File - Congregation Beth El

Page 1
The Monthly Publication of Congregation Beth El of Bucks County
November/December 2015
Cheshvan / Kislev 5776
By now most of us have put away our sukkahs, started raking
leaves and the chagim seem like a memory. In many respects
they are. But I hope we haven’t lost their meaning or forgotten
why we come to shul each fall. As we begin November, the
transition from Cheshvan to Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, we
have a rare occurrence; there is not one Jewish Holiday
celebration in the month. Having just completed 6 weeks of nonstop observances, we come to November and get a chance to catch our breath.
While the Jewish calendar takes a break before Hanukkah, our national calendar
has two of the most significant days of the year in November, Election Day and
Thanksgiving.
(Three
if
you
count
my
birthday)
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Morning Minyan
Sunday ......................................... 8:00am
Monday - Friday .......................... 7:00am
Evening Minyan
Monday - Thursday .................... 7:30pm
Shabbat Services
Friday ...........................................6:00pm
Saturday .................................... 9:30am
SYNAGOGUE OFFICE HOURS
Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent or somewhere else on the
political spectrum is irrelevant. The reason that Election Day is significant is that Monday - Thursday ..... 8:30am - 4:30pm
it is an annual reminder of what we are: a democracy that offers its citizens the Friday .......................... 8:30am - 2:00pm
right to freely elect their leaders. In principal it sounds almost trivial, and if you Office is closed from 12:00pm-1:00pm
go by voting records, it is. But as the oldest democracy in the world, we should
Monday through Thursday
not take this obligation lightly. Cara and I have moved three times and each
BUBBES’ JUDAICA
time one of the first things we did was register to vote. As my father would say, if
you don’t vote, you can’t complain about the elected officials.
SHOP HOURS
The second major day in November happens on the fourth Thursday of the
month. Thanksgiving is my favorite secular holiday of the year. First it is based
on food, can’t argue with that. Our family takes this seriously. We have certain
traditions we don’t deviate from;
turkey, Cara’s candied yams with
marshmallows on top, green bean casserole with crunchy onions and plenty of
dessert. We usually try one or two new side dishes, but the staples are a must.
But more important is that I know we will be together. The only time we have not
all been together for Thanksgiving is the year Adina spent in Israel before
college. Wherever our daughters have been, we always bring them home. So
maybe it’s not just about a 5,000 calorie meal, but being able to sit around the
table and be a family is what’s really important about Thanksgiving.
We have much to be thankful for and I hope you and yours find this Thanksgiving
a day to rejoice and enjoy with family and friends and remember what’s really
important in our life. And don’t forget to vote.
L’Shalom,
Leon Weissman
Sundays .......................... 9:00 am - noon
Wednesdays .................10:00 am - noon
Fridays ...........................10:00 am - noon
To schedule an appointment, please
contact Michelle Flash at
[email protected]
UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION
Check out Our Event Calendar
http://www.bethelyardley.org/
info/calendar.html
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From the Rabbi
I would like to share two urban legends with you. An urban legend is a story or an event that
has been passed around by many people for some time. There is no real way to determine
whether or not the legend is actually true, and for all intents and purposes it does not really
matter. What does matter is the message behind the story, or the lesson which the carefully
crafted story or actual event aims to teach. Whatever the truth may be, urban legends continue
to grow in number and their importance continues to be relevant even today.
The first story is one that could have taken place anywhere or at any time. Here is the version
that I was told some time ago. A group of second-year medical students enter a lecture hall for
what promises to be a most difficult final examination on anatomy. They suffer through the
three-hour exam only to come to the final question which has a note above it that tells them that if they do not answer that
question correctly they will fail the entire examination. You are probably thinking that it was some detailed question about
the heart or the like. However, this question was not based on anything that they had learned in class or in any of their
textbooks. The question read, “What is the name of the custodian who cleans the anatomy lab after your class?” All of the
students thought to themselves that they had seen this man a thousand times if they had seen him once. Yet none of
them knew his name. The professor did not fail the students, but a valuable lesson had been learned.
The second story happened on a country road, in the middle of a dark rain-soaked Alabama night during the 1960’s. An
African-American woman was stuck on the side of the road with great car troubles, and she feared for her safety during
those turbulent times while she sat in the car praying that someone would come along to help her. Eventually, after
waiting for what seemed like an eternity, a young Caucasian man stopped to help her. He drove her to a nearby gas
station and then waited with her until her car was fixed. Just prior to leaving the woman wrote down the man’s name and
address and promised to repay this kind gesture in some way. A few months later the man was sitting in his house with his
family when he heard a knock at the door. When he opened the door there was a delivery-man with a large box that
contained a television. The man was told that the television was paid for in total and that it was a gift. The note in side
read, “Thank you for helping me when no one else would and when I was in fear for my life. Fondly, Mrs. Nat King Cole.”
November is traditionally considered to be the month of thanksgiving because of the holiday. I would submit that being
thankful and expressing that that sentiment should not be confined to just one month. Thankfulness must come
throughout the year and not just during this November holiday season when it is celebrated. In Judaism we have built in
thankful nature in our daily prayers. In addition, the holiday of Thanksgiving always falls somewhere near the holiday of
Hanukkah which is also exudes an air of being thankful. Yet despite these inherent moments of generic thankfulness;
where
we
need
to
improve
is
in
our
relationship
with
our
fellow
human
beings.
There are so many people who exist in our worlds who deserve our thanks for all of the things that they do for us. For
some it may be the custodian who cleans up after we make a mess. For others it may be the random stranger who is
willing to help us in our greatest time of need. For all of us we have family and friends who deserve our gratitude for all
that they have done for us and all that they will do for us. I am reminded of a series of Citibank commercials where
someone does something frightfully wrong like asking someone mistakenly when their baby is due. To escape
the
inevitable
trouble
they
simply
respond
thank
you
and
everything
is
all
better.
I do not suggest that a simple thank you can solve all problems and make up for all wrongdoings. However I do believe
firmly that a thank you can go a long way. I think that if we all took a little more time to stop and thank those around us
who help and impact our lives that these people would appreciate it greatly and be there for us whenever we needed.
Since I also believe that a good rabbi should practice what he or she preaches, I would like to end this article by offering
some thanks of my own. I would like to thank the entire Beth El community for what was an amazing holiday season. I
would also like to thank the people who I work with on a daily basis who make my life so much easier. Karen, Judi, Marian,
Norma, John and our entire staff do a wonderful job on a daily basis of keeping this place in tip-top shape. Thank you for
all that you do for me and the entire Beth El community.
Have a Wonderful November
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The Beth El Family Welcomes Our New Members
Wendy and Jonathan Algazi, Jordyn and Lexi
Erica Apfelbaum, Dorian and Madison
Dalit and Michael Berlin, Gabriel and Raphael
I. Lee Dickstein
Merrie and David Eisenstadt
Rocio and Warren Flax, Julia and Josh
Karen Garfing
Jenifer and David Goldstein and Benjamin
Lisa and Kevin Haimovitz, Ethan and Brynn
Melissa and Conrad Hough and Riley
Marjorie and Bernard Katz
Mindy and Anthony Kehrberger, Lily and Timmy
Abbey-Shayna and Gregory Kramer, Jacob and Brayden
Felissa and David Lane, Kaitlyn, Gilian, Sophia and Jacob
Karen and Levi Minsky, Alex, Josh and Aiden
Melissa and Andrew Mitnick, Remi, Allie and Macie
Evelyn and Marc Ostro
Rebecca and Jonathan Pearlson and Judah
Rachel and Adam Reiss and Addison
Michelle and Bob Smilk
Capital Campaign Update
To date we have raised $1.3 million! We thank
all those who have so generously contributed to
this campaign. Our beautiful stained glass
window panels are selling briskly. There are
still some panels available in the price range of
$10,000 to $72,000. Anyone interested in
dedicating a panel should contact Randall
Flager, [email protected], or Philip
Freidenreich, [email protected], as
soon as possible.
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Get to Know Our Beth El Community
Phil Freidenreich
I grew up in Highland Park, NJ in a Conservative
household, attended an Orthodox yeshiva
through sixth grade, and had private tutoring
for my Bar Mitzvah and through 11th grade. As
part of the yeshiva learning experience, I
attended Junior Congregation every Shabbat.
(My parents took me out of yeshiva because
they were afraid that I was headed toward a
career in the rabbinate!) For my Bar Mitzvah, I
read the entire Torah portion and led Musaf and my father led
Shacharit. I tutored my two younger brothers and three other
children for their Bar Mitzvah.
My parents were very active in the community. My mother rose
to be a Regional Vice President of Hadassah. After marrying my
mother, my father moved to Highland Park and quickly became
Treasurer of our shul, The Highland Park Conservative Temple
and Center. He also served as President of the yeshiva and as a
member of the board of trustees of the local Federation. In
addition, he served as President of the local Chamber of
Commerce and, as such, was responsible for making sure that
Christmas decorations were installed every year on Raritan
Avenue, the main thoroughfare.
So I guess it is no surprise that I followed my parents’ lead in
becoming active in the Jewish community. Harriet and I moved
to Lower Makefield Township in March 1978 and joined Beth El.
I was immediately invited to join the Religious Activities
Committee and served as its Chair from 1983 until 1994. I was
elected to the Board of Directors in 1979 and then served a twoyear term as a vice president under Seymour Kaplan (Zihrono
L’vraha). I was President from 1994 until1999, during which
time the Perez (school ) Wing was built and the Congregation
moved from Levittown to Lower Makefield, and also from 20012003. For the intervening two years I was Treasurer.
I have served on many committees of the Board: the Executive
Committee, Rabbinical Search, Budget and Finance, Nominating,
and Catering. Since retiring as President, I have managed the
building and its grounds. I have been Hazzan Sheni for the High
Holidays since 1979 and have read Torah every Shabbat since
2003, unless someone else volunteers. I also make sure that
the Sifrei Torah are always positioned properly. Together Randy
Flager and I are chairing our third, and we hope last, Capital
Campaign. With your generous support we have raised over
$4.5 million dollars over the three campaigns.
Wendy Winokur
On a trip to Yardley to search for a new place
to live in a new community we passed by Beth
El. It was a Friday and my husband Marc
talked me into checking it out. We rang the
bell and were greeted by Karen, invited into
the office and met Rabbi Gruenberg. We left
that meeting with a sense that this was the
Jewish community that we wanted to join.
Three years later we have settled into Yardley. We moved here
from York, PA. My husband Marc is a Commander in the US Public
Health Service. We have two amazing kids. Paxton is 17 years old
and a junior at Pennsbury High School. He is active in USY and has
been active assisting with the FJLC every Sunday. He is now
attending Ha’Moadon, our new Jewish High School program at
Beth El. Helen is 8 years old and a 3rd grader at Quarry Hill. She
LOVES all things Beth El and thinks it great that she gets to go to
FJLC two times a week this year. She participated in a Taste of
Ramah this summer and promptly informed us that she will be
returning for a session next summer.
I am a Family Nurse Practitioner and work in Palliative Care. I grew
up in Scottsdale, Arizona and am a graduate of Northern Arizona
University. I started my nursing career on the Navajo and Apache
Indian Reservations where I met Marc. I spend my days having
difficult conversations about advanced chronic illness with patients
and their families. It can be emotionally and spiritually draining
and I would not be able to sustain myself without returning to my
center with Judaism and faith.
Two year ago I was presented with the honor of being asked to join
the Beth El Board and this year was again honored to be asked to
be a Co Vice President of Education with Rachel Oring. Through our
many moves we have been members of three synagogues. My
children have never been so willing and happy to attend religious
school as they have at Beth El. I believe this will leave a lasting
impression and cultivate their Jewish identities. The success of the
school is dear to me and my family and it is an honor to represent
it. Your feedback is important and vital to the success of FJLC and
the youth programming at Beth El and I welcome any thoughts
from the kids, parents and congregants.
In addition, I served on the Boards of the Abrams Hebrew
Academy (for 16 years) and the Jewish Federation of Trenton/
Greater Trenton/Mercer-Bucks (for 12 years).
Our sons David and Aron grew up in the Congregation and
attended Abrams and then Akiba Hebrew Academy. David and
his wife Sara Kahn Troster live in Portland, ME with their two
children, Naomi and Jacob. Aron and his wife Tova live in Cherry
Hill, NJ and have three children, Nerya and identical twin sons
Amitai and Zemer.
Harriet and I are very committed to Beth El – the community is a
very important part of our lives. We attend Shabbat and holiday
morning services unless we are out of town and we help make
morning and evening minyan regularly.
Go to:
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/
23-1538398
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Education & Youth
In the month of November our Beth El and Fierverker Jewish
Learning Communities will be exploring the value of Nedivat Lev,
literally meaning Generosity of the Heart.
The idea of nedivut, or being generous, is found throughout our
Jewish texts, especially in regards to the bringing of gifts. This
notion of generosity through gifts is first found in Exodus Chapter
25, when God asks Moses to tell the Israelite people to bring gifts
from all whose hearts move them. In other words, the people were
to bring voluntary gifts and only give what they could. From these
gifts, the people built a mishkan--a tabernacle or dwelling place for
God. What we learn from this story in the Torah is that when we all
act with generosity and offer of ourselves what we are able, God will
be among us. Furthermore, nedivut should not be understood as
an obligation within our tradition, but a virtue motivated out of our
desire to be virtuous.
It is important to note that tzedakah--righteousness and charity and
g’milut chasidim – acts of loving kindness are values that
frequently are misunderstood as the value of Nedivat HaLev. Both
tzedakah and g’milut chasidim refer to more of a deed and action,
while Nedivat HaLev refers to more of an attitude. We learn from
Pirke Avot 5:15 that “those who want to give and want others to
give, they are saintly people.” With the right mindset and with our
hearts in the right places, we can show our generosity and inspire
others to do so as well.
During our FJLC sessions, participants of all ages will reflect on
what it takes to be an authentically generous person. With the
coming of Thanksgiving and later Hanukkah, this is a perfect
season to think about how we give of ourselves. I hope that you will
take some time as we explore Nedivat HaLev to discuss this value
with your family and perhaps come up with some ideas to practice
the value in real time together. Here are some questions you may
want to bring up with your family:
1. Do you think that becoming a generous person is something you
have to train yourself to do?
2. What type of mindset do you need to have to be generous?
3. In what situations do you feel the most reluctance in being
generous? Why? What might you do to overcome that obstacle?
4. What can you do to model this value personally, at school, at
work, at home, and/or with friends?
I will close with a simple quote from Winston Churchill: "We make a
living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Wishing
all of us a November of opening our hearts to the world around us.
I am excited to announce that
Ha'Moadon is off to an incredible
start! Over the course of the last 3
weeks our program has grown to
23 enthusiastic teenagers who
are enjoying their time together
where they learn and grow as a
group. I have heard a great deal
of positive feedback about the
program in my conversations with
our teens. While sitting in the
advanced Hebrew session taught
by Barbara Faber I was able to observe teens who were
allowed to speak only in Hebrew. In Rabbi Gruenberg’s Israel
session the group has talked about media bias and how the
same story can be spun differently. In Healthy living with Levi
Minsky the group
explored what the
Rabbis have to say
about the way we
live and what we
can do to protect
our bodies. And I
cannot forget to
mention our M.I.T
program Madrichim
in Training where
11th
and
12th
graders are being
trained to become future Hebrew school teachers. This is only
the beginning! We are excited to be on this journey together!
Our Bucks County Youth group activities with Congregations Brothers of Israel, Ohev Shalom, Tifereth Israel and
now Adath Israel in Lawrenceville our BUSY and bustling
with tons of ruach (spirit)! USY our youth group for 8th12th graders had over 40 teens at their opening bonfire.
Chaverim/Kadima, our group for 3rd-7th graders had over
45 kids both at their opening Sukkot Sleepover and at our
recent Sky Zone event. If you know of any Jewish children
in the area (they do not have to belong to one of the synagogues) please tell them about our awesome youth group
programs and have them contact Karen Lewin, our youth
director, for more information. To get the latest updates
on our events, go online at www.bucksyouth.weebly.com!
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B’nai Mitzvah at Beth El
Mazal Tov to Lexi Schachter
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Hi! My name is Lexi Schachter. I will
be called to the Torah as a Bat
Mitzvah on Saturday, November 7,
2015, and will read from Parshat
Chayei Sara. My parents are Lee and
Michelle Schachter. I have an older
brother Andrew, a younger brother
Jake, and a dog, Captain. He is my
favorite brother.
I am a seventh grader at Abrams Hebrew Academy. I
enjoy playing basketball and soccer. I play on the Abrams
teams and township travel teams. In the summers, I go to
Camp
Ramah
in
the
Poconos.
This
summer will be my fifth year going to Ramah.
For my Bat Mitzvah project, I have been going online to a
website called freerice.com and donating rice. For every
correct answer, ten grains of rice are donated through
the World Food Programme to help end hunger. Sign up
and join my group, Lexi's Bat Mitzvah at http://
freerice.com/content-group/lexis-bat-mitzvah
Hazak
Page 7
Sisterhood
Sisterhood’s Secret Shop
Coming in November to FJLC, Sisterhood's
Secret Shop Hanukkah Bazaar. We will be
offering FJLC students and all Beth El kids
an opportunity to purchase Hanukkah gifts
at reasonable prices for their parents,
siblings, family, friends and teachers. The
shop will operate during school hours on
Sunday, November 15 and Sunday,
November 22. A list of items and their
prices will be circulated one week prior so
parents may help their children choose
appropriate gift items. Cash only, please.
Please contact Gloria Feldman if you have
any questions - [email protected].
CONGREGATION BETH EL
SUPERMARKET GIFT CARD PROGRAM
Do you eat? YES! Then here is an easy and effective way to help
raise money for Beth El at NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU!!!! Simply
purchase your supermarket gift cards from Beth El and 5% of your
purchase is directly donated to Beth El.
Don’t believe it? Let’s say you spend $100 at the supermarket. At
the store, instead of paying cash or Credit Card, use your gift cards
and $5 will automatically go directly to Beth El. Therefore, if 200
congregants purchase $100 of gift cards per week, Beth El earns
$1,000 in a single week!!
Imagine what this money will mean to Beth El. Perhaps, your dues
would remain the same or fewer fundraisers would be needed! All
of this can be accomplished by purchasing the groceries that you
already buy! What could be simpler?
To purchase supermarket gift cards/certificates, come to the Beth El
office during business hours, the gift shop during their hours, or
contact Debbie Lubin at 215-321-0772 or [email protected]
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Page 9
A CANTOR’S TALE—November 14, 2015 ~ 7:30pm
USA, 2005, English, 95 minutes, Directed by Erik Anjou
Chazz'n, A Cantor's Story is a documentary film about
chazzanut past, present and future through the prism of
Chazzan Jack Mendelson's career. In addition to stellar
singing, the film visits a bar-mitzvah at the legendary
Beth El Synagogue in Borough Park, Brooklyn and
interviews are seen with luminaries such as Ben-Zion
Miller, Mati lazar, Alberto Mizrahi, Alan Dershowitz, Neil
Shicoff and Dr. Larry Hoffman.
THE STURGEON QUEENS—December 19, 2015 ~ 7:30pm
USA, 2014, English, 52 minutes, Directed by Julie Cohen
Four generations of a Jewish immigrant family create
Russ and Daughters, a Lower East Side lox and herring
emporium that survives and thrives. Produced to
coincide with the 100th anniversary of the store, this
documentary features an extensive interview with two
of the original daughters for whom the store was
named, now 100 and 92 years old, and interviews with
prominent enthusiasts of the store including Supreme
Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, actress Maggie
Gyllenhaal, chef Mario Batali, New Yorker writer Calvin
Trillin, and 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer.
Rather than a conventional narrator, the filmmakers
bring together six colorful longtime fans of the store, in
their 80s and 90s, who sit around a table of fish reading
the script in the style of a Passover Seder.
Only $9/person—Family Rate: $18
Open to the community! ALL are welcome!
RSVP to the Congregation Beth El office
or online at BethElYardley.org
COOK FOR A FRIEND
Join Cook for a Friend on
Tuesday, November 10th at 6pm
and Wednesday, December 16th at
6pm to help us prepare 100-140
meat meals to be donated to the Klein JCC in
Northeast Philadelphia for distribution.
Don’t have time to
come and cook?
Consider making a donation to the Beth El Cook
for a Friend fund. Our main source of revenue is
from donations. You can send a check to Beth El
with “Cook for a Friend” on the memo line.
For more information, contact
Beth Sadoff, [email protected]
Page 10
Let 5776 be the Year You Get to Know Your Community
Following services
we will have a Pot
Luck Dinner. Please
bring a dairy or
vegetarian main
course, side dish or
salad to serve at
least 8-10 people to
enjoy! RSVP by
December 9, 2015.
Let us know # of
people and what
you are bringing. Go
BethElYardley.org
or call Judi at
215-493-1707 x4.
Share Shabbat Dinner
Enjoy a Member Hosted Shabbat Dinner
Friday, January 29th at 6:45pm
Dinners will be dairy/vegetarian
To participate please send your RSVP to [email protected]
or call Susan Strouse (215) 355-8999
To be fair to our hosts, all RSVPs must be
received by January 17, 2016
Future dates: April 1, 2016
Page 11
Keep In Touch!
We welcome your ideas and submissions to
The Shofar. Email feedback, articles and pictures
to: [email protected] by December 15,
2015 for inclusion in the January-February issue.
I would like to thank the Beth El community for the card
and beautiful flowers we received for Rosh HaShanah.
–Sarann Fierverker
The Jewish Federation's food pantry at KleinLife in
Northeast Philadelphia is currently seeking
volunteers on select Fridays from 10am-1pm as it
expands its hours to serve more clients. The Choice
Food Pantry at KleinLife features an innovative
model where the clients get to choose what food
they receive (rather than a pre-packaged box) and
use a touchscreen to make their selection. Anyone
interested in volunteering can email Jeremy Heller
directly at [email protected].
We make every effort to ensure our information is
accurate and up-to-date. If you find that we have
made an error or if you have any new contact
information, please contact the synagogue office,
215-493-1707 x4 or email
[email protected]
If you would like to receive a hard copy of The Shofar
via regular U.S. mail, do not hesitate to request a
monthly issue to be delivered to your door. Simply
call the synagogue office, 215-493-1707 x4 or email
[email protected]
Page 12
Sa
Michelle & Lee Schachter and family
in honor of their daughter Lexi Schachter
who will be called to the
Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on
Saturday, November 7, 2015.
Ellen & Jerry Schachter and family
in honor of their granddaughter
Lexi Schachter who will be called to the
Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Bonnie & Ian Schachter and family
in honor of their niece Lexi Schachter
who will be called to the
Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Phyllis & Larry Schachter and family
in honor of their niece Lexi Schachter
who will be called to the
Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Mel Hunn
beloved partner of Selma Spivack
Rena Stern
Sister of Blanche Sussman
Fran Nitkin
wife of Andy Nitkin
daughter of Thelma Neufeld
We are looking for a few
good Minyaneers
Congregation Beth El holds
both morning and evening
minyan services open to our
members and friends in the
community. We invite you to
join us and become a regular
volunteer.
It’s a mitzvah! It’s good for you!
It’s good for our community.
Morning services:
Monday to Friday at 7 AM
Evening Services:
Monday -Thursday at 7:30 PM
Please contact Brian Levey, our
Minyan committee leader, to
sign up and answer any
questions you may have at
267-250-7526 or
Email: [email protected]
Page 13
CONGREGATION BETH EL GIFT OPPORTUNITIES
Tree of Life Honor a birthday, anniversary, wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or any other happy occasion with an
engraved leaf on our tree of life for $180 or a boulder for $750.
Donation Cards Our donation cards are a wonderful way to recognize important life-cycle events , extend
wishes for speedy recovery or show your appreciation for someone’s kindness and helps fulfill the
mitzvah of tzedakah. There are two different cards to choose from - a beautiful Menorah card ($7) and a
colorful picture of three of our Torot ($18). Your gift can also be designated to one of the following funds:
Building Fund
Fierverker Education Fund
Hesed Fund (meals for ill & those
in mourning)
Rabbi Gruenberg's Discretionary Fund
Rhoda & Morris Volk Memorial Fund
Eric J. Marinoff College Outreach Fund
Heidi Mittleman Memorial Library Fund
Perez Youth Scholarship Fund (for Jewish camp &
USY programs)
Religious Books & Articles Fund
Cook for a Friend Project
Book Dedications There are also opportunities to have a bookplate placed on the back of the front cover
of a Siddur (Prayer Book), - any time someone opens the book, they will learn of your donation:
Prayer Book $54
Yahrzeit Plaques Among the customs to help us with loss and bereavement is the commemoration of a
loved one on a Yahrzeit plaque. These plaques, which are affixed to a special memorial board in our
Chapel, are an expression of love and devotion. The plaque will be mounted on our Yahrzeit board in
perpetuity. Each year you will receive a notice of the date of the yahrzeit, it will be announced during
Shabbat services, and the plaque will be lit in memory of your loved one for a full month. The cost is
$750 for members and $900 for non-members.
Cemetery Plots - Congregation Beth El owns cemetery plots at King David Memorial Park in Bensalem
which can be purchased for $1,500 each.
CONGREGATION BETH EL DONATION FORM
Enclosed is my gift of $_____________________ (Menorah card $7-$17, Torot card $18+)
□ Building Fund
□ Eric J. Marinoff College Outreach Fund
□ Fierverker Education Fund
□ Heidi Mittleman Memorial Library Fund
□ Hesed Fund
□ Perez Youth Scholarship Fund
□ Rabbi Gruenberg's Discretionary Fund □ Religious Books & Articles Fund
□ Rhoda & Morris Volk Memorial Fund
□ Cook For A Friend Project
□ Prayer Book ($54)
Recipient _________________________ Occasion ____________________________________
Recipient Address _______________________________________________________________
Donor Name ____________________________________________________________________
Donor Address __________________________________________________________________
I would like more information on:
□ Tree of Life
□ Yahrzeit Plaques
□ Cemetery Plots
□ Other Ways I Can Give
Page 14
Thank You For These Generous Donations
BUILDING FUND
ERIC J. MARINOFF MEMORIAL COLLEGE OUTREACH FUND
In Honor Of:
Wishes for a Sweet New Year
to Eleanor Gutbezahl
Gloria Rosenberg & Irvin Rosenberg
Barry Troll’s 75th birthday
Lana & Raymond Skwer
Rita Pruzan
Carol & Stuart Lighter’s 10th anniversary
The Bat Mitzvah of Kayla Francis Traiger
Ruth & Jack Laks
Caroline Bogage Schlam
The marriage of Jay Kawarsky & Alec Soto
Lois & Brian Levey
Marcia & Harry Kratz
Melissa, Jeff, Zachary & Sophie Freedman
The Auf Ruf and upcoming marriage of
Jamie Koretsky and Adam Levy
Linda & Ken Greenberg
and family
The marriage of Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough Ruth & Jack Laks
Charlotte & Harold Denenberg
The marriage of Claryne Weinberg’s
Ruth & Jack Laks
granddaughter Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
The marriage of Marsha Flager’s daughter
Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
Ruth & Jack Laks
The marriage of Randy Flager’s daughter
Ruth & Jack Laks
Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
Marsha Wishnov
Linda & Ken Greenberg and Family
The marriage of Renee & Andy Flager’s
granddaughter Melissa Flager to
Conrad Hough
Ruth & Jack Laks
Marsha Wishnov
In Memory Of:
John Bijaczyk, son of John P. Bijaczyk
Lois & Gil Golstein
Lee Horowitz, husband of Irma Horowitz
Alice Goldstein
Shirley Mitnick
Eleanor Gutbezahl
ERIC J. MARINOFF MEMORIAL COLLEGE OUTREACH FUND
In Honor Of:
Aria Fishbein’s Hebrew Naming
In Honor Of:
The Bar Mitzvah of Harris Albuck,
son of Mindy & Rick Albuck
Lindsay & Jordan Goldman
Renee & Andy Flager
Barry Troll’s 75th birthday
Sue & Hank Epstein
The Auf Ruf of Jamie Koretsky and Adam Levy
Barbara Fineman
Gloria & Ed Mittleman
The engagement of Judy Nussbaum &
Marvin Gelblat’s son
Yehuda Gruenberg
The marriage of Jay Kawarsky & Alec Soto
Renee & Andy Flager
Janet & Norman Marinoff
Herb Strauss
Sylvia & Sid Goldberg
Deborah & Steven Lubin
The marriage of Claryne Weinberg’s
Gloria & Ed Mittleman
granddaughter Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
The marriage of Marsha Flager’s daughter
Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
Gloria & Ed Mittleman
The marriage of Randy Flager’s daughter
Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
Gloria & Ed Mittleman
The marriage of Renee & Andy Flager’s
Gloria & Ed Mittleman
granddaughter Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
The marriage of Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
Jessica Marinoff
& Jim Charatan
Charlotte & Harold Denenberg
Janet & Norman Marinoff
Sylvia & Sid Goldberg
Tina, Michael, Mara & Max Rettig
In Memory of:
Elaine Ferst
Ellen Wach’s mother
Lois & Jerry Barksy
Janet & Norman Marinoff
Arlene Spevak & Alan Weisgold
Gertrude Cossrow,
mother of Selma Spivack
Sara Pollock
John Bijaczyk, son of John P. Bijaczyk
Mike Altabef
Morris Wenick
Paul Morrison
Tibe Turoff
Janet & Norman Marinoff
Janet & Norman Marinoff
Charlotte & Harold Denenberg
Sara Pollock
Lois & Jerry Barsky
FIERVERKER EDUCATION FUND
In Honor of:
Dr. & Mrs. Marvin Loev’s grandson
Andrew’s bar mitzvah
Leon Rudolph’s birthday
The Bar Mitzvah of Harris Albuck,
son of Mindy & Rick Albuck
Selma Spivack
Roz Kleiman
Barbara & Mark Melmed
The marriage of Jay Kawarsky & Alec Soto Barbara & Mark Melmed
Beth & Fred Godett
In Memory of:
Fran Nitkin, daughter of Thelma Neufeld
Roz Kleiman
Gertrude Cossrow, grandmother of Jeffrey Spivack Robin & Hal Terr
HEIDI MITTLEMAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY FUND
In Honor Of:
Ellis R. Jacob’s 80th birthday
Roz Kleiman
HESED FUND
In Honor Of:
The marriages of Claryne Weinberg’s
Juliette & Ron Harvey
grandchildren
The marriages of Marsha Flager’s children
Juliette & Ron Harvey
The marriages of Randy Flager’s children
Juliette & Ron Harvey
Karen, Marc & Matt Shoemaker
The marriages of Renee & Andy Flager’s
Juliette & Ron Harvey
Grandchildren
Karen, Marc & Matt Shoemaker
The Auf Ruf of Jaime Koretsky & Adam Levy Renee & Andy Flager
The marriage of Jay Kawarsky & Alec Soto Linda & Ken Greenberg
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Shoemaker’s
Karen, Marc & Matt Shoemaker
Anniversary
In Memory of:
Gertrude Cossrow,
Carol Benderson–Lighter &
mother of Selma Spivack
Stuart Lighter
Mel Hunn, loving companion
Carol Benderson–Lighter &
of Selma Spivack
Stuart Lighter
Speedy Recovery:
Margie Wellerstein
Juliette & Ron Harvey
MORNING MINYAN FUND
In Honor Of:
The welcoming minyan so I could say
Lynne Goldman
Kaddish for my father
In Memory of:
David Rothstein
Judy Nussbaum & Marvin Gelblatt
Page 15
Thank You For These
Generous Donations
PEREZ YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In Honor Of:
The birth of Madeline Chloe Goldberg
Bonnie Abrams
The marriage of Marsha Flager’s daughter Bonnie Abrams & Family
Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
The marriage of Randy Flager’s daughter Bonnie Abrams & Family
Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
The marriage of Jay Kawarsky & Alec Soto
Bonnie Abrams
The birth of Liav Omri,
Bonnie Abrams
grandson of Jeri & Len Zimmerman
In Memory of:
Carol Goldberg
Jean Snyder & John Paolini
Speedy Recovery:
Robert Epstein
Jean Snyder & John Paolini
PRAYER BOOK FUND
In Honor Of:
The marriage of Jay Kawarsky & Alec Soto
Faye Laveson
Debbie & Dan Wachspress
Tina, Michael, Mara & Max Rettig
RABBI GRUENBERG’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In Appreciation of:
Rabbi Gruenberg’s kindness
In Honor Of:
The Bar Mitzvah of Harris Albuck,
son of Mindy & Rick Albuck
Christine Schwartz
Ruth & Jack Laks
The marriage of Jay Kawarsky & Alec Soto
Arleen & Bill Barisa
Judy Nussbaum & Marvin Gelblat
The marriage of Renee & Andy Flager’s granddaughter
Melissa Flager to Conrad Hough
Judy Nussbaum &
Marvin Gelblat
In Memory of:
Marty Kreiner
Janet & Bill First
Congregation Beth El
expresses our gratitude to the
people who have served on the
Board of the Galilee Village/
Pavilion over the years.
Sheldon Ackerman
Raymond Alexander ‫ז״ל‬
Carol Benderson-Lighter
Milton Berger
Marvin Block ‫ז״ל‬
Richard Byron
Sidney Charschan ‫ז״ל‬
Sidney Clearfield
Charlotte Denenberg
David Dickstein ‫ז״ל‬
Murray Ellman ‫ז״ל‬
Benjamin Feldman ‫ז״ל‬
Rabbi William Fierverker ‫ז״ל‬
Benjamin Feitelson ‫ז״ל‬
Barbara Fineman
Andrew Flager
Leon Fradkin
Louise Fradkin ‫ז״ל‬
Julius Friedman ‫ז״ל‬
Mark Fried
Alvin Goldberg
Myrna Goldberg
Kurt Goldschmidt
Murray Goldstein ‫ז״ל‬
Boris Gutbezahl ‫ז״ל‬
Eleanor Gutbezahl
Carol Hirsch
Peter Hirsch
Seymour Kaplan ‫ז״ל‬
Ellis Katz
Florence Kent
Eric Kleiman
Rosalyn Kleiman
Rochelle Klein
Jack Laks
Ruth Laks
Marvin Lazoff ‫ז״ל‬
Edward Levitt ‫ז״ל‬
Irwin Light ‫ז״ל‬
Mitchell Mitnik ‫ז״ל‬
Shirley Mitnik ‫ז״ל‬
Melvin Newman ‫ז״ל‬
Joel Olener
Karen Olener
Marvin Rappaport ‫ז״ל‬
Gabriel Rosen ‫ז״ל‬
Herman Rosenberg ‫ז״ל‬
Martin Rosenzweig
Sandy Rosenzweig
Steven Schoennstadt
Nathaniel Schwartz ‫ז״ל‬
Marshall Spector ‫ז״ל‬
Pearl Stark ‫ז״ל‬
Leon Warach ‫ז״ל‬
Margie Wellerstein
Charlotte Yablonsky
No one really expects the need of having to buy cemetery plots. It is a wonderful benefit
of belonging to Congregation Beth El of Yardley. There is no better time to buy than the
present time, before you have the need. We want to help you make the choice before the
emotional time after a death. Many Funeral directors encourage the Pre-Need arrangements of all of the aspects of the funeral, burial, and monuments. The Cemetery Committee can offer you the time to select a plot at the cemetery or just by reviewing our plot
maps and photographs. King David Memorial Park is located in Bensalem, PA. Beth El
has over 400 plots in section R. Many are already owned and reserved. In 2013 the
Board of directors approved the price of $1500 per plot. This is far below the price for
the general public making a request at King David. A Family Gravesite includes four plots
and costs $6000. These charges are transacted with the synagogue only and you may
not deal with King David or other congregants directly for the purchase or sale of any
plots in Section R. When a plot is paid in full the owner is granted the rights of sepulcher
and these rights are shared with their heirs even if they are not members. Beth El does
not sell plots to non-members of the congregation. In the event of an owner moving or
not needing their plots, they may return their papers for a refund less 10 % of the purchase price. The price of the plot does not include any services, openings, burial, vault,
or monument charges. For more information please call Michael Weinberg, Cemetery
Committee Chairman @215-321-1312
Page 16
Congregation Beth El
375 Stony Hill Road
Yardley, PA 19067
Shofar Editorial Committee
Charlotte Denenberg [email protected]
Barbara Fineman [email protected]
Sara Pollock [email protected]
Main Office .......................................... 215-493-1707
Fax ........................................................ 215-493-7717
E-mail .................................. [email protected]
FJLC ............................................................................ x2
Gift Shop .................................................................... x6
Professional Staff
Joshua Z. Gruenberg, Rabbi ..................................... x5
Karen Lewin, Education & Youth Director ............... x3
Judi Pogachefsky, Office Administrator ………..……..x4
Marian Berger, Bookkeeper ..................................... x4
Congregation Beth El Officers
Leon Weissman............................................. President
Sheryl Fruithandler ............................. Vice President
Rob Lightman ...................................... Vice President
Larry Schachter .................................... Vice President
Wendy Winokur ............. Co-Education Vice President
Rachel Oring ................... Co-Education Vice President
Beth Sadoff .................................................. Secretary
Steve Lubin ................................................... Treasurer