Feb 2016 NEWSLETTER

Congregation B’nai Harim
Children of the Mountains
Congregation B’nai Harim, P.O. Box 757, Pocono Pines, PA 18350/ (570) 646-0100
http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org
NEWSLETTER /FEBRUARY 2016/ VOLUME 22, ISSUE 2
RABBI’S MESSAGE - FEBRUARY 2016
The call came at the same time as the weather forecast. We would be hit by snow, but
this family was hit by calamity. The funeral home said that the bereft mother only wanted
me to officiate. I had done the funeral for her other son and she found comfort somehow.
Weather or not, I could not refuse. I spoke with the mourners and gathered eulogies from
the friends of the deceased and tried to sound confident that all would go smoothly.
I don’t like to leave things to chance. But this was a situation over which I now had no
Rabbi Peg
control. It was relatively easy to move our Tu b’Shevat celebration to mesh with our
Kershenbaum
Shabbat Dinner. It was a good choice to cancel services the next day. But what was to be
done about the snow between here and Stroudsburg?
Prayer, trust, and faith in the ultimate kindness of God—a rabbi’s stock in trade—were truly
the only source of comfort and calm over that weekend. I had to believe that God is merciful, compassionate and just. Somehow the mitzvah of comforting the mourner would prevail. I’m not talking
about magic or miracles, just an innate certainty that the Heavenly System works, even if in ways we
wouldn’t necessarily have them work.
When we went to sleep on Friday, the weather forecast was downgraded to 3-5 inches. When
we woke up, the forecast said over a foot. While the car was beginning to be buried, it still wasn’t a
foot. But then it kept snowing. And snowing. AND SNOWING. As you all noted, it ultimately
stopped. For the fourth time, the plows in the community came around. We might be able to back up
if we could get through the 17 inch moat of snow that surrounded the car.
Crushing and brushing sounds filled my ears as I slept. On looking out the window, I was
amazed to see the deep snow around the car gone. Some angel in human form had come during the
early hours and removed the obstacle. With under an hour’s work, Aaron and I swept off the car and
were able to move.
In my focused way, I had hoped that the snow would avoid us. But this kindness in the real
world is even better. The ground and lake got the needed snow and the bereft mother got some comfort.
We all know the beautiful funeral prayer, El Malei Rachamim, God full of mercy. When we
hear it said for our loved ones, perhaps we don’t feel that mercy. But God is compassionate, especially when we are ready to be compassionate as well.
SOUP’S ON AT THE STOLZENBERG’S
Winter has arrived, we had a significant snow fall and we are itching to get together.
Don't forget to join us on Saturday February 27 at 6 pm for hot soup, easy conversation and warm friendships. Bring friends who may want to engage in the Pocono
community or who may want to meet the wonderful members of B'nai Harim.
See enclosed flyer for details.
B'nai Harim snow birds having fun and a delicious lunch at the
Waterway Cafe in Palm Beach Gardens at the annual Florida
luncheon organized by Maddie Mogel .
PAGE ONE/B’NAI HARIM
2
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE - FEBRUARY 2016
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF UNUSUAL TIMES. Our Pocono winter (other
than this week’s snow storm) has been uncommonly warm. Our snow bunny members
experienced weather that was cooler than normal which then progressed to being
hotter than customary. Our Chesed committee has had an unusual number of visits to
Irene
make to congregants who were ill or incapacitated or who had the abysmal experience
Stolzenberg
of losing someone whom they dearly loved. And yet life seems to go on as usual even
with these unusual occurrences.
So what is it that allows us to continue even after our lives have been so severely disrupted?
Is it one’s ability to adapt or a particular person’s level of resilience? I think that those are a
large part of what allows people to go on with their lives after having experienced a personal
trauma. But to make this adjustment successful, to ease the pain of the illness or loss, there has
to be a support system that the individual can count on. Each and every one of us is part of the
B’nai Harim caring community. Some of us can make visits others can make phone calls, send
a note or cook a meal. Whatever you can do, reach out to your fellow B’nai Harim Family.
There is nothing you can do that is too small or too big. You don’t have to be best friends, you
just have to care.
Please remember B’nai HARIM IS a CARING COMMUNITY BECAUSE OUR
MEMBERS MAKE IT SO.
Thank you,
Irene
YASHER KOACH
(A.KA. KUDOS)
To:
1. Richard Feman for responding so swiftly when a special announcement needs to go out
pronto.
2. Sandy Spinner for remembering to nudge our President when an unusual message has to go
out and then getting it on the answering machine in a timely manner.
3. Al Wismer for seeing that our parking lot is salted and cleaned in a timely manner so that
out students can safely get to class prior to services.
4. Our Chesed committee for responding with kindness and good cheer when a congregant
needs their help.
5. And to those of you not noted today but who we know continue to work hard for B’nai
Harim and the Jewish Community of the Pocono Mountains.
ACTIVITIES/FUND RAISING
BARBARA FEMAN
I am always so amazed at how busy and involved we are as a congregation. Even as the
chair of activities and fundraising I find it difficult to keep up with the schedule of overall activities. Shabbat Dinners, Onegs, Special Services ( Tu b'Shevat Seders ), Book Clubs, Chavurah Groups, Holiday Parties, Nature Hikes, Golf Outings, Picnics, Shows, Adult Education
Classes, Lox Academy, Get Togethers- (Soups On), Baseball games and new this year, Shabbat
Across America. The Shabbat across America committee is busy planning an elegant dinner
and service. Plan on joining us and experience the beauty and happiness of Shabbat on March
4th. The chesed committee is reflective of the kindness and caring of our members. The chesed
committee is the heart of our congregation, comforting those in need. We continually reach
out to our Jewish and secular community through our food and clothing drive and by participating in community events throughout the year. As a congregation we pray to have eyes that see
the best in people, a heart that forgives, a mind that forgets the bad and a soul that never loses
faith in God. Personally, the more I get to know all of you, the more I think these prayers are
being answered.
PAGE TWO/B’NAI HARIM
SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA
Imagine an elegant Friday evening dinner devoted to people who want to share in Jewish
traditions. That’s what “Shabbat Across America” is all about. Now it’s your opportunity to
share in the beauty of Shabbat.
On Friday night, March 4, 2016, Congregation Bnai Harim is joining with hundreds of locations throughout North America in sponsoring the 20th annual “Shabbat Across America
and Canada (SAA/C),” a nationwide effort coordinated by NJOP to share the beauty of Shabbat with marginally affiliated and unaffiliated Jews. Our program will include a special Friday
night service and Shabbat dinner beginning at 6:00 pm.
Rabbi and the SAA committee have a wonderful evening of food, drink, dance and celebration planned and we need your help to make it successful.
1. Encourage participation in Congregation Bnai Harim’s SAA/C program. Everyone
has at least one friend, family member, co-worker, or someone you know who has not truly
experienced Shabbat in a long time – if at all. Tell them about Shabbat Across America
and Canada and invite them to participate.
2. Sponsor the event. Provide food, contribute funds, help host. We need to share the beauty of Shabbat with fellow Jews, many of whom want so very much to be part of the Jewish
community, but have not yet felt that sense of welcome.
There is a nominal charge of $7.00 per adult and children under 12 are free. Please reserve
your space by returning the attached form to:
Congregation B’nai Harim – Shabbat Across America
P.O. Box 757
Pocono Pines, PA 18350
SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA – March 4, 2016 6:00 p.m.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Adults:
Children:
____ number attending at $7.00 per person
____ children under 12 are at no charge
Additional donation: ________________
Reservations are required by February 26, 2016 so our “chefs” can accommodate you.
PAGE THREE/B’NAI HARIM
TEMPLE GIFT SHOP
NORMA KRASNE-LEVINE
APITANSKY RELI
GIODon’t let the winter chill get you down and feeling blue. Browse the
Temple Gift Shop for some unique gifts. Buy some jewelry for someone you
love or buy a book from our collection and share some laughs with a friend.
Feel warm by wrapping yourself in a new Tallit or update the décor of your
home with a new mezuzah case. So, the next time you are in Temple please
come and visit the Judaica Shop. Your purchase helps support our beloved
B’nai Harim. Remember! If you don’t see it, I will get it for you.
TIDBITS BY GEORGE
BORSCHT ANYONE?
I just watched "Dirty Dancing" for the umpteenth time. For those of you who don't know,
the movie was set in 1963 at a Catskill hotel fashioned after Browns. It starred Patrick Swayze,
Jennifer Grey and Jerry Orbach. Jennifer Grey is the daughter of Joel Grey and granddaughter
of Mickey Katz a famed Jewish jazz musician and comedian.
I worked in the Catskills in 196I,62 at Sha-wan-ga Lodge on the top of the infamous
Wurtsboro hill on Rt 17, the Quickway. It was a family hotel with about half of the guests
staying the entire summer. I worked in the day camp. The dining room staff was mostly guys
in med or law school. Where could you make $2000-$3000 for the summer to go back to college with? It was the best of all worlds for a city kid like me. A dumpy barracks, 3 or 4 to a
room to live in, a 24/7 card game, a hotel that asked you to mix with and entertain the guests,
sneaking up to the camp pool at midnight to take a bath, helping the bartenders cut the liquor
bottles with water to turn one bottle into three, tipping the maids a few bucks for an empty
room, heading out to Monticello Raceway for the twin double, working the big card games on
the weekends for tips for getting them a cigar or drink, meeting and staying friends with people
these 50+ years since.
I was asked if I could drive the jittney bus, a standard shift, from the hotel to the camp. I
said sure. Could I drive a stick? No, but I hoped to learn quickly. I only burned out one clutch.
The food was good because we ate in the children's dining room and were allowed to eat in the
main on our day off. The hotel was not kosher. I earned $15 a week and usually about $15 a
week from tips which the entire camp pooled. I wonder if the guy we tied to a tree overnight
because he was withholding tips is still there? Oh well, too late to worry. We saw some great
entertainers, either those who were starting out or those at the end of their careers. We had to
give up our room for Labor Day so guests would have someplace to stay for the BIG WEEKEND.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience. It was a way of life that, due to the airplane, affluence and assimilation, we no longer needed. It began to go downhill during the late 60s and die
out by the end of the 70s. The music that Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) and Baby (Jennifer
Grey) dance to in the last scene in the movie says it all-"I've had the time of my life.”
ONEG SHABBAT HOSTS
Onegs are such a delightful part of socializing after a Saturday Morning service.
We always welcome hosts for our Onegs. The cost is $65.00 and includes bagels,
cream cheese, coffee, tea, orange juice, milk and all needed paper goods. Sponsors
are welcome to supplement the oneg.
To host an Oneg, call Roberta Pineiro (570) 839-0107.
February 6th - Leslie & Jim Stine
PAGE FOUR/B’NAI HARIM
February 20th - Natalie Pichler in memory of Hermann
DONATIONS
.
YAHRZEIT FUND
GENERAL FUND
From: Ella Ettinger
In memory of her Husband, Howard.
From: Leslie & Jim Stine
1. In memory of Daniel Grotta,
Husband of Sally Grotta.
2. In memory of Sylvia Stern,
Mother of Marjorie Jacobs.
3. Get well to Eleanor Schultz.
4. In memory of Hermann Pichler.
From: Marjorie Stern Jacobs
In memory of her Mother, Sylvia
Stern.
From: Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum
In memory of her Grandmother,
Lillian S. May.
From: Steven Levine
In memory of his Mother, Lillian
Levine.
From: Andrew Green
In memory of his Mother, Anne
Green.
From: Shelly Wismer
In memory of her Father, Joseph
Horn.
From: Marjorie & Alan Seger
In memory of Marjorie’s Father, Myer
Shecter.
From: Kathy Kimmel
In memory of her Mother, Theda
Nagel.
From: Robert Kimmel
In memory of his Mother, Shirley
Fichter.
From: Jane & Warren Shapiro
In memory of Jane’s Father, Daniel
Isaacson.
New
Member
From: Joe & Norma Fisch
1. To Sally Grotta - Condolences
on your loss of Daniel, your beloved Husband.
2. 2. To Eleanor Schultz - wishing
you a full recovery to good
health.
3. To Thomas Bontempo & Family
- sincere condolences on the
loss of your father and grandfather.
4. To Elaine Grossman - sincere
condolences on the loss of your
Husband, Jay.
5. To Marjorie Stern Jacobs - sincere condolences on the loss of
your Mother, Sylvia.
From: Stephen & Connie Bram
In memory of Daniel Grotta.
From: Lee & Ron Emerson
1. In memory of Daniel Grotta
2. In memory of Sylvia Stern.
3.
From: Ella Ettinger
1. In memory of Daniel Grotta.
2. Wishing Eleanor Schultz a
speedy recovery.
3. Congratulations to Joe & Norma
Fisch on the Bar Mitzvah of their
Grandson.
Sheryl L. Ambrosio
Additional donations on page six.
MUSIC FUND
From: Lew & Irene Stolzenberg
Get well to Dr. Dan Schidlow - too
much South American dancing heal quickly, Twinkle Toes.
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY
FUND
From: Jim & Peggie Hannan
Wishing Eleanor Schultz a speedy
recovery.
From: Sam Neulinger
In memory of Daniel Grotta.
From: Honi Gruenberg & Skip
Spady
1. To Natalie Pichler & Family on
the loss of Natalie’s Husband,
Hermann. Pichler.
2. To Eleanor Schultz - So happy
to see you are recovering, can’t
keep a good girl down!
3. To Marjorie Stern Jacobs &
Family - With sympathy on the
loss of Marjorie’s Mother, Sylvia
Stern.
4. To Andrew Green - Our
thoughts are with you for a
speedy recovery.
5. To Connie Bram - Our thoughts
are with you for a speedy
recovery.
JANET WILE
SCHOLORSHIP FUND
From: Barbara & Stan Kapitansky
1. Our sincere condolences to
Sally Grotta on the loss of her
beloved Husband, Daniel.
2. Our sincere condolences to
Natalie Pichler on the loss of
her Husband, Hermann.
CHANUKAH PARTY
On Sunday, December 13th our
congregation had an amazing
Chanukah Luncheon/Party at the
LNC Clubhouse. We had 59
guests. Rabbi Peg conducted a
group menorah lighting. After a
wonderful Chanukah lunch, including a delicious Latke station,
our own Dr. Dan Schidlow with
accompanists, Will Landstrom on
keyboards and Skip Spady on
guitar provided us with a wonderful Chanukah sing-along and performance. Many received great door prizes. This was a day filled with fun,
happiness and love.
Thank you, Shelly Wismer
The Emerson, Kagan, and
Stolzenberg Families
Celebrate in Hilton Head
PAGE FIVE/B’NAI HARIM
YAHRZEIT NOTIFICATION
CELEBRATIONS
Irene Stolzenberg
Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum
Richard Kelmans
Phyllis Miller
Peter Gelbart
Ron Emerson
Alan Kagan
Jennelle Buitrago
Feb. 1
Feb. 9
Feb. 12
Mar. 7
Mar. 7
Mar. 8
Mar. 11
Mar. 20
Our Yahrzeit list is open not only to
those who have plaques, but to the
entire congregation. This will allow you
to remember your loved ones on their
anniversary date. The forms available
at the Temple can be completed and
returned directly to me. With this information, a reminder will be sent to you at the appropriate time, and the
name of your loved one will be added to our kaddish list
for that date.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact
me directly at [email protected], 718-428-2140 or
570-646-4668.
Sincerely,
Stan Kapitansky
Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson
YAHRZEIT REMEMBRANCE
FEBRUARY
Barney & Sunny Goldfinger
Feb. 14
TREE OF LIFE
REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES BY ADDING THEIR
NAMES TO OUR MEMORIAL BOARD—
The cost for each plaque (one name per plaque) is $236.
A minimum of $50 must accompany each request. The
balance can be paid over one year for 1 or 2 plaques
and/or two years for more than 2 plaques. For further
information, please contact Stan Kapitansky, (718) 4282140 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Copies of the
order form will be available at the temple, or you may
download a copy directly from the web site.
Stan Kapitansky,
Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson
Gilbert Detkin
3
Benjamin Blum
4
Samuel Dorsky
7
Leonard Maffrici
Joyce Mogel
Our tree is flourishing. A leaf on the Tree of
Life is a unique way to commemorate a
8
special date or to thank someone in a truly
original and lasting manner. Each leaf costs 10
just triple Chai ($54.00) and will be engraved to
11
your specifications. Just phone Julia Shaykevich at
(570) 620-0104 or contact her by e-mail at
12
[email protected] to place your order.
MEMORIAL
2
Bella Zarfes
(29 SHEVAT)
Larry Stempel
Abraham Kushner
Monroe Heide
14
Allen Goodstein
Ted Gwirtzman
16
George Kline
David Pichler
17
Jennie Bedrick
18
Irene Tabak
19
Abraham Louis Heller
Joseph Neulinger
20
Bertha Gelbard
(11 ADAR 1)
25
Amy Mara Ames
Daniel Goodstein
(16 ADAR 1)
26
Morris Schur
WEEKLY ONLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS
STOP! ABSOLUTELY NO NUTS
In addition to the monthly newsletter, we publish
a weekly online newsletter for all members with
e-mail addresses and Internet access. If you
do not want to receive email announcements or
cannot access the Internet, please call Richard Feman
570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.
One of our members has a severe NUT allergy. As a
result, the temple is now NUT-free. This means that no
NUTS of any kind can be brought into the temple.
Please do not use oils that contain nuts of any kind in
your baking or cooking. We ask that you be as vigilant
as possible to ensure the well-being of this youngster.
PAGE SIX/ B’NAI HARIM
PATRONIZE B’NAI HARIM’S ADVERTISERS
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(570) 839-8010 (570) 839-8020
Store [email protected]
The Area’s Only Jewish Assisted Senior Living
So Much Comfort So Close to Home
465 Venard Rd. Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Phone: 50-585-4400 Fax: 570-585-4500
Website: www.elangardens.org
JEWISH FAMILYSERVICES
MISHEBEIRACH LIST
Jewish Family Service is in need of Kosher food
and toiletries marked with a recognized symbol.
Please remember to bring a donation of at least
one item when you visit the synagogue. All
items must be kosher, unopened and within the expiration date on the packaging. If each one of us brings
one can or box of food each time we come to the Temple, it will make a real difference to the needy in our
community. You can also write a check to “Jewish Family
Service of Northeast Pennsylvania” and it will be delivered.
It is also tax deductible. Thank you and keep up the great
work. We hope you will continue to be generous throughout
the year.
When putting a person onto the Mishebeirach
List, it should be with person’s permission.
Would the person like to be listed with their English or Hebrew name? Please include a contact
name and telephone number so that Rabbi Peg
may follow up with the person or with the member who
placed the name on the list. Our policy now states that the
list will be limited to members and their immediate family
(parents, grandparents, siblings and their spouses, children
and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses). Congregants are strongly encouraged to mention any person
aloud at the appropriate time during the service, so we can
pray for their improved health. REMEMBER TO HAVE THE
PERSON’S NAME REMOVED, IF THE PERSON NO
LONGER NEEDS TO BE ON THE LIST.
Jerry Goodstein
If you take photos at any Temple function PLEASE send them to my e-mail [email protected] and identify
the occasion and the faces. These photos make our publicity more interesting to the community.
Thanks, Lee Emerson
PAGE SEVEN/B’NAI HARIM
Congregation
B’nai Harim
PO Box 757
Pocono Pines, PA, 18350
http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org
PHONE:
Message Center
(570) 646-0100
E-Mail:
[email protected]
DIRECTIONS
Driving East on Route 940, turn right
at the Pocono Pines traffic light at Route
423, continue on Pocono Crest road
(formerly Sullivan Road) about 1&1/2
miles. Synagogue on left (before reaching 940).
Driving West on Route 940, turn left at
intersection of Pocono Crest Road
(formerly Sullivan Road), and the Synagogue will be on the right.(approx.
1/10th of a mile).
Rabbi:
Pres.:
VP:
Sec.:
Treas.:
Editor:
Peg Kershenbaum
Irene Stolzenberg
Al Wismer
Phyllis Miller
Steve Bram
Honi Gruenberg
Member of the URJ - Union For
Reform Judaism
NEED SOME CHICKEN
SOUP
NEED A CALL FROM
RABBI?
KNOW SOMEONE WHO
DOES?
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
This is your newsletter, and we want your input. When
you have any news to share, please let us know so we
can publish it.
Deadlines are the 20th of the month. News can be sent
(using WORD) to Paula Guenst at [email protected].
The newsletter is published each month. Newsletter
The members of B’nai Harim
subscriptions are available for $18 per year to nonare a very caring, close group
but sometimes a member needs members of Congregation B’nai Harim. Please contact
a little extra help. If you
George Novick or Irene Stolzenberg.
know of someone who needs a
In addition to the monthly newsletter, we distribute
phone call or a visit, please
weekly online announcements to all members with
either encourage them to call
e-mail addresses and Internet access. If you have not
the Rabbi directly or email her
yourself to let her know one of been receiving this please contact Richard Feman at
570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.
her congregants needs help.
NEW ADDRESS?
If you have recently moved, please send your new information to Honi
Gruenberg at [email protected]. She will update the Membership
list and generate a new list.
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FOR THE MARCH NEWSLETTER IS FEB. 20TH.
Next Board Meeting date: February 21st at 9:30 AM. To be put on the
RECURRING SCHEDULES agenda, contact Irene Stolzenberg at 570-643-1131 or 732-735-0983 no
Services Sat. 10:15 AM
Shabbat Dinner Fri. 6:30 PM
Religious School Sat. 9:00AM
CONGREGATION
B’NAI HARIM
PO Box 757
Pocono Pines, PA 18350
PAGE EIGHT/B’NAI HARIM
later than five days prior to the meeting.