inside this issue - Har Sinai Congregation
Transcription
inside this issue - Har Sinai Congregation
MARCH 2015|ADAR/NISSAN 5775 INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 Shabbat Services Schedule 2 Calendar of Events 3 Rabbi’s Message 4 President’s Message 5 Second Night Seder Reservation Form 6 Purim Celebration 7ReJEWvenate 9 Education Corner 10 Sisterhood Scoop 11 Brotherhood Buzz 12 Women’s Seder 13 ARZA Breakfast 15 B’Nai Mitzvah HAR SINAI CONGREGATION’S ANNUAL SECOND NIGHT FAMILY PASSOVER SEDER Gather with HSC clergy & staff and family & friends for a fun-filled Reform Seder! A favorite, family-friendly event with a few surprises thrown in…. Saturday, April 4 • 5:30-9:30 p.m. Catered by Adam’s Garden of Eatin’ FIRST COURSE Matzoh Ball Soup with Spring Vegetables, Gefilte Fish, Bowl of Orange Essence RosewaterInfused Charoset SECOND COURSE BUFFET Nirvana Chicken with Apricot Sauce • Potato Kugel • Glazed Carrots • Matzoh Rolls FOR CHILDREN Chicken Tenders VEGETARIAN OPTION Broccoli Frittata DESSERT COURSE Viennese Dessert Station (Buffet of Kosher for Passover Cakes, Custards, Pastries & Cookies) Fruit Platter BEVERAGE STATION Ice water, Lemonade, Coffee & Tea Included on each table are the Seder Plate and all the ritual items, a bottle of wine and a pitcher of grape juice. Feel free to bring your own favorite selection of wine. 15 Yahrzeits $40 per adult, $20 per child 16 Social Action RSVP to [email protected] or 410-654-9393 17 Youth Happenings 18 AIPAC 19 Offerings (See Reservation Form page 5) CALENDAR SHABBAT SERVICES MARCH event schedule ADAR/NISSAN 5775 FRIDAY, MARCH 6 16 ADAR 6:15 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service in the Sanctuary Menschkin Minyan in the Myerberg Chapel SATURDAY, MARCH 7 16 ADAR Torah: Exodus 30:11-34:35 Haftarah: I Kings 18:1-39 16BEIT-RJ 1 Intermediate Adult Hebrew Class 12:15 PM 17CCAR Convention 11:00 AM 6:00 PM 3 AIPAC Convention 23 ADAR 6:15 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service with Anniversary and Birthday Blessings, Featuring 2nd Grade, in the Myerberg Chapel SATURDAY, MARCH 14 23 ADAR 9:00 a.m. Torah Study in the Friedberg Library 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service in the Sanctuary Emma Vento will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah 7:00 PM 20Family Shabbat Dinner 7:30 PM 6 Erev Shabbat Service 6:15 PM 21 Torah Study 9:00 AM 6 Menschkin Minyan 6:15 PM 7 Torah Study 9:00 AM 21Shabbat Morning Service Featuring 7th Grade 10:30 AM 21Lunch & Learn: ‘It’s a Sin’ 12:30 PM 7 Shabbat Morning Service 7 Purim Carnival Set-Up 10:30 AM 5:00 PM 8 Purim to Passover Food Drive Begins 12:00 PM 8 Intermediate Adult Hebrew Class 12:15 PM 9 Sisterhood Bible Study with the Rabbi 11:00 AM 9:00 AM 9 BEIT-RJ 6:00 PM 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service, Featuring 7th Grade, in the Myerberg Chapel 10Executive Professional Networking Group 7:45 AM 10Hebrew School Learning Lab 5:30 PM Vayikra 12Youth Education Committee Meeting 7:00 PM Torah: Leviticus 1:1-5:26 13 NFTY-MAR TheVent Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23 FRIDAY, MARCH 27 8 NISSAN 13Erev Shabbat Service with Anniversary & Birthday Blessings 6:15 PM 6:15 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service- Pillars Shabbat, in the Myerberg Chapel 13 NFTY-MAR TheVent SATURDAY, MARCH 28 9:00 a.m. Torah Study in the Friedberg Library 14Shabbat Morning Service, Bat Mitzvah of Emma Vento 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service in the Sanctuary 15CCAR Convention 15 Religious School 9:00 AM 15Lifelong Learning Program: Chosen Voices: The Cantorate in America 9:00 AM 8 NISSAN Rebecca Kiewe will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah Tzav Torah: Leviticus 6:1-8:36 Haftarah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23 6:00 PM 5 HaSTY Board Meeting 8 Purim Carnival 19Broherhood Guys’ Nite Out 6:15 PM Haftarah: I Kings 7:40-50; 7:51-8:21 9:00 a.m. Torah Study in the Friedberg Library 18CCAR Convention 20Shabbat Rocks! Service 1 NISSAN 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 11:30 AM 17Board of Trustees Meeting 3 Executive Committee Meeting 8 Purim Music & Megillah SATURDAY, MARCH 21 5:30 PM 6:30 PM Torah: Exodus 35:1-38:20; 38:21-40:38 6:15 p.m. Shabbat Rocks! in the Sanctuary 17Religious School Chuggim 19Mentor/Mentee Joint Program Meeting 1 NISSAN 6:00 PM 5:30 PM 8 Religious School 11:00 AM 3 Religious School Chuggim Vayakhel-Pekudei FRIDAY, MARCH 20 16Sisterhood Bible Study with the Rabbi 12:00 PM 2 BEIT-RJ FRIDAY, MARCH 13 9:00 AM 1 Hamentashen Factory 2 Sisterhood Bible Study with the Rabbi 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service in the Myerberg Chapel Ki Tisa 1 Religious School 2 AIPAC Convention 9:00 a.m. Torah Study in the Friedberg Library 16CCAR Convention 1 AIPAC Convention 14 Torah Study 9:00 AM 10:30 AM 15Bagels and Books 10:30 AM 15Intermediate Adult Hebrew Class 12:15 PM 22 Religious School 9:00 AM 22Sisterhood Board Meeting 9:30 AM 22Kol Tov Event 12:00 PM 22Intermediate Adult Hebrew Class 12:15 PM 23Sisterhood Bible Study with the Rabbi 11:00 AM 23BEIT-RJ 6:00 PM 24Religious School Chuggim 5:30 PM 24Social Action Committee Meeting 7:00 PM 25Annual Women’s Seder 6:15 PM 27Erev Shabbat Service- Pillars Shabbat 6:15 PM 28Torah Study 9:00 AM 29Shabbat Morning Service, Bat Mitzvah of Rebecca Kiewe 10:30 AM 29 Religious School 9:00 AM 29Brotherhood/ARZA Breakfast with Guest Speaker, Sophie Felder 9:30 AM 29Club Rishon Event 12:00 PM 29Intermediate Adult Hebrew Class 12:15 PM 30Sisterhood Bible Study with the Rabbi 11:00 AM 30BEIT-RJ 6:00 PM MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI RABBI BENJAMIN SHARFF Having failed now at multiple attempts to win the nomination to be the next President of the United States of Maryland, I have decided to forgo putting together an exploratory committee to pursue any further attempt at creating a winning campaign in lieu of forming a group to investigate the preponderance of run-on sentences in numerous rabbinic publications. Following that, I plan to look into the issue of why so many vowels have fled Eastern Europe from places like Ljubljana, Slovenia and Dubrovnik, Croatia to settle in Hawaii. It may be an extensive and costly trip, but I assure you, I will get to the bottom of it, especially if it requires immersive interviews in Kauai. anyway, especially this winter. And, my continued battle against low-flow toilets has become one of legend and even immortalized in song in my famous duet entitled, “Flush” with Taylor Swift. It’s in the key of Am, in case you are wondering, and we are on the short-list to perform at next year’s Super Bowl. Which, if it is made a regular-flow bowl, would be super indeed! someone who can work on both sides of the aisle, while staying true to their core passions. Since no such person exists, I have decided to reconsider my candidacy to be the next President of the United States of Maryland. I promise you, the voters, that my campaign will be honest and full of integrity. And. barring that, it will be full of something. In the meantime, if you need me, I’ll be on the beach of Kauai wearing some flip-flops and interviewing the letter “A” as to why it fled from Koycegiz, Turkey. I will return with findings because you demand nothing less. It just might take me awhile. So, don’t wait up. ...PLAN ON JOINING US ON SUNDAY, MARCH 8, FOR OUR MEGILAH READING AND PURIM CARNIVAL My itinerary is already set, and I have booked my tickets. Nothing you say can change my mind. I have already heard all of the arguments. I know my campaign promises of giant cellphones and free mortgages for tickets to Walt Disney World have struck a chord. Though that chord was most likely an Am chord, which is owned by us Jews, as opposed to G, which is a wholly owned chordal subsidiary of the aforementioned Walt Disney World Corporation. I know my immigration policy of everyone in the Northeast moving to Tahiti has played well, in the Northeast 3 | the Connection Yes, I do know that the field is wide open, which is why so many people will be shocked by this announcement. So many of you have expressed surprise that I was ever running, but that is neither here nor there. I will have you know that my core supporters have been encouraging me and even demanding that I reconsider, but I refuse to flip-flop on the issue of my candidacy. To show how serious I am, I have even refused to wear flip-flops, lest I send out a mixed message. Today’s tough times demand a candidate who is thoughtful, reasonable and a visionary with the oratory skills necessary to convey the message in a succinct, articulate and relatable fashion. It should also be In the meantime, plan on joining us on Sunday, March 8, for our Megilah reading and Purim Carnival. My promise to you is that no campaign speeches will be made from Koycegiz on that day, partly because I have no idea how to pronounce it. Chag Purim Sameach, and Happy Purim Everyone! RABBI BENJAMIN SHARFF Your Har Sinai Family Cares Please inform us of Congregants and loved ones who are ill, so we can be in touch and help out. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT JOANNE GOLDSMITH The snow and frigid temperatures costumes, games, hamentashen, for Har Sinai Congregation. We know of late have not dampened the raffles and more always mean a funthat people join synagogues where enthusiasm and programming at Har filled day. they have friends and the best way to Sinai Congregation and the high activity grow our membership is by your inviting As our thoughts turn to warmer days level at the temple. One of our new and friends to services and some of our and Spring, we look forward to Passover innovative services this February was events to show them what a special and our annual Women’s Seder. This the Marriage Reconsecration service place we are and encourage them to intergenerational pot-luck Seder will on Valentine weekend. I hope this join our Har Sinai family. Help us reach inspirational service is our membership goals the beginning of a new this year! tradition, and I thank JoI WANT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU Ellen Unger, our Director TO BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR of Congregational JOANNE GOLDSMITH Learning, for bringing President HAR SINAI CONGREGATION. this service to Har Sinai. Many couples who were celebrating milestone be held on March 25 at 6:15 p.m., anniversaries this year stood under the and we usually have over 125 women chuppah and renewed their marriage of all ages attend. I encourage all the vows. This service, complete with women in the Congregation to attend beautiful music and poetry, was indeed and to bring your mothers, daughter a special one. and grand-daughters as well as family Giving a Leadership Gift today We concluded February with our and friends. It is very special to see so or remembering Har Sinai second annual Club 2905 event. It many generations of women celebrating Congregation in your will/estate was a delightful evening, and I want Passover together. Also, everyone is plans will ensure the future of our to thank event co-chairs, Sherri Sibel asked to bring a black or white piece of Congregation. You will have the Thomas and Lisa Levin, and Melanie clothing to donate to Paul’s Place. satisfaction of knowing that you Waxman, our Director of Programming I also invite everyone to join us for our are leaving a legacy so that future and Membership, for all their hard work Congregational Seder that is held on generations can enjoy the many in coordinating the evening as well as the second night of Passover, which everyone who worked so hard to make benefits of Har Sinai Congregation this year falls on Saturday evening, April it a success. Good food, great music that you and your families have 4. What a wonderful way to conclude and a wonderful silent auction made for enjoyed over the years. Shabbat and celebrate Passover with a special evening. your Har Sinai family. This Seder will be FOR MORE INFORMATION OR Sunday, March 8, is our annual Purim led by Rabbi Sharff and Cantor Gerber, TO DISCUSS WAYS OF MAKING Carnival at 12:00 p.m., preceded by attended by the staff and their families A LEADERSHIP GIFT, CONTACT Megilah & More in the Sanctuary at and catered by our own, Adam’s Garden BUNNY SINGER, CHAIR OF 11:30 a.m. This is always a wonderful of Eatin’. LEADERSHIP GIVING, AT family celebration and one that children In closing, I want to ask each and every 410-252-4508 OR of all ages look forward to. The creative one of you to serve as an ambassador [email protected]. LEADERSHIP GIVING 4 | the Connection Reservation Form Second Night Seder (Tables of 8-10) Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________________________ Please let us know if you have any special dietary restrictions or allergies. Number of adult dinners ($ 40.00 per dinner) : _________ Number of vegetarian dinners ($ 40.00 per dinner) : _________ Number of children’s dinners ($ 20.00 per child 12 & under) : _________ (Children under 3 free) Names of all guests at our table: ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ RSVP with your Reservation Form and check made out to Har Sinai Congregation. (Attn: Melanie Waxman) 2905 Walnut Avenue, Owings Mills, MD, 21117 Or, call in your reservation details and credit card number to the temple office at 410-654-9393. 5 | the Connection SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Join us for one of our most popular and festive events! 11:30 a.m.—M & M Megilah & More 12:00 p.m.—Purim Carnival M &M- Megilah & More A fun-filled megilah reading! Please bring a box of unopened M & M’s or macaroni to use as a grogger. Purim Carnival GAMES! including Xbox Kinect, Football Toss & Can Hamen FOOD! including pizza, hot dogs & snow cones THEMED BASKETS FOR RAFFLE! BRING A BAG OF FOOD FOR OUR PURIM TO PASSOVER FOOD DRIVE AND RECEIVE 6 | the Connection 5 FREE GAME TICKETS! Har Sinai Congregation PURIM Celebration We Need to Rejuvenate Ourselves and ReJEWvenate our Har Sinai Congregation By Anne Berman, Second Vice President Whenever I attend a service, a function, a meeting or any other kind of event at, or on behalf of, my beloved Har Sinai, I look around me and see the faces of people I have come to know and care about. I see our clergy and professional staff who work longer and harder than most of us realize to make our experiences the best that they are able. Do they sometimes miss the mark? Of course they do. They are human beings who, like all the rest of us, are subject to human foibles. They, too, are sometimes overtired, hungry, frustrated, annoyed or just in a down mood. I know I have been there. And through all of this, our Clergy and staff always try to be there for all of us whenever we need them. I see our maintenance staff who also work hard behind the scenes to keep Har Sinai clean, neat and ready for whatever activity is scheduled. Do they mess up at times? Yes. Do I mess up in similar ways? You bet! The same is true for all of us. We goof. We leave something messy that should have been straightened up. In the best of all possible worlds, Har Sinai, its employees and its membership would be perfect all the time. The problem is we live in the real world where sometimes bad things happen with even the best of intentions. The good news is, if we never screwed up, if we never made mistakes, we would not need the continual mitzvah of Tikun Olam. Imperfect beings that we are, we have an almost constant opportunity to make our world a better place. There are some things that we cannot fix as individuals. We are not strong enough or rich enough or smart enough to single-handedly cure the ills of Har Sinai, much less our world. We can accomplish huge things together by sharing our energy, our ideas and also our dollars. Our ReJEWvenate Campaign is our mechanism for pooling our financial resources for the good of our entire Har Sinai community. In doing so, we take a big step in repairing and sustaining our Congregation, our extended Jewish community, our world. It all begins with each of us taking that step, each of us participating in a way that is meaningful and possible for us. No one person can do it all. No one person is unnecessary in reaching our goal. Take your step. AND we are very happy to announce that we have reached our first goal by paying off our $663,000 Line of Credit with the bank. That means that we no longer have any outstanding Line of Credit, no mortgage and all of our obligations are current. What a great feeling. And this was all possible because 93 families stepped up to contribute and made this possible. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who gave. You took the step. Now our ReJEWvenate Campaign goes on to the second phase to cover this year’s deficit and bolster our Legacy and Endowment Fund to protect our future generations. For those who have stepped up, thank you again…maybe you can consider stepping up again in 2015. And, for those who have not stepped up yet, please contact David L. Carp at 410-4840381 or [email protected] for information and to learn more about our ReJEWvenate Campaign. For more information about this very important campaign, please contact David L. Carp at 410-484-0381 or [email protected] AND we are very happy to announce that we have reached our first goal by paying off our $663,000 Line of Credit with the bank. That means that we no longer have any outstanding Line of Credit, no mortgage and all of our obligations are current. What a great feeling. And this was all possible because 93 families stepped up to contribute and made this possible. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who gave. You took the step. Dinner and Live Music Benefit Har Sinai Congregation gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions of the following vendors and individuals. Adam’s Garden of Eatin’ Sisterhood Judaica Shop Rabbi Benjamin Sharff American Visionary Art Museum David Hyatt Shop Rite Artful Gourmet Bistro Illiano’s J & P Restaurant Sofi’s Crepes Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Dr. Sheryl Jacobs Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. Bar Louie Jean Pool Sonny Lee’s Hunan Taste Barbie Levy Jewelry Design Jewish Community Center Bay City Rental Jones & Jones, Inc. Starbucks $75.00 per person Stevenson University Lavery Illustration(includes Black Eyed Susan Cove Kit Bar 2 drink Stone’s coupons) Come out for our 2nd Annual Monica Blum Courtney and Erik Legenhausen Suburban House RSVP to Melanie Waxman BodiesEvent, an elegant Lenny’s Deli Tark’s Grill ClubBrick 2905 Camp Skylemar Lisa [email protected] The Boxwood Collection evening to benefit Har Sinai’s Capelli Hair Studio Dr. Michael Levin The Brewer’s Art Your check or credit card is Catering by Alan Weiss The Chessler Company great programs. LifeBridge Health & Fitness Chestnut Ridge Farm Market Linwoods The Classic Catering People your reservation. Featuring: Chezelle Lotus Jewelry Studio The Corner Stable (Club Attire) Chick-Fil-A Main Street Grille Dan Davis Mano Swartz The Mondel Broad Earth Treks Climbing Center Michael’s Café Sherri Sibel Thomas Food from Various Caterers Event Video Hope Miller Miles Thomas’ Salon Falls Road Animal Hospital Gerri Miller Tickled Pink Food Lion Cash Bar Mitchell’s Jewelers Jo-Ellen Unger Cantor Robert Gerber Organized2Succeed John Varvatos Glenne’s Gourmet Principal Lifestyle Management Village Square Cafe Glyndon Grill Pumpkin Theatre Jon and Kathie Wachs Stacey Goodman Tracey Robbins Melanie Waxman Graul’s Market Safeway Michelle Yospa Har Sinai Congregation Santoni’s Harry Zbar Har Sinai Congregation WRJ Stewart Sachs Zeffert & Gold The Band, “Don’t Stop” Silent Auction The Cow EDUCATION CORNER Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. As we head into March, and hopefully warmer weather, we turn our attention to Purim. Our students learn to boo at Haman’s name and eat cookies shaped like his three-cornered hat. This story of scandal and intrigue is far deeper a tale than is taught in Sunday school, and for good reason ~ the true story would receive a rating well above PG-13. At its heart, however, the Purim story is also about identity and standing up for what’s right. Vashti, the first queen of Ahashuerus, refuses to be objectified and loses her crown. Mordechai uncovers a conspiracy and saves the king. Esther, comfortably hidden behind her beauty for much of the story, risks her life to call attention to Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. Each of these characters acts on different issues, in different ways and for different reasons. Yet none of them keeps silent. Are these acts of heroism? Perhaps. Are they acts of humanity? Definitely. On Purim we are asked to provide for those who can’t provide for themselves and also to provide for family and friends. One approach sees the mitzvah of mishloach manot as counteracting the accusations of Haman. Haman accused the Jews of being “a scattered and divided nation.” When we reach out to others we show how much community truly means to us. The holiday asks us to give to one another, but also to give of ourselves. We each have things about which we are passionate. We may be in the majority or minority on these issues, yet they stir our souls. The Purim story is a call to action, a reminder that, no matter our role in society, we have the opportunity to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of others. If nothing else, we can view Purim as an opportunity to recommit to making the world a better place for ourselves and our communities. I invite you to pick a cause and raise your voice, raise awareness, raise funds. This can be an individual activity or done with family or in a community setting. The important thing is that we take a stand to combat injustice. Our ancestors did, our role models did, and they continue to inspire us today. We can be like Vashti, Mordechai and Esther, tackling tough topics and working for justice, peace and equality. And a little hamantashen never hurts either. JO-ELLEN UNGER Director of Congregational Learning SIMPLY SIMCHAS We are so proud of Diana Goldsmith, whose article about volunteering was published in the Carroll County Times. Diana wrote passionately about her experiences volunteering in Honduras with Towson University Students Helping Honduras. View Diana’s article: http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/publications/community_times/ph-ct-vo lunteer-020415-20150204,0,4210201.story Please share your family simchas with us! We want to know about the good things happening in your life! CONTACT MONICA AT [email protected]. Something New is Happening in the JUDAICA SHOP The shop is now open on Sundays when Religious School is in session. On weekdays you can have a personal shopper work for and with you. All you have to do is call: Margery Doroshow 410-486-8581 Ethel Barrish 410-363-8639 Nadine Goldman 410-484-1392 Paula Gemora 410-484-1730 SISTERHOOD SCOOP We are so sorry we weren’t able to have our February program, Healing Wounds, with guest speaker, CeCe Rund, because of the inclement weather. The good news is - we have rescheduled! Please save the date for Sunday, April 26 at 11:00 a.m. And, watch for details in the coming weeks. Our annual Women’s Seder will be held on Wednesday, March 25. This year’s Seder will support Paul’s Place which was also the recipient of the meals made during Holy Casseroley. GRANDMOTHERS, MOTHERS AND DAUGHTER ARE ALL WELCOME! The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for girls under 13. See the flyer for food and donation details, and send your reservation and check to Janice Babitt! SAVE THE DATE Friday, May 1 Sisterhood Shabbat - Installation and Dinner Details coming soon! Yours in Sisterhood, EILENE COHEN President Introducing Har Sinai’s Caring Hands Committee The purpose of the Caring Hands Committee is to: •Help our members feel cared for and valued by providing support in times of need, as well as recognizing joyous occasions through a personal visit, a personal note and/or a call •Enlighten our members to available support systems and services within the community that may be of assistance to them during times of need Activities of the Caring Hands Committee include: •Setting up food in a shiva house the day of the funeral •Setting up water for the washing of hands before entering a shiva home •Attending a funeral •Sitting at a shiva house during funeral services to answer the phone and accept delivered foods •Sending out personal notes to recognize life cycle events •Delivering chicken soup to members who are ill If you are in need of the Caring Hands Committee or know of someone who is need, please contact Micki Sibel at 410-484-7747 or [email protected]. SUNDAY MORNING BAGELS AND BOOKS BOOK GROUP - A NEW SEASON Sunday, March 15, 10:30 a.m. “Necessary Lies,” by Diane Chamberlain Presenter: Marlene Shapiro Sunday, May 3, 10:30 a.m. “Orphan Train,” by Christina Baker Kline Presenter: Jo Ann Klein Contact Sheryl Jacobs with any questions, 410-409-2135. Coffee and bagels provided! Invite your friends, relatives and spouses. BROTHERHOOD BUZZ MEMBERSHIP PAYS – PLEASE JOIN IN 2015 GUYS’ NITE OUT - Thursday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. | GREENE TURTLE - 2 RESTAURANT PARK DRIVE, OWINGS MILLS, MD Price reduced to $25 per person for appetizers, main course, dessert and soft drinks. Beer and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased individually. Come Hungry – Come Thirsty – $5 Raffle for Orioles Tickets RSVP by March 16 to Jay Burman at 410-833-0972 [email protected]. Pay at the door or mail check to: Har Sinai Congregation Brotherhood c/o Jay Burman - 213 Arms Chapel Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136 Brotherhood /ARZA Breakfast - Sunday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER - Sophie Felder - Director of Regional Affairs - Embassy of Israel Ms. Felder will speak on the topic of democracy in the Middle East and the unique role the State of Israel plays in the geopolitical landscape. PLEASE RSVP BY MARCH 26 TO DAVID CARP [email protected] or 410-484-0381 The Breakfast is $5.00 for all Brotherhood and ARZA members and $10.00 for guests. Raffle for Orioles Tickets. The program will conclude with Religious School’s 3rd and 4th grades singing Israeli songs. Baltimore Educational Support Do You Want to Give Your Child the Tools Needed to Succeed? Tutoring:, I am a retired BCPS teacher and administrator who will tailor a supplemental learning program for your child to ensure he or she attains grade level Common Core State Standards. Educational Consulting/Advocacy: If you need assistance with SST or IEP Team, I will help you navigate through and streamline this often overwhelming process. I have 30 years of experience in Team as a teacher, administrator, and parent. I have raised a child with special needs so I am sensitive to the firsthand challenges of wanting to see every child succeed while acquiring the tools to make that happen. Sherri Bell [email protected] 410-303-2483 www.baltimoreeducationalsupport.com Join us for the annual Har Sinai Congregation Women’s Seder Wednesday, March 25, 6:15 p.m. New Members and Interfaith Members Especially Welcomed It’s Intergenerational: Bring Your Grandmothers, Mothers and Daughters too! Dinner is a POTLUCK “Passover Sampler” If Manischewitz is not your preferred brand of wine, feel free to bring your own selection. Bring your favorite homemade or store bought Passover- Style dish(es) to share! Each dish should serve about 8 people. Please bring a copy of your recipe to share. This year’s Women’s Seder will support: Paul’s Place (Recipient of our Holy Casseroley Events) Please donate “BLACK OR WHITE” Business and Business Casual clothing for women (Black bottoms and White or Black Tops) New OR Clean and Gently Used Toiletries are also needed ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Cost is $10/person or $5/girl under 13 RSVP with this portion of the flyer and a check payable to Har Sinai Sisterhood Name:________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number:________________________________________________________________ Email:________________________________________________________________________ Number of Adults: ___________ Number of Girls under Age 13: ___________ I am bringing the following Dish (appropriate for Passover*): Side Dish Entrée Dessert *Please, no flour or yeast MAIL TO: Women’s Seder, c/o Janice Babitt, 8341 Meadowsweet Road, Baltimore, MD, 21208 Sponsored by Har Sinai Congregation’s Social Action Committee and Women of Reform Judaism Sisterhood Har Sinai Congregation Annual Brotherhood - ARZA Breakfast Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 a.m. in the Myerberg Chapel SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Sophie Felder Director of Regional Affairs - Embassy of Israel Ms. Felder will speak on the topic of democracy in the Middle East and the unique role the State of Israel plays in the geopolitical landscape. Israel faces many complicated and complex challenges and still remains an academic, technological and educational powerhouse. The discussion will also deal with the relationship between the United States and Israel and current events in Israel. Ms. Felder received her degree from Yeshiva University in New York in Political Science and Government, Economics and Judaic Studies. The program will conclude with Religious School’s 3rd and 4th grades singing Israeli songs. PLEASE RSVP BY MARCH 26 TO DAVID CARP [email protected] or 410-484-0381 The Breakfast Program is $5.00 for all Brotherhood and ARZA members and $10.00 for guests. ----- There will be no admission without a prior reservation. ----- Har Sinai Congregation Brotherhood Announces Orioles Ticket Raffle for 2015 The Annual Brotherhood Orioles Ticket Raffle this year is being revised to allow for more opportunities for everyone to be a winner!!!! At each Brotherhood event from now through the end of the summer we will include a raffle for 3 upcoming Sunday afternoon games. The raffle tickets will be $5 each or three for $12 and will entitle you to win any and all of the three games being raffled off that evening, a $167 value. Each of the three games will be raffled individually. March 19 @ Guys’ Nite Out we will raffle off a pair of tickets for the Blue Jays on Sunday, April 12, the Red Sox on Sunday April 26 and the Rays on May 3. March 29 @ Brotherhood/ARZA Breakfast we will raffle off a pair of tickets for the Angels on May 17, the Rays on May 31 and the Yankees on June 14. June 19 @ Lombard Street Dinner we will raffle off a pair of tickets for the Indians on June 28, the Nationals on July 12 and the Tigers on August 2. If you can’t attend these events but would like to purchase a raffle ticket for the drawing, please send a check made payable to Har Sinai Brotherhood to: Har Sinai Brotherhood c/o Kenneth Bell 813 Stable Manor Road Reisterstown, MD 21136 We will continue the 50/50 raffles for those who prefer winning cash! MARCH Permanent Memorials MARCH 1-7 John Altshul Morris Baer Hyman Beckerman Jennie Beckerman Angela A. Brash Paulina H. Burgin Jeanne Burman Harry Cole Samuel Diener Beverly D. Dopkin Elkan Drey Harry I. Halpern M.S. Katz Helen La Pides Jacob Lazarus William Levin Dr. Allan Harris Macht Bessie H. Marcus Sidney F. Mayer Sylvia Nachlas Fannie Nevins Jerome Okun Julia Oppenheimer Reuben Pintzuk Raisa Polyanskaya William Rayner Alice W. Rose Louis Schaff Florine Schnydman Minna Silvers Frank Weissman Sarah Wilner Louis Winternitz MARCH 8-14 David Baum Rachel R. Bishow Joe Dannenberg Harry Emerich Jacob Engel Morris Fell Edwin B. Fox Adele Gold Eunice Goldberg Fannie Goldstein Lina B. Hochschild Michael Hoffberger Emanuel Kohner Evelyn Kossoff Sophia Lazarus Amalie May Martha Meyer Lois S. Rudo Wolf Salgank Antoinette Schoenfeld William W. Schulman Jere Sussman Stanley Terrell Nora Weiller Tena B. Zamoiski MARCH 15-21 Morris M. Bloom Seymour J. Brash Nathan Cohen Samuel N. Friedel Lena F. Glashtein Dr. Conrad Gould Meyer Greenebaum Matilda D. Greenfeld Morris Hammerman Penne W. Klipper Hylda G. Kohn I.B. Kronenberg Anna Fink Levin Blanche B. Levy Hyman Lindenblatt Maurice Loreck Johanna Maass Jerome Mask Harris D. Miller Bertha H. Pollock Lee Rabineau Stephen Rund Jerome D. Shanman Hannah F. Weil MARCH 22-28 Abraham Arnold Gertrude A. Baer Charles A. Binswanger Edith Blattner Doreen Fell Mike Folb Abraham Goldberg Marjorie H. Goldman Amanda W. Goldsmith Flora Goldsmith Milton Greenebaum 15 | the Connection Minnie H. Lesnick Samuel C. Mendelsohn William G. Myers Myron M. Oppenheimer Gabriel Pollock Aaron Rosenbaum Sarah Salganik Esther M. Schneider Ellen Straus Alice Wolfram MARCH 29-31 Jack Altman Abraham Balder Sarah Braunstein Ruth D. Eckhaus Mary W. Fried Lily Gamse Morris Goldstein Marcelle Labovitz Toby Ronsheim Harold Wolff James L. Zamoiski B’NAI MITZVAH SPOTLIGHT My name is Rebecca Kiewe. I live in Owings Mills with my mom, my dad and my brother, Scott. I have been a member of Har Sinai Congregation all of my life, and my mom has been a member since she was in the first grade. I go to Franklin Middle School, and I am in the seventh grade. I enjoy playing outdoor field hockey in the fall and indoor field hockey in the winter. Although I like indoor better, I really like playing both. I like to spend my spare time hanging out with friends and family and meeting new people. For my mitzvah project, I participated in Operation Mitzvah Mission. My favorite mitzvah mission was when I went to visit the Weinberg Village retirement community. This particular mitzvah is called Hiddur Panei Zakein, or honoring the elderly. I enjoyed this because I liked talking with the elderly. I enjoyed talking with them because they are fun to talk to. They always have good stories and so many lessons to teach us. I am very excited to become a Bat Mitzvah and to celebrate this day with my family and friends. My name is Emma Vento, and I will become a Bat Mitzvah on March 14. I live in Owings Mills with my mom, my dad and my younger brother, Owen. I go to Franklin Middle School. Some of my favorite subjects are Language Arts and Science. Some of my hobbies include playing soccer, hanging out with my friends and doing art projects. I play soccer for the Westminster Soccer Association. I play right-wing on my team, The Surge. I have been playing soccer for nearly ten years, and I love it. I also love being Jewish. My family has belonged to Har Sinai Congregation since I was in kindergarten. I especially enjoy hanging out with our Director of Congregational Learning, JoEllen Unger, who is really awesome. For my mitzvah project I participated in Operation Mitzvah Mission. My favorite mitzvah mission was when we went to Beth Israel to do a program with some mentally-challenged adults in our larger community. I enjoyed this mission very much because it made me happy knowing I brought happiness and joy by interacting and having conversations with these wonderful people. I also enjoyed this mission because it was very interesting to hear about their lives and what they like to do for fun. I enjoyed learning about them and I had a lot of fun doing activities with them. I am very excited to become a Bat Mitzvah, and I look forward to seeing you there. SOCIAL ACTION Erev Shabbat Service – January 16, 2015 | Reflections on Mr. Rogers, by CeCe Rund So, who would have thought that Mr. Rogers could personify Judaism? It was after watching a Maryland Public Television special about the life of Mr. Fred Rogers that I realized he was a mensch. Mr. Fred McFeely Rogers was an American educator, an ordained Presbyterian minister, a poet, a songwriter, an author and a TV host. As a minister, he never used his title to promote any religious agenda in his shows, his publications or during any public appearances. Mr. Rogers identified with children but also understood that much of his work related to adults as well. Mr. Rogers used the words neighbor and neighborhood metaphorically. He used the word neighbor to mean everyone. Whomever we are with at a particular time is our neighbor, whether it be the crowd on the subway, people attending a concert or people who live in houses near us. Or, your neighbor could be whomever is sitting next to you right now. We are all neighbors to one another. Mr. Rogers told us how valuable our neighbor is, that he wanted to be a good neighbor. He said in his signature song; “Won’t you be mine? Please won’t you be my neighbor?” He was really asking that we respect and value one another. That, when we meet, when we serve on committees together, we act neighborly and try to compromise for the good of our temple and for the good of our Congregants. As Mr. Rogers provided us with words of advice and songs, he was speaking to each of us individually, as if we were his neighbors and neighbors to one another. How do we treat our neighborhood? Do we do it justice? Even though Mr. Rogers was not Jewish, I find it interesting that he spoke of life as we Jews are taught to live it, especially on Shabbat. In our Mishkan T’Filah, we read: There are days when we seek things and measure failure for what we do not gain. On Shabbat, we seek not to acquire, but to share. There are days when we exploit nature as if it were a horn of plenty that can never be exhausted. On Shabbat, we stand in wonder before the mystery of creation. There are days when we act as if we cared nothing for the rights of others. On Shabbat, we remember that justice is our duty and a better world our goal. So, we embrace Shabbat: day of rest, day of wonder, day of peace. We offer thanks, O G-d, for this Shabbat which unites us in faith and hope. For Shabbat holiness, which inspires sacred living, For Shabbat, memories, glowing even in darkness, For Shabbat, peace, born of friendship and love, We offer thanks and blessing, O G-d. Mr. Rogers really could have been a Jew. Nevertheless, he was able to share so many teachings and principles about humankind that we as Jews identify with. Even though Mr. Rogers never mentioned G-d by any name or made reference to any divinity, he provided us with an understanding that we are creatures of G-d, all created equally. It is what we do with what we have that counts. He let us know that we should have dreams and aspirations in life. He told us that we should all respect one another, regardless of race, creed or religion. Judaism teaches us about gemilut khassadim or acts of loving kindness. In The Mishnah, it is written that the world rests on three things, Torah, avodah/worship and gemilut khasadim. A Jew is expected to exert her or himself on behalf of others whenever possible. And, in our Torah, we are told to love the stranger, “for you were strangers in the land of Eqypt.” Are we making our neighbors (our new and established members) feel loved and welcome? In Leviticus it is written, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” So, help those in need, return property to its rightful owner and practice more mitzvot. The similarities in what we are taught and what Mr. Rogers taught his audience are striking. In one of his books called Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers, he wrote: “A friend of mine visited a beautiful monastery where a dozen monks-most of them in their 70s and 80s-were living. This is a place which once had a population of sixty active men studying and following a very strict rule of living: praying together seven different times a day, seven days a week. They worked hard and they were successful. My friend asked one of the monks why he felt that over the years the community had dwindled from sixty to twelve. And his reply was: ‘We did everything right, but somewhere in all that living and praying and successful working, we lost the most important thing of all, the thing that was so contagious and attracted people to us: we lost the naked love. Oh, sure, you can have love and success, but the love has to remain first-always first: natural, accepting, affirming, inclusive, naked love. Love and success, always in that order. It’s that simple and that difficult.” And, isn’t this so true? That simple and that difficult. We at Har Sinai Congregation have a temple to run. We love it but it is a continued on page 17 • • • continued from page 16 • • • business for which we need to make money for practical purposes like keeping our building in good order and paying our utility bills. We have a Religious School. We love it. Our teachers love to teach. We love our teachers. However, we are also acutely aware that we need to satisfy salaries, pay for supplies and so on. But, have we lost some of our naked love? Are there ways that we can explore and implement that will make our members feel loved? Can we make our members feel more cared for and feel a greater sense of worth? I encourage every leader of Har Sinai Congregation to take this to heart and explore actions and habits that will increase the sense of love for our temple and for our Har Sinai Congregation neighborhood. Just as the monk said, naked love first: natural, accepting, affirming, inclusive. If we love our temple, we will want to volunteer our time, we will want to give what we can to help financially support our home away from home, we will want to survive and succeed. YOUTH HAPPENINGS AT HAR SINAI by Aaron Klaus Youth Engagement Coordinator February marked an exciting transition for HaSTY as we welcomed the eighth grade class into the fold in order to give them a taste of the high school youth group experience. Eighth graders will now be invited to join HaSTY for events through the end of the year. On February 20, HaSTY (plus several eighth graders) had a great time at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. We all participated in a special Shabbat experience called “Tuna and T’filah,” where we related specific exhibits in the aquarium to prayers in the service and wrote and reflected on their meaning. In addition, over Presidents’ Day weekend, HaSTY President, Jacob Unger, and NFTY-MAR Programming Vice President, Matthew Yatovitz, represented Har Sinai at the North American NFTY Convention in Atlanta, GA. Everyone in grades 8-12 is invited to two exciting events in March. NFTY-MAR will hold “TheVent” from March 13-15 at Capital Camps. At TheVent, between 300 and 400 teens from the Mid-Atlantic will come together for fun, learning, prayer and the annual Color War! Additionally, on March 28, HaSTY will partner with BHeCTY (Baltimore Hebrew’s youth group) and OSTRYG (Oheb Shalom’s youth group) for a Mystery Bus Ride. I would tell you more specifically what we will be doing, but it is meant to be a surprise! Finally, please mark your calendars: Kol Tov (grades 6-8) will hold its next event on March 22, and Club Rishon (grades K-2) will hold its next event on March 29. Chaverim will reschedule its Cholor War for a TBD date, so please watch your email for that announcement. We hope to see you there! Want do to more to help progressive causes in Israel? Well, now is your chance. From January 15 until April 30, you can go online, pay $10 to register and cast a vote for a delegation that will represent the Jews of America at the WZO (World Zionist Organization) international convention in Jerusalem in the fall of 2015. This is an important convention because it will choose officers and set budgets and policies for several, major Israeli and international bodies that spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on education, social services, urban renewal and, in some cases, the settlements. So, in the words of J.J. Goldberg, “It’s sort of a big deal.” Please vote. You can go through the ARZA link https://www.reformjews4israel.org/vote/ , and when you do, please pick the ARZA slate. We at HSC are proud supporters of ARZA, whose stated purpose is to, “create an Israel that is both Jewish and democratic. A free society committed to equality of religion, gender, race and ethnicity, as outlined in Israel’s declaration of independence.” Take a few moments out of your day and vote. It is well worth your time. SPRING FREEDOM: ISRAEL’S WATER INDEPENDENCE As we welcome the spring and prepare to celebrate Passover with our families, we are reminded of the challenges the Jewish people have overcome throughout history. Miriam’s Cup, placed by some on the Seder table, is a symbol of Miriam’s Well, the source of water for the Israelites in the desert. While Miriam’s Well is said to have been a magical source of water for the Israelites, the modern state of Israel wasn’t blessed with such a miracle. Even decades after its founding, the Jewish state faced severe water shortages as a result of its natural, desert environment. Its water supply was entirely dependent on rainfall, posing challenges during periods of drought. Israel’s challenge with water security continued until 1999, when the National Infrastructures Ministry implemented an emergency plan to address water usage nationwide. The result was the Regional Seawater Desalination project – a framework to construct Israel’s first desalination plant. The first major desalination plant opened in the Ashkelon in 2005. In only a decade, four more large-scale seawater desalination plants have been constructed. Today, desalination produces approximately 40 percent of Israel’s water supply, helping to make Israel water independent from rainfall. The newest plant, called Sorek, opened in late 2013. Located just south of Tel Aviv, it is the world’s largest modern seawater desalination plant. Built for the Israeli government by Israel Desalination Enterprises, or IDE Technologies, at a cost of around $500 million, it uses a conventional desalination technology called reverse osmosis. Thanks, however, to a series of engineering and materials advances it produces clean water from the sea cheaply and at a scale never before achieved. “This is indeed the cheapest water from seawater desalination produced in the world,” says Raphael Semiat, a chemical engineer and desalination expert at the Israel Institute of Technology, or Technion, in Haifa. Wanting to share its knowledge, Mashav, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, has hosted environmental professionals from all over the developing world—including Myanmar, Thailand, Cameroon, Ghana, Guyana, Bolivia, Nepal, Serbia, Bosnia and China, among others—to learn about best practices in water management, including desalinization. Representatives from these varied nations come to the Jewish state to learn how they too can turn their countries from water scarce to water independent. Today, Israel has a surplus of fresh water, and is actively exporting its desalination expertise to other communities. Its water independence is a world ahead of the days of Miriam’s Well and a model for the rest of the world. Har Sinai partners with AIPAC, America’s pro-Israel lobby, in educating our community on issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship. 18 | the Connection OFFERINGS BEVERLY D. DOPKIN FLORAL FUND YAHRZEIT Sadie Dregant Mr. & Mrs. Albert Katz CANTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND IN HONOR OF Cantor Robert Gerber The Goldsmith Family GENERAL FUND Asterisks (*) denote offerings of $250.00 or more. Thank you for your generosity. You can donate online at www.harsinai-md.org/donate. Benjamin Oshrine Judge & Mrs. Theodore Oshrine Pinya Strakovsky Mrs. Galina Shkolnik BIRTHDAY Sam Dansicker Mrs. Joanne Goldsmith MEMORIAL Ruth Raderman Mr. & Mrs. Alan Orman Ries Daniel Mr. & Mrs. Sigmund Eckhaus Harvey Scherr Mr. & Mrs. Alan Orman MEMORIAL ONEG SHABBAT FUND Eleanor Goldsmith Mr. & Mrs. Martin Lavender ANNIVERSARY Harvey Scherr Dr. & Mrs. Donald Milsten MEMORIAL ANNIVERSARY Arnold Birenbaum Mr. & Mrs. Donald Cohen Nadine and Bob Goldman Mr. & Mrs. Robert Goldman BIRTHDAY Elizabeth Goldsmith Miss Elizabeth Goldsmith Bobbie Orman Mr. & Mrs. Alan Orman RECOVERY Janet Schutzman Mr. & Mrs. Ed Obstler BIRTH Son of Annette & Mark Segall Dr. Michael Levin & Ms. Ronnie Buerger Lillian Rose Marks Mr. & Mrs. David Buchoff Selma Shaivitz Mr. & Mrs. Sigmund Eckhaus ENGAGEMENT YAHRZEIT Evelyn Blacher Dr. & Mrs. David Mannes Matilda Carp Mr. & Mrs. David Carp Henry H. Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Strauss PINTZUK SWERNOFF PRAYERBOOK FUND Brett Teitel and Christian Seime Mr. & Mrs. David Buchoff MEMORIAL Florence Block Mr. & Mrs. David Buchoff IN HONOR OF Rabbi Benjamin Sharff The Goldsmith Family Leon Maleson Mrs. Ruth Levie MEMORIAL Vera Miller Dr. & Mrs. David Mannes Rocky Rosen The Unger Family SIMCHAS in MARCH ANNIVERSARIES 19 Eric and Karen Perlstein 25 Jeff and Lisa Caplan 25 Steve and Allison Shapiro BIRTHDAYS 3 Joy Lacey 11 Karen Kaftol 11 Sally Heyn 13 Pete Sachs 13 Harry Cohen 16 Marylee Dannenberg 18 Charlie Tibbils 19 Geoffrey Glazer 21 Barbara Schlaff 27 Linda Schwartz 27 Jonathan Lipnick 28 David Buchoff 29 Nancy Walman 30 Vlad Zagranichny RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Jacob Gersh Mr. Alan Gersh Clarence Meyer Mr. & Mrs. David Carp MEMORIAL LEGACY AND ENDOWMENT FUND BIRTHDAY Geraldine Markovitz Mrs. Babette Chessler YOUTH ACTIVITIES FUND Bess Bloom Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Rothstein Mr. & Mrs. Rafi Yuili Mr. & Mrs. Barry Bloom and Families OUR MISSION Har Sinai Congregation is a dynamic, caring community that honors our Jewish tradition to continue the covenant while empowering members to explore relationships, God, Torah and the world around us. SYNAGOGUE STAFF RABBI Rabbi Benjamin Sharff | [email protected] Har Sinai New Member News We warmly welcome our newest family members: Jane and Dr. Gershon Efron RABBI EMERITUS Rabbi Floyd L. Herman | [email protected] Veronika Yokov and Logan Levin CANTOR Cantor Robert Gerber | [email protected] Susan and Joel Hirschman TEMPLE ADMINISTRATOR Monica H. Blum | [email protected] Sue and William Walman Karen Sack Matya and Henry Tucker DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING Jo-Ellen Unger | [email protected] DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING & MEMBERSHIP Melanie Waxman | [email protected] YOUTH ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR Aaron Klaus | [email protected] HAR SINAI CONGREGATION 2905 Walnut Avenue Owings Mills, MD 21117 Phone 410-654-9393 Fax 410-654-9135 www.harsinai-md.org FACILITES MANAGER Tom Gill | [email protected] OFFICERS PRESIDENT Joanne Goldsmith FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Joseph DeMattos SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Anne Berman THIRD VICE PRESIDENT David Carp SECRETARY Dr. Kenneth Bell TREASURER Samuel Dansicker ASSISTANT TREASURER Craig Hoffman EDITOR IN CHIEF Monica H. Blum EDITORS Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Nadine Sachs, Bonnie Heneson Communications