February Anniversaries
2/25 Sandy & Stephen Gordin
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2/25 Sandy & Stephen Gordin
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2/1 Louis Bruck
2/1 Conley Cook
2/1 Louis Himber
2/1 Ethel Silver
2/2 Isador Cohen
2/3 David Cohen
2/3 Ann Finkelstein
2/3 Isaac Malinow
2/3 Amelia Mann
2/4 Jonas Bernanke
2/5 Louise Smith
2/6 Lazorus Cohen
2/6 Bessie Gray
2/7 Rose Perlman
2/8 Charles Finke
2/8 Sheila R. Tanenbaum
2/9 Ben Abelkop
2/10 Harry Finkelstein
2/10 Otto Teszler
2/11 Harry Smiley
2/12 Sarah D. Cohen
2/12 Samuel Hecklin
2/13 Mimi Gelband
2/13 Gussie Hecklin
2/14 Lenore Axeltod
2/14 Avraham Weisz
2/15 Jacob Finke
2/15 Jeanne Hutchison
2/16 Daniel Koshak
2/16 Moises Retelny
2/16 Harry Stemberg
2/17 Alvin H. Levin
2/18 Samuel Cohen
2/18 Emil Mortge
2/19 Morris Cohen
2/19 Abraham C. Felsher
2/19 Alan Silverman
2/20 Haya S. Gilpin
2/20 Allen Haughay
2/21 Ludvik Weisz
2/22 Ray Fishbein
2/23 Aaron Tanenbaum
2/24 Iman Bornstein
2/25 Kathleen Bruck
2/25 Ruth Crosby
2/25 Anne P. Gray
2/25 Sam Kassler
2/25 Louis Levy
2/26 Sigmund Pickus
2/27 Lillian Bernstein
2/27 Esther Garrell
2/27 Bernard A. Katz
ourtemple29302 / From Our Rabbi, Jewish Life, News and Announcements /
I subscribe widely to magazines. Reflective of my eclectic tastes are included science magazines on astronomy. Recent technological advances have made the creation of powerful earth-bound telescopes even more impressive. How far we have come since Galileo! Greatly impressed by our new marvels would he be, but quite perplexed as infrared means of gazing into the hitherto obscure heavens were unanticipated in his day. As we enter the year 2021, we are bid to take deeper looks at a variety of concerns; safety in a pandemic time, responsible use of resources and our envi- ronment, and endeavors to live in a just society, racially and economically. I would hasten to add the psychological challenge of overcoming the divisiveness that characterizes our social discourse. What kind of non-technological apparatus can we use to mitigate against what one social commentator called the “Argument Culture?” The short form of this interrogative is; how can we agree to disagree?
One of the intellectual stars of our Jewish community is the feminist Susannah Heschel, daughter of Abraham Joshua Heschel, Holocaust refugee, Rabbi, and civil rights activist. When she recently posted a tribute to her late father by African American teacher Cornell West, there was considerable blowback. His tribute included a critique of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and thus, according to a few, merited a dismissal of all he had written. Dr. Heschel defended the tribute even as she took issue with that aspect of Cornell West’s criticism. She was not willing to jettison all he said because of the one aspect that was off putting. What one might glibly call “throwing the baby out with the bathwater!” To be sure there are men and women who assert some singular position that merits total dismissal. But of late such tendencies have become contagious. From the left and from the right so called Cancel Culture has taken hold. People take one snapshot of a person’s view on some matter and consider it to be the movie of that person’s life. This has further practical consequences to the point that there is banning of men and women from colleges and other public speaking opportunities.
From time-to-time I like having a spirited interchange even thought I prefer a more sober engagement of seeking common ground. But the spiritual path bids me, indeed all of us, to look beyond the one or two disagreements over politics, morality, etc. There are those in my community whose views are diametrically opposed to mine, sometimes to the point of my feeling the need to get “hot under the collar!” A Christian minister whom I admire was once in contention with a member of his flock. Using his Christian language, he said to him: “We don’t have to like each other but we are bid to act lovingly!” Sometimes easier said than done! But the attempt is always worthy!
Our minds, nay our hearts, are like Telescopes. As they filter out the obscurities in the heavens so that a clearer light can come through, so we earthbound mortals must practice a kind of filtration or amnesia in encountering others.
I have missed many of you as we struggle in this pandemic time. In the cold of winter, we have braved drive-in dinners so that we can safely take a glimpse of one another, even as hi tech zoom services and study gatherings continue. In that non-pandemic times, I have yearned for anonymity in public, such as in the grocery store. I found it lovely though and surprising when this week a long time and special member of our temple spotted me so that we were able to connect. In the words of Joni Mitchell – “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone!”
Here is to a wonderful healing 2021! Next year in the sanctuary!
Yossi Liebowitz, Rabbi
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Until further notice, services will be at 6:00 via Facebook Live on the Congregation B’nai Israel Facebook page. If you cannot make the “live” service, it will be available to watch any time at your convenience. This is the link to the Temple’s Facebook page: CLICK HERE
Simply go to the page at 6:00 and click on the live video to view.
Saturday morning Torah Studies will be held via Skype at 10:00 am. Ask to join by becoming a contact by looking up Yossi Liebowitz on Skype. He will include you as a contact.
ourtemple29302 / Education, From Our Rabbi, News and Announcements, Our Congregation /
Wednesday, January 27 at 12:00 noon via Zoom
The Ozymandias Complex or I’m going to live forever?
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Sunday, January 10 at 10:00
In Appreciation of Martin Luther King
Rabbi will host Story Time via Zoom for everyone. Look for an email with the Zoom link.
ourtemple29302 / News and Announcements, Our Congregation /
Dear members,
Welcome to 2021! As we progress into 2021 after a year wrought with un- certainty, I am sure we are all pausing to reflect on our experiences during the past year and upon the future as we anticipate a successful roll out of the vaccine to prevent Covid-19 and back to some semblance of normalcy in our lives.
As I think ahead of a promising 2021, I can’t help but recall my first visit to Congregation B’nai Israel, during the fall of 1991 for a Rosh Hashanah service with my handsome date and future husband, David. Wow!! Was that really 30 years ago? From the very first moment at our Temple, I felt welcomed by the members and in awe of the beautiful stained glass that surrounds our sanctuary. After becoming married, I became an active member of Congregation B’nai Israel and through my membership devel- oped a connection with the Jewish community that became strengthened when David and I began raising our family with the support of the Temple.
My oldest child, Craig, was 6 when I began teaching his Sunday School class. I taught Sunday School at the Temple for several years and pro- gressed into the position of Sunday School Principal, which allowed me to begin meeting with the Congregation B’nai Israel Board to give reports about the progression of the Sunday School. These were five enjoyable years in which I worked closely with the Congregation B’nai Israel chil- dren, parents, teachers, and Rabbi Leibowitz.
After my years serving as Sunday School Principal, I became a board member. I have served previously on our Temple Board as Corresponding Secretary and Vice President. I believe I have been involved with the board in some capacity for two decades. Currently, I have been elected President of our Temple’s board. I want to thank each of you for your sup- port today and continued support as I serve the Temple as President dur- ing 2021. It is truly an honor.
I would like to thank our Rabbi for his unwavering support and our past president, Sandy Gordin for her time and dedication to our Temple during the last three years. She has led with grace and confidence. I would also like to thank all the other board members who have served with me over the years. With you I am able to continue your work as we meet the year of 2021 with hopeful eagerness. Happy 2021 everyone!
Tina Lyon,
President
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Thank you, Sandy!
As Sandy Gordin steps down as Temple president, incoming president, Tina Lyon, presented to Sandy a beautiful plate on behalf of a grateful board and congregation. We thank Sandy for all she has done!
We welcome Tina and look forward to the upcoming year with her as Temple president.
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1/2 Lee Vogelstein
1/3 Lori Axelrod
1/5 Patricia Bost
1/5 Mary Poliakoff
1/6 Gabrielle Orseck
1/12 Cathy Lewson
1/12 Mike Minsky
1/14 Ilan Falcon
1/17 Michael Lyon
1/17 Marcia Tobin
1/18 Rebekah Michelle Smiley
1/19 Deede Cohen
1/22 Sheldon Lustgarten
1/24 Peggy Buchman
1/28 Lynn Strait
1/31 Jennifer Britanisky
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1/18 Barbara & Henry Barnet