Etz Chayim's January Newsletter, The Shofar

http://www.etzchayim-hsv.org/
Etz Chayim Conservative Synagogue’s Monthly Newsletter
TEVET/SH’VAT 5775
JANUARY, 2015
Friday evening services begin at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday morning services begin at 9:30 a.m.
RABBI’S MESSAGE
What is in a name?
This Shabbat we begin the second book of
the Torah, Shemot: "These are the names of
the children of Israel." There is a linkage from
last week's conclusion of B'reisheet with the
stating of the same names of the Jews who
went down into Egypt and who will, eventually,
be brought up again, fulfilling God's promise of
redemption.
The Midrash, VaYikra Rabba 32:20, asks an
obvious question: On the basis of what did
the Israelites merit redemption? Did they do
anything special? In fact, another Midrash
points out that after 400 years of Egyptian
residency, the majority as slaves, the
Israelites had stooped to such a low level of
spirituality and defilement that they were on
the cusp of being forsaken by God altogether.
The Midrash answers its question by stating
that on account of three things the Israelites
were ultimately redeemed: They did not
forsake their language, they did not change
their name, nor did they act licentiously.
I grew up in a time that when my mother gave
me my name, she was more concerned about
how the name sounded and how well it fit in
with other popular names of that time. I do
not think she actually considered its meaning
and derivation. It turns out that Kenneth is
Celtic for handsome, so I don’t mind my
given name! Nevertheless, my name has
little to do with my Jewish identity. Like many
other Jewish children, I was given a Hebrew
name in addition to my secular name and
was named Chayim after my greatgrandmother Chaya.
The secular, American world does much to
entice us away from our heritage and identity.
Choosing a Hebrew name as the only name
for our children is an ongoing, constant and
ever present reminder for them and for us of
our Jewish identity and connection to our
Jewish heritage. Moreover, Hebrew names
are full of meaning and beauty and represent
lofty ideals. The Israelites may have
understood this intuitively as a way to hold on
to their identity. We can do no less, for
perhaps, too, our redemption will ultimately
be tied to our name.
Rabbi Ken
INTRODUCING RABBI KEN LEINWALD:
A native of Miami Florida, Rabbi Kenneth
Leinwand grew up in Brooklyn, New York,
attending yeshivah day school and public high
school. When his family moved to Winnipeg,
Canada, Rabbi Leinwand attended and
graduated from the University of Manitoba,
then pursued his rabbinic studies at Hebrew
Union College in Jerusalem and in Cincinnati.
During his studies, Rabbi Leinwand earned a
commission in the US Army Reserves as a
chaplain candidate. After ordination in 1977,
he entered active duty. During his 30 years of
Federal service, Rabbi Leinwand was
promoted to the rank of Colonel and held
various prestigious positions including
Regimental Chaplain at the US Military
Academy and US Army Europe Command
Chaplain. Upon retirement, Rabbi Leinwand
moved to Israel with his wife, Bracha. There
he attended Yeshivah Sulam Yaakov and
Pirchei Shoshanim, receiving his second
Smicha. From 2008 to 2011, Rabbi Leinwand
served at Beth Jehoeda Synagogue in Den
Haag, Netherlands. Since his return to the US,
Rabbi Leinwand has done part time consulting
and occasional congregational work. Now
living near Orlando, the Leinwands travel and
visit with their 5 grandchildren in Atlanta. The
Leinwands enjoy Torah study, long walks,
meeting new friends and are delighted to be
visiting the Huntsville community.
Game Night turned out to be a good idea.
We learned to play Mexican Train and had a
fun social evening. Thank you to the
volunteers who helped us out.
Some of the local BBYO members are, as I
write, attending the BBYO National
Convention in Knoxville, Tn. They decorated
T-shirts after the Latke Party to get in the
mood for the fun convention. Thanks go out
to Holly Kent for getting T-shirts and
decorating supplies and to Shoshannah
Rosenthal for driving them to convention!
We’ll hear how it went when they get back.
Sisterhood will have a Lunch Bunch meeting
on January 26th at I Love Sushi on Carl T.
Jones. Ladies, meet us for lunch at 11:30.
Our upcoming Shabbaton provides plenty of
opportunities to get to know the visiting
Rabbi. January 9-11, we have Rabbi Ken
Leinwald visiting. Please plan to attend as
many scheduled events as you can,
especially the Rabbi Luncheon on Saturday
after services and the Breakfast with the
Rabbi on Sunday morning at 9:45.
Wishing you a happy, healthy new year,
Brenda
MEN’S CLUB, ETC.
SISTERHOOD
Our annual Latke Party was once again a fun
time for all who attended! We had Bingo with
lots of prizes, a wonderfully huge salad bar
and delicious and plentiful latkes. We
appreciate all the hard working volunteers
and all of you who joined us for a fun event.
Next meeting date: January 27, 7:30 PM,
Tuesday at the Synagogue. Support your
Men's Club and come enjoy 2 hours of Fun,
Food and Fellowship.
IMS: Deliveries are made bi-weekly to the
Food Pantry and First Stop. Please drop food
products and personal hygiene items by the
entry way of Synagogue.
Simcha & Memorial Plaques: $50.00 and
$75.00 respectively. Please see Joe Sacks
for further details. 256-883-1889
Enjoy the Winter Season…………....Joe
May 15
May 22
May 29
Jun 05
Jun 12
Jun 19
Jun 26
Rabbi
Sacks
Berger
Copeland*
Meyer*
Levitt
Yalowitz*
Spraggins
ONEGS
Jan 02
Jan 09
Jan 16
Jan 23
Jan 30
Lapidus
Zelickson
Dunne/Ross
Liles
Edmondson/Martin*
ONEG LIST FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS
OF 2015:
The names with an asterisk (*) next to them
have been called and assigned, but not
confirmed. Everyone else has been
confirmed. Please make note of your
committed/assigned date.
Dates
Jan 02
Jan 09
Jan 16
Jan 23
Jan 30
Feb 06
Feb 13
Feb 20
Feb 27
Mar 06
Mar 13
Mar 20
Mar 27
Apr 03
Apr 10
Apr 17
Apr 24
May 01
May 08
Holiday
Oneg Sponsor
Lapidus
Rabbi
Zelickson
Dunne/ Ross
Liles
Edmondson/Martin*
Berry
Polin
Rabbi
Kolchin*
Miller
Bulgatz
Rabbi
Thomason
Goodman
Tammy Jordan*
Passover 1st Seder
Passover Roberts
Rabbi
Rosenthal/Reese*
Natalie Young*
Fisher
Schwartz
RABBI HOSPITALITY FOR JANUARY
Jan 09 (Kenneth Leinwand)
Dinner: Goldberg Family
Jan 10 Breakfast: Goldberg Family
Lunch: Sisterhood
Dinner: Wiederecht
Jan 11 Breakfast: Synagogue
Jan 30 (Pamela Gottfried)
Dinner: Goldberg Family
Jan 31 Breakfast: Goldberg Family
Lunch: Sisterhood
Dinner: Edmondson & ?
Feb 01 Breakfast: Synagogue
Additionally, we need someone to sponsor
Saturday evening Rabbi Dinners on:
February 21, March 14, April 18, May 16.
Sincerely,
Lynne ( [email protected] )
MAZEL TOV!
Joe Sacks was presented a Certificate of
Appreciation from the Huntsville-Madison
County Senior Center as one of four
volunteers who have each earned lifetime
status for volunteering over 4,000
cumulative hours in the Huntsville Retired
Senior Volunteer Program.
Congratulations, Joe!
CHANUKAH LATKE PARTY THANKS!
DONATIONS
We just celebrated our 31st annual
Chanukah Latke Party, and a great big
"Thank You" goes out to the ladies of the
Sisterhood who planned, prepared, and
executed a fun filled, delicious Chanukah
celebration. Thanks to the men who grated
all the potatoes by hand (happy to report no
skin was included in the potatoes), to the
BINGO callers and cleaner-uppers, and to
all those who helped and participated.
Library Fund
From: Laura & Mark Clark
A book entitled The Twelve Prophets" was
donated in Honor of Bill Goldberg.
A special thanks goes out to the two Joes:
To Joe Paddock who arrived at the
synagogue at Oh-Dark-30 to peel 80
pounds of potatoes, helped to grate them,
and if that wasn't enough, he stayed
to fry the latke mix prepared by the ladies.
And to the other Joe, Joe Sacks, who had
to be out of town during the celebration, but
still went around and collected a ton of
prizes for the BINGO games.
Sisterhood Fund
From: Kim Reece
In Honor of Etz Chayim Sisterhood.
BBYO Fund
From: Brenda & Cliff Liles
Thanks to Shirley & Ted Roberts for sending
the college students Chanukah packages.
General Fund
From: Maria & Lloyd Sumerall
In Honor of the rabbi visit.
From: Sandra & Donald Armstrong
A big Hawaiian High Holiday greeting.
From: Shirley & Ted Roberts
In Honor of the High Holidays
We don't have the biggest synagogue or the
prettiest, but we have the hardest workers.
A VERY GENEROUS donation to the
synagogue was received from an
anonymous source.
And don't forget ----- Roll Tide.
Rabbi Fund
From: Millie & Max Rosenthal
To: Karen & Bob Feigenblatt - Our get well
wishes to Karen's father. We are glad that he
is out of the hospital and on the road to
recovery.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Etz Chayim Planning Committee is off to
a good start looking for ways for members to
perform mitzvot for those in need,
establishing a program to not only welcome
new members, but also to orient them to our
congregation, setting themes for Friday
evening services, and several other services.
The only thing the committee needs is more
participation! The next meeting is Tuesday,
January 6, at 7:00 PM. Please come.
From: Lucy & Charlie Fisher
Outdoor Lighting Fund
In Memory of Gertrude and Perry Schlein from
their daughters Natha Hancock & Robin
Slomka and their families.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan 6
Planning Committee, 7 PM at EC
Jan 9-11 Rabbi Kenneth Leinwand
Shabbaton
Jan 9
Friday services at 7 PM
Jan 10 Saturday services at 9:30 AM
followed by the Rabbi Luncheon
then the Rabbi’s study group.
Jan 11 Sunday morning Breakfast with the
Rabbi, 9:45 AM at EC
Jan 26 Sisterhood Lunch Bunch at I Love
Sushi on Carl T. Jones at 11:30
Jan 27 Men’s Club, 7:30 PM at EC
Jan 30- Feb 1 Rabbi Pamela Gottfried
Shabbaton
Feb 6
Tu B’Shevat service
Feb 7
Shabbat morning service with
naming ceremony for Jon Berger’s
twin granddaughters
ANNIVERSARIES
Jan 01
Jan 15
Diana & Howard Polin
BJ & Bill Brigadier
Jan 03
Jan 05
Jan 07
Jan 08
Jan 10
Jan 11
Jan 11
Jan 14
Jan 16
Jan 21
Jan 22
Jan 23
Jan 24
Jan 25
Jan 29
Jan 29
Jan 30
Jan 31
Jan 31
Feb 01
Feb 03
Tevet 12
Tevet 14
Tevet 16
Tevet 17
Tevet 19
Tevet 20
Tevet 20
Tevet 23
Tevet 25
Shevat 01
Shevat 02
Shevat 03
Shevat 04
Shevat 05
Shevat 09
Shevat 09
Shevat 10
Shevat 11
Shevat 11
Shevat 12
Shevat 14
Bea Smolker*
Betty K. Greenberg
Bertha P. Smolker*
Joseph Cohen*
Bruce Roberts*
Abigail Michaela Sawyer*
Alex Harris
Anna Rodkin
Martin Klazmer
Harry Warshaw
Harry Zeruld*
Hannah Rosen bat Schmuel
Sylvia Kalachman*
Royal Milton Jacobs*
Ida Bernstein Sidel
Alice Levine Yalowitz
Selma Levitt
William Flank*
Hersh Schindler
Henry Fleishman
Rabbi Jeffrey Ballon
* Plaque
**Light Memorial candle at sunset the night before
DON’T FORGET THE WOMEN
BIRTHDAYS
by Ted Roberts
Jan 01
Jan 04
Jan 04
Jan 10
Jan 11
Jan 12
Jan 23
Jan 23
Jan 24
Jan 26
Jan 30
Jan 31
Ron Goldberg
Adam Bulgatz
McKenzie Rosenthal Sanders
Sarah Sainker
Joe Sacks
Michael Rosenthal
Alicia Hall
Sam Sainker
Alan Sacks
Steve Goodman
Eliza Roberts
Adam Zelickson
YARZHEITS
Jan 03
Jan 03
Tevet 12
Tevet 12
Gilbert Brodkin
Lou Herbin*
Have you ever noticed in our Chumash the
huge positive prejudice toward women? It’s
hard to miss – and yet there’s a wave of
scholars and kibitzers who criticize us for our
denigration of the female species. A silly
judgment that ignores the surrounding world
of 2000 BC and the cultural judgment that
women were chattel. Into this storm of
injustice Judaism introduced the notion that
Eve and her sisters were not like sheep or
goats, as was the view of pagan nations
among whom we lived. According to their
primitive mores, the two top professional
opportunities were scrubwoman and Temple
prostitute. Pagan women encountered in the
antique annals of the time compare poorly to
our aggressive matriarchs and others such
as Sarah, Rachael, Deborah, Hulda, Yael,
and Judith.
To restate simply, the Tanach and its
attitudes must be judged in its time – not by
today’s. You must not expect a smart young
lady to crash through the glass ceiling and
build the Temple or lead the Israelites into
battle. Amazons they were not. And ceilings
were steel, not glass.
To revive an old, but apt expression,
generally they were “mothers in Israel”. And
consider their role as opposed to the
patriarchs. When it comes to plain ol’
honesty and goodness, I’d take Jacob’s
Rachel and Leah over Jacob any day of the
week. Morally, behaviorally (is that not what
pleased G-d?).
True, his mother Rebecca has a fleeting
flirtation with deception as to Isaac’s
inheritance, but we can forgive that since it’s
motivated by maternal love.
And Miriam who guided us through the
wilderness, certainly must have pleased
G-d over Aaron, who had his weaknesses.
Remember he had a fixation on golden
calves when Moses was out of town
negotiating with the celestial King of Kings.
And talk about Moses – our peerless leader
whose morality is impeccable – the most
saintly of the Pentateuchal cast. Even
Moses – if you compare him to Zipporah –
has a bad day or two. In fact, you might say
that this woman – lauded by Torah –
daughter of a Priest of Midian – not even a
Jewess – has her moment of triumph. She
saves the life of Moses when at the sight of
a vengeful G-d, she abruptly circumcises
their son. This must be the most
mysterious, enigmatic series of verses in
our holy text. G-d seeks to kill Moses?
(Why? Because he didn’t circumcise
Gershom, say most scholars.) Remember
he had a killer job. After all, he had to
satisfy our stiff-necked ancestors. Constant
meetings, tense parlays with Pharaoh,
and meetings with the Boss himself – you
didn’t want to be late for that appointment!
Gershom’s circumcision? Maybe next week.
Zipporah, in the midst of this encounter,
grabs a sharp flint and performs the job of
the Mohel and flings the foreskin at “his”
feet. Whose feet? Moses? Or an
anthropomorphic G-d? “You are a husband
of blood,” she shrieks. Zipporah saves the
day. A most puzzling passage, which
scholars have indigestibly chewed upon for
years. But our present concern is to point
out the omnipotent role of women in our
Bible. And here is a significant example.
Without Moses to guide them, our
leaderless ancestors may have ended up in
Sudan. Certainly not a land of milk and
honey. And some commentators say Moses
chose Zipporah because she was of a desert
tribe who knew the Sinai.
Throughout our Chumash, women are not
only depicted with tenderness, but also with
importance. We have the sons of Jacob and
we have his single daughter – Dinah. We
meet Ruth the Moabite and her unswerving
loyalty to her mother-in-law, clearly a text
asking for tolerance – even to Israel’s
enemies. And let’s not forget heroines like
Yael and Judith and the prophetesses like
Deborah who basically judged the fledgling
nation. We value our women. May it
continue.
Scribbler on the Roof [email protected]
Website: http://www.wonderwordworks.com
Buy Ted’s collected works at
http://www.lulu.com/content