subtypes which can peg people to
specific yeshivot or types of Hassidim - particularly when you start
subgrouping the crowns of the hat. Finally, there is the full body
scan. Going from "the most modern" to "the most Observant"
you've got the shirt and jeans; cardigan sweater, shirt, and pants;
colored shirt and pants; white shirt and pants; white shirt without
tie and with black suit. Then, of course, you can subgroup based
on whether or not the tzitsis are hanging out of the pants.
My lecture concerned how one compared and contrasted
different medical schools in the US and how to formulate and
pursue an application for admission. When you speak to audiences
of Orthodox students you have to address topics like how to
grapple with a concern about shaking hands with or making
physical contact with co-workers and patients of the opposite sex,
working on shabbos, anatomical dissection by Cohanim, and how
much interest the admissions committee will or will not show in the
number of years of study in Israel the applicant has under his/her
belt.
After my lecture I was chatting with the Dean about why it was
that it cost me $400,000 to subsidize New York Medical College's
glatt kosher cafeteria but he broke even on his cafeteria. It turns out
that it's simple: my cafeteria offers a variety of choices at each
meal. His offers one. If you're not in the mood for what the one
choice is for lunch at the Lander College for Men, you'd better be
brown bagging it that day because otherwise you're going hungry.
The Dean told me that this was the norm in yeshiva high schools in
the New York metropolitan area so the students were used to it. I
was hungry after my talk so he dispatched someone down to the
cafeteria to bring me lunch. The student courier returned with a
platter of macaroni and cheese, penne pasta and cheese, spicy
french fries, and regular french fries: four types of carbohydrates
and not a fruit or vegetable in site (okay, you can count the potatoes
if you want).
Next month I will continue telling you about my adventures in
frummieland with the story of my recent trip to Monsey, New York.
Until then,
Regards from Valhalla,
Edward Halperin
21
Chaverim
"Chaverim" means "friends" in Hebrew. The Jewish Family
Services Chaverim program is an opportunity for older adults
to learn, meet new people, and schmooze over a meal . You can
make new friends and connect with old ones. Programs scheduled
monthly. Contact the Durham-Chapel Hill Federation for
information.
Need a Ride to Chaverim? Transportation is provided. Call Ric
(919-354-4925) or Lisa (919-354-4923) by the RSVP date to
schedule your ride.
Programs are subject to change. If, on the day of the program you
are feeling cold or flu like symptoms, please take care of yourself
and your community members by staying home. Thank you.
Elon University: Creating A Jewish Presence on a College Campus
with Nancy Luberoff
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014
Program: 11 a.m. – 12 pm; Lunch 12 pm-1 pm
Location: Levin JCC Community Hall
RSVP required by: Monday, March 3rd; Cost: $5
Please patronize our sponsors
and let them know
you saw their ads here.
Sicha, Hebrew for "conversation," is an organization that
promotes the vital ongoing dialogue between classical Jewish
texts and modern life. Essays engaging modern and classical
texts in conversations can be found on our website:
www.sichaconversation.org.
Bet Midrash/Evening of Learning: Please join Sicha for a
conversation featuring Sicha Learning Partner, Rabbi Julie Kozlow,
on Wednesday, February 26, 7:30-9pm in the Beth El Library.
The theme will be “Hearing the Divine Voice in a World Without
Prophecy.” More information can be found here:
http://bit.ly/kozlow2-26
 B’almah: Our next programs will be:
February 27: A reprise of our January program in Durham,
"From Breakdown to Breakthrough" will take place at
7:30pm at Beth Meyer Synagogue in Raleigh. Details can
be found here:http://bit.ly/balmah2-14
March 18: “How much have I learned? How much have
I learned?” Join Sicha at 7:30pm at Levin JCC for a
conversation about the story of a sage who examines his
life's yield as he yields life. The ancient storyteller offers
a timeless account of anger and urgency, of regret and
reconciliation. Details can be found here: http://bit.ly/
balmahlearned
March 26: A reprise of “How much have I learned? How
much have I learned?” at 7:30pm at Beth Meyer Synagogue
in Raleigh (see link above for details).
Sicha Interfaith Conference: “Doors and Doorways: An
Interfaith Conversation about Thresholds and Opportunities for
the Spirit.” Join the conversation at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh on
March 10. Details and registration information can be found here:
http://bit.ly/sichadoors
Sicha Shabbaton in the Mountains 2014 will take place
August 7-10. Details and registration will be available April 1,
so be sure to mark your calendar!
Be sure to check the Beth El website
for details about
community programs & events
throughout the year!
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/announcements.html
22
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Community Midrasha
is Moving to Kehillah Synagogue
On March 2, Community Midrasha will begin our
spring trimester at Kehillah Synagogue in Chapel
Hill. This is the first time that Midrasha will take place in Chapel
Hill! You are invited to check out our program - if you know a
teen who isn't enrolled - encourage him/her to attend on Sunday,
March 2 or 9, 5:30-7:30pm. Come experience an evening on
us - enjoy our classes and community dinner - trust us you'll
want to return! For more information, contact Rachel Margolis
([email protected] or 919-695-3868).
Raleigh Cary JCC Events
12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh 27613
3/3: Book Club, The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
3/12: Brown Bag Speaker Lunch, Israel and the US
3/16: Jewish Film Series, Hava Nagila
4/6: Jewish Film Series, The Flat
4/7: Book Club, The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko
Ogawa
4/30: Brown Bag Speaker Lunch, Topic TBD
5/5: Book Club, And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
5/18: Jewish Film Series, Avalon
5/21: Brown Bag Speaker Lunch, Topic TBD
Duke Rudnick Lecture
March 3, 6:30PM, Sarah P. Duke Gardens
http://jewishstudies.duke.edu
The Rudnick lecture series is proud to present Jeremy
Ben-Ami, founder and president of J Street. Ben-Ami brings deep
experience in American politics and government and a passionate
commitment to the state of Israel. Ben-Ami's family connection
to Israel goes back 130 years to the first aliyah when his greatgrandparents were among the first settlers in Petah Tikva. His
grandparents were one of the founding families of Tel Aviv,
and his father was an activist and leader in the Irgun, working for
Israel's independence and on the rescue of European Jews before
and during World War II.
Ben-Ami's political resume includes serving in the
mid-1990s as the Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor in the White
House to President Bill Clinton and working on seven Presidential
and numerous state and local campaigns. He holds a law degree
from New York University. Jeremy was named one of the
Forward’s 50 most influential Jews in America for 3 years in a
row from 2007 to 2009, and The Jerusalem Post named him one
of the 50 most influential Jews in the world in 2010 and 2012.
This event is free and open to the public and is made
possible by the Rudnick endowment, and the efforts of the
Duke Center for Jewish Studies and Office of Global Strategy
and Programs. A public reception will follow the event.
Details at
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/announcements.html#rcjcc
Michael Aaron Cohen, CPA, CFE
 1981 Duke Graduate
 Over 30 Years Experience
 Taxation & Small Business
Accounting
 New Business Startups
 Entrepreneurs, Executives,
Professionals
Contact Michael for an Initial Consultation.
Very Reasonable Rates!
Toll Free 1.855.385.3272
(1-855-DUKE-CPA)
[email protected]
23
Lerner School Events
Open to all!
Jewish Sparks is a public access television program which is
broadcast in Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, NC. This program
presents videos of major Jewish educational and artistic events
together with interviews and recordings of Jewish scholars and
important Jewish leaders. Our goal is to promote a better understanding of key Jewish concepts and issues within both the Jewish
and non-Jewish communities.
The Jewish Sparks 30 minute weekly broadcast schedule
is listed in the table below:
Chapel
Hill (CH)
Tues. 9:00PM
Peoples
Channel
Time Warner Cable
Channel 8
Durham
(DR)
Tues. 7:30PM
Durham
Comm. Media
Time Warner Cable
Channel 18
Raleigh
(RTN)
Wed. 7:00PM
& Thurs.
8:00 PM
Shabbat Together ~ Celebrate Shabbat with songs, movement
and homemade challah at the Lerner School! For parents and their
children, ages 18 months – 4 years old. 9am in the library. Most
Fridays when school is in session. Free! RSVP at
[email protected]. February 28 / March 14, 21, 28
April 4, 25 / May 2, 9
Shmooze n'Play ~ A Jewish Play Group for families of preschoolers and kindergarteners! Schmooze with other parents
while your children play on Lerner School’s beautiful playground!
10:30am – 11:30am at the Lerner School in Durham. RSVP at
[email protected]. March 9 / May 11
The latest program schedule is on the Jewish Sparks Website:
www.jewishsparks.net.
Jewish Story Time ~ Celebrate Jewish holidays with hands-on
fun! Join us for stories, crafts and a light snack on the dates listed
below at 10:30am (note various locations.) Sponsored by the
Lerner School. Free! RSVP at [email protected].
March 16 – Purim Costume Parade, Barnes & Noble, Southpoint
April 6 – Passover, Barnes & Noble, Southpoint
Week of February 25
Marcie Cohen Ferris “Matzoh Ball Gumbo” (CH, DR)
Jewish Life in Raleigh – First 100+ Years (RTN)
Check the Lerner website for information on these & more!
www.lernerschool.org
RTN
Cable Channel 10
Jewish Sparks maintains a large archive of program material.
If you miss a live broadcast, or do not have Cable, you can watch
the programs on the internet site (www.jewishsparks.net.) Additional information is available from the website, or email the Jewish
Sparks producer, Sheldon Becker, at [email protected].
Included in the Jewish Sparks archives:
Triangle Jewish Chorale, Down Home: The Cantata
In April & May of 2013, the Triangle Jewish Chorale presented
three performances of a newly composed piece, “Down Home:
The Cantata”, exploring the Jewish immigrant experience in North
Carolina. There is a link to "Down Home - The Cantata" on the
main Jewish Sparks webpage - www.jewishsparks.net - at the top
center of the page.
THE MAGNOLIA KLEZMER BAND!
Dance, shake, or listen. All shows are free.
Watts St. Band - March 15, Erev Purim Party
(post megillah reading, approx. 9:30pm) at Beth El
May 11, Combined concert w/ Triangle Jewish Chorale and
Magnolia Klezmer, 3pm - Levin JCC, Durham
June 1, Southern Village on the Green, 7-9pm, Chapel Hill
June 8, Weaver St. Market Jazz Brunch, 11am-1pm, Carrboro
www.magnoliaklezmerband.com
24
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Cultural Visit to Cuba
Sponsored by the Triangle Area Jewish Community
This is a unique opportunity to experience firsthand this beautiful
yet mysterious island. Join us in a journey that will transport
you to this mysterious/beautiful island, allow you to gain an
understanding of Cuba’s rapidly changing relationship with the
rest of the world, and in particular with the United States. Our
journey will illuminate Jewish life in Cuba through the exploration
of historical events, while enjoying the island’s rich culture,
lush tropical environment, and most importantly, its warm and
welcoming people. Along the way, you will be accompanied by
a Cuban-born American who is well versed in Cuban history, has
firsthand experience on pre-and post-Revolutionary Cuba, and
insight into the current realities and possibilities for the future.
The trip begins in Miami (The other Cuba)
Trip Dates: Departure to Cuba: May 4, 2014
Return from Cuba: May 11, 2014
Approximate Cost: Depending on your choice of options, the
cost will be $3,000/Person (double occupancy).
Deposit of $500.00/Person required by March 15, 2014 to
secure your space.
Baby Boomers 101
Jewish Family Services is offering this free & informative lecture
series to provide information for older adults and families.
March 20: Downsizing, Decluttering and Relocating
with Jodi Bakst and Susan Morris, Senior Real Estate Specialists
April 17: Financing Long Term Care
with Janett Greenberg, Retired LTC Executive, NY Life
Levin JCC, 1937 W. Cornwallis, Durham
7-8 pm. Free admission, Light Refreshments will be served
Please RSVP to Donna Rabiner, 919-354-4922, or email
[email protected] by the Monday prior to each event.
Jewish Meditation at the Levin JCC
1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. 10:45am-12:00pm
No charge & no experience needed to attend. Always open to new
participants. Sometimes a participant leads a guided meditation;
other times it is a silent practice. Levin JCC, 1937 W. Cornwallis
Road, Durham. Phone: 919-354-4936, [email protected]
For further information and itinerary details, please contact Saul
Berenthal Phone: (919) 618-5094 email: [email protected]
www.cubanheritageexperiences.com
25
I ♥ Purim: Kings + Queens
Saturday, March 22, 2014
7–10 pm (After-Party 9:30 pm–12 am)
North Carolina Museum of Art, West Building
$65 Per person
Tickets on sale February 1
Join the Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery for a festive
evening of food, music, dancing, and entertainment to celebrate
Purim. Kings and Queens will enjoy tapas-style hors d’oeuvres,
beer, wine, and a specialty cocktail. Crowns, masks, and other
festive attire are encouraged, but costumes are not required. We’ll
cap off the evening with a high-energy Purim After-Party geared
toward young adults: Come and dance the night away with drinks
and desserts (tickets are $25 per person)! Proceeds benefit the
Judaic Art Fund.
Advance reservations are required. To register, call
(919) 715-5923 or visit www.ncartmuseum.org/purim.
For more information about the event and sponsorship
opportunities, call Mary Blake at (919) 664-6807.
The Legacy of Sam Margolis
JFS Men’s Group Presentation
April 4, 2014
Howard Margolis will be giving a presentation to the Men’s
Group on his father, Sam Margolis, at the Levin JCC on April 4
at 10AM. He will be sharing photos along with some of Sam's
writings, & interesting Beth El memorabilia (including a booklet
from the dedication of our current synagogue building). Eli Evans
once characterized Sam as "the last of the great founders of the
Durham Jewish Congregation." Sam was the son of one of Beth
El's founding families, Michael & Tzviia Margolis and married
the daughter of Joseph & Ida Goldberg (another founding family).
He was active at Beth El from the mid-forties through the
beginning of this century. Some outstanding contributions
included helping to found the Beth El Sunday School as its first
Superintendent and his sponsorship of the Haym Soloman Essay
Contest which became the "Heroes in Judaism Essays."
To read more about Sam, please see this News & Observer article:
http://bit.ly/sam-no as well as Rabbi Sager's eulogy for Sam:
http://bit.ly/smeulogy
The JFS Men's & Women’s Groups meet on alternating Fridays,
10-11:30am at the Levin JCC. Attendance is free, however
donations to JFS are welcome. More on these groups can be
found here:
http://levinjcc.org/calendar/mens-group-9-2-2-2/
http://levinjcc.org/calendar/womens-group-4-2-2-2/
Howerton Bryan
Nazo Landscaping, Inc.
Funeral Home
COMMERCIAL and RESIDENTIAL
Agricultural Engineering Since 1983
Serving the Hebrew Community
Since 1874
Landscape Design & Installation • Landscape Lighting
Water Features • Sprinkler Systems • Sodding
Patios, Walkways & Stepping Stones • Retaining Walls
Drainage & Ditches • Snow Removal
Providing services to Durham, Wake & Orange Counties
Wide variety of plants, bushes, trees,
perennials and fruit trees
Retail and wholesale
Landscape supplies and natural stone
919-682-5464
1005 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701
For professional service you can trust,
call Philip Nazo, owner.
Mobile: 919-524-8878 • Office: 919-309-2620
Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm • Sat. 8am-4pm • Sun.10am-4pm
www.NazoLandscaping.com
26
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
(From our Rabbi—continued from the cover)
Such “Amen” moments confront us continually. Two recent
examples will illustrate. Just before the Super Bowl this year, Arnie
Eisen, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, pondered
the ethics of watching the NFL:
The ethical issue is not viewers' pleasure
at the injuries, but our enjoyment in and support
of professional football, knowing full well the
damage done in the normal course of a game to
players' bodies and minds. Around the time the
current season began, it was announced (Ken
Belson, August 29, 2013, New York Times) that
"The National Football League has agreed to pay
$765 million to settle lawsuits brought by more
than 4,500 players and their families, largely
closing the legal front in the league's battle
against accusations that it concealed what
it knew about the dangers of repeated hits to the
head." A judge recently threw the settlement into
question, unsure that the money would be sufficient to cover the medical care required. The
data on concussions seem irrefutable. All of us
will be aware, as we watch Super Bowl XLVIII,
that in [sports writer, William C.] Rhoden's
words, "The NFL brand of football is a particularly violent game, and every time it is played,
people get hurt." We accept that. We watch anyway.
I write this column as hundreds of millions of people watch
the Winter Olympics. Fifteen year-old Russian figure skater, Julia
Lipnitskaia, will soon compete for gold and, according to news
reports, her “signature piece”—one she'll likely perform in the
Olympic long program—is set to John Williams' theme from
Steven Spielberg’s 1993 Holocaust drama Schindler’s List. But
that's not all: The routine features Lipnitskaia skating as the film’s
iconic “girl in the red coat,” a young Polish Jew who is killed by
Nazi soldiers. Writing about a long history of skaters incorporating
Schlinder’s List motifs into their routines, Justin Peters asks in Slate
magazine, “Why does something that seems so vulgar strike the
figure-skating community as the best idea ever?” Peters notes
that Lipnitskaia’s program was choreographed by Ilia Averbukh,
a former Olympic ice dancing medalist who is himself a Russian
Jew. Does that make a difference? An ice skating blog declares that
“when she skates as the little girl in the red coat in Schindler's List,
Miss Lipnitskaia's flaws become virtues that just work,” while USA
Today called Lipnitskaia’s routine “spectacular but respectful.” But,
Peters concludes, “The 15-year-old Russian skater is so beautiful
and graceful on the ice, she ends up transcending material that she
probably has no right using in the first place.” Why?
Elie Wiesel once wrote, “[N]ot even the killers ever imagined
that there could come a time when the merchants of images and
the brokers of language would set themselves up to speak for the
victims. The Holocaust has become a fashionable subject, so
film and theater producers and television networks have set out to
exploit it…They get a little history, a heavy dose of sentimentality
and suspense, a little eroticism, a few daring sex scenes, a dash of
theological rumination about the silence of God, and there it is: let
kitsch rule in the land of kitsch, where, at the expense of truth, what
counts is the ratings.” 2
I saw Lipnitskaia skate her short program a few days ago. I
predict she will win the gold medal in the long program. Even if
she does not, ratings will still be high. Millions of people will
applaud her as she skates. What will they applaud? We will watch.
When we do, to what will we say Amen with our applause? To
great figure skating? To the story of a Jewish girl’s death that
inspired Schindler to act and save others? Or are we allowing
ourselves to be manipulated into the cheapening of the Holocaust
in public culture?
Amen moments surround us. Ancient stories and modern
musicals. Violence and competition. Through humor and spectacle,
moments holy and profane, others ask us to say, Amen! They urge
us to agree that what they say is true. How we respond is serious
business.
— Rabbi Daniel Greyber
2
Wiesel, Elie. From the Kingdom of Memory, page 167.
SAVE-THE-DATE
Annual Community Yom Hashoah Commemoration
Sunday, April 27, 2014, 6:30 PM
This year’s service will be held at
Kehillah Synagogue, 1200 Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill
Beth El annually co-sponsors this event along with Generation
to Generation: Triangle Area Sons and Daughters of Holocaust
Survivors, Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation, Durham
Orthodox Kehillah, Chapel Hill Kehillah Synagogue, DurhamChapel Hill Chabad, Judea Reform Congregation, and Triangle
Congregation of Humanistic Judaism
Ellen Singer
“In Tune With Your Real Estate Needs”
Over 32 years
as a full-time
real estate broker
serving the Triangle Area,
including Chapel Hill,
Carrboro, Durham,
Orange and Chatham County
▪ Resident of Chapel Hill/Durham since 1973
▪ Graduate Realtors Institute
▪ Member of Beth El Congregation
▪ Member of the Chapel Hill Kehillah
▪ Life Member of Hadassah
▪ NC Hillel Board of Directors
▪ Board of Directors Durham/Chapel Hill Federation
27
Join Ramah Darom
for fun and inspiring programs
and retreats year-round for all ages!
Chapel Hill-Durham Hadassah
Not a member? Why not?
Everyone is welcome (yes, men too).
For information, contact please contact
Karen Betman at [email protected]
or you may join online at
www.hadassah.org (Chapel Hill/Durham branch).
Visit www.ramahdarom.org/programs
for registration & more information on these
& other programs year-round.
Passover Vacation
April 13-23, 2014
During this all-inclusive Passover Vacation guests enjoy the
rare opportunity to spend time learning and exploring Jewish
life, culture, texts and history with a diverse mix of distinguished
scholars, leaders and thinkers. And you won’t believe it’s Passover
when you taste our food! Our Communal Seders are led by
engaging, scholarly rabbinical leaders. Throughout the week
your family can choose from hundreds of programs, trips,
activities and lectures.
The Duke Center for Jewish Studies &
Duke Human Rights Center presents:
The Jewish Tradition & Human Rights, a lecture series
Monday, April 7, 2014: Zachary J. Braiterman of Syracuse
University, “What’s Human? Who’s Right: Moses Mendelssohn
and the Jewish Enlightenment” 5:30pm in Westbrook Building
Room 0016 (Duke West Campus)
Save the Date
32nd annual state of North Carolina's
Holocaust Commemoration
Sunday May 4, 3:00-5:00 pm
Jones Auditorium, campus of Meridith College, 3800 Hillsborough St. Raleigh. Music, a play and speakers. Watch for
updates: http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/holocaust_council/
Libi Eir Mikveh Art Gallery
One of Libi Eir's seven founding principles is Hiddur Mitzvah /
Beautifying the Mitzvah. Exhibiting the work of local artists is
one of the ways they take this mandate seriously - and joyfully.
Exhibits change every three to four months.
Artists: If you'd like to feature your work at Libi Eir, please
contact Rabbi Jenny Solomon at [email protected].
Beth El is a partnering synagogue of our community mikveh,
Libi Eir, which opened in September of 2011.
Contact Duke Center for Jewish Studies
for more information: 919-660-3504
Free lectures open to the public at local universities:
UNC-CH Carolina Center for Jewish Studies
&
Duke Center for Jewish Studies
Event information & and updates can be found at:
http://jewishstudies.duke.edu & www.jewishstudies.unc.edu
Was your family's property taken during the Holocaust?
If you or your family owned movable, immovable or tangible
property that was confiscated, looted, or forcibly sold in countries
governed or occupied by the Nazi forces or Axis powers during
the Holocaust era and you or your relatives received no restitution
for that property, you may be eligible to participate in the
Holocaust Era Asset Restitution Taskforce project (Project Heart).
Call 800-584-1559 for more information
or visit www.heartwebsite.org.
28
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
BETH EL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Friday night services:
Held only in conjunction with other programming or special events.
Talmud Torah 7th grade meets 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. when services are held.
Saturday morning services:
Services in the Orthodox Kehillah begin at 9:00 a.m.
Services in the main sanctuary begin at 9:30 a.m.
Mon
Tue
Weekday minyanim in the main sanctuary:
Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. followed by text study (7:45 a.m.-Rosh Chodesh)
Sundays 9:30 a.m.
Sun
Beth El members cook and serve lunch at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the First Wednesday of every month. Contact Gladys Siegel to help.
Beth El members cook and serve dinner at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the second Tuesday of every month. Contact Meyer Liberman to help.
24/22nd of Adar II, 5774
17/15th of Adar II, 5774
Shushan Purim
10/8th of Adar II, 5774
3/1st of Adar II, 5774
Rosh Chodesh Adar II
31/29th of Adar II, 5774
March
2014
26/24th of Adar II, 5774
19/17th of Adar II, 5774
7:30 Board Meeting
12/10th of Adar II, 5774
5/3rd of Adar II, 5774
Wed
27/25th of Adar II, 5774
20/18th of Adar II, 5774
1311th of Adar II, 5774
Ta'anit Esther
6/4th of Adar II, 5774
Thu
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/index.html
Listed Havdalah Times are 42 minutes after sunset
Beth El event calendar online:
25/23rd of Adar II, 5774
18/16th of Adar II, 5774
11/9th of Adar II, 5774
4/2nd of Adar II, 5774
Beth El members serve Tuna Casserole Dinner at the Durham Community Kitchen
the fourth Sunday of each month. Contact Erica Gringle to help prepare and/or serve.
2/30th of Adar I, 5774
Rosh Chodesh Adar II
-10:00am Intro. to Prayer
-10:30am Social Action Sun
-Aleph Bet
-7:00pm Sisterhood Rosh
Chodesh event
9/7th of Adar II, 5774
2:00a.m. DST (Spring forward)
-Bogrim
-2nd grade Family Program
-10:00am Knitting Chevra
-10:00am Intro. to Prayer
-10:30am Cong. Meeting
-Pre-kadima
16/14th of Adar II, 5774
Purim
-Megillat Esther reading
-Purim Carnival
23/21st of Adar II, 5774
-Bogrim
-10:00am Intro. to Prayer
-Kadima
-CROP Walk—CH/C
30/28th of Adar II, 5774
-Blood Drive
-9:45am Simchat Tot
-10:00am Intro. to Prayer
cal
Office Hours:
Mon. through Thurs.: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fri.: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Talmud Torah:
8:16pm Havdalah
29/27th of Adar II, 5774
Parashat Tazria
Shabbat HaChodesh
-Monthly Torah Discussion
22/20th of Adar II, 5774
Parashat Shmini
Shabbat Parah
-Children’s Services
(JC,JrJr,TS)
-Honoring our Gabbaim
8:10pm Havdalah
-USY event
15/13th of Adar II, 5774
Parashat Tzav / Shabbat Zachor
-1:15pm Shavit Book disc.
8:04pm Havdalah
Erev Purim
-Megillat Esther reading/
costume parade
-Party w/ Watts Street Band
6:58pm Havdalah
8/6th of Adar II, 5774
Parashat Vayikra
-Shabbat 25 (no Jr. Cong.)
-1:15pm Shavit Book disc.
6:52pm Havdalah
1/29th of Adar I, 5774
Parashat Pekudei
Shabbat Shekalim
-Ani Bryce Bat Mitzvah
-Jr. Congregation
-1:30pm Job class
Sat
Sun.: 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. preK-7th grades
Wed.: 4:15p.m.-6:00p.m. 2nd-6th grades
Sat.: 9:00a.m.-9:45a.m. & select Fri. 5:00-7:00p.m. 7th grade
Mishnah Study: Sat. 8:45 a.m.
Fri
7/5th of Adar II, 5774
Shabbat 25
6:00pm Shabbat Shirah:
Erev Shabbat Services &
Community Shabbat Dinner
5:57pm
14/12th of Adar II, 5774
7:04pm
21/19th of Adar II, 5774
7:10pm
28/26th of Adar II, 5774
7:15pm
29
30
BETH EL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
-Bogrim
-9:45am Simchat Tot
-Pre-kadima
-6:30pm Community Yom
Hashoah service (Chapel Hill
Kehillah Synagogue)
29/29th of Nisan, 5774
14th day of the Omer
28/28th of Nisan, 5774
Yom HaShoah
13th day of the Omer
27/27th of Nisan, 5774
12th day of the Omer
22/22nd of Nisan, 5774
Pesach VIII
7th day of the Omer
Office Closed
8:36pm Havdalah
21/21st of Nisan, 5774
Pesach VII
6th day of the Omer
Office Closed
15/15th of Nisan, 5774
Pesach I
Office Closed
8/8th of Nisan, 5774
1/1st of Nisan, 5774
Rosh Chodesh Nisan
Tue
7:35pm Candle Lighting
20/20th of Nisan, 5774
Pesach VI (CH''M)
5th day of the Omer
No Talmud Torah
14/14th of Nisan, 5774
Ta'anit Bechorot
Office Closes at noon
13/13th of Nisan, 5774
-Bogrim
-10:00am Knitting Chevra
-10:30am Social Action Sun.
-Aleph Bet
Erev Pesach
7:30pm Candle lighting
7/7th of Nisan, 5774
Mon
6/6th of Nisan, 5774
-USY /Kadima event
-CROP Walk-Durham
Sun
Weekday minyanim in the main sanctuary:
Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. followed by text study (7:45 a.m.-Rosh Chodesh)
Sundays 9:30 a.m.
Saturday morning services:
Services in the Orthodox Kehillah begin at 9:00 a.m.
Services in the main sanctuary begin at 9:30 a.m.
Friday night services:
Held only in conjunction with other programming or special events.
Talmud Torah 7th grade meets 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. when services are held.
30/30th of Nisan, 5774
Rosh Chodesh Iyyar
15th day of the Omer
23/23rd of Nisan, 5774
8th day of the Omer
8:31pm Havdalah
No Talmud Torah
16/16th of Nisan, 5774
Pesach II
1st day of the Omer
Office Closed
7:30 Board Meeting
9/9th of Nisan, 5774
2/2nd of Nisan, 5774
Wed
7:39pm
6:00pm services in the main
sanctuary
25/25th of Nisan, 5774
10th day of the Omer
Buddy Bomze Bar Mitzvah
7:33pm
18/18th of Nisan, 5774
Pesach IV (CH''M)
3rd day of the Omer
7:27pm
11/11th of Nisan, 5774
7:21pm
4/4th of Nisan, 5774
Shabbat 25
6:00pm Shabbat Shirah:
Erev Shabbat Services &
Community Shabbat Dinner
Fri
Mishnah Study: Sat. 8:45 a.m.
8:40pm Havdalah
26/26th of Nisan, 5774
Parashat Kedoshim
11th day of the Omer
Buddy Bomze Bar Mitzvah
8:34pm Havdalah
19/19th of Nisan, 5774
Pesach V (CH''M)
4th day of the Omer
12/12th of Nisan, 5774
Parashat Achrei Mot
Shabbat HaGadol
-Syaplex Shabbat / Yoga
-Monthly Torah Discussion
-Children’s Serv.(JC,JrJr,TS)
-Honoring our new drivers
8:28pm Havdalah
8:22pm Havdalah
5/5th of Nisan, 5774
Parashat Metzora
-Shabbat 25 (no Jr. Cong.)
-Honoring our High School
Seniors
Sat
Sun.: 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. preK-7th grades
Wed.: 4:15p.m.-6:00p.m. 2nd-6th grades
Sat.: 9:00a.m.-9:45a.m. & select Fri. 5:00-7:00p.m. 7th grade
Talmud Torah:
Beth El members serve Tuna Casserole Dinner at the Durham Community Kitchen
the fourth Sunday of each month. Contact Erica Gringle to help prepare and/or serve.
Beth El members cook and serve dinner at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the second Tuesday of every month. Contact Meyer Liberman to help.
Beth El members cook and serve lunch at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the First Wednesday of every month. Contact Gladys Siegel to help.
24/24th of Nisan, 5774
9th day of the Omer
17/17th of Nisan, 5774
Pesach III (CH''M)
2nd day of the Omer
10/10th of Nisan, 5774
6:00pm Sisterhood
sponsored Movie Night
3/3rd of Nisan, 5774
Thu
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/index.html
Listed Havdalah Times are 42 minutes after sunset
Beth El event calendar online:
2014
April
Mon. through Thurs.: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fri.: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Office Hours:
Cal.
March 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Community
JFS volunteers needed:
Shabbat Outreach volunteers are needed to lead a short
Shabbat service on Fridays for Jewish residents of an assisted
living facility in Chapel Hill.
Friendly Visitors are needed for isolated older adults living
in the community. Not appropriate for volunteers who want
to visit someone with their child. Friendly visitors will
spend time with the person as friends do- talking, exploring
common interests, or going for a walk. Minimum time
commitment: 2-4 hours per month.
For more information on these volunteer opportunities,
please contact JFS Social Worker Jenny Schwartz at
919-354-4923 or [email protected]
JFS Gift Card Program: JFS seeks gift cards to shops,
movies, restaurants, shows, hair salons. Your gift will be
apreciated by those in need. To make a donation or for more
information, contact Jenny Schwartz at 919-354-4923 or
[email protected]
Tzedakah in Bloom
Tzedakah in Bloom is a project started by the
Jewish Family Service to raise money for local
community members in need and food banks.
JFS offers 13 different silk flower arrangements
for use at your simcha.
(on the bimah, at a reception or as a centerpiece).
New arrangements are added periodically.
Each arrangement rents for $150.00.
Please call the Federation office at
919-489-5335 if you have questions about the project.
Photos of the arrangements
as well as a reservation form is online at:
www.shalomdch.org/blooms.htm.
To reserve an arrangement,
contact Sandy Fangmeier, Project Coordinator:
919-489-0433 or [email protected]
Jewish Family Services at the Levin JCC
1937 Cornwallis Road, Durham
919-354-4936
[email protected]
www.levinjcc.org
Contact Jenny Schwartz
at 919-354-4923 or [email protected]
for information on these & other JFS programs.
Visti the JCC website for dates & details
on these ongoing events & more:
JFS Mitzvah Corps Bubbes and Zaydes
Job & Networking Group  Caregiver Support Group
Chronic Connections  Memory Café
Chaverim  JFS Clinical Connections
Women’s & Men’s Groups  BRIDGES Sensational Sundays
Connections
We need Beth El volunteers at the Chapel Hill
Community Kitchen to cook lunch on the first Wednesday
of each month from 9:30-12:30. Anyone able to help please
contact Gladys Siegel ([email protected])
Servers & Tuna Casseroles Needed for Durham
Community Café Dinner the fourth Sunday of each
month! Several casseroles are needed for the Community
Café dinner that is served on the fourth Sunday of each
month. For your convenience, the recipe is printed below.
Please deliver the casseroles to Judea Reform before the
fourth Sunday of each month during their regular office
hours. If you are unable to deliver the casserole, please
contact Erica Gringle to make alternate arrangements.
This mitzvah is an easy one in which to involve children.
Besides making casseroles, Beth El's commitment is to
provide servers for the community meal on the fourth
Sunday of each month (5:30 PM - 7:00 PM). If you are
interested in participating in this community service project,
please contact Erica Rapport Gringle. Pre-teens through
adult can serve so this too is great mitzvah to do with your
older kids.
TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
(use a very large rectangular or oval disposable tin)
Please note changes for pasta & vegetables
—2 lbs. of rotini (other pastas get mushy after being frozen,
thawed and baked)
—about 42 ounces of water packed tuna, drained
—7 cans of cream of mushroom soup (about 70 ounces and
low sodium, if possible)
—8 carrots and 8 stalks of celery, diced
—Boil the noodles in a large pot of water until al dente or
almost done. Drain and place in casserole.
—Add all other ingredients and mix well.
—No need to cook. Just cover tightly with lots of foil and
transport it to the Judea Reform freezer.
Help our Jewish Elderly: Jewish Family Services
provides a program and lunch for seniors in our community
(Chaverim). This is a wonderful opportunity for our elderly
seniors to get together on a regular basis, spending time
together chatting over a good lunch. We are looking for
small groups of friends, such as a family or two, a Hebrew
school class or a B’nei Mitzvah student to consider preparing
or sponsoring ($100 donation) a lunch in honor or memory
of someone or just for the fun of it, for between 15 - 20
seniors. This is an easy and wonderfully rewarding mitzvah
opportunity. For more information please contact Michele
Pas at [email protected] or 919-493-3175.
Volunteer as a Guardian ad Litem: Help change the
lives of Durham's abused and neglected children. For more
information or to volunteer, contact Stephanie Kelly at
564-7289 or [email protected]. Sandy Kessler
can also give you information on what it is like to be a
Guardian ad Litem.
Duke Hospice Volunteers Needed: If you or anyone
you know is interested in becoming a hospice volunteer for
Duke Hospice, please contact Carolyn Colsher at 919-6203859, ext. 235 or [email protected]. For more
information on programs visit www.dhch.duhs.duke.edu.
31
BETH EL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Friday evening services:
Services are held on Friday evenings only in conjunction with other programming or special occasions.
See monthly calendars for noted dates and times.
Saturday morning services:
Services in the Orthodox Kehillah begin at 9:00 a.m.
Services in the Main Sanctuary begin at 9:30 a.m.
Weekday minyanim in the Main Sanctuary*:
Sunday mornings at 9:30am
Wednesday mornings at 8:00am
*Please let the office know in advance if you need to say Kaddish, even if a minyan has already been scheduled.
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. / Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Office
Rabbi Daniel Greyber, Rabbi
Casey Baker, Executive Director
Elisabeth Albert, Education & Youth Director
Sheri Hoffman, Congregational Services Coordinator
Krisha Miller, Publicity Assistant
Rabbi Steve Sager, Rabbi Emeritus
Bulletin Advertising Sales Manager
(voice) 919-682-1238 (fax) 919-682-7898
919-682-1238
[email protected]
919-682-1238 ext. 110
[email protected]
919-682-1238 ext. 170
[email protected]
919-682-1238 ext. 100
[email protected]
919-416-1397
[email protected]
919-682-1238 ext. 195
[email protected]
919-942-5369
[email protected]
If the office phone is in use or no one is in the office, please leave a message on the voice mail.
Your call will be returned in a timely manner.
BETH EL WEBSITE:
Barak Richman
Rachel Galanter
Noah Pickus
Roy Schonberg
President
1st Vice-President
2nd Vice-President
Financial Secretary
www.betheldurham.org
The deadline to submit items for the Beth El Bulletin is the first workday of the preceding month.
The deadline for the April issue is March 3; for the May issue, April 1.
Send bulletin items and calendar dates via e-mail to [email protected].
Dated Material
Beth El Synagogue
1004 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701