Congregation Sha`arai Shomayim Founded 1844 Springhill Avenue

VOLUME 56 EDITION 5
1 January 2014
29 Tevet 5774
Congregation Sha’arai Shomayim
Springhill Avenue Temple
Founded 1844
The Temple Bulletin
springhillavenuetemple.com
We are coming together as a caring, inclusive community united in a common commitment to Judaism and to
furthering our spiritual growth. We desire to do this recognizing that worship of God, study of Torah, caring for the
Jewish people and our community, are central to our being as a Reform Jewish congregation. With these principles
as our foundation and guided by a historic past, we anticipate our future, one of continual lifelong self-renewal.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Friday, January 3
6:00 p.m.
Shabbat Evening Service
Friday, January 10
6:00 p.m.
Shabbat Evening Service
Cantor is with us
9:30 p.m.
10:30 a.m.
Shabbat Breakfast
Shabbat Morning Service
Cantor is with us
Saturday, January 11
Friday, January 17
6:00 p.m.
Tu B’Shevat Seder
Friday, January 24
6:00 p.m.
Shabbat Evening Service
Friday, January 31
6:00 p.m.
Shabbat Evening Service
ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES.
PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP
Torah Selection:
Exodus 10:1 – 13:16
Haftarah – Jermiah 46:13-28
From The Rabbi
O
ne of my favorite stories is that of Ann
Scheiber. Ms. Scheiber had a series of
negative experiences with financial brokers in the
1930s, and retired from her job as an auditor at the
IRS in the 1940s with only $5,000 saved and a
$3,100 pension. One thing she learned while
working for the IRS was the people who seemed to
be making the most money made it through stock
investments. She apparently learned her lesson
quite well. She spent the next 50 years of her life
making wise financial investments and share
purchases coupled with an austere savings plan. In
50 years, she managed to accumulate 22 million
dollars. When she died at the age of 101, she
donated her life savings to the establishment of
scholarships for deserving girls at Yeshiva
University.
Ann Scheiber lived extremely modestly and
frugally. No one knew of her wealth except her
stockbroker. The only paper she read was the Wall
Street Journal, which in order to save money she
would only read in the library.
Tzedakah, charity is one of the great pillars upon
which Judaism rests. There is a very special
pleasure in giving. In many ways, it is one of the
most satisfying experiences we can enjoy: knowing
we can make a difference. When materially our
needs are satisfied, we can always have more as we
share of ourselves.
As the New Year begins, I think of the story of Ann
Scheiber and I think of the president of the
university: What a shame she could not enjoy the
pleasure of giving in her lifetime.
Maybe her life story will mean something to you.
We can only eat so much, wear so many clothes,
and go so many places.
Making a difference trumps all of this in the end.
How are you going to make a difference in this
New Year?
Patti joins me in wishing you all the very best for
health and happiness.
Rabbi Donald M. Kunstadt
Yeshiva University had never heard of her. The
president of the university remarked upon her death
how sad it was that she could not have taken
pleasure from her gift during her lifetime.
Want to Learn More About Judaism?
Spring Quarter at Spring Hill College
You can audit Rabbi Kunstadt’s
“Judaism” Class
To sign up and for more information,
please call
Spring Hill College – 251-380-4458
(Inquire after January 1st, Classes begin Janury 16th)
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From The President
T
he secular New Year, January 1st, is a
great time to do an appraisal of the past
year for things such as home expenses,
business, school, charitable contributions, and
volunteer activities, if we haven’t already done
so in December. Then we often times use this
review as a benchmark for what we will do in
the New Year.
So I thought this would be a good time to
update you on the status of our Temple repairs,
since it was one year ago that we sustained
significant damage from an unprecedented
tornado that ripped through our part of
midtown. Since the tornado occurred, we began
emergency repairs to prevent further damage
and initiated a claim with our insurance carrier.
Experts were called in to assess the damage and
come up with a scope of work to repair our
Temple. A committee of members was formed
to meet regularly to oversee the negotiating
process and make decisions, with Board
approval, to proceed with repairs. A substantial
part of our claim involves the roof and has been
an ongoing dispute with our insurance
company, which has held up a major part of our
repairs. We are doing what repairs are possible
while these negotiations are underway and have
the best interest of the congregation at the
forefront.
Thank you to the following congregants who
have volunteered unwavering support and
countless hours in seeing that the right thing is
done for our congregation: Harvey Gandler,
Howard Silverman, Aaron Solomon, Ralph
Holberg, and Maury Friedlander. Also, thank
you to our Board of Trustees for the questions,
challenges, and charges in maintaining
accountability from this group of volunteers.
Alan Goldberg, President
Henry S. Jacobs Camp!
Scholarships Available!
Plan now for a great Summer Experience! Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor,
Temple youth will be able to receive a $1,000 incentive grant for Camp tuition for first-time
campers and $500 for continuing campers. These funds are in addition to the first time campers
scholarship program of $1,000 from the Goldring Family Foundation.
Contact Henry S. Jacobs Camp, 3863 Morrison Road, Utica, MS (601) 885-6042, fax: (601) 8856269; Website: jacobs.urjcamps.org
Join Us for Rabbi Kunstadt’s Torah Study
Every Wednesday Evening – 6:00 p.m.*
in the Temple Library
Currently Studying the Book of Ezekiel.
The Torah Study schedule is on page 12.
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Mobile Jewish Film Festival
JANUARY 9th – 22th, 2013
Portrait of Wally - Thursday, January 9th, Mobile Museum of Art at 2:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m. Free admission, but RESERVATIONS ARE NEEDED for the 7:00 p.m. show.
BESA – The Promise - Sunday, January 12th, 3:00 p.m., Springhill Avenue Temple
Süskind – Tuesday, January 14th, 7:00 p.m., Laidlaw Performing Arts, University of South Alabama
Fill The Void – Wednesday, January 15th, 7:00 p.m., Laidlaw Performing Arts, University of
South Alabama
The Other Son – Thursday, January 16th, 7:00 p.m., Laidlaw Performing Arts, University of
South Alabama
Broadway Musicals – Sunday, January 19th, 3:00 p.m., Ahavas Chesed Synagogue
Encore performance BESA – The Promise– Tuesday, January 21st, 7:00 p.m.,
University of South Alabama, Fairhope Campus
Orchestra of Exiles – Wednesday, January 22nd, 7:00 p.m., Bernheim Hall Ben May
Library
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FESTIVAL HISTORY, a “SNEAK PREVIEW”
of a film will be shown at Springhill Avenue Temple at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday,
January 23rd. We are not allowed to disclose the title of the film, but can only say
that it will no doubt be shown at many major film festivals in 2014, so don't miss
it! Admission is free of charge, but reservations are required. Guest Speaker:
Shir Mnuchin, 2009 Israeli Shlicha to Mobile.
For Reservations, Tickets and questions, please call 251-343-7197 or
e-mail [email protected]
SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES !!!
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From Our Archives
By Susan Thomas, Archivist
A
lthough the bulk of the Temple Archives'
holdings are currently housed off-site until
the tornado repairs are completed, I still try to
maintain files related to past and current
Temple members. Please remember to send the
Archives a copy of programs or announcements
related to any significant life events, such as
bar and bat mitzvahs, confirmations, baby
namings, weddings, birthdays, etc. I also file
any newspaper articles referring to Temple
members, and photographs of important
occasions.
Hopefully the materials we save today on our
current members may prove helpful to
someone many years from now researching his
or her family history. Items such as wedding
invitations, bar mitzvah programs, newspaper
write-ups and other such memorabilia have
helped many researchers using our Archives to
piece together missing information about
family members.
Please keep the Archives in mind when you are
cleaning out closets, file cabinets, book shelves,
etc. Those items you are discarding could be a
welcome addition to the Archives! Please feel
free to contact me at [email protected]
or 476-9440 if you need information about
what materials we can use in the Archives.
Cemetery Committee Request
The Cemetery Committee is in the process of trying to locate out-of-town family members who
have loved ones buried in our cemetery. If you have names and addresses so that we can contact
them, please e-mail me at [email protected].
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Jack Friedlander
The Friday Shabbat Evening Service at the URJ Convention in San Diego. Rabbi Kunstadt and Sam Small are
in attendance along with 5000 others pictured here.
Photo courtesy of Rabbi Kunstadt
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YAHRZEIT
It is a true Mitzvah to honor those whose memory we hold dear by
attending services on the Shabbat Yahrzeit (year’s time)
joining your congregation in reciting Kaddish and the giving of charity in their memory.
January 3
Lucille Schwarz, Jack Silverman, James H. Zelnicker,
Ethel Mutchnick, Betty Schwarz, Antoinette Pollock Altmayer,
Bette Taranto, Jean Rose Kozlove, Fannye Silverstein
January 10
Harry Kogon, Rebecca Nyman, Claire Sternberg Preston,
Hazel Cohen Becker, Betty Julius, Milton Kozlove, Clara Rosenbaum,
William Slepian, Susan Sparks
January 17
Corrine Hirsch Casper, Esther Friedman, Milton Goldberg,
Celia Sobel, Sophie Gandler, Jean Angstreich,
Lillian Broth, Amelia Piser, Mary Schwinger
January 24
Mildred Gandler, Harry Paper, Jack Silverman,
Dorothy Kuhr Small, Louis Heir, Evelyn Nathan Friedman
January 31
Barry David, Garden, Leonard Gandler, Ida Nichols Shugerman,
Salomon Alloun, Harold Joseph Denson,
Annie Friedlander Maisel, Morris Nyman,
Louis Raider, Sylvia Gandler Cohan, Abner Hirsch
Rabbi’s Hospital and Homebound Visitation Schedule
The Rabbi would very much like to be able to visit our hospitalized
and homebound congregants. Lately, however, due to HIPPA
regulations, we have had a problem with some area hospitals not
providing us with information about our members. If you or
someone you know would like the Rabbi to visit, please call the
Temple Office at 251-478-0415 or email
[email protected]
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Contributions
In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell J. Friedman’s 63rd wedding anniversary - given lovingly by
their children, Jan Friedman Yellin and Steven D. Yellin, M.D. and grandchildren,
Lyons Friedman Yellin and Adam Friedman Yellin
In honor of Nate Ginsberg’s birthday – Nell & Cal Ennis, Bobette & Lowell Friedman,
Murray Levine
In honor of G.B. Kahn’s birthday – Harriet & William Kahn
In honor of Sandy and Ralph Holberg’s wedding anniversary – Murray Levine
Temple General Fund – Nicole & Fabian Eyal
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund – Babs Feibelman and Lois Solomon, Carol & Steve Zimmerman
In memory of Syde Kretzer – Iris & Albert Klein, Iris & Nate Ginsberg, Martha & G.B. Kahn,
Bobette & Lowell Friedman, Pauline & Mike Brown, Amy & Jack Friedlander,
Margaret & Milton Brown, Jean & Roland Fry, Liz & Randy Fry, Cindy & Phil Magnes,
Mary Lynn Mansbach, Ellen & Buzzy Zivitz
In loving memory of Harriet Friedlander – Emily & Harold Fink
In memory of my son, Todd Levine, on his birthday – Murray Levine
In memory of Joshua – Iris & Albert Klein
In memory of Dr. Samuel Sternberg – Odette & Mel Sternberg
In memory of Arthur R. Seelig – Odette & Mel Sternberg
In memory of Ellen Eber – Jill Gottlieb
In memory of Ricki Susman – Eileen Susman
In memory of Peter Susman – Eileen Susman
The new Membership Directory is done
and is available to members only!
The directory is provided in .pdf format that can be emailed or, if you
prefer, a hard copy can be mailed to you.
To request your copy, please either call the Temple office or email the
Temple secretary at [email protected].
Please also report any discrepancies and/or errors found in order
to keep this new directory accurate and up-to-date. Thank you!
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At Temple
January 9 – 22 is the Mobile Jewish Film
Festival – (info and complete listing on pg.
4)
--------------------------
Center, 1717 Dauphin Street. Our Shlicha,
Hadas Hoffman will lead the class in teaching
adult Hebrew. For anyone who is interested,
please contact Hadas at Mobile.Shlichim
@gmail.com or 753-4860.
Friday, January 17 at 6:00 p.m. is the Tu
B’Shevat Seder at the Temple.
-------------------------Want to know more about Judaism?
Rabbi’s class at Spring Hill College starts
on Thursday, January 16th – If interested,
you can audit this class by signing up through
the Life Long Learning Department at the
college. For more information, please call
251-380-4458.
Around the Community
Thursday, January 23 at 7:00 p.m.,
Trialogue at the Gautrelet Room at Spring
Hill College. Topic TBA.
-------------------------Adult Hebrew Classes – Wednesday,
January 8th at 6:30 p.m. at the Via Senior
The Temple Community Garden plots will start back up in mid-February.
Seeds for the garden project are being donated by Pierce Farms c/o Anna Pierce (green beans,
peas, lima beans, tomatoes, etc.). The first planting will start with potatoes. Sign up for your
plot by calling the Temple office (251-478-0415) or Larry Miller (251-648-0401).
Last year’s community garden, 2013.
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January Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy Birthday To ...
3
4
6
6
6
7
7
8
9
9
10
10
11
11
13
14
14
17
Happy Anniversary To...
Claris Feibelman
Ann Miller
Nan Altmayer
Diane Garden-Monheit
Mimi Holberg
Jane Allen
Phillip Feibelman
Jeff Conrad
Jeanne Garfunkel
Lynne Switzkey
Will Kinsella
Bill Susman
Alan Franco
Harvey Gandler
Vicki Silverman-Luger
Judith Dittman
Madison Friduss
LeNae Denson
18
18
21
21
22
22
23
24
24
25
25
25
26
26
27
28
28
29
30
Terry Passman
Corine Yonge
Lowell Friedman
Ryan Fusco
Stephanie Dittman
Sam Lansky
Jonathan Lubitz
Barbara Cherniak
Leslie Goldberg
Hugh Borak
Debra Fetterman
Deanne Schjott
Alan Foster
Jonathan Hirsch
Marjorie Altmayer
Andrew Brown
Matthew Friedman
Daniel Kinsella
Joshua Mutchnick
29 Susan & Terry Passman
30 Dana & David Furman
February Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy Birthday To ...
1 Caitlin Brown
1 Sydnie Susman
2 Judy Aronson
2 Adam Miller
2 William Shulman
3 Lisa Magnes
4 Rachel Goldberg
4 Joanne Koffler
4 Enid Laden
4 Joel Silverman
5 Kathryn Friedlander
5 Katherine Miles
5 Helen Small
6 Evan Webster
9 Dolores Loeb
9 Dori Small
11 Janis Friedlander
11 Larry Miller
12 Bobette Friedman
12 Richard Tolpin
13 Jay Altmayer
Happy Anniversary To...
13
13
15
16
16
16
16
18
23
19
21
22
22
22
25
26
27
27
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Aaron Solomon
Samantha Zimmerman
Phil Magnes
Brion Berman
Mark Friedlander
Lisa Friedman
Perrye Lewis
Joy Gardberg
Gabriel Fry
Margeaux Silverstein
Darby Sidie
Clare Aycock
Alan Hirsch
Sam Holberg
Christopher Kinsella
Diane Frank
Norma Conrad
Max Mutchnick
Christopher Sundberg
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14
22
23
23
Clare & Thomas Aycock
Shirley & Joel Silverman
Rose & Phillip Brunson
Carol & Matt Eberlein
THE FAMILY HANUKKAH SHABBAT
AND DINNER CELEBRATION!!
Members of the Men’s Club made their wonderful latkes! Pictured left to right: Jack Friedlander, David Rose,
Richard Rose, Nate Ginsberg and Mike Pereira. Delicious!
Photo courtesy of Mike Jefferson
There was a “Dizney Hanukkah” presentation for the children. Tigger,
Daisy Duck and the teapot from Beauty & the Beast were there! Played by
(from left to right) Barry Silverman as Tigger; Patricia Silverman as Daisy
Duck; and Iris Ginsberg as the teapot.
Photo courtesy of Rabbi Kunstadt
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Cantor Mark and the Temple band
participated as well! Great fun!
THE COMMUNITY DINNER FOR
THE INNER CITY MISSION
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Donald M. Kunstadt, Rabbi
Alan Goldberg, President
Alan Hirsch, First Vice-President
J. Michael Pereira, Second Vice-President
Aaron Solomon, Treasurer
Liz Fry, Secretary
Springhill Avenue Temple
1769 Springhill Avenue
Mobile, AL 36607 - (251) 478-0415
MR & MRS PAUL FRENKEL
474 WINSLOW DRIVE
MOBILE, AL 36608-2430
Calendar
Hebrew School – Wednesdays
4:00 p.m.
January 8, 15, 22, and 29
(no class on the 1st)
Torah Study – Wednesdays
6:00 p.m.
January 8, 15, 22, and 29
(no Torah Study on the 1st)
Religious School – Sundays
Friday
9:45 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
January 5 and 12 (no class on the 19th)
January 17 (Tu B’Shevat Seder)

January 9 – 22 is the Mobile Jewish Film Festival – (info and complete listing on pg. 4)
Partial Listing:
Thursday, January 9
2:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m.
“Portrait of Wally” at the Mobile Museum
of Art”. Reservations needed for 7:00 p.m.
show.
Sunday, January 12
3:00 p.m.
“BESA – The Promise” at Springhill Avenue
Temple
Tuesday, January 14
7:00 p.m.
“Süskind” at the Laidlaw Performing Arts,
University of South Alabama
Friday, January 17
6:00 p.m.
Tu B’Shevat Seder
Thursday, January 23
7:00 p.m.
Trialogue, Spring Hill College
Gautrelet Room (topic TBA)
THE TEMPLE BULLETIN (USPS966-900) is published monthly by
Springhill Avenue Temple,
1769 Springhill Avenue
Mobile, AL 36607.
“Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile,
Alabama.”
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POSTMASTER:
Send address change to:
1769 Springhill Ave.
Mobile, AL 36607