CHRONICLE CHRONICLE CHRONICLE

TEMPLE ISRAEL
CHRONICLE
“Dor L’Dor — Generation to Generation”
February 2015
Volume 14, Issue 2
Temple Israel, an
egalitarian Conservative
synagogue rooted in a rich
heritage of traditional
Jewish values, is committed
to enhancing the religious,
spiritual, educational and
cultural life of its members
and the larger Jewish
community through a
commitment to Torah, our
community, and continuity
and growth amid change.
Staff:
Larry G. Kaplan, Rabbi
Ahron Abraham, Cantor
Gerri Kaplan, Principal
Debra Schonfeld, Administrator
Ellie Benveniste, Chronicle Editor
Officers:
Ina Lubin, President
David E. Schwager, Esq.
Chairman of the Board
Deborah Troy
School Board Chair
Schedule of Services
Minyan:
Monday & Thursday Mornings,
7:15 AM
(Other days by arrangement with
Cantor Abraham)
Sunday Mornings, 8 AM
Sunday through Saturday
Afternoons, 5:15 PM
Shabbat Services:
Saturday Morning, 9:30 AM
See Detailed Shabbat Schedule
Inside
Phone: (570) 824-8927
Fax: (570) 824-0904
Layout Design courtesy of
Bedwick & Jones Printing.
Shevat/Adar 5775
Christmas Day Program
is a Huge Success
We did it again!
Temple Israel successfully
delivered gift bags to first
responders, good
Samaritans and others
working on Christmas day
to serve and protect our
community. This year we
expanded the program to
deliver sixty-six bags to
forty locations, spanning
from Scranton to
Hazelton. The recipients of
our thoughtful act of
kindness (Chesed) were
truly appreciative and
delighted to be thought of
on Christmas Day. It was a
worthwhile consolation for working to serve our community on such a holy day on the Christian
calendar, while their families celebrated at home.
The program would not have been possible without the tremendous contribution of so many of
our congregants. Throughout December, generous monetary donations as well as gift items were
given by Sally & Steve Alinikoff, Robert Capin, Ruth & Jerry Chariton, Sally Connor, Richard
Goldberg & Rosemary Chromey, Barbara & Sam Greenberg, Nan & Robert Greenwald, Abbe & Erik
Kruger, Ina & Shelly Lubin, Barbara & Arthur Meyer, Bedonna & Joe Mitchneck, Anne & Harvey
Rappaport, Barbara Rappaport, Sheri & Mark Robzen, Missy & Bruce Saidman, Cooky & Jesse
Savitz, Debbie Schonfeld, Isobel & Marvin Slomowitz, and Anne & Marvin Smith. Honorable
mention goes to Sheri Robzen and Barbara Greenberg for combing the Valley to find a multitude of
creative, inexpensive items to fill our gift bags.
The week before Christmas, Herta Ginghold, Linda Greenwald, Leamor Kahanov, Gerri Kaplan,
Abbe Kruger, Ethan Kruger, Ina & Shelly Lubin, Bedonna & Joe Mitchneck, Anne Rappaport, Sherri
Robzen, and Cooky Savitz gathered in the vestry to organize and wrap the items into gift bags to be
distributed on Christmas Day. It was a lot of work but a great time was had by all!
Dan Feigenblatt pitched in by identifying seventeen new locations for us to visit this year. Ellie
Benveniste contacted all destinations to ensure they would be staffed on Christmas day and helped
create and map the driving routes.
And finally, the deliveries! Single drivers and teams navigated the Wyoming Valley to deliver our
gift bags to fire, police and ambulance stations, nursing homes, and hospitals. Our drivers included:
Carol Baltimore & Sheri Robzen, Ellie Benveniste, Lesa Gelb & Barry Dyller, Herta Ginghold,
Barbara & Sam Greenberg, Sandie Lefkowitz & Cooky Savitz, Leamor Kahanov, Rabbi, Gerri, Ashley
and Jacob Kaplan, Abbe, Erik, Ethan, Sophia & Matt Kruger, Marsha & Larry Lebenson,
continued on page 3
visit our website at: http://www.templewb.org
e-mail us at: [email protected]
Rabbi Kaplan
.
.
.
s
e
t
Wri
I saw the new
Exodus movie with
Rev. Zanicky. We
planned to see the
movie and write a
commentary for the
newspaper. As of
this writing it hasn’t
been published, but
that may simply be
due to the fact that
not many people have seen it, and those
that have weren’t impressed. But since I
spent the money to see it, and wrote the
review, I’ll share it with you. I’ll make
sure Rev. Zanicky’s review is up on our
website. His summation of this newest
take on the Exodus story is superb. He
appropriately contrasts the America of
Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments
with today’s politically correct watered
down version of anything close to
Divine. I hope I’m not spoiling the film
for anyone who will see it- but God
appears to Moses as an 11 year old boy.
And not a particularly nice one.
Indeed, God was practically an
extra in this new film, which leaves me
wondering why it was released during
Christmastime. Unless the baby God
was supposed to be like the babe in the
manger? I won’t go there- it would
offend too many Christians. I don’t fault
Ridley Scott for staging a few scenes
where God and Moses quarrel. That’s
actually in the Biblical text, and I point
out that interaction in my King’s and
Misericordia Bible classes. There is
tension between Moses and God in the
original, but there’s not a shred of
support for a God that is a petulant
child serving tea while playing with
blocks. The Torah’s tension is between
God who specifically chooses a modest,
meek, soft spoken Moses and the
Creator/Savior God who later on wants
to destroy the Israelites for being so stiffnecked. And Moses pleads on their
behalf in Chapter 32, “Should the
Egyptians say that God brought the
Israelites into the wilderness to kill
them? Turn back from Your anger….” So
the Bible makes clear that humans can
influence God’s decisions, but as Rev.
Zanicky notes- In the Torah there is no
question who is in charge. In this movie,
that’s the biggest question.
The film is based on the same
backstory as the cartoon version done
by Pixar years ago, “Prince of Egypt”Moses growing up in the Pharaoh’s
Page 2
palace with his brother, the next
Pharaoh. There must be some reason the
Bible never mentions any of this.
Perhaps because it’s not germane to the
story! In the Torah it’s all about freedom
from slavery and ultimately receiving
the Commandments. At every step it is
God who is the dominant figure. The
Bible also perceives the “miracles” of
the plagues and the splitting of the Red
Sea as acts of nature (Exodus 14:21)
“Then Moses held out his arm over the
sea (with the staff that was replaced in
the movie with a sword) and the Lord
drove back the sea WITH A STRONG
EAST WIND ALL THAT NIGHT…”
Anyone who’s seen the YouTube videos
of the effects of a Tsunami knows how
powerful nature can be. The Bible
announces that God alone has the
power to manipulate nature at will. And
when Moses strikes the rock with his
staff when the Israelites complain that
they are thirsty in the Book of Numbers
(chapter 20) God still sends forth water
but punishes Moses for not speaking to
the rock as he was commanded to do.
Perhaps the clearest sign of the
changing times between DeMille’s and
Scott’s versions of the story is how
Americans perceived good and evil. It
was pretty easy to know in the aftermath
of WWII who were the good guys and
who were the bad guys. And freedom
from slavery in ancient Egypt meant
freedom from the tyranny of the bad
guys. But today we’re not nearly as
certain. Many folks would say that
Sadaam Hussein was benign and
George Bush was the evil one. What
was clear fifty years ago when a
Communist tyrant took over the freedom
of Cuba is today a faint recollection to
most, even to world
leaders from the
Vatican to the White
House. The Bible’s
moral compass isn’t
part of our survival
kit these days. And in
“Exodus, Gods and
Kings” it’s truly
difficult to determine
who were the good
guys and who were
the bad guys, and
that includes Moses,
Pharaoh, and even
God.
I’m sticking with
DeMille’s tried and
true “The 10 Commandments”, and
with the cartoon “Prince of Egypt” as a
runner up. At least the
DreamWorks/Katzenberg (of Disney
fame) cartoon still presents clear cut
morals (with some comedy and decent
music) for kids and adults. Then again,
maybe if I had seen the new Exodus film
in 3D it might have been completely
different. Perhaps the morality only
came through in the third dimension?
Many people might enjoy seeing
this new iteration of the Biblical account
of Moses and Pharaoh with god-lite
playing the Deity. Lots of folks have
distanced themselves from the Bible and
its stories. We’ve seen comments from
people who claim that God was the real
tyrant in the Bible (killing the first born
Egyptians, etc). Rev. Zanicky and I
encourage you to see the film and make
up your own minds. But read the
original as well (or come to shul since
we’re in the middle of Exodus in our
Torah reading!). We don’t see these
Biblical stories as historical fact- indeed,
Scott’s interpretation may have more
historicity than the Biblical account. But
for us the values and morals of the Bible
are important for our society. We think
the 10 Commandments will do more
good for us and our neighbors than
ignoring them will. There will be tension
as we struggle with those stories and
messages that run counter to our current
view of right and wrong, but the Book
has been around for much of human
history, and we dismiss it out of hand at
our own peril. May Exodus bring new
questions and new interpretations to
good old values.
Rabbi Larry Kaplan
Cantor’s Notes
This month we celebrate Tu B’shvat, the “birthday of the trees.” The Bible speaks of great
forests of cedar, along with olive, almond, pomegranate and other fruit trees found in abundance
in ancient Israel. What happened to these ancient forests? Why did the chalutzim who came to
restore the Land of Israel find much of it either swamp or barren wasteland? Ancient civilizations
used wood for their great building projects and their armies needed wood for ships and
armaments. Babylonian, Greek and Roman conquerors all took their toll on the land.
Unfortunately, no one bothered to replant what they cut down, and lack of trees led to erosion
and ultimately to the desolate conditions which greeted Israel’s early pioneers.
Fortunately, the Zionists who came to Palestine at the beginning of the 20th century were a
Cantor Ahron Abraham
tenacious bunch. They had energy and resolve to accompany their vision. They planted cedar trees
where none had grown for 2000 years; imported eucalyptus trees from Australia to drain the
swamps; worked incredibly hard and in many cases gave their lives to do what no one thought could be done – they
brought a land that was considered dead and gone back to life.
I grew up hearing stories and songs of the chalutzim and have vivid memories of buying trees in Hebrew School as a
young boy and receiving certificates for trees planted in my name on various special occasions. It was a big deal to us. We
were given those cardboard cards with slots for our nickels – when the card filled up we turned them in and bought a tree.
We, along with our parents and grandparents helped to replant what those centuries of warfare and neglect destroyed.
The spirit of the chalutzim is alive and well in Israel. Shvat is a month when heavy rains still fall, and the slopes of the
hills and mountains stream with water. The heavy rains mark the end of the winter and the beginning of spring. By the
middle of the month, the rains taper off and the signs of spring begin to appear. The fields sprout green, and flowers of every
color carpet the earth. The first tree to blossom is the Shkediya, the almond tree. Soon after, other trees begin to bloom. It is
traditional for school children in Israel to go on field trips to plant trees. People around the world participate in this mitzvah
by buying trees in Israel through the JNF. Another wonderful Tu B’Shvat tradition instituted by the great 16th c. kabbalist
Rabbi Isaac Luria is to conduct a seder on the holiday, eating 10 different fruits and drinking four cups of wine. This is a
custom that has gained in popularity both in Israel and the Diaspora. We will be celebrating just such a seder when our
Hebrew School and Temple B’nai Brith join together for a Tu B’shvat Seder on February 5.
A famous Talmudic tale often told at Tu B’Shvat observances tells of Rabbi Honi who comes across an old man planting
a carob tree. When he asked why the man was planting a tree that would not yield fruit in his lifetime, the man replied that
just as his father and grandfather planted trees that benefited him, so too he was planting this tree for future generations.
May the forests and farms of the modern State of Israel continue to inspire us, and may we, like Rabbi Honi, help it
continue for future generations.
Christmas Day Program
continued from page 1
Ina & Shelly Lubin, Dan Messinger, Lindsay & Gary Nataupsky, Melissa & David Schwager, Barbara and Kaitlin Sugarman
& Wendy Lowden, Susan Yelen & Al Frank. Sally Alinikoff, Jessica Nataupsky Kang and Chris Kang also volunteered to
make deliveries.
So many members of Temple Israel came together to make this project a reality. Many donated their time, money,
resources and talents to successfully extend our good wishes and gratitude to those serving our community. The Social
Action Committee extends tremendous, heartfelt thanks to all who participated in and supported this project. As the
television spot on WBRE pointed out, our efforts spread goodwill and holiday cheer throughout the community.
Job well done!
Page 3
S CH O O L N O T E S
Happy February Birthday
to Our Students
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
6
16
21
23
28
Samara Freedman
Olivia Yelen
Jacob Harris
Sydney Daley
Rebecca Hammerman
Mazel Tov to:
• Lesa, Johanna and Sarah Gelb on their B’not Mitzvah
scheduled on the Shabbat that concluded a week of
family anniversaries including their mother, Judy Gelb’s
birthday and what would have been their parent’s 57th
wedding anniversary.
• Ruth Hollander on the birth of a great-grandaughter, Sofia
Leah Caplan
• Bill and Emily Isaacs on the birth of a granddaughter,
Maggie Elizabeth Isaacs
• Arthur & Barbara Meyer on the Bar Mitzvah of their
grandson, Jacob Nathan Meyer.
• Mimi Sirkin on the birth of her great-granddaughter, Sofia
Leah Caplan.
Condolences to:
• Stuart Abrams on the passing of his wife, Linda Abrams.
• Roz Duncan on the passing of her husband, Ed Duncan.
• Amy Daley on the passing of her father, Ed Duncan
• Jeanne Fainberg on the passing of her brother, Charles
(Chuck) Fortinsky.
• The family of Harold Golubock on his passing.
• Saul Kranson on the passing of his wife, Jackie Kranson.
• Doug Kranson on the passing of his mother, Jackie
Kranson.
• Sallyanne Rosenn on the passing of her brother, Leonard
Frank.
• The family of Allan Warner on his passing.
Temple Website
You can check on the Temple’s activities, services,
calendar and events. Go to www.templewb.org. It is a
simple and quick way to get information.
We Care
Want to attend services or
Temple events, but have no transportation? Just call the
Temple office a few days in advance and we will try to
arrange a ride for you.
Page 4
SHABBAT
SCHEDULE
YITRO
Friday, February 6
Candle lighting time..................................5:08 p.m.
Saturday, February 7 ........................................9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by Cantor Abraham
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
MISHPATIM
Friday, February 13
Candle lighting time...................................5:17 p.m.
SHABBAT SHEKALIM
Saturday, February 14 .......................................9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by David Schwager
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
TERUMAH
Friday, February 20
Candle lighting time...................................5:25 p.m.
Saturday, February 21 .......................................9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by Erika Green
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
TETZAVEH
Friday, February 27
Candle lighting time...................................5:34 p.m.
SHABBAT ZACHOR
Saturday, February 28 .......................................9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by Stan Pearlman
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
Attention Snowbirds
If you are planning on heading south or elsewhere
for the winter, please call the Temple office with your
winter address and the dates you will be there. We want
to make sure you receive your Temple mailings,
including your Chronicles. It is important that you notify
the Temple office if your address is incorrect, if there are
changes, or if you are going away for an extended period
of time.
Due to regulations by the U.S. Postal Service, any
mail that cannot be delivered because of an incorrect
address will be returned and
a “return fee” will be charged
to Temple Israel. We do not
want to have to pay these fees for undeliverable mail.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Adult Ed Classes at Temple Israel This Winter
How to turn THIS:
TEFILAH- Jewish Prayer
Shabbat mornings after services
With Cantor Abraham
From the text to the music of prayer, and the
choreography from bowing to swaying.
Into THIS:
BASIC JUDAISM
Sunday afternoons at 4 pm
in the School Building
If you went to Hebrew School as a child, you’ll
be amazed at what you still need to learn as an
adult. Suggested text: Joseph Telushkin’s Jewish
Literacy. Come to any or all of the classes.
Topics are listed at www.templewb.org and
include Torah basics, History, Ethics, Shabbat
and Holidays, Life Cycle and Jewish Law
Scholarship Aid
Available for USCJ
Summer Programs
Limited financial aid is available for USCJapproved summer programs, including Camp
Ramah, USY on Wheels, and student trips to Israel.
Assistance is based on both financial need and
merit. Letters of request must be submitted to the
Temple office by March 31, 2015.
Funding Available
for Jewish Studies
The Max
& Tillie Ungar
Family
Memorial
Endowment
provides
tuition
reimbursement
for college
students who
have
successfully
completed
courses in Jewish studies. Requests for
reimbursement and a copy of the grades for courses
taken during the 2014-15 school year must be
received by the Temple office by May 27, 2015.
All awards will be made after May 31st. For more
information, please call Debbie Schonfeld at the
Temple office.
Page 5
FEBRUARY YAHRZEITS
Week of February 1 – February 7:
Arthur Abelson, Sidney J. Berk, Fred Berman, Abe Bravman, Doris Brown, Rosalind Chafetz, Joseph M. Cohen, Samuel
Cohen, Sara Cutler, Belle Eisen, Sonya Elkin, Zoltan Engel, Esther Falkowitz, Davida Fortinsky, Isadore Ginsberg, Dan
Gross, Rose Grossman, Joseph Hacker, Elaine Herman, Maurice Herman, Jacob Hurwitz, Paul Kafrissen, Doris Keiser,
Philip Klein, Hannah L. Kline, Alex Kranson, Minnie Lang, Fanya Libman, Herman Linshes, Jack Mandell, Eleanor
Popky, Samuel Popky, Nina Schwartz, Jeanette Serling, Sarah Shaffer, Carrie Solin, Max Tischler,
Ernest Weisberger, Frank Wolfe, Dr. Sidney Zinman
Week of February 8 – February 14:
Ida Bachman, David Bergsmann, Edward Berk, Paul Birnbaum, Anna Boxman, Jacob Coplan, Rose Davidowitz, Abe
Feltz, Ida Frank, Charles Friedman, Jack Frier, Harry Gelb, Haskell Ginsburgh, Morris Gold, Sol Goldstein, Alfred Groh,
Jeanette Hirshowitz, Gytelle Hopkins, Jacob Hyman, Ethel Judd, Joseph Kaufman, Betti Klein, Jack Klemow, Michael
Krawitz, Haskell Lazere, James L. Lustig, Joseph McCoy, Harry Mersay, Selma Mitrani, Irene Novzen, Gilbert Park, Paul
Rappaport, Herbert Rittenberg, Sidney Rome, Robert Shuman, Lillian Siswein, Lenore Smulowitz, Harold D. Sugarman,
Joseph Zatcoff, Herman Zemler
Week of February 15 – February 21:
Sidney Bergsmann, Dr. Jacob Bornstein, Augusta Brand, Milton Brown, Sarah Chvotzkin, Toby Coleman, Harvey
Deutschman, Ruth Esrov, Frank Fabian, Tillie Fogel, Howard Frank, Jean Friedman, Lena Gibelman, Jacob Goldwein,
Arthur Herschenfeld, Louis Holtzman, Bennet Kaplan, Fran Kaplan, Edward Klein, William Kline, Belle Kluger, Esther
Lang, Henry Lang, Benjamin Levin, Irving Levine, Hermoine Lieberman, Charles Nachlis, I. Malcolm Pearlman, Bessie
Robbins, Robert Rosenbaum, Mrs. Helen Rosenberg, Marilyn Rosenberg, Erich Schwager, Resi Schwager, Ruth Senior,
Leonard Siegel, Mindi Thalenfeld, Jill Tischler, Cecilia Unterberger, Marcus Weisberger, Mary Zager
Week of February 22 – February 28:
Mr. Aleck Abrahamson, Elizabeth Bergman, Monroe Block, Sophie Blum, Gertrude Zachar Brown, Abe B. Cohen, Harry
Cohen, Joel Cohen, Ralph Connor, Eva Domowitz, Lillian Felder, Beverly Fiegelman, Gerald Fierman, Jacob Fortinsky,
Arthur Frank, Leonard German, Israel Goldberg, Gertrude Golubock, Louis Greenwald, Pearl Hacker, Arnold
Hirshowitz, Hannah Ibsen, Edith Iscovitz, Fannie Karnofsky, Jonathan Keiser, Samuel Kurlansky, Isadore Landau, Jennie
Landau, Max Lehrman, Hana Leitman, Peretz Leitman, Jay Leventhal, Ida Levin, Adele Levine, David Lieberman, Sarah
Morris, Lillian Oppenheimer, Joseph Plotkin, Blanche Popky, Ruth Prashker, Harry Robin, Joseph Rosenn, Fannie Rubel,
Morris Savitz, Barbara Schwartz, Seymour Schweiger, Rose Shelman, Ralph Sirota, Irvin B. Siswein, Evelyn Sondheim,
Martin Stark, Myer Teitelbaum, Sarah Vilensky, Lorry Weisberger
Women's League
As Jews we get to celebrate two New Years; our Jewish New Year at
Rosh Hashanah where we get to renew our spiritual resolve, and then
again in January our secular New Year where we get a chance to make all
kinds of resolutions. At Women’s League we resolve everyday to make
our programming meaningful to benefit not only our temple but also us as
women. One of your resolutions should be to be active in Women’s
League.
At our Chanukah dinner with the J. C. A. there were three lucky winners
from our annual raffle. First prize went to Missy Saidman and family.
Second prize went to Ina and Shelly Lubin and third prize went to Steven
Finkelstein. Congratulations to everyone.
On January 31st we will participate in our annual Women’s League
Shabbat. Marsha Lebenson, will once again chair this event. The theme of
this Shabbat will be Mishpacha (family). Marsha will speak on the different
dynamics of present day families. The entire service will be conducted by
members of Women’s League. Todah Rabah to all that have made a
commitment to participate. As always our Shabbat service will be
inspiring. Please plan to attend and share a special Shabbat with us. The
Woodlands will provide a beautiful kiddush. A special thank you to all of
the men of our congregation who helped sponsor this special kiddush.
Anita, Bedonna, Cooky
Page 6
Because of
the HIPAA
Laws, we
do not
always
know if our
congregants
are in the hospital (especially
if they were taken by
ambulance to the emergency
room). If you know of
someone who is in the
hospital and has not been
seen by the Rabbi, please call
the office and let us know
they are in.
Thank you
From Our President. . .
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE:
As I write this, I face a window
that looks out on a very cold, snowy
gray winter’s day. It is a good day to be
inside and writing this latest Chronicle
update.
We are just coming off the end of
2014, and all the festivities that engage
Ina Lubin
us from Thanksgiving to Chanukah and
the secular New Year. For the second consecutive year, Abbe
Kruger led a group of volunteers on Christmas Day to make
the holiday for first responders and others who must work on
this holiday more pleasant. Sixty-six gift packages including
snacks and other items were delivered in our local area, as
well as to the Jewish Home in Scranton, and south to
Hazleton to express our appreciation for the folks who make
sure we are safe and healthy every day of the year. Thanks
to those who donated, the volunteers who packed and
delivered, and for Abbe’s leadership for making this event a
success once again! I am sure the visibility we received
from the media, also promoted much good will for our
congregation’s outreach to the community.
The end of the year also initiated the implementation of
our renovation plan for the synagogue. New seats were
ordered which should be available for installation by midApril. The Renovation Committee listened to the input from
those congregants who tried out the proposed seating, and
made adjustments based on this feedback. The fabric color
scheme is blue which will blend nicely with our stained
glass windows and sanctuary wall color. The chair end
panels will match the wood paneling on our Bimah. There
will be ten spots for wheelchairs placed throughout the
sanctuary. The new chairs will be wider and three inches
higher than our current seating, and there will be seven
additional inches of legroom. All of these expanded
measurements and wheelchair accommodations should
make our worship time in the sanctuary that much more
comfortable for all.
Although the carpeting has not been ordered as of this
writing, the proposed favorite has a blue background with a
pattern that is somewhat similar to our current vestibule
carpeting. Joel Zitofsky will prepare a display board with the
chair fabric and carpeting sample that will be displayed in
the sanctuary vestibule.
The first week in February, the current seats and
carpeting will be removed to make way for the scaffolding
that will allow the stained glass specialists to begin cleaning
and upgrading the lighting on the sanctuary dome. It is
anticipated that this work will be complete by mid to
late March.
Touch up painting will also take place over the right
front entrance inside the sanctuary. Although it was painted
just a few years ago, there has been some water damage
from roof seepage that has since been repaired. This is the
opportune time to do the touch up. New subflooring will
also be installed.
Due to the fragility of the plaster walls behind the
memorial boards that were to be rewired, we are instead
researching low wattage LEDs that will hopefully allow
us to light as many bulbs as we choose without overloading
the circuits.
Plans for the bathrooms, Bimah modifications and other
renovation details are still in the works, but once they are
further along, I will keep you informed in future
communications. We welcome any questions you may have
which can be directed to Joel Zitofsky or myself. Joel is the
expert, but the renovation committee and I are working
diligently with him to insure our new updates will create a
warm, welcoming environment.
To date our renovation budget is right on target, always
good news, and let’s all hope the news stays good. For these
types of renovations, as we all know, there are usually a few
challenges along the way. The plan is to have services in our
vestry during the months of February, March and through
mid-April. While all the renovations will not be complete at
that time, we plan to be able to worship in our sanctuary for
Shabbat and holiday services by late April.
For those of you who have not as yet donated to our
Renewing Our Home campaign to support the renovations,
we encourage you to make a donation. It will support
maintaining our synagogue for the present and future.
As I close, I look forward to the many upcoming events
this January which will have taken place by the time you
read this. These include three of the Gelb sisters B’not
Mitzvah, the Book Club, another informative Groh Minyan
Breakfast, and Women’s League Shabbat. I hope those of you
who are not vacationing in a warmer climate, were able to
attend at least one of these, and found them to be well worth
your involvement.
My Best Regards,
Ina
Book Club
Sunday, March 15, 7:00
p.m. at the home of Marsha
and Larry Lebenson. The
selection is American Gods by
Neil Gaiman.
The third volunteer day at
St. Vincent DePaul’s Soup Kitchen will
be Sunday, February 22nd. Please sign
up through the link on the website or
call the office at 570-824-8927.
Page 7
Temple Israel
236 S. River St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18702
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Permit No. 105
Change Service Requested
February 2015
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Hebrew School,
4:00 p.m.
Wednesday
3
4
Thursday
Hebrew School at
Temple B'nai
B'rith, 4:00 p.m.
Friday
Saturday
5
6
Shabbat Services,
9:30 a.m.
7
Board Meeting,
7:30 p.m.
8
9
Hebrew School,
4:00 p.m.
10
11
Hebrew School,
4:00 p.m.
12
13
Shabbat Services,
9:30 a.m.
14
15
16
Hebrew School,
4:00 p.m.
17
18
Hebrew School,
4:00 p.m.
19
20
Shabbat Services,
9:30 a.m.
21
Hebrew School
Havdallah,
5:15 p.m.
St. Vincent dePaul
Soup Kitchen,
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
22
23
Hebrew School,
4:00 p.m.
24
25
Hebrew School,
4:00 p.m.
26
27
Shabbat Services
9:30 a.m.
28
Executive Board
Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
Board Retreat,
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
.
Temple Israel Funds
The following is a listing of Temple Israel funds to which donors may contribute for memorials, simchas, recoveries, etc.
Minimum contribution is $5.00 unless otherwise noted.
DR. AND MRS. HAROLD BERSON FUND
THE MURIEL BRAVMAN MEMORIAL FUND
BUILDING FUND
BIBLE FUND ($10)
CHAI CONTRIBUTIONS ($18)
SALLY & RALPH CONNOR HIDDUR MITZVAH FUND
JOSEPH N. COPLAN PRAYER BOOK FUND
CHARLOTTE & JOE CUTLER FUND
FEED THE HOMELESS FUND
FRIEDMAN INTERFAITH ENDOWMENT
ROBERT FRIEDMAN LITURGICAL MUSIC FUND
IRWIN H. GELB EDUCATIONAL FUND
HAPPY DAY FUND
ENID HERSHEY KIDDUSH CUP FUND
HIGH HOLIDAY PRAYER BOOK FUND ($7.50)
LAWRENCE HOLLANDER B‘NAI MITZVAH
PRAYER BOOK FUND
MARION & JACOB ISAACS ENDOWMENT
DORIS & SIDNEY KEISER KERUV FUND
EMIL & NATALIE KELLNER HEBREW SCHOOL FUND
ESTHER & NATHAN KLEIN PASSOVER ENDOWMENT
RALPH & MURIEL KLEIN MEMORIAL FUND
HANNAH & WILLIAM S. KLINE LIBRARY FUND
LANDAU PAVILION FUND
JONAS & MILDRED LANG CHILDREN’S FUND
LEVY CHAPEL FUND
BEN LIBENSON MEMORIAL ART FUND
FRANK & HILDA LUBIN FEED THE HOMELESS FUND
LYONS EDUCATION FUND
MINNIE MORRELL MUSIC FUND
MINYAN FUND
BARBARA NEWSBAUM MILLER PRAYER BOOK FUND
SAM NELSON CARE PACKAGE FUND
DORIS & JEROME NEWMAN
EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT FUND
PASCALE/KAPLAN EDUCATIONAL FUND
ALICE, DR. WILLIAM, I. MALCOLM
AND STANLEY PEARLMAN ENDOWMENT
CHARLES & ROSE POPKY EDUCATIONAL FUND
PRAYER BOOK FUND
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
RABINOWITZ TALLIT FUND
JOAN F. & HERBERT L. RITTENBERG FAMILY
ENDOWMENT
SALLYANNE, HAROLD & FRANK SCOTT ROSENN
COMMUNITY SERVICE ENDOWMENT
SAIDMAN-GREENWALD TORAH FUND
($18 MINIMUM)
SANCTUARY FUND ($25)
SHAFFER SHABBAT KIDDUSH FUND
SHAFFER SUKKAH ENDOWMENT
EVA & NATHAN SHAIMAN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
SILBERMAN MEZUZZAH FUND
SIMS ENDOWMENT
MARK SLOMOWITZ MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT
HAROLD & VELMA SMITH HEBREW SCHOOL FUND
THE DAVID & LILLIAN THALENFELD JEWISH
ENRICHMENT ENDOWMENT FOR STUDENTS
MAX & TILLIE UNGAR FAMILY
MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT
USY/KADIMA FUND
MORRIS VILENSKY MEMORIAL FUND