January 2016 Bulletin - Congregation B`nai Israel

Volume 157, Issue 6
JANUARY
HIGHLIGHTS
Mazel Tov
Find out who among our
congregation are making their mark
in the community. See Mazel Tov on
Page 2.
Resolve to Read
Are you looking for a different
New Year’s resolution in 2016? The
Library Ladies have an idea: Read
more Jewish books. See some of
their suggestions on Page 4.
A Rewarding Experience
A first-time attendee to the recent
URJ Biennial found it exceeded
his expectations. Should you start
making plans for the 2017 event?
Read Rabbi Schultz on Page 5.
Tevet/Sh’vat 5776
January 2016
Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy
Join us for a special Shabbat service to
honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on
Friday, January 15. We will welcome
Reverend Bernadette Marie HickmanMaynard, co-pastor of Bethel AME
Church in Bridgeport. Her topic at services
and after dinner will be “Honoring the
Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King:
Thinking about contemporary issues of
race in 21st century Bridgeport.”
Services will begin at 6:00 p.m., with a
preceding Oneg at 5:30.
At services, Pastor Teddy Maynard
Rev. Bernadette Marie Hickman-Maynard
of Bethel AME will sing in honor of
MLK. At dinner immediately following Bernadette. Dinner costs $20 per person.
services, we will welcome members of Please RSVP to Lynn or Chris in the
Bethel AME church to our Shabbat table. office at (203) 336-1858
We hope you will join us for dinner
and the subsequent talk with Pastor
For more on this event, see Rabbi
Prosnit’s column on Page 3.
Give Your Billions
Put on Mark Zuckerberg’s shoes for
a moment. Who would you help if
you had $45 billion to give away?
Read Ira Wise on Page 7.
Making Their Case
Members of the B’nai Israel
Confirmation Class of 2016 made the
annual RAC trip to lobby for Reform
causes on Capitol Hill. See Page 16.
More Inside
Bulletin Board.............................. P.2
BIFTY.......................................... P.4
Adult Learning............................. P.6
Mitzvah Mornings........................ P.6
Bonim......................................... P.10
Shabbat Services........................ P.15
Sabbath of Song
Join us on Friday evening January 22 at
6:00 p.m. for a special Shabbat Shirah –
Sabbath of Song – featuring the Sacred
Heart University Liturgical Choir
(pictured above).
The choir, conducted by John
Michniewicz, SHU’s director of Choral
Programs, will be joined on the bimah by
the B’nai Israel Adult Choir.
This “Evening of Psalms” will feature a
wide variety of uplifting and inspirational
music, including contemporary and
traditional songs.
An Oneg will precede the service at 5:30
p.m.
Mazel Tov
Here are some recent noteworthy
achievements by members of our B’nai
Israel community:
David Abraham’s new book, “The
Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns and
the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the
Rare Metal Age,” was published recently
by the Yale University Press. Abraham
targeted his book on rare earth metals for
the general audience, not
just geologists.
Abraham is a natural
resource strategist who
previously analyzed risk
on Wall Street and at an
energy-trading firm, oversaw naturalresources programs at the White House
Office of Management and Budget, and
Welcome! Welcome!
A warm welcome to our newest members.
We look forward to their participation in
our
many programs and hope their affiliation
will not only enrich their lives, but that of
our congregation.
Dennis and Andrea Feinberg
Joan Drive, Fairfield
Lois Wallman
Park Avenue, Bridgeport
Sharing Our Joy
Barbara and Derek Solomon, on the birth
of grandson, Jonah Miles Solomon.
Sincere Sympathy
We extend our sympathy to the bereaved
families of:
Gloria Sacks, mother of Debbie Viens
Barbara Norton, mother of Hunter Norton
and Brad Norton
COLLEGE CONNECTION
We want to keep our college students
connected to B’nai Israel. Let us know how
you are doing, what you are up to and any
big news.
To send you little holiday surprises and for
you to keep connected with your temple
friends, we need your school address and
email address. Please send your information
to Lynn in the main office at lynn@cbibpt.
org. 2
ran a water-focused NGO in Africa. He
currently directs the Technology, Rare
and Electronics Materials Center. He is
the son of Barbara Abraham.
The Fairfield Theatre Company named
Alan Neigher its Citizen of the Year for
his leadership and contributions to FTC
throughout the years.
Continued on Page 7
Bulletin Board
Swing into Brunch
The Community Wide Widow &
Widowers Musical Brunch will
take place on Sunday, January 24
from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the
Temple.
For more information or to RSVP,
call Jewish Family Services at (203)
366-5438 or email [email protected].
Join the House Committee
We need you on the B’nai Israel
House Committee.
This panel, which in more modern
times could be called the Facilities
Committee, is charged with the
care and direction of our physical
building and grounds. We develop
long-range capital budgets for things
such as replacing windows and
other major items, and also work in
conjunction with the art and design
and facility rental committees.
We make recommendations for
aesthetics throughout the temple.
Join us at a House Committee
meeting and add your input going
forward. Contact Chairperson Bernie
Jacobs at [email protected] with
any questions about serving on this
committee and to add your name to
our contact list.
JFS Programs
Jewish Family Services offers
many programs to help those in our
community. They include:
• JFS
New
Beginnings,
Mondays, 7:00-8:00 pm – This
Divorce Support Group meets
at the JFS Westport office, 431
Post Road East, Suite 11. For
more information, contact Eve
Moskowitz at (203) 921-4161 or
[email protected].
• JFS Brain Fitness Program
– This program works with
clients experiencing early stage
dementia or Alzheimer’s in
the client’s home. For details,
contact Matt Greenberg at (203)
921-4161 or mgeenberg@ctjfs.
org.
Be a Mensch
One of your neighbors needs your
help!
Please consider becoming a driver,
a friendly visitor or a shopper for a
senior living in our community. Join
the JFS Mitzvah Corps, where one
mitzvah leads to another.
For more information, contact
Barbara Paris at (203) 366-5438, ext.
214 or visit our website at www.jfsct.
org.
What’s happening at the Temple? Get Hashavua, our weekly email. Send your request to Lynn at [email protected].
From the Rabbi’s Desk/Rabbi James Prosnit
Honoring the Legacy of Dr. King
Of all the speeches and letters
written by Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., the one that I like to reread on
his birthday weekend is the one he
wrote from the Birmingham jail.
In 1963, Dr. King brought a
campaign of nonviolence and
passive resistance to Birmingham,
Alabama.
During
protest
demonstrations, hundreds of people
were arrested. King chose to go
to jail rather than obey a court
order to end the demonstrations.
While in solitary confinement, he
responded to a letter written to him
by eight leading white clergymen,
including Rabbi Milton Grafman of
Temple Emanuel in Birmingham.
They asked him to call off the
demonstrations and to rely instead
on negotiations and the courts. Over
Easter Weekend, Dr. King drafted a
response which is certainly worth a
full read, but here are two sentences:
I have never yet engaged in a direct
action movement that was “well
timed,” according to the timetable
of those who have not suffered…
“Wait!” It rings in the ear of every
Negro with a piercing familiarity.
This “wait” has almost always
meant, “Never.”
We will have to repent in this
generation not merely for the
vitriolic words and actions of the bad
people, but for the appalling silence
of good people. We must come to see
that human progress never rolls in
on wheels of inevitability. It comes
through the tireless efforts and
persistent work of men willing to be
Dr. Martin Luther King: Thinking
about contemporary issues of race
in 21st century Bridgeport.” She’ll
be joined by her husband (and copastor), the Reverend Dr. Theodore
Nathaniel Hickman-Maynard, and
other members of Bethel AME
church. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
co-workers with God.
Rabbi Schultz and I have come to
know Pastor Bernadette through our
work with CONECT, Congregations
Organized for a New Connecticut.
She speaks forcefully and honestly
and is a young impressive voice here
in Bridgeport. Last summer some
members of B’nai Israel joined us
at her church on two occasions. The
first was to dialogue with Police
Commissioner Joseph Gaudett,
Jr., about policing strategies in
Bridgeport in the wake of events
in Ferguson, Baltimore and Staten
Island. The second was to mourn
with AME church members after
the shootings in Charleston. We
came to appreciate her passion and
civility and are so pleased that she
has agreed to join us.
Each year, I try to put myself in Rabbi
Grafman’s shoes. As a respected
Jewish figure in the South, he was
strongly against segregation, but
he also knew that his congregants
were shopkeepers and businessmen
and didn’t want their rabbi to ruffle
too many feathers in the city where
they lived. Would I have preached
caution and encouraged Dr. King
to go slow, or would I have been
a champion of the demonstrators?
I would like to think the latter, but
it’s easy to say so given the time and The Torah portion for that week in
distance.
January is “Bo” – a time when we
coincidentally read how Moses is
We’ll have a chance to reflect on the
called upon to “go” to Pharoah and
challenges of being a prophetic voice
speak truth to power. The ancient
and the power of Dr. King’s words
text was an influence on Dr. King
on the upcoming MLK Birthday
and continues to have relevance and
weekend, specifically on Friday
significance today. I hope you can
evening, January 15. Our guest
join us to honor the legacy of Dr.
will be Reverend Bernadette Marie
King and meet a leading figure in
Hickman-Maynard, co-pastor of
our community.
Bethel AME Church in Bridgeport.
Her topic at services and after dinner
will be “Honoring the Legacy of
Donation Item of the Month: Cans of Soup and Stew for Operation Hope.
3
Library Ladies:
Resolve to Read Jewish Literature in 2016
Dear Readers of B’nai Israel,
We the Library Ladies wish all of our
members a Happy New Year. We also
fervently hope that the articles we
have presented to you in the Bulletin
have inspired you to take a look at the
hard work we have done to make the
many reading selections in the library
accessible to you! Last month we wrote
about some amazing Chanukah books,
with unique stories, for children. This
month, our focus is on adult Jewish
literature that takes us to a wide range of
times and places. We hope to see some of
these books checked out from the back
desk, soon.
Sharon Kahn’s “Fax Me a Bagel” is an
entertaining mystery novel that combines
Jewish culture in two very different
states (New York and Texas), family life
and the adventures of a rabbi’s widow
who discovers she has a gift for detective
work. Enjoy this book while you nosh on
a bagel with cream cheese!
For a taste of life Israel’s West Bank, as
seen through the eyes of a transplanted
group of Americans, read Risa Miller’s
“Welcome to Heavenly Heights.” Miller
weaves her tale with threads of the
surrounding society (and its violence),
the complexities of human relationships,
and commitment to a particular way
of perceiving and practicing Judaism.
Readers will find themselves swiftly
moving back and forth from ancient
history to the 21st century in this
personalized view of a small part of the
world that has had such a big effect on
all of us.
Another journey: Mitchell James
Kaplan’s “By Fire, By Water,” takes us
back to the late 1400s, and back in the
history of human suffering to the Spanish
Inquisition. Seen through the eyes of a
“converso” (converts from Judaism to
Christianity), the novel depicts a time in
the world’s history that has sadly been
repeated many times in many places
and in many ways. The conflict between
human ambition and the ties that bind
us through human relationships is
thoroughly engaging in this novel.
We have shared a few of the library’s
many offerings with you in this brief
column. We hope to see you here to
explore these books (found as always on
the desk). We are also very much looking
forward to the return of children’s and
adult books to the library, so that other
members can enjoy them! Please place
them in the basket on the desk. Thank
you in advance for this courtesy!
Sincerely,
The Library Ladies
BIFTY: WHAT’S ON TAP FOR JANUARY
Happy New Year! We look forward to
seeing you at our January events! All
programs are on Thursdays from 7:00 to
8:30 p.m. in the BIFTY Lounge.
• January 14
• January 21
• January 28
4
What did you miss at the end of the
year? BIFTY members had a great time
celebrating Havdalah with composer in
residence Noah Aronson (above left),
and they offered a fun evening of games
and socializing to B’nai Israel’s seventhand eighth-graders.
We are on Twitter now! Follow us via @cbibpt. We’ll follow back!
From the Rabbi’s Study/Rabbi Evan Schultz
Reflections on the URJ Biennial
As I took my seat on the small JetBlue
airplane headed to Orlando, I couldn’t
help but notice that my seatmate was
holding a copy of Ron Wolfson’s recent
book, “Relational Judaism.” He glanced
at me, noticing that I was holding a
book about 20th century Jewish thinker
Abraham Joshua Heschel. “Are you
going to URJ Biennial?” I asked him
with a smile, gesturing at the book in his
hand. “Sure am,” he replied. We began
chatting; he shared that he was about
to be installed as the new president of
his synagogue in Westchester, and I
told him about our community here in
Bridgeport. (I couldn’t help but hum the
song “Wherever you go, there’s always
someone Jewish” in my head) This was
the first of my many interesting and
meaningful encounters during the Union
for Reform Judaism Biennial in Orlando
this past November.
This was my first biennial, and I was
slightly nervous to encounter 5,000
enthusiastic Reform Jews in one Orlando
resort hotel. As I walked into the hotel,
many familiar faces greeted me – friends
and colleagues from both past and
present. The anxiety quickly turned into
excitement, as I realized the gift I was
about to experience for the next three
days.
Biennial is a web of interesting sessions,
classes, performances, talks, speakers,
plenaries and encounters. There is really
something for everyone. I took a course
with HUC-JIR professor Wendy Zierler
discussing the similarities between the
film “The King’s Speech” and Moses.
I sat with synagogue leaders who are
completely rethinking the Bar and Bat
“I felt re-energized
by the thinking and
conversations.”
Rabbi Schultz shares a break in the action at the recent URJ Biennial
with B’nai Israel congregant Luise Burger.
Mitzvah process in their communities. I
sat in a room with adults and teenagers
to learn about the latest research on
what is meaningful to our teenagers
(I’m proud to say I totally understand
teenagers now). On Friday morning, I
joined with B’nai Israel alum Rabbi Todd
Markley for a NFTY morning t’filah
service that utilized all kinds of fun
technology to engage the worshippers. In
the evenings, I learned about hospitality
from restauranteur Danny Meyer and
film star Michael Douglas. Israeli author
Ari Shavit and Knesset member Stav
Shafir discussed the new ways in which
we need to talk about Israel to make it
relevant to the next generation. Our
movement joined together to vote on
the most comprehensive resolution to
welcome transgender individuals into
our synagogue communities. I met new
people. I reconnected with old friends.
I felt re-energized by the thinking and
conversations that are taking place within
our movement.
In one sense, I went to Biennial to soak up
new ideas and learn about best practices
taking place in synagogues around the
country. On the other hand, I was there
to be part of something bigger, to engage
with my own Judaism in a new way, to
fulfill my commitment as a Reform Jew
to learning, Israel and social justice.
I hope you’ll consider joining with us for
the next Biennial – mark your calendars
for December 6-10, 2017, in Boston,
Mass. Come be a part of one of the great
experiences of the Reform Movement. I
am so glad I finally decided to try it.
Like Us on Facebook. Visit the Congregation B’nai Israel page and join us online.
5
Adult Jewish Learning At Congregation B’nai Israel
Rosh Chodesh with Rabbi Suri Krieger
Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The
waxing
and
waning of lunar cycles
has been a guiding
force for women
throughout the ages,
both literally and spiritually. Since the
Jewish feminist movement reclaimed
Rosh Chodesh in the 1970s, women have
been gathering on a monthly basis to
acknowledge and celebrate in many ways –
ancient text, contemporary outreach, food
and fantasy. Women are invited to join
Rabbi Suri Krieger to celebrate the new
Hebrew month and for spiritual growth.
Adult Round Table
Thursday, January 7 at 12:30 p.m.
A discussion about current events for
anyone who wants to go beyond the
headlines. Facilitated by Gloria Katz. Join
us the first Thursday of every month, and
bring a sandwich, your opinion and an
open mind.
The Sacred Encounter: Jewish Perspectives on Sexuality
Fridays at Noon, January 22, 29,
February 5, 12 and 19
Rabbi
Prosnit
explores classic
and contemporary
views of sex and
sexual
identity
and the challenges and opportunities of
changing mores and times. and explore the power of an “Intentional
Community” to influence values and
attitudes in children and staff.
CBI Talks!
Sunday, January 31 at 9:45, 10:10 and
10:35 a.m.
As described in the November bulletin,
but postponed until now – join us for CBI
Talks. We have invited members of our
congregational community to give short
(18 minutes!) presentations about some of
the things they know and are passionate
about. Our first event features three presenters, one at 9:45 a.m. (enough time to allow those dropping off for religious school
to get a cup of coffee and schmooze for a
few minutes), the second at 10:10 a.m. and
the third at 10:35 a.m. So give yourself 18
minutes – or even the full hour. Come for
one presentation or stay for all three. Come
learn with us. Here is the January lineup:
9:45 a.m. Jeff Ackerman
Creating Intentional Communities
The resident camp experience has been
thought of as a community defined by
the spirit of children that is guided by the
wisdom of adults. In this CBI Talk, we
will delve into the impact camp can have
on its participants and how it provides
the opportunity to develop menschen. We
will look at Jewish camps, camps that
serve socioeconomically disadvantaged
children as well as high-end private camps
Jeff Ackerman holds a Ph.D in clinical
psychology and has spent 40 years
in children’s summer camps. He has
brought his background in education and
psychology to both day and resident camps
in the Northeast. He currently consults
with the Foundation for Jewish Camps. He
directed Elmwood Day Camp for 26 years
and has been an associate director at Echo
Lake Camp and Camp Walt Whitman. 10:10 a.m. TBA
At our print deadline, we are still
finalizing one speaker.
Are you interested in presenting something
you are passionate about at a future
program? Contact Ira Wise at iwise@
cbibpt.org or call him at the Temple.
10:35 a.m. Rabbi James Prosnit
The Education of Rabbi – What I
Didn’t Learn in Rabbinic School
Jim Prosnit was ordained a rabbi in 1981.
According to his teacher, Doctor Eugene
Borowitz, that is when the real learning
began. In this CBI Talk, Rabbi Prosnit
will share some of the lessons he learned
and stories about his experiences in the
years since and what he has learned in the
“practical rabbinate.”
Bettering Our Community
Congregants of all ages gathered
to decorate and package bags for
Thanksgiving meals for those in need of
food assistance, as part of November’s
Mitzvah Morning event.
For our January Mitzvah Morning, we
will join others in the community for the
MLK Day of Service at the University of
Bridgeport on Monday, January 18. This
is UB’s 10th Annual Day of Service run
by the UB. We will try to keep as many
of our congregants together as possible,
working on one or two projects. Families
are welcome!
6
The day’s activities begin at 8:30 a.m.
at the university’s John J. Cox Student
Center with breakfast and a keynote
speaker. We will begin working on our
projects between 9:00 and 9:30, breaking
for lunch at 12:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., an
MLK documentary will be shown. Lunch
and the documentary are optional if you
need to leave.
You can sign up by contacting the Temple
office at (203) 336-1858, or email Joanne
Lippman ([email protected]) or
Sheryl Santiago ([email protected])
for more information.
Our February Mitzvah Morning will
take place on Sunday, February 7 from
2:00 to 5:00 p.m. We will be working
at Norma Pfriem Urban Outreach
Initiatives Food Pantry/Feel the Warmth
(located at the United Congregational
Church in Bridgeport), helping with their
Clothes Closet. Volunteers of all ages are
welcome. For more information, contact
Shari Nerreau at [email protected].
Have the kids left home? Then it’s a perfect time to ReConnect with B’nai Israel. Contact Mindy Siegel at [email protected].
From the Education Center/Ira J. Wise
Winning Giving Tuesday
(or If I Had $45,000,000,000!)
Attention Warriors defending Christmas:
You may want to put down your
red Starbucks cups and watch some
commercials from Best Buy. Those ads
tell you that when you give tech, you get
love and “Win the Holidays.” Ugh.
Now it turns out that Facebook founder
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla
Chan, have won “Giving Tuesday” with
some seriously audacious generosity.
According to the New York Times:
Many billionaires turned to philanthropy
late in their lives. In Silicon Valley,
some are turning to it much earlier. The
most prominent example of that trend
happened on Tuesday (December 1)
when Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook
co-founder and chief executive, said he
and his wife, Priscilla Chan, plan to give
away 99 percent of their Facebook shares
– currently valued at $45 billion – for
charitable purposes. The couple made
their announcement in an open letter to
their newborn daughter, Max.
Now, there are several directions we
could take this. We could examine how
this does or does not fit the patterns
being discerned about Millenials. Let’s
not. We could explore the outrageously
out-of-sync wealth that has sprouted in
Silicon Valley, Silicon Alley (Boston)
and Silicon Wadi (Israel) and how the
new billionaires are handling it. Pass.
We could focus on the new philanthropy
of those billionaires, such as the Giving
“If you had $45,000,000,000
to donate for charitable
purposes, how would you
distribute it?”
Pledge, an effort set up in 2010 by Bill
and Melinda Gates, or Warren Buffet’s
approach to fellow billionaires urging
them to give away their money. I like it,
but not today.
Instead, I would like to invite you to
consider your answer to the question:
If you had $45,000,000,000 to donate
for charitable purposes, how would you
distribute it? What kinds of causes would
you support? Would you give it directly
to an individual in need? Would you give
it to organizations?
Giving tzedakah is both an everyday
mitzvah and an every holiday mitzvah.
So after you have thought about what
you would do with $45 billion, make
like Samuel J. Jackson and ask “What’s
in YOUR wallet?” Figure out how you
can take an amount that is realistic for
you – not Zuckerbergesque – and direct
your own tzedakah to one or more of the
recipients you thought of!
I invite you to share your ideas on the
Temple Facebook page. And I invite you
to share your tzedakah wherever you see
fit. (If you need some ideas, you might
want to consider some of our temple funds
at
http://www.congregationbnaiisrael.
org/giving/tzedakah/.) Sure, the year just
ended. But why wait until December to
get started on your charitable giving?
L’shalom,
Ira J. Wise, R.J.E.
Temple Educator
MAZEL TOV ........................................................................ Continued from Page 2
The Fairfield Theatre Company is a
nonprofit center for the arts and culture
located next to Fairfield’s downtown
station. FTC has evolved into one of the
region’s most energetic and productive
performing arts centers.
Alan Neigher has been a principal in the
Westport law firm of Byelas & Neigher
since 1980. Michael London was elected to a fifth
term on the Trumbull Town Council. He
runs Michael J. London & Associates,
a public relations and marketing
communications agency that provides
complete public relations strategy
development
and
implementation,
serving both Fortune 500 companies and
a wide range of small firms.
Let us know when you or someone
you know does something worthy of
a “mazel tov.” Send your news and
accomplishments to Bulletin Editor Scott
Smith at [email protected].
What’s happening at the Temple? Get Hashavua, our weekly email. Send your request to Lynn at [email protected].
7
Donations
Please note that only contributions of $10.00 or more will be acknowledged with a card and Bulletin listing.
Rabbi Prosnit Discretionary Fund
Donations in honor of Rabbi Prosnit’s
Distinguished Community Leadership Award
given by the Connecticut ADL were made
by:
Carol and Nate Barsky
Carson and Robert Berkowitz
Barbara and Sam Boyarsky
Elaine and Robert Friedman
Alice and George Kelly
Nora Mayerson
The Nerreau Family
Debbie and Michael Weisman
Edie Baum, a donation.
Lori Berger, in memory of father, Lester
Davis.
Elaine and Juda Chetrit, in memory of
Stanley Lebow, father of Liz Flatto; in
memory of Robert Greenhall, father of Larry
Greenhall; in memory of Ulrike Alexander
Bork, mother of Iris Bork-Goldfield.
Sylvia Edelson, in memory of father, Morris
Gordon.
Andrea and Dennis Feinberg, in memory
of Sylvia Rosenberg, mother of Paula
Herzlinger.
Robin Horwitch, in honor of enjoying
Rabbi Prosnit’s Monday night class.
Robin Isaacson and Ben Rottman, in
honor of Terri and Dan Green, on the birth of
grandson, Spencer Max Braman.
Lisa Knicos, in loving memory of Ellen
Kadden.
Richard and Joanne Krantz, in
appreciation of the many contributions of
Rabbi Prosnit to Congregation B’nai Israel.
Shirley Jacob Lantz, Joel, Michael,
Sam, Lara and Kathy Jacob, in loving
appreciation.
Aleksey and Raisa Ledvich, in memory of
aunt, Shelya Sotnik.
Joan Lipin, in appreciation; in memory of
husband, Bernie Lipin; in honor of the Bar
Mitzvah of Noah Giglietti.
Beth and Randy Reich, in honor of Debbie
Weisman, and with wishes for a smooth and
comfortable recuperation.
Wendy Ruben, in honor of Emily’s Bat
Mitzvah.
Gail, Ed, Dustin and Tamara Schriffert, in
memory of father and grandfather, Harry Lee
Vineberg, on his 20th yahrzeit.
Rachel Shur, in appreciation of Rabbi
Prosnit’s teachings.
Maxine Stewart and Jena Gross, in
memory of mom/grandma, Jean Schafrank.
Eileen and Howard Tolk, in loving memory
of father, Maurice Velenchik.
8
Debbie and Michael Weisman, in memory
of Mortimer Aaron, father of Wendy Bender;
in memory of Sylvia Rosenberg, mother
of Paula Herzlinger; in honor of the 50th
Wedding Anniversary of Norman and Willi
Berkowitz, and a speedy recovery to Willi.
Sheila and Burton Yaffie and Family, in
loving memory of father, grandfather and
great-grandfather, Bernard H. Seigel.
The Giglietti Family, in appreciation of
Rabbi Prosnit for Noah’s Bar Mitzvah.
Debbie, Dan, Matthew and Jaime Viens,
in memory of Robert Greenhall, father of
Larry Greenhall, grandfather of Nathan and
Hannah; in memory of Jack Helfgott, brother
of Steve Helfgott.
Rabbi Schultz Discretionary Fund
Geoffrey and Melanie Kooris, in honor
of the naming of Don and Wendy Hyman’s
granddaughters, Sarra and Margot.
Richard and Joanne Krantz, in
appreciation of the many contributions of
Rabbi Schultz to Congregation B’nai Israel.
Wendy Ruben, in honor of Emily’s Bat
Mitzvah.
Music Fund
Carol and Nate Barsky, in memory of
sister-in-law, Jeanette Barsky.
The Giglietti Family, in appreciation of
Cantor Blum for Noah’s Bar Mitzvah; in
memory of Bernard Lipin.
Richard and Joanne Krantz, in
appreciation of the many contributions of
Cantor Blum to Congregation B’nai Israel.
Wendy Ruben, in honor of Emily’s Bat
Mitzvah.
Shari Nerreau, in memory of Beverly
Nachimson, mother of Barbara Gersen.
Barbara Saltman, in appreciation of Bari
Dworken’s mentoring as a chaplain.
George and Sheryl Santiago, in honor of
Alan Neigher being named Citizen of the
Year by the Fairfield Theatre Company.
Jonathan and Cleo Sonneborn, in memory
of Bonnie Clayton, mother of Elaine
Clayton.
Eileen and Howard Tolk, in loving memory
of step-mother and mother-in-law, Beulah
Tolk.
Enhancement Fund
Barbara Berkowitz, in memory of husband,
Barry Berkowitz.
Elaine Borno, in memory of father, Monny
Levy.
Jim and Lisa Greenberg, in memory of
Robert Greenhall, father of Larry Greenhall;
in memory of Beverly Nachimson, mother
of Barbara Gersen; in memory of Stanley
Lebow, father of Liz Flatto.
Victor and Irma Gurvits, in memory of
Julius Geiman.
The Hersher Family Foundation, a
donation.
Lorraine Heyde, in honor of the High Holy
Day services.
Jan and Bernie Jacobs, in memory of
Robert Greenhall, father of Larry Greenhall.
Ruth Madwed, in honor of Barbara Bresler
and her very special birthday.
Brian and Shari Nerreau, in memory of
Judie Spitz, mother of Shari Pearlman.
The Patrignelli Family, in appreciation to
Rabbi Schultz for Abigail’s baby naming.
Julie and Steve Pressman, in memory of
Beverly Nachimson, mother of Barbara
Gersen.
Patti and Samuel Rosenberg, in memory of
Thomas Prestianni, father of Alexa Cohen;
in memory of Mejlech Rosenberg; in honor
of Noah Giglietti’s Bar Mitzvah.
Bob and Twody Schless, in memory of
Gunther Stile, father of Twody Schless.
Myra Shapiro and Michael Connolly, in
memory of Ulrike Alexander Bork, mother
of Iris Bork-Goldfield.
Eileen and Howard Tolk, in memory of our
dear friend, Linda Murnick.
Sylvia Prosnit Adult Education Fund
Barbara Abraham, in honor of, and with
gratitude for, the birth of Jonah Miles
Solomon, grandson of Barbara and Derek
Solomon.
Paula and Robert Herzlinger, remembering
Ellen Kadden with love.
Anne and Mark Kirsch, in memory of
Robert Greenhall, father of Larry Greenhall.
Beth Lazar, in loving memory of my great
aunt, Esther Epstein.
Peter and Judy Panthauer, in memory of
Robert Greenhall, father of Larry Greenhall.
Sheryl and George Santiago, in recognition
of Rabbi Prosnit’s ADL Award.
William and Lorraine Smith, in honor of
Rachel Rosenberg, daughter of Patti and
Sam Rosenberg, for receiving the Blue Card
Young Leadership Award.
Nursery School Enrichment Fund
Donations made in memory of Thomas
Prestianni, father of Alexa Cohen, were
made by:
The Kooris Family
Reach more than 700 families. Advertise in the Bulletin. Contact Sam Rosenberg at [email protected].
Donations
Please note that only contributions of $10.00 or more will be acknowledged with a card and Bulletin listing.
Amy and Jeff Pressman
Julie and Steve Pressman
Donations made in memory of Gloria Sacks,
mother of Debbie Viens, were made by:
Lori and Ken Berger
The Elbaum Family
The Panthauer Family
Nancy and Jonathan Rosenthal
Serena and Arnie Sher
The Silberman/Weisman Family
Deborah Bongiorno, in honor of Beth
Pinkussohn’s birthday.
Geoffrey and Melanie Kooris, in memory
of fathers, Domonic Correnti and Joseph
Kooris.
The Patrignelli Family, in appreciation to
Alexa Cohen for Abigail’s baby naming.
Eileen and Howard Tolk, in honor of
Marjorie Krubiner, for her leadership in the
Merkaz program.
Nursery School Scholarship Fund
Donations made in memory of Thomas
Prestianni, father of Alexa Cohen, were
made by:
The Adwin Family
Lindsay Alston
Linda and Joel Bernstein
Bonim Preschool Class 3A
Bonim Preschool Class 3B
Bonim Preschool Class 4A
Elaine and Juda Chetrit
Jeffrey and Dorit Dahan
The Giglietti Family
Jessica, David, Benjamin and Harrison
Goldberg
Jan and Bernie Jacobs
Shari and Brian Nerreau
Rabbi James Prosnit and Wendy Bloch
Dale, Robert and Sam Resnick-Riemer
Rabbi Evan Schultz and Jenny Goldstein
The Stern-Soltz Family
Debbie, Dan, Matthew and Jaime Viens
Gail and Peter Weinstein
Linda and Joel Bernstein, in memory of
Judie Spitz, mother of Shari Pearlman; in
memory of Robert Greenhall, father of Larry
Greenhall.
The Bonim Preschool Families, in memory
of Judie Spitz, mother of Shari Pearlman.
Alexa Cohen, in memory of Judie Spitz,
mother of Shari Pearlman.
Gail and Peter Weinstein, in memory of
Belle Taft, mother of Rhoda Levitan.
Gail, Peter, Andrea and Brad Weinstein,
in memory of Uncle Leon.
Rabbi Martin Library Fund
Carol and Nate Barsky, in memory of
brother, Donald Quint, and sister, Gertrude
Kelly.
Muggs Lefsetz, in memory of Sylvia
Mostov Thal, sister of Gerry Eckber.
Prayer Book Fund
Barbara Abraham, in honor of Barbara P.
Bresler’s 90th Birthday.
Carol and Nate Barsky, in memory of aunt
and uncle, Eleanor and Harold Woodman.
Mazon
Carol and Nate Barsky, in memory of
daughter, Lynn Barsky Ryalls.
Judi and David Beier, in loving and
cherished memory of grandmother, Celia
Mehl.
Beth Lazar, in loving memory of my uncle,
Fred Greenberg.
Nora Mayerson, in memory of beloved
mother, Lily D.S. Shereshevsky.
Cleo and Jonathan Sonneborn, in memory
of father, Clark Rawdon.
Religious School Scholarship Fund
Eric and Lisa Broder, thank you to Ira
Wise for all of the guidance he has given to
Matthew as he becomes a Bar Mitzvah.
Religious School Enrichment Fund
Ken and Rita Weinstein, in memory of
Albert Weinstein.
Rabbi Arnold Sher Social Action Fund
Carson and Robert Berkowitz, in memory
of Isadore Nachimson, father of Barbara
Gersen.
Barry and Judy Kramer, in loving memory
of sister, Rebecca Kramer; in loving memory
of mother, Rose Singer.
Beth Lazar, in loving memory of my
mother, Shirley Greenberg Lazar.
Jim Abraham Education Fund for Jewish
Leadership
Jonathan and Cleo Sonneborn, in honor of
George Markley’s 70th birthday.
Lee & David Lester Kesher Project, a
donation.
Gillette Judaic Enrichment Fund
Ken and Karen Ferleger, in memory of
Robert Greenhall, father of Larry Greenhall.
High Holy Day Appeal -- Update
Thank you to everyone who donated
Pillar of Congregation
Luise and Ed Burger
Steve and Jill Elbaum
Jerry Saunders and Elaine Appellof
Benefactor of Congregation
Lori and Ken Berger
President’s Circle
Jon Davis and Evelyn Rubak
Randy and Beth Reich
Sandra Rosenberg
Lori and Dan Underberger
Debbie and Dan Viens
Judy and Marty Waldman
Debora and Michael Weisman
High Holy Day Appeal Contribution
Marcie and Yury Berson
Michael and Judy Blumenthal
Lori and Brad Chervin
Eloise Epstein
Noel and Danielle Forma
Steven and Barbara Gersen
Geoffrey Gladstein
Janice and Bernie Jacobs
Mollie and David Keller
Ilse Levi
George and Chris Markley
Jeffrey Schwartz
Rita and Dan Shichman
Artie and Suzie Weissman
Howard and Ondy Zuckerman
Donation Item of the Month: Cans of Soup and Stew for Operation Hope.
9
From The Bonim Preschool
A LOT TO CELBEBRATE – The fun times continue to roll
at Bonim Preschool. Above, students celebrated an early
Thanksgiving. At right, Rabbi Schultz led students in a
Hebrew version of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”
Holidays
•
January 25 – Tu BiShvat
•
March 24 – Purim
•
April 23-30 – Passover
•
May 5 – Yom HaShoah
(203) 336-1858 • www.cbibpt.org
The Bulletin of Congregation B’nai Israel is published every month except July.
James Prosnit, D.D. ............................ Rabbi
Evan Schultz ................................... Rabbi
•
May 11 – Yom HaZikaron
•
May 12 – Yom HaAtzma’ut
•
June 12-13 – Shavuot
•
October 2 – Erev Rosh Hashanah
Robert H. Gillette, R.J.E. ... Educator Emeritus
•
October 3-4 – Rosh Hashanah
Abby Rohinsky ............... Director of Facility
•
October 11 – Erev Yom Kippur
•
October 12 – Yom Kippur
10
Arnold I. Sher, D.D. ............... Rabbi Emeritus
Sheri E. Blum, D.M. ........................... Cantor
Ramon Gilbert, D.M. .......... Cantor Emeritus
Ira J. Wise, R.J.E. ................ Temple Educator
Alexa Cohen .......... Early Childhood Director
Officers
Samuel J. Rosenberg ........................ President
Michael Blumenthal .......... 1st Vice President
Larry Levine ............................. Vice President
Shari Nerreau ........................... Vice President
Julie Pressman .......................... Vice President
Lori Underberger ............................ Treasurer
Jim Greenberg ................. Assistant Treasurer
Evelyn Rubak ................................... Secretary
Joe Varon .......................... Financial Secretary
Mindy Siegel ........... Immediate Past President
Affiliates
Marisa Underberger ............................................ BIFTY Advisor/Youth Engagement Specialist
Becky Molinoff & Caroline DelAngelo ..................................................... BIFTY Co-Presidents
Scott L. Smith ........................................................................................................ Bulletin Editor
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Dr. Andrea Hagani
Dr. Robert D. Chessin
Dr. David F. Bindelglass
Dr. Alan M. Nelson
Dr. Glenn M. Rich
Dr. Michael Sonick
Dr. Lawrence Dinkes
Dr. Kenneth Rabine
Dr. George P. Kelly
Dr. Howard B. Twersky
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Dr. Jeffrey D. Small
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12/4/15
Shabbat Service Schedule
(Fridays at 6:00 p.m. where indicated, preceded by an Oneg Shabbat at 5:30 p.m.)
Friday, January 1
6:00 p.m.Service
Torah Portion – Shemot, – Exod.
1:1-6:1
Haftarah – Isaiah 27:6-28:13;
29:22-29:23
Saturday, January 2
8:00 a.m. Service
9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah
riday, January 8
F
5:30 p.m. Mishpacha Shabbat
6:00 p.m.Service
Torah Portion – Vaera, Exod.
6:2-9:35
Haftarah – Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Saturday, January 9
8:00 a.m. Service
9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Torah Study
9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah
Friday, January 15
6:00 p.m.
Service – In honor of Martin
Luther King, Jr. weekend, we
welcome Pastor Bernadette
Hickman Maynard and members
of the AME Beth El Church in
Bridgeport Torah Portion – Bo,
Exod. 10:1-13:16
Haftarah – Jeremiah 46:13-28
Saturday, January 16
8:00 a.m. Service
9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Torah Study
9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah
10:45 a.m. S
habbat Service with Rabbi
Schultz in the Library
Friday, January 22
6:00 p.m. Shabbat Shirah – Sabbath of
Song Service with the Sacred
Heart University Choir,
conducted by John Michniewicz,
director of Choral Programs at
Sacred Heart University, joined
by the B’nai Israel Adult Choir
Torah Portion – Beshallah, Exod.
CHANUKAH GIFTS
13:17-17:16
Haftarah – Judges 4:4-5:31
Saturday, January 23
8:00 a.m. Service
9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Torah Study
9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah
11:00 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Nicholas
Menkes, son of Michael and
Linda Menkes
Friday, January 29
6:00 p.m. Service
Torah Portion – Yitro, Exod.
18:1-20:23
Haftarah – Isaiah 6:1-7:6;
9:5-9:6
Saturday, January 30
8:00 a.m. Service
9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Torah Study
9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah
11:00 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Ava Spartachino,
daughter of Randy and Deanna
Spartachino
A Different Way
To Celebrate
Shabbat
Join us for the 10:45 a.m. Shabbat morning
service (formerly The Rabbi’s Table). This
monthly Shabbat service meets with Rabbi
Schultz in our library from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
The service is open to all, and there is free
childcare. The remaining dates for 5776 are
January 16, February 20, March 12, April 16
and May 14.
Eighth-grade (above left) and seventh-grade
students took their dreidels for a spin during
a break between religious school classes on
a Monday night early last month.
continued to expand its reach in just its third
year. Preliminary numbers show the Gift
of Light raised more than $14,000 for the
Temple.
The real winner this year is the Temple,
thanks to the Gift of Light initiative.
Congregants sent gift candles to more than
460 homes this year as the popular program
Thank you to everyone who participated,
especially those who wrapped and delivered
the candles.
Food For The Soul
We need your help! Before each Shabbat
service, the temple provides a small Oneg in
the lobby. These small (nut-free) snacks and
drinks are a great icebreaker as you meet
fellow congregants, a perfect quick bite if
you’re ravenous after a long day, and a helpful
distraction for toddlers and younger children.
However, they do not appear by magic! If you
can volunteer to bring in treats on a Friday,
please contact Naomi Schaffer at naomilev@
optonline.net.
You can drop them off at any time that’s
convenient for you. Thank you!
Donation Item of the Month: Cans of Soup and Stew for Operation Hope.
15
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
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Fairfield, Conn.
Congregation B’nai Israel
2710 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604
www.cbibpt.org
Confirmation Class Students Make Their Case on Capitol Hill
Eleven members of the 2016 Confirmation
Class journeyed to Washington, D.C., last
month to champion important political
causes of Reform Judaism.
As part of the annual Religious Action
Center (RAC) trip, the students joined
with counterparts from other congregations
from across the United States to lobby
Capitol Hill. B’nai Israel’s students met
with staff of Connecticut’s U.S. senators
Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal and
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes.
The teenagers stated their cases for the
Reform Movement’s positons on stem
cell research, gun control, LGBT equality,
malaria, incarceration reform and Israel.
For more than 50 years, the Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism has
been the hub of Jewish social justice and
legislative activity in Washington, D.C. As
the D.C. office of the Union for Reform
Judaism, the RAC educates and mobilizes
the Reform Jewish community on
legislative and social concerns, advocating
on more than 70 different issues, including
economic justice, civil rights, religious
liberty and Israel.
Members of B’nai Israel’s Confirmation Class of 2016 stand in front of the U.S. Capitol during last month’s
trip to Washington, D.C.