HaHodesh February 2023

H desh

February-March 2023 Shevat-Adar-Nisan 5783

From Rabbi Lerner Should Jews Proselytize?

Ideas travel fast in our contemporary world. One tweet and suddenly, a video clip spreads like wildfire around the globe. True or not, these social media posts have incredible power. When used in combination with other content – memes, videos, and graphics – they can push people to endorse new opinions or even change their existing ones.

In the ancient world, ideas did not move quite so quickly. They often spread as one civilization came into contact with another. People became attracted to new ideas or they were forced upon their civilization as a result of military conquest.

In the Second Temple period (500 BCE–100 CE), Jewish perspectives spread through many areas bordering the Mediterranean. Especially during the centuries under Roman rule, Judaism’s notions of justice, ethical monotheism, the Sabbath, and making learning accessible to all were quite attractive. Eventually, through the spread of Christianity and Islam, these values (and others) did catch on throughout much of the world.

So, how is it that the Jewish religion and the Jewish people remained such a small percentage of the world population? Why are we such a small group?

(continued on page 16)

Glatzer Weekend: Mar. 24-26

This year marks the 45 th year since the inception of the Glatzer Fund at Temple Emunah, an annual event that honors the memories of Dr. Nahum Glatzer and Mrs. Anne Glatzer, distinguished and active members of Temple Emunah (see page 5). In their spirit, we bring eminent Jewish scholars to teach and study with us.

This year’s Glatzer Weekend will feature scholar-in-residence Yosef I. Abramowitz, who will join us for a Friday night dinner and talk, a Shabbat morning D’var Torah and a post-kiddush talk, and a Sunday morning brunch and talk. Watch your mail and email for details.

Yosef I. Abramowitz, an AmericanIsraeli human rights activist, educator, and entrepreneur, is a pioneer of the solar energy industry in Israel and East Africa. Co-founder of the Arava Power Company, Israel’s leading solar developer, he was named by CNN as one of the six top global “Green Pioneers,” and as Person of the Year by the Israel National Business and Energy Conference.

Nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, Abramowitz heads Energiya Global Capital, an impact investment platform that provides healthy returns to investors while advancing the environmental and humanitarian goals of providing affordable green power to underserved populations in Africa and elsewhere as a fundamental human right.

Support Glatzer Weekend

March 6-7

Celebration and silliness for all ages!

Purim Carnival March 12

See page 3.

We hope you will join this year’s Friends of Glatzer to support and honor the memories of Anne and Nahum Glatzer. Donations may be made either electronically or by sending in the Friends of Glatzer form with your check to the Temple Emunah office. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to having you join us.

L’Shalom, The Glatzer Planning Team: Sandy Goldstein, Terri Swartz Russell, Judi Canter, Francine Jacobs, Susan Cook

President's Message ha Hodesh

A Newsletter for Temple Emunah members

9 Piper Road, Lexington, MA 02421-8199

www.TempleEmunah.org

Main Office: 781-861-0300 Fax: 781-861-7141

Senior Rabbi David G. Lerner

Associate Rabbi Leora Kling Perkins

781-861-0300, ext. 22 dlerner@templeemunah.org

781-861-0300, ext. 31 lklingperkins@templeemunah.org

Rabbi Emeritus Bernard Eisenman

President Linna Ettinger

Executive Director Raveetal Celine

781-863-8511 president@templeemunah.org

781-861-0300, ext. 21 rceline@templeemunah.org

The Story of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

We are united by stories of our childhood, of American culture, and of our religion. One February school vacation years ago, my husband Gil and I decided to teach our daughters about Star Wars. Every day we watched episodes of Star Wars, in the order in which the movies were revealed. Hence our daughters became culturally literate in the language of Star Wars.

Now we are preparing for Passover, another story that is taught to Jews around the world. Passover, as well as the Torah, are stories that give us a common vocabulary and shared values.

Director of Me’ir Sherer

781-861-0303, ext. 24 Congregational Learning msherer@templeemunah.org

Accounting Manager Alisa Billings

781-861-0300, ext. 23 abillings@templeemunah.org

781-861-0300, ext. 30 & Manager of Pastoral Admin harwe@templeemunah.org

Chief of Cong. Advancement Hannah Arwe

Director of Programming Efrat Assulin

781-861-0300, ext. 28 eassulin@templeemunah.org

One of the privileges of being a synagogue president is to participate in the Presidents’ Roundtable discussions, to attend the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) Conference, and to cast a vote as a delegate at the USCJ General Assembly. When I participate in discussions with the Presidents’ Roundtable, I share a language with the other presidents about Jewish values, the Jewish stories, and American Jewish experiences.

Director of Media and Bonnie Gold

781-861-0300, ext. 29 Communications bgold@templeemunah.org

Synagogue Educator/Young Tova Weinronk

781-861-0300, ext. 34 Family Engagement Coord. tweinronk@templeemunah.org

Synagogue Educator Sydney Bluman

Office Administrator Marilyn Pappo

Temple Administrator Mary Melnick

781-861-0300, ext. 32 sbluman@templeemunah.org

781-861-0300, ext. 20 office@templeemunah.org

781-861-0300, ext. 26 mmelnick@templeemunah.org

Bulletin Editor Linda Silverstein lindags@comcast.net

When I Zoomed into the USCJ General Assembly, Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, CEO of USCJ, spoke about his experience in the White House at the December 7, 2022 Antisemitism roundtable led by the Jewish Second Husband Doug Emhoff. Rabbi Blumenthal was one of fourteen representatives from the American Jewish community, who were united in advocating for increased funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to battle rising antisemitism. The fourteen Jewish community representatives spoke as a united American Jewish community, united in our stories and values. Through USCJ, Conservative Jews have a voice at the White House. Denominational affiliation gives us a voice at the White House table.

A new initiative that USCJ has launched is a website about Conservative Judaism called ExploringJudaism.org. Within the website you will see many of the most up-to-date practices in Conservative Judaism related to holidays, prayer, and lifecycle events.

Preschool Team

Lucie Chag, Interim Program Director lchag@templeemunah.org

Sally DeLucia, Interim Program Director Sdelucia@templeemunah.org

Laura Cohen Gordon, Interim Administrative Dir. lcohengordon@templeemunah.org

Chaiya Zalles, Interim Administrative Director czalles@templeemunah.org

On a local level, USCJ has provided support to Temple Emunah by running the Sacred Spaces Aleinu and Keilim programs that are designed to help Conservative congregations form safer spaces for all ages in our community. USCJ also provides a synagogue consultant to all member congregations. We are working with the USCJ Northeast District consultant, Daniel Langenthal, who has run team-building exercises to increase the quality of workplace communication at Temple Emunah. (Some denominations do not provide a synagogue consultant!) Visit the uscj.org website to find information and resources about USCJ.

I am proud to be affiliated with USCJ – rooted in the rituals and stories of our tradition and decidedly connected to modern sensibilities. As you sit around your Passover table, I

(continued on page 3)

HAPPY PURIM! Purim is March 7

Order Your Purim Mishloah . Manot Deadline is Friday, February 10

Thanks for supporting your Religious School!

It’s a mitzvah to send Purim gift bags and it’s the Religious School’s biggest fundraiser! To purchase, go to: https://tinyurl. com/ycyhnwva.

We will deliver Purim bags from March 5-7 to your friends, neighbors and relatives in our delivery area (Acton, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham, Winchester and Woburn), as well as to Temple Emunah staff, Preschool and Religious School teachers and aides.

Bag pickup is also available at the Megillah reading on March 6.

Those outside our delivery area will receive a small gift box. If you have a valid email address in the Temple Emunah database, you will receive ordering instructions by email. You may also get a paper order form from the Temple office. Everyone is welcome to be involved in the mitzvah of creating and distributing Purim bags.

Purim Carnival – Sunday, March 12

Outdoors 11 AM - 1 PM

The Purim Carnival will include a performance by the Bible Players. See page 8.

Purim Extravaganza and Megillah Reading

Monday evening, March 6

Put on a costume and celebrate the holiday of Purim with the Temple Emunah community!

Mishloah . Manot Volunteers

Please join us to help assemble Mishloah Manot bags and boxes to prepare for delivery to our community. Bag packing and route sorting will be on March 1-2. To volunteer, go to: https://tinyurl.com/Packers2022

Mishloah . Manot Delivery Drivers

Please join us in the mitzvah of delivering Mishloah Manot to our community! Deliveries can be made anytime between March 5-7. Kids earn one CJE credit if they help with the deliveries. If you are able to help deliver bags please sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/Drivers2022

Thank you for participating and for supporting your Religious School.

H . ag sameah . !

Nancy Capparelli & Marci Yesowitch Hopkins

Questions: emunahpurim@gmail.com

6:00 PM Community Dinner with crafts and costumes

6:30 PM Minh . ah / Ma’ariv

7:00 PM Megillah Reading 8:30 PM Purim Party

Details to follow

President’s Message (continued from page 2)

hope you will share the story of the Antisemitism Roundtable (https://tinyurl.com/JewishInsider) at the White House with friends and family, to highlight that the Conservative Movement has a voice at the White House. Having a voice at the White House is a compelling and powerful reason to maintain denominational affiliation – and this is a story that should be shared for generations.

Linna Ettinger, president@templeemunah.org

Adult Learning

Winter still swirls around us, but don’t let the cold get you down. Share the bright light and warmth of our adult education classes and programs.

Our ongoing programs – Perek Yomi, Talmud Study, Parshat Hashavuah, and Mediatation – are all going strong and welcoming new participants. It’s always a good time to start your Hebrew journey, an ongoing challenge for many of us, but one with with deep rewards and satisfaction. From the absolute beginner to the advanced speaker, our Ivrit la-Kol (Hebrew for All) program has the right class for you. Are you planning a trip to Israel? Try our Hebrew for Travelers class. New students are always welcome. Contact Nancy Lefkowitz (nancylef@usa.net) for more information.

Our Bess Ezekiel Rosh H . odesh Group meets monthly for informal, participant-inspired Rosh H odesh gatherings. Community members teach, facilitate book discussions, and bake. If you have an idea to share, contact Anna Nerenberg (bernberg@comcast.net).

We are delighted to have the opportunity to study with Aron Wander this winter. He returns in February for a sixsession class Every Day is Purim: Mysticism In A Broken World. See page 5 for details.

Be on the lookout for more information and stay tuned to the Temple Emunah calendar for yet more programming.

Stay warm and keep learning.

Terri Swartz Russell and Sandy Goldstein

Co-chairs of Adult Education adulted@templeemunah.org.

Encounters with God in Jewish Tradition

Me’ah Select Lexington Collaborative, Taught by Rabbi Neal Gold

Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 AM , on Zoom, beginning February 7

This class will explore the various paths of understanding God in Jewish tradition and encourage students to discover which of these approaches, if any, most closely aligns with their own understanding of God. We’ll explore many wonderful and daring Jewish texts—and we’ll also emphasize the search for spiritual meaning and relevance in these texts for our own time. Register at https://hebrewcollege.edu/blog/course/ encountering-god-today/

Women and Headcovering

Taught by Rabbi Leora Kling Perkins

Sunday, February 12, 10:30 AM , hybrid

Women in synagogues today may wear kippot, hats, scarves, or nothing on their heads during services, whereas many synagogues expect all men to wear a kippah. Why the difference, and what does Jewish tradition have to say about this?

Take part in the International Seminar for Halakhic Study, an effort to unite Jews around the world in studying one paper on a contemporary Jewish practice. We will read Rabbi Jane Kanarek’s 2019 paper “Women and Headcovering” and explore our own relationships to this cultural practice.

HartmanBoston scholars come to Lexington!

The Shalom Hartman Institute (SHI), the leading center of applied Jewish thought and education serving Israel and North America, has a new regional office in Boston led by Rabbi Emily Goldberg Winer. Hartman is partnering with Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and local organizations, including Temples Emunah and Isaiah, to bring relevant ideas and conversations to the community through cohort experiences, public programs, and educational seminars with Hartman scholars.

Temples Emunah and Isaiah are partnering to bring Hartman to Lexington and will share hosting of these Hartman scholars. A January program was held at Temple Isaiah.

On February 28, Temple Emunah will host a Lunch & Learn with Dr. Mijal Bitton, a Scholar-in-Residence at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and the Rosh Kehilla (communal leader) and co-founder of the Downtown Minyan in New York City.

Her topic will be “Do American Jews Have an Ethical Commitment to Israel?” Dr. Bittal will explore the concept of ne’emanut, which literally means “loyalty or faithfulness.” Does this Jewish principle mean that we have ethical commitments based on the fact of relationship? This question can be challenging enough in the case of our obligations to family members. Does it also imply, or require, a steadfastness in our commitment towards Israel that is not dependent on specific policies or attributes? Dr. Bitton is a Scholar in Residence at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and the Rosh Kehilla (communal leader) and co-founder of the Downtown Minyan in New York City.

Mijal received a BA from Yeshiva University and earned her doctorate from New York University, where she conducted an ethnographic study of a Syrian Jewish community with a focus on developing the field of contemporary Sephardic studies in America. She is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship.

Rabbi Emily Goldberg Winer heads the HartmanBoston operations and manages local programming. A Wexner Graduate Fellow and 92 ND Street Y Jewish Innovation Fellow, Winer received her ordination from Yeshivat Maharat in Riverdale, NY. She moved to Boston earlier this summer and is already immersing herself in the community.

We hope this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with HartmanBoston and our Lexington Jewish community.

Adult Education Committee

Adult Learning / Ladle Fund

Glatzer Weekend Mar. 24-26

The Glatzer weekend honors the memories of Professor Nahum Glatzer and Anne Glatzer, long-standing members of Temple Emunah.

Anne Glatzer was trained as a teacher and worked with students in Germany and then in the US, where she taught at the prestigious Shady Hill School for approximately 20 years.

Professor Glatzer was a religious leader at Temple Emunah, leading services and chanting Torah and Haftarah. In the academic world, Professor Glatzer was an internationally renowned scholar and teacher of Judaica. He was a disciple of Franz Rosenzweig and succeeded Martin Buber as the University of Frankfort Chair of Jewish Philosophy and Ethics. Professor Glatzer was a highly respected member of the faculties of Brandeis University and Boston University.

The Ladle Fund

The Ladle Fund is very busy this year pursuing our simultaneous goals of supporting programming created by others while creating our own programs and events.

Supported events include Wine Tasting, our October Mitzvah Extravaganza, and programming around Sukkot and Simchat Torah. In January, we were proud to contribute to the Rachel Bregman Racial Justice Education weekend and the Meet the Climate Experts event by the Climate Change Working Group.

All of these events bring people in our Emunah community together for social connectedness and for sharing common interests.

Joelle Gunther and Bob Russman-Halperin continue to offer various topics for our themed minyanim. So far we have held one each in December (Harvard Night) and January (the movie “Disobedience”). They take suggestions and continue to generate new ideas.

In January, we had a very successful breakfast for our senior members with over 55 people having a bagel and seeing each other, some for the first time in over a year or more. We will do the same again in March (slightly different menu!).

Also in January, Linda Skolnik organized a Jazz Night with Israeli musicians and delicious food from Tova’s Catering. This article was submitted before this event but there is no doubt it will have been fantastic!

On February 4, we are sponsoring a Shabbat Kiddush hangout providing games and snacks with some singing and learning.

Our committee is made up of a great group of people energetically supporting our mission of bringing the community together in a myriad of ways. We look forward to telling you of any new spring plans as they develop.

David Ezekiel and Méli Solomon Ladle Co-Chairs

What you put in the pot, comes out in the ladle!

What Can We Do About Antisemitism?

Thursday, March 30, 6 PM

This program with and for the Lexington Interfaith community will help those who want to better understand the dynamics of contemporary antisemitism, learn how to talk about it, and begin to plan action against it.

It is sponsored by the Temple Emunah Antisemitism Task Force with generous support from the Phyllis Klein Thrope Fund.

Preschool

Autumn was a remarkable season here at Billy Dalwin Preschool! The first few months of school exceeded our expectations. We could not be prouder of the staff, children, and families who came together in learning and celebration of the h . aggim. Rabbi Lerner and Rabbi Kling Perkins each took time to teach the children about the haggim. The learning and fun were exceptional as we came together as a kehillah. Children and staff alike settled into new and familiar routines as we got to know each other and fun and learning ensued!

Rabbi Kling Perkins showed the children all of the important part of the Sefer Torah by including them in the process. They felt the rimonim (set of silver crowns) and the fabric covers. They held the yad (pointer) and the eitz h . ayim (wooden handles). Rabbi Lerner was so generous in showing the children his impressive collection of kippot during our “Kippot on Keppies” program. He also taught the children about tefillin and showed them how to wrap them!

Our annual PJ Sh’ma event was as popular as ever as we came together in jammies to learn about this central prayer in Judaism. There were crafts, cookies, and yoga poses. We can’t think of a better way to learn about the Sh’ma than that!

Thanksgiving came and we reflected on what we were most thankful for! Our teachers helped each child create a special Thanksgiving gift to bring home to families. Many similari-

ties emerged as each child reported feeling most thankful for family and friends! Lucie donned a Turkey costume as she led the school on a musical parade around the shul to bring happiness and music to all. Our Thanksgiving feast was delicious as each class created a dish to share and enjoy while the staff put on a play. It was dinner theater at its finest! Moving on toward H anukkah, the festive atmosphere and celebration of light and dedication emerged. Making painted prints of latkes with real potatoes and creating art by spinning dreidels in paint were both messy and fun.

Our continued collaboration with JCDS bears wonderful fruit! From STEM projects in “Sparked by JCDS” to the meaningful Shabbat sings with Oren, the children are learning through hands-on play and music! We look forward to more programming with JCDS throughout the school year. Oren also joined us for our most well-attended H . anukkah sing-a-long since pre-COVID! We are eager to see what fun and adventure await during the winter months, including our Purim activities. Here’s hoping your hamantaschen are plentiful and delicious!

Laura Cohen Gordon, Interim Administrative Dir. lcohengordon@templeemunah.org

Top: Hanukkah candle lighting, weekly Shabbat helper, Rabbi Lerner teaching about tefillin

Right: Rabbi Kling Perkins showing the parts of the Sefer Torah, Chanukah Family Sing-a-long

You can now borrow books directly from the Library. If the door is locked, someone in the office can open it for you. Just sign the book card in the back of the book and leave it in the box on the desk. You can still do this from the Portable Library Cart in the lobby.

On Shabbat, the Library is open from noon-1:30 pm, and you can borrow books by using the envelope provided with your name on it. Place the book card in the envelope and leave it in the plastic box on the desk.

For your Passover planning, check out the Portable Library Cart. You will find a wide variety of Haggadot and other books with ideas for making your Seder memorable. Here are some examples from our collection:

HAGGADOT Spiritual and meaningful

The Breslev Haggadah: Uplifting insights from the teachings of the Hassidic master Rabbi Nachman of Breslev.

Israel Passover Haggadah by Menachem Kasher features expanded commentaries in Hebrew and English.

The Lovell Haggadah: Beautiful artwork and illustrations.

A Mystical Haggadah with Kabbalistic and Hassidic insights.

The New American Haggadah by Jonathan Safran Foer features essays by contemporary rabbis and humorists.

A Passover Haggadah has commentary by Elie Wiesel.

The Passover Haggadah by Shlomo Riskin includes engaging stories on the major themes of Passover.

The Polychrome Historical Haggadah uses color coding to demonstrate the evolution of the text over time, with beautiful illustrations.

Yeshiva University Haggadah includes Rabbinic sources and explanations for the language and customs of the Seder.

Fun

The Baseball Haggadah by Rabbi Sharon Forman will keep you laughing until the ninth inning and have your guests calling “Play ball!”

The Dry Bones Passover Haggadah: The comic illustrations by Yaakov Kirschen add humor and fun to your Seder.

The Superhero Haggadah: A Story of Signs and Marvels: Moshe Rosenberg brings the Marvel cinematic universe to our classic text.

The (Unofficial) Hogwarts Haggadah will delight wiz ards and muggles alike.

Family Focused

The New American Haggadah by Mordecai Kaplan is child focused with snapshots of Passover celebrations.

A Night to Remember: A Haggadah of Contemporary Voices is one of Noam Zion’s many Haggadot, interactive and appealing to children.

Simply Seder: A Passover Haggadah: Short and entertaining for children. It includes a section on planning the Seder – ideal for first-time Seder hosting.

Social Justice

The Feast of Freedom: Interesting commentary by the Rabbinical Assembly; very colorful illustrations.

The Shalom Seders by the New Jewish Agenda includes three different Seders designed for interactive reading.

Women

Night of Beginnings by Marcia Falk includes a complete retelling of the Exodus and transforms the patriarchal prayers. San Diego Women’s Haggadah combines traditional text with a focus on the female experience.

Temple Emunah Women’s Community Seders focus on women and social justice; their biennial Haggadot emphasize specific themes.

Hag Sameach Pesah! Happy Passover!

Toni Stechler and Marci Hopkins (emunahlibrary@gmail.com)

Temple Emunah Library

The Library offers a variety of Haggadot for all ages.

Religious School / Youth

JEWISH SUMMER CAMP FAIR

Sunday, February 6, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Join us to learn about some of the many Jewish Day and Overnight Camp options in our area and throughout New England.

PURIM CARNIVAL

Sunday, March 12, 11 AM - 1:00 PM

The Purim Carnival will be open to families with young children (ages 2-6) from 10-11 AM and to all ages from 11 AM1 PM . This year, we will be joined by the Bible Players, an interactive Torah comedy group. They will lead workshops for our religious school classes in the morning and give a special kids’ Purim comedy performance during the carnival!

The carnival will also include fun games, prizes, inflatables, cotton candy, lunch, and more! You can purchase wristbands in advance on shulcloud. Please bring cash for lunch. We look forward to celebrating Purim together!

Religious School Calendar (Feb.-Mar.)

NO Religious School Sun., Feb. 19 - Sun., Feb.26 (includes YAD)

Family & Youth Activities

February- March

Building Blocks Workshop Lego Hanukiyah Building

Religious School Havdalah

USY Chaverim and Gesher at Boda Borg

Jewish Arts Collaborative project: igniting light at Emunah

Disability & Inclusion / Shabbat Shirah

Connecting with Others

February is my least favorite month. It’s cold! It’s snowy! It’s slippery! It’s a good time for sitting in the house while reading or talking with friends and relatives on the phone or iPad. For those who like to ski or to be with kids who are on school vacation, there’s something positive about being connected with others, with or without skis! Regardless of the weather, try to get out for fresh air and to see people you know. Joining others at Temple Emunah is one way to reconnect!

Organize play dates for your children and grandchildren. Children who have been in school during the pandemic are now showing social setbacks. Arranging play dates is a good way to improve children’s social skills. Talk with their teachers and parents regarding which children would be good to invite over for a play date. (Grandparents: you can also invite a few friends together at your own home.)

I know of one parent who was quite certain that her son was not connecting with other boys in his class. She watched as her child was often left out of activities with other kids. One quick conversation with another mother while picking up their sons at school helped her realize that others felt the same way about their children’s social skills. The two mothers jumped on the idea of the two boys getting together, making both moms realize they could help their son’s social skills.

Purim is coming soon (March 6-7), so get those costumes ready. This is an easy time to get a few kids together to dress up with matching outfits or with colorful boxes. Think about which children could join together in similar costumes. Find out what sports or colors they like. A few special T-shirts or dresses will be just what they need to increase their friendship groups. Parents and grandparents, even just adding a hat or a sweatshirt will enable you to also feel happy about Purim!! CJP is organizing an event in March. Watch for information! You’ll also be glad to know that Daylight Saving Time begins on March 13. Check your clocks and alarms and be ready to watch for buds on trees!

Sandy Miller-Jacobs, Co-chair Disability & Inclusion Committee

Shabbat Shirah (“Sabbath [of] song”) is the name given to the Shabbat that includes Parsha Beshalach. The Torah reading of the week contains the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15:1–18). This was the song by the Children of Israel after crossing the Red Sea. This year Shabbat Shirah falls on Saturday, February 4.

On Shabbat Shirah, we celebrate a very special moment in the Torah, a very musical moment in Jewish biblical history. It is the Sabbath of Singing. Many congregations highlight this Shabbat by creating services brimming with extraordinary music to celebrate Moses and Miriam leading the Israelites across the Sea of Reeds (The Red Sea) and out of Egypt.

Temple Emunah, led by a wonderful group of our members, will be leading us in the special service as we come together to celebrate Shabbat Shirah this year. We will celebrate with a ‘singing service’ filled with beautiful voices and amazing musical tunes that are sing-along-able as well. There’s even a ‘sermon in song’! This is not a performance with stops and starts. We hope this will be an uplifting service filled with music led by good daveners and wonderful voices and still finish ‘on time.’

Parsha Beshalah is visually, liturgically and musically important. Shabbat Shirah gets its name from part of the sedra (weekly Torah reading) known as Shirat HaYam (song of the sea).

Visually, this song/poem is laid out very differently from the rest of the Torah so it is very obvious to the reader and to the congregation during Hagbah (the lifting of the Torah after it is read) that something special is happening. It is known as “brick on brick.”

Liturgically, this is the part of the Torah from which the Rabbis selected Mi Khamokha to become part of our worship. The prayer is taken from Exodus Chapter 15, verses 11 and 18: Mi chamocha ba-ei-lim Adonai, mi ka-mocha ne-e-dar ba-kodesh, no-rah t’hi-lot o-seh feleh. Adonai yim-loch l’o-lam va-ed.

Who is like You, O God, among the gods that are worshipped? Who is like You, O God, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, working wonders? Adonai will reign forever and ever!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 4, and come and experience the beauty of song throughout this Shabbat morning service with us!

Shabbat Shirah on February 4

Yad discussion about Hanukkah

Sisterhood

COVID and how the times have changed!

It’s so hard writing bulletin articles this far in advance. The major difficulty is that our events are not yet confirmed, and details are still forthcoming. As I write this article today, New Year’s Day 2023, I am thinking of all the wonderful things Sisterhood will be doing this winter/spring-yet none of them have happened. Looking into my crystal ball, I see:

On Saturday evening, January 7, Sisterhood prepared a meal for the Kindergarten-second grade young family Havdalah program, where families gathered to close out Shabbat and enjoy a fun-filledmeal.

With the encouragement of Terri Swartz Russell, we planned two kugel bake-offs. Members of our community prepared their delicious recipes in the temple kitchen and they were then served during Shabbat kiddush (I’m sure the word around town was how fun this event was)!

On Sunday, February 5, we held our first in-person signature dinner and a movie event since 2020, featuring the film In Search of Israeli Cuisine followed by a wonderful Israeli-themed meal prepared by members of the Sisterhood. Many thanks always to Joelle Gunther for spearheading this event, planning the menu, enlisting volunteers, and making the process always go so smoothly.

February also included our participation in the Mitzvah Day program. Our plan was to continue with our fleece blanket project, where students make blankets to be donated to Children’s Hospital.

Finally, and the most important message of this bulletin, is the announcement of our 2023 Torah Fund Event. Every year Sisterhood honors a member of our organization who has been instrumental in her contributions to Sisterhood and the temple. This honor comes with the special title, Sisterhood “Light of Torah.”

I am pleased to announce that our 2023 Light of Torah is Linda Skolnik. Linda will be honored at our Torah Fund Brunch on Sunday, March 19. See Linda’s bio on page 11.

This year marks the 80 th anniversary of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. TE Sisterhood is a major contributor to the Torah Fund which is part of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. This fund provides financial support to students at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Schechter Institutes of Jewish Studies, Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano, and the Zacharias Frankel College.

Save the Date:

Torah Fund Brunch – Sunday, March 19

Honoring LINDA SKOLNIK

as our 2023 Light of Torah

Details to follow on the TE website

The Torah Fund campaign began in 1942 as a scholarship fund. In 1963, it merged with the Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall campaign that provided housing for undergraduate students. In time, the campaign identified needs and raised funds for specific projects, including:

• Women’s League Educational Pavilion (Kripke Tower)

• Women’s League Seminary Synagogue

• Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall Renovations

• Goldsmith Hall

• Residence Hall at the American Jewish University

• JTS Quadrangle

• JTS Library Bookshelves

• Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies Garden

The theme for this year’s Torah Fund pin is:

Chazak v’Ematz: Be Strong and Courageous

This pin symbolizes the story of the Israelites preparing to enter the Promised Land when the leadership transitions from Moses to Joshua. The Israelites and Joshua are instructed to “be strong and courageous” (Deuteronomy 31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18). The 5783 Torah Fund pin represents 80 years of ever-increasing strength of Torah Fund.

Each year Sisterhood is given a goal, and last year we raised over $6,500 for the scholarship fund. Sisterhood will be promoting this event and ways that you can help in the act of giving and honoring Linda as our Light of Torah.

Sisterhood thanks you for all your support to our organization which enables us to provide unique and enriching programs to our community.

L’shalom, Janet Goldberg, Sisterhood President janet.goldberg2@verizon.net

Shalom H . averim!

Thanks to all the Brotherhood members who helped to put up (and take down) the huge H . anukkiah, with special thanks to Scott Lerman for leading the effort!

This is a busy time of year with the Brotherhood. On January 15 we hosted our first in-person speaker since 2019! Gal Jaacobi spoke on “Minorities and Inclusion: Employment Issues in Israel.” Thank you to Alan Silver for putting together this important discussion.

We will be holding the following events over the next few months:

• On February 5, we will be working with the Hebrew School and leading our annual “Build a Pair,” where we will assist the children in helping them to build t’fillin sets.

• The following Sunday, February 12, we will lead our annual “World Wide Wrap” where we assist the children in putting on their t’fillin for their first time.

• In March we will run the annual Pesah Wine Sale online and in person during the Purim Carnival on March 12. We are also able to meet in person for our monthly Board meetings and Breakfast. These will continue and please feel free to join in!

Many other events are coming. Check the website calendar for dates and specifics. We are always looking for more congregants to get involved and help us with any or all of our events. Please reach out to me if you are interested in helping with any of our many projects.

Thanks,

Scott Damsky, Brotherhood President brotherhood@templeemunah.org

Linda Skolnik: Sisterhood Light of Torah

Linda Skolnik has been a member of Temple Emunah for 19 years. She and husband Ira joined when their son Jonah, now 23, started in Emunah’s Gan, and when their daughter Zara, now 18, was born. Linda’s commitment to Emunah started as a Tot Shabbat leader, then as a volunteer in the Religious School and it grew from there! After serving on the Religious School Committee, she took on the role of Emunah Religious School Chair. In 2013, Linda created the Hineni Connecting Team or HCT, which brings together caring volunteers with congregants who are elderly, ill or isolated. Linda is also on the Ladle Fund Committee. Professionally, Linda is an Interfaith Chaplain on the Spiritual Care staff of the Faulkner Hospital, Boston. She sits on the board of Yad Chessed board, which supports Jewish individuals and families by alleviating economic distress. Linda is passionate about Jewish culture, particularly music and cooking. Linda and her family live in Concord.

Brotherhood Annual

PASSOVER WINE SALE

online starting March 1

continuing through March 13 at https://brotherhood.slerman.net/wine/order Safe pay & pickup on Sunday mornings

March 26 & April 2, 10 am-12:30 pm at the Temple upper parking lot

Sales & Tasting at the Temple if allowed by health guidelines on March 12 (Purim Carnival)

10 am-12:30 pm

Spotlight on Kitchen Committee Volunteers

Many thanks to these Kitchen committee volunteers who have been helping out in the kitchen repeatedly:

Arlene Chase

Josh Chessman

Alison Dick

Joelle Gunther

Wendy Russman Halperin and Bob Halperin

Jennifer Hurwitz

Annette Koren

Marcy and Ed Lidman

Susan Mayer

Méli Solomon

Leah Sugarman

Terri Swartz Russell and David Russell

Folks who want to join in the fun can contact Janet Goldberg at janet.goldberg2@verizon.net.

YOU are the KEY to Family Table’s Success in the Community

Temple Emunah has participated in Jewish Family & Children’s Services Family Table for many years. We have supported clients in need of additional support due to a variety of reasons, be it illness, loss of a job, or insufficient funds to meet daily expenses.

It’s important to appreciate that Family Table has had to grow in response to the needs of the community. It is reported in a recent email from Bernice Behar the Director of Family Table, that in December, Family Table provided nutritious food to 582 households throughout Greater Boston, the North and South Shore, up from 538 households a year ago.

That included:

• Waltham Sunday Delivery: 271 households (+8% year over year)

• Waltham Marketplace: 147 households (+18%)

• Family Table North Shore: 85 households (+4%)

• Family Table South: 55 households (+6%)

• Emergency deliveries: 22 households (versus 25 one year ago)

Beginning in January 2022, Family Table greatly expanded its Marketplace schedule. It’s now open every Tuesday and one Wednesday each month, giving clients much more choice as to when they visit the food pantry. The limits on the amount of food people can take have been removed, enabling everyone to receive additional food.

Family Table’s commitment to reaching out to the elderly, families, and younger people who aren’t able to make ends meet has enabled people in the community to avoid being food insecure.

We at Temple Emunah sincerely appreciate the willingness of many of you to volunteer and pack and deliver food on the dates of food distribution. You can do this once a month or more frequently; it’s entirely up to you. You should feel free to come with your children and grandchildren as the experience is always satisfying to all involved.All volunteers age 18 and older must undergo a JF&CS CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) background check, and those age five and older need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. This documentation is due two weeks prior to the distribution.

All volunteers age 18 and older must undergo a JF&CS CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) background check and those age 5 and older need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. This documentation is due two weeks prior to the distribution.

If you have questions, contact Family Table at familytable@jfcsboston.org, 781-693-5593.

DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE 2023

JF&CS Headquarters, 1430 Main Street, Waltham

Waltham/ Waltham (Only Allston

Greater Boston Brighton Deliveries)

February 26

March 26

April 30

May 21

June 25

July 23

Todah Rabbah!

February 12

March 19

April 23

May 14

June 11

July 16

Michelle and Mark Abramson, mhabramson@gmail.com, markabramson619@gmail.com, 781-861-7152

Nancy Lefkowitz, nancylef@gmail.com, 781-696-2085

Temple Emunah Coordinators of JF&CS Family Table

Minyan Story

I must confess: I’m not particularly spiritual. Although I prefer davening in Hebrew, for me, prayer is not the most significant aspect of minyan. My favorite feature of Temple Emunah in general, and the minyan in particular, is the sense of community. It’s like the theme song to the show Cheers:

“Be glad there’s one place in the world where everyone knows your name,

And they’re always glad you came.”

That’s how it feels to me whenever I go to minyan. Although I feel a sacred obligation, one of the strongest motivators for me, as someone who lives only a few minutes away from shul, is to show up when I get a call that they need someone else to make a minyan

I know this really hit home for me when I was sitting shiva for my mother. The funeral was in Southfield, Michigan, and afterwards we went back to my aunt’s house. We davened there the night of the funeral and I went to my childhood synagogue the following morning. It was meaningful for me to lead davening, and it was comforting to be with my family and my mother’s friends, whom I’ve known since I was a young kid. That said, I haven’t lived in Southfield for over 50 years.

In many ways, I feel the grieving and healing really didn’t really begin until after I came home to Lexington. It was the Emunah minyanim, both at my house and then at shul, which held much more resonance for me. Once again, it was the organic feeling of being embraced by my community, the community with which I’ve already shared so many of my life experiences.

Ken Bruss

Join us at minyan – help make sure we have at least ten people to pray. If you have a minyan story, please send it to Dawny@aboutfacepr.com so we can share it here.

Dawny Gershkowitz

Suggestions for Enriching Family Pesah

Celebrations

Pesah . engages all of our senses, as well as our spirits. Each year we re-enact the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom as we clean our homes to rid them of hametz, prepare the foods and symbols of the seder, and gather around the seder table with family and friends to join in retelling the story of our people. The sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of Pesah . create memories that stay with us for our entire lives. Planning a seder is about creating an experience that goes far beyond the words on a page in a haggadah. Below are some suggestions for making this experience lively, creative, and meaningful:

1. Make cleaning and preparing for Pesah a family experience. If relevant, give your children small jobs to do around the house, and have them assist with cooking. Let everyone in your household share in the excitement and anticipation of getting ready for Passover!

2. Make the seder table as elegant as your means allow, replete with a seder plate and all the holiday symbols. For Pesah ritual items, please contact Penny Andler at the Sisterhood Judaica Shop: p_sloane@yahoo.com.

3. Choose a theme for your seder, and ask guests to bring objects, readings, or activities based on that theme. Possible themes: freedom, springtime, redemption, justice, new beginnings.

4. Consider including more contemporary ritual objects, such as a kos Miriam (Miriam’s Cup), which recalls the rabbinic story about a magical well of water that followed Miriam as she travelled with the Children of Israel in the desert. Bring ritual objects from your own family to the table as well (i.e. seder plate and kiddush cup), creating a connection to previous generations and to your family’s history.

5. Order an adequate number of copies of Haggadot in advance. Our Sisterhood Judaica Shop has a number of good Haggadot on hand. Alternatively, you can make your own Haggadah for all or parts of the seder at Haggadot.com. A great resource for supplementing your seder is the book, Creating Lively Passover Seders, by David Arnow, PhD, published by Jewish Lights ( jewishlights.com).

6. To stave off cries of “When do we eat?” consider making karpas (the green vegetable) more substantial than a sprig of parsley. Serve salads or make veggies available for snacking throughout the telling of the story.

7. Assign reading parts in advance to those who will be attending the seder, giving your guests time to become comfortable with reading the texts. Encourage your “readers” to share their thoughts about the meaning and application of these words.

8. Involve children: Teach the Mah Nishtanah to children, so that they can participate actively from the very beginning of the evening. Ask children to create decorations for the seder, and during the seder, have children create a play to present to guests.

Document to Authorize the Selling of H  ametz

A critical Passover law is to sell our h . ametz. While we must clean our houses of all h . ametz by eating and donating it to others, any remaining hametz may be stored in such a way that we are sure not to use it during the holiday, and its actual ownership is transferred to a non-Jew until after the holiday. Please complete the form below and mail it to Rabbi Lerner before Friday, March 31 at 12 noon, appointing me as your agent for this sale. Every household should do this. If you have hametz in another location (e.g. work or vacation home), please list these addresses as well.

To make this easier, you may send an email with the information required below authorizing me to sell your hametz to harwe@templeemunah.org.

To fulfill two commandments in one, you are also encouraged to send a check to Temple Emunah for Ma’ot H . ittim; literally, “wheat money.” We will donate these funds to MAZON and other Jewish charities that help those who cannot afford to buy kosher for Pesah necessities.

Rabbis David Lerner and Leora Kling Perkins

H  ametz Sale Authorization Form

KNOW ALL PEOPLE BY THESE PRESENTS: That I, the undersigned, do hereby make and appoint Rabbi Dasvid Lerner my true and lawful representative to act in my place and stead, for me and in my name and on my behalf, to sell all hametz owned and possessed by me, knowingly or unknowingly, as stated in the Torah and defined by the sages of Israel (e.g., hametz; hashah h . ametz—suspect h . ametz; and all kinds of ta’aorvet h . ametz h . ametz mixtures); also, h . ametz that tends to harden and to adhere to the surface of pans, pots, or other cooking or eating utensils, of whatever nature; and to lease all places wherein the aforementioned hametz owned or possessed by me may be found, especially in the premises located at (your address/es).

Rabbi Lerner has the full authority and power to sell said hametz and to lease said place or places wherein said hametz may be found, upon such terms and conditions as discretion dictates. Rabbi Kling Perkins has the full power and authority to assign or appoint a substitute or substitutes to act in my behalf with all the same powers and authority that I have invested in the rabbi, and I do hereby ratify and confirm all that Rabbi Lerner or a rabbinic substitute lawfully does or causes to be done by virtue of these presents.

And to this I hereby affix my signature on this day of , in the year .

Signature:

Name:

Address:

Town: State:

Telephone:

A Guide to the Mitzvot of Pesah .

Passover is an eight-day holiday. The first two and last two days are Yom Tov: holidays when, like Shabbat, we refrain from work and have special services. An additional festive atmosphere is achieved in these services through special Torah readings, Hallel, and Musaf. This atmosphere reaches the home as well with festive meals. The intermediate days are called H . ol Hamoed; although work is permitted, they still retain their holiday flavor through the addition of special Torah readings, Hallel, and Musaf to the morning services.

This guide to Passover observances and rituals explains the traditions and halakhic practices involved in observing Pesah in the home. It is meant to cover all areas of home observance of the holiday. However, we recognize that your individual needs may leave you with additional questions. Please feel free to contact Rabbi Kling Perkins with any questions you have regarding your observance of Pesah.

What is the Siyyum B’khorim?

In commemoration of the deliverance from Egypt, during which the first-born children of the Israelites were unaffected by the tenth plague, those who are the first-born members of their families have an obligation to fast on the day preceding Pesah. It is the custom for synagogues to make a siyyum (a public completion of the study of a tractate of the Talmud or seder of the Mishnah) on the morning before Passover. Since the siyyum is followed by a seudat mitzvah (a festive meal which follows the performance of certain mitzvot), a first-born who is present may eat, and having eaten, need not fast that day. First borns and everyone else are invited to join us for learning and breakfast following 7 am minyan on the morning of Wednesday, April 5.

What is H . ametz?

If one of the five grains mentioned in the Torah—wheat, oats, rye, barley, or spelt—comes in contact with water after being cut off from the ground, it begins to ferment, or leaven, and becomes h . ametz. According to tradition, this fermentation takes 18 minutes. The term “ h . ametz-dik” refers to dishes and utensils that have been in contact with hametz foods during the year.

Why must we clean houses so thoroughly before Pesah . ?

The rule against h . ametz on Passover applies not only to eating, but to enjoyment or financial benefit (hana’ah) and also involves removing all the hametz from one’s home. No hametz is allowed even to be in your house. To facilitate this cleaning, the following rituals are part of Passover preparations. The text for the ceremonies can be found in a good Haggadah

a. Mekhirat H . ametz: We are not always able to destroy or get rid of all the h . ametz—it may even be economically disastrous—so our rabbis ordained that any remaining hametz be sold to a non-Jew who then sells it back to us after Passover. The hametz is then no longer “in our possession.” Please authorize Rabbi Lerner to do this for you by filling out the form on page 14. It is only necessary to give away or sell

food; dishes and utensils are simply put away in storage for the duration of the holiday. The Document of Hametz Sale is also available at the synagogue office.

b. Bedikat H . ametz: After the house has been cleaned, we search for crumbs of hametz we may have missed. Your Haggadah should include instructions and the texts of this ritual. It begins by preparing the objects used for the search—a candle, a feather, and a wooden spoon—and reciting a blessing. Following the search, the Kol h . amira formula, found in your Haggadah, is then recited. Bedikat Hametz takes place this year on Tuesday night, April 4.

c. Bitul H . ametz: We recite a formula renouncing any hametz left that may have been inadvertently missed, canceling our responsibility for it, and thus symbolically removing it from our homes. The formula for Bitul H . ametz is recited this year on the morning of Wednesday, April 5. This formula, which can be found in most Haggadot, is as follows: “May all leaven in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, be regarded as nonexistent and considered as mere dust of the earth.”

d. Bi’ur H . ametz: In order to rid ourselves fully of the hametz we gathered the previous night, we burn it immediately after we recite the Bitul Hametz on Wednesday morning, April 5 .

What is Ma’ot H . ittim?

It means money for flour to make Passover matzah. It is a mitzvah to collect funds so that the poor can purchase matzah and other Passover necessities. These funds, called Ma’ot Hittim (Charity), are given (usually “ h . ai ”—$18 or multiples thereof) to be distributed to the needy. It is customary to donate for Ma’ot H . ittim when selling your h . ametz. Donations can be made to Rabbi Lerner’s Discretionary Fund.

Kashering the Kitchen

It is customary (and easiest) to remove the utensils and dishes that are used during the year, replacing them with either new utensils or utensils used year to year only for Pesah . This is clearly not possible for major appliances and may not even be possible for dishes and utensils. There is a process for kashering many, but not all, kitchen items, thus making them kosher for Pesah:

The general principle used in kashering is that the way the utensil absorbs food is the way it can be purged of that food, Ke-volo kach pol’to. This principle operates on the basis of the quality or intensity of how the items absorb food. Things used for cold food can be kashered by rinsing since no substance has been absorbed by the dish or glass. Items used on a stove absorb the food and thus need a stronger level of action namely expelling the food into boiling water, called hag’alah. The most intense form of usage is directly on a fire or in an oven and these utensils require the most intense method of kashering, namely libbun, which burns away absorbed food.

For details about what items can be kashered and how to go about it, see the Rabbinical Assembly’s Pesah guide.

Passover 5783

Pesah . Hekhsher —before Pesah . and during Pesah .

Whenever possible processed foods ought to have a “kosher l’Pesah . ” hekhsher from a reliable source. For a list of items which are acceptable without a special Passover hekhsher, see the Rabbinical Assembly’s Pesah guide.

Certain products may be purchased without a Pesah hekhsher if they are purchased before Pesah, but require one if purchased during the holiday. These products include pure fruit juices, filleted fish, frozen fruit (no additives), non-iodized salt, pure white sugar (no additives), Bolivian or Peruvian quinoa with nothing mixed in which is marked “gluten free,” white milk, and certain products sold by Equal Exchange Chocolate. For more details, see the Rabbinical Assembly’s Pesah guide.

Medicine

If someone has a life-threatening illness or there is a possibility that untreated it could become life threatening, all medications are permitted. Any contemplated changes of medicines should be discussed first with your doctor and made only with his/her permission. Rabbi Kling Perkins can advise you as to what acceptable alternatives are available for needs that are necessary but not life threatening, such as antacids, analgesics, cold medications, vitamins etc. All prescription or non-prescription drugs in the form of topical medications, including creams, lotions, ointments, foams, gels, drops, patches and inhalants as well as non-chewable tablets and injections may be owned, used and consumed on Passover, even if they contain hametz or kitniyot (for those who maintain this custom), since they are inedible. This covers most medicines used by adults. All medications for babies may be used. Liquid medicines, chewable tablets and or tablets coated with a flavored glaze are considered edible and may contain hametz. Soft gelcaps may present a problem because they may contain non-kosher edible porcine gelatin. Please consult with your Rabbi on when these may be used and to find substitutes that are acceptable.

Pet Food

The prohibition against hametz during Pesah includes not owning, not seeing, and not benefitting from h . ametz Therefore, we are not allowed to own or make use of h . ametz during Pesah . ; even that which is exclusively for our animals’ consumption. The most appropriate way to take care of your pet during Pesah may be a function of what kind of animal(s) you own. The ideal approach would be to switch your pet to a hametz- free diet before Pesah and perhaps permanently. Even people who do not themselves eat kitniyot on Pesah . should feel free to feed their animals kitniyot. A less desirable option is that some authorities allow for the pet to be sold along with the hametz and, since the pet does not belong to the Jewish owner, the pet eats its normal diet. Note that the document of sale must include the pet as well as the hametz. If you have these pet foods in your home be careful to keep them away from the general kitchen area.

Washing of pet utensils should be done out of the kitchen area (e.g. a bathroom sink). This is the least satisfactory option and is included as a last resort measure: unlike the hametz you are selling before Pesah, which is then stored out of sight and is inaccessible to you during Pesah, this last option involves your actively seeing and handling that hametz on a daily basis. For more details about this and other options, see the Rabbinical Assembly’s Pesah . Guide.

The longstanding Ashkenazi custom on Passover is to refrain fron eating kitniyot, which refers to: beans, corn, millet, peas, rice, soy, and some other plant based foods like mustard, buckwheat and sesame seeds. The one exception is an approved permission of peanuts and peanut oil, provided said items have proper year-round kosher certification and do not contain h . ametz ingredients.

In the fall of 2015 the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) passed two responsa permitting the consumption of kitniyot for Ashkenazim. To fully understand their positions, which differ in their argumentation, please see:

• David Golinkin, “Rice, beans and kitniyot on Pesah . - are they really forbidden?” OH 453:1.2015a (https://schechter.edu/ rice-beans-and-kitniyot-on-pesah-are-they-really-forbiddenresponsa-in-a-moment-volume-9-issue-no-4-march-2015/)

• Amy Levin and Avram Israel Reisner, “A Teshuvah Permitting Ashkenzaim to Eat Kitniyot on Pesah . ” 453:1.2015b (https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/2011-2020/Levin-Reisner-Kitniyot.pdf)

Neither position constitutes an instruction to consume kitniyot during Pesah, but rather a halakhic basis and guideline for those who choose to do so. They recognize that while some individuals, communities, and institutions will utilize this new ruling, others may choose not to do so.

Both eating and refraining from kitniyot are equally legitimate and derekh eretz (respectful behavior) should be the guiding value in making decisions around this topic. At Temple Emunah, we are careful, whenever serving kitniyot, to mark them clearly as such, and to make sure that there is always sufficient food for those who choose to refrain. We encourage others to display similar sensitivity in their own interactions. For those who do avail themselves of this ruling, it is important to note the following specific guidance in the responsa by Rabbis Amy Levin and Avram Reisner, cited above.

For guidance and for more details, please consult the Rabbinical Assembly’s Pesah . Guide at https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/pesah-guide-5782.

Please feel free to contact Rabbis Lerner or Kling Perkins with any questions. We wish you and your families a joyous, healthy, and kosher Passover!

Rabbi Lerner

(continued from page 1)

In the last century the answers are clear: the horror of the Holocaust murdered about 40% of the global Jewish population and Jews drifted away from the Jewish people through assimilation.

But one of the most critical reasons we did not grow over the last two millennia is that Christianity and Islam prevented us from sharing our message and attracting adherents. Even as many people adopted core Jewish concepts and practices, the Jewish people were prevented from attracting new adherents. This was not merely through vitriol and violence, although there was plenty of that, this was because it was illegal for us to proselytize. (See: http://cojs.org/did-ancient-jews-missionize/)

According to the historian Salo Baron, perhaps as many as 10% of the Roman Empire were Jews or “God-fearers.”

But this growth slowed rapidly with the destruction of the Second Temple and the loss of Jewish sovereignty and the ascendancy of Christianity and later, Islam. When I visited Ghana a decade ago, I saw firsthand how Christianity spread throughout Africa. Local populations were forced to convert or enticed with promises of hospitals and schools. While the morality of proselytization should be criticized, there is no argument about its success through the centuries.

Historian Jacob Rader Marcus explained how the spread of Judaism was curtailed: “The Middle Ages, for the Jew at least, begin with the advent to power of Constantine the Great (306-337). He was the first Roman emperor to issue laws that radically limited the rights of Jews as citizens of the Roman Empire.

“As Christianity grew in power in the Roman Empire it influenced the emperors to limit further the civil and political rights of the Jews. Most of the imperial laws that deal with the Jews since the days of Constantine are found in the Latin Codex Theodosianius (438) and in the Latin and Greek code of Justinian (534). Both of these monumental works are therefore very important, for they enable us to trace the history of the progressive deterioration of Jewish rights.

“The real significance of Roman law for Jews and Jewish history is that it exerted a profound influence on subsequent Christian and even Muslim legislation. The second-class status of citizenship of the Jew, as crystallized in the Justinian code, was thus entrenched in the medieval world, and, given the influence of the Church, the disabilities imposed upon Jews received religious sanction and relegated Jews even to lower levels.” (Jews and the Later Roman Law 315-531 CE)

Conversion to Judaism and Jewish proselytizing became forbidden, which made Judaism contract significantly. While some still joined the Jewish people in certain places or situations, many more left Judaism or were murdered in pogroms or events like the Crusades.

Due to fear and our alienation from the larger world, Judaism retreated into its own separate communities. While this helped us preserve our traditions, it also led us away from sharing them.

All of that brings us to today. Now that we are allowed to share our ideas in many parts of the world, should we?

I want to argue that in today’s marketplace of ideas, we need to think about proselytizing again. This is not only to attract people wo might join the Jewish people, but to help us preserve those who are born Jewish. Obviously, I am not espousing a coercive approach.

Given the openness of America, one can say that today, every Jew is a “Jew-by-Choice.” We can all be whatever we want, believe what we want and practice however we want in this free country. This does not minimize the incredible esteem that we should hold those who convert to Judaism and the gifts they bring. But I have come to realize the importance of “advertising ” our Judaism just as others celebrate their beliefs.

That is why I was so excited to see the Institute for Jewish Spirituality take out an ad in the middle of an NFL football game.

The ad is the antithesis of the hard-hitting action, graphics and loud music that accompanies game. The ad invites the viewer to explore our tradition as an antidote to our loud and fast-paced world. It highlights lighting candles and gathering for a meal on Shabbat.

It invites one to explore Judaism for the deep spirituality it contains and how it can help us slow down in this busy world. It is calm and gentle.

I believe that “advertising” our Judaism will not only give others an opportunity to see if Judaism is a good spiritual fit for them, but alos it will help Jews consider exploring our tradition more deeply. The is similar to the phenomenon that occurred thirty years ago, when Madonna studied Kabbalah, many Jews started to explore it and Jewish mysticism.

Please take the time to watch the clip on Youtube (https://tinyurl.com/nflad) and read the article about how and why the IJS placed this “commercial” in an NFL game (https://tinyurl.com/adreason).

I would love to hear your thoughts on Jewish proselytizing in our time and as always, would love for all the members of our community to share the wonders of our heritage with others.

May Judaism’s fire continue to illuminate ourselves and the world.

Rabbi David Lerner

The following loved ones will be remembered at our worship services in the coming months:

Feb 1 / 10 Shevat

Hershel Bromberg

Father-in-law of Carol Bromberg

Max Streit

Grandfather of Miriam Sadofsky

Feb 2 / 11 Shevat

Ruth Bourke

Grandmother of Julie Shirazi

Edna Brick

Mother-in-law of Phyllis Brick

Allen Bromberg

Brother-in-law of Carol Bromberg

S. George Bromberg

Husband of Carol Bromberg

Marcelle Hechemy Egbert

Stepmother of Louise Treitman

Charles Fish

Father of Rachel Fish

Anne Isky

Grandmother of Sandra Levine

Doris Rubenstein

Mother of Sidney Rubenstein

Ruth Sandals

Mother-in-law of Alan Mironer

Feb 3 / 12 Shevat

Rabbi Nathan Burstyn

Father of Don Burstyn

Leonore Miller

Mother of Ellen Mazow

Manny Smith

Brother of Jerome Smith

Feb 4 / 13 Shevat

Mary Cutler

Mother of Krana Rosen

Harry Goldberg

Father of Phyllis Sokolov

Samuel Leader

Father of Barbara Newman

Diane Lindner-Goldberg

Stepmother of David Goldberg

Aunt of Dan Pion

Harold Lipseir

Husband of Frances Lipseir

Esther Waldman

Mother of Jane Aronson

Lillian Wisnia

Mother of Jeffry Wisnia

Feb 5 / 14 Shevat

Philip Eisengart

Father of Ilana Blatt-Eisengart

Esther Goldman

Mother of Leon Goldman

Morris Kravetz

Father of Janet Hollander

Robert Pressner

Brother of Bruce Dalwin

Barbara Quatrano

Mother of Stephen Quatrano

Samuel Yousha

Grandfather of Esther Hausman

Feb 6 / 15 Shevat

Gabriel Hausner

Father of Buzz Hausner

Rabbi Stephen Lerner

Husband of Anne Lapidus Lerner

Father of Rabbi David Lerner

Inabeth Miller

Mother of Scott Miller

Ann Muldorf

Mother of Jennifer Klein

Jack Neustadt

Father of Paul Neustadt

Ellissa Wasserman

Granddaughter of Maxine Wasserman

Feb 7 / 16 Shevat

Linda Cohen

Aunt of Rachel Grossman

Sister-in-law of Doreen Grossman

Shirley Jordan

Mother of Harmon Jordan

William Littman

Grandfather of Stuart Jacobson

Ann Muldorf

Mother of Jennifer Klein

Mark Reder

Brother of Richard Reder

Ruth Rosenbaum

Mother of Charles Rosenbaum

Samuel Tassel

Brother-in-law of Janet Tassel

Feb 8 / 17 Shevat

Leah Cowen

Mother of Barbara Labitt

Elka Handwerker

Mother of Jacob Handwerker

Samuel Lewis

Father-in-law of John Stayn

Betty Menzin

Mother of Marvin Menzin

Debra Karen Rosenbaum

Daughter of Ronald Rosenbaum

Ida Trusten

Mother of Phyllis Udell

Karmi Wand

Stepfather of Leon Gunther

Father-in-law of Joelle Gunther

Brian Weinronk

Brother of Stan Weinronk

Feb 9 / 18 Shevat

Mark Albert

Father of Gila Appleby

Sophie Fine

Mother of Judith Wisnia

Feb 10 / 19 Shevat

Jack Bresler

Father of Joel Bresler

Sion Dadusc

Father of Gami Maislin

Myron Rosenblum

Husband of Rachel Rosenblum

Feb 11 / 20 Shevat

Raymond Cochran

Father of Andrea Mills

Kilwoo Min

Father of Tulip Schneider

Rosalie Schatz

Mother-in-law of Sylvia Schatz

Barbara Smith

Mother of Maureen Kaplan

Alan Stoler

Brother of Sue Wacks

Pauline Wolfe

Mother-in-law of Susan Wolfe

Feb 12 / 21 Shevat

Martin Abkowitz

Husband of Davette Abkowitz

Lawrence Abramowitz

Uncle of Nancy Bloom

Elizabeth Asher

Wife of Ryan Asher

Maxwell Brick

Father-in-law of Phyllis Brick

Fred Ohanesian

Father of Linda Kahn

Erika Tauber

Wife of Stephen Tauber

Sister of Eva Glaser

Martha Youman

Sister of Judith Himber

Feb 13 / 22 Shevat

Ingrid Anderson

Mother of Margaretha Jacobson

Eva Gordon

Mother of Neal Gordon

Julius Gordon

Father of Neal Gordon

Sylvia Weiser

Mother of Neil Weiser

Feb 14 / 23 Shevat

Fannie Abramsky

Grandmother of Jerome Smith

Julie Burns

Sister-in-law of Ryan Asher

Henry Fuller

Father of Steffen Fuller

Beatrice Miller

Mother of Susan Wolfe

Judith Perlman

Mother of Benjamin Perlman

Feb 15 / 24 Shevat

James Bass

Husband of Esther Bass

Sarah Epstein

Aunt of Judy Marcus

Great-aunt of Joel Marcus

Abe Garsh

Father of Howard Garsh

Mordechai Eliahu Kreinin

Father of Elana Markovitz

Yoav Kupiec

Son of Charlotte and Israel Kupiec

Esther Lederman

Grandmother of Brian Cutler

George Rittenburg

Father of Janice Rossbach

Victor Steinberg

Father of Shira Lion

Richard Samuel Wissoker

Husband of Barbara Wissoker

Feb 16 / 25 Shevat

Harry Arthur Liederman

Father of Lawrence Liederman

Ruth Pearl Paller

Mother of Joan Bines

Frieda Tabak

Mother-in-law of Robert Berger

Feb 17 / 26 Shevat

Ita Brykman

Mother of Louis Brykman

Ruth Fentin

Mother of Richard Fentin

Libby Frolich

Mother of Rochelle Zohn

Frances Galler

Mother of Donald Galler

Anna Gluck

Grandmother of Edward Lidman

Helen Richelson

Mother-in-law of Irwin Alpert

Harold Smith

Stepfather of Maureen Kaplan

Feb 18 / 27 Shevat

Dina Lefkowitz

Mother of Amira Aaron

David Marcus

Husband of Judith Marcus

Father of Joel Marcus

Samuel Plotkin

Father of Irving Plotkin

Harry Wacks

Father of Jerry Wacks

Feb 19 / 28 Shevat

Sam Capparelli

Father-in-law of Nancy Capparelli

Victor Ingram

Father of Sandra Levine

Kenneth Kent Mabuchi

Father of Scott Mabuchi

Florence Rothmel

Aunt of Ethel Rothmel

Ida Shapiro

Mother of Linda Tarmy

Feb 20 / 29 Shevat

George Bleich

Grandfather of Lauren Bleich

Moshe Calo

Father of Daniela Livni

Irving Feldman

Father of Judith Feldman

Betty Jauvtis

Mother of Harvey Jauvtis

Joshua Neumann

Father of Nina Nidus

Edward Rothfeld

Uncle of Marsha Tucker

Herbert Weinstock

Father of David Weinstock

Feb 21 / 30 Shevat

Mary Bonder

Mother of Vivian Cohen

Gordon Case

Brother of Miriam Librach

Jacob Gottlieb

Father of Robin Goldstein

Elinor Kaplan

Mother of Alice Gordon

Alexander Kaufman

Grandfather of Laura Jarbeau

Dorothy Krieger

Mother of Gloria Foster

Sanford Merkin

Father of Carol Greenberg

Calvin Robinson

Grandfather of Melissa Foster

Albert Ross

Father of Adele Kress

Feb 22 / 1 Adar

Ruth Friedman

Mother-in-law of Betty Friedman

Solomon Gordon

Father of Martin Gordon

Bern Jacobson

Father of Michael Jacobson

Isadore Klinghoffer

Grandfather of Marsha Tucker

Harry Tarlin

Uncle of Jonina Schonfeld

Feb 23 / 2 Adar

Joshua Anderson

Son-in-law of Zvi and Bobby Galani

(continued on page 14)

Deborah Cohen

Mother of Margie Gilson

Ralph Green

Father of Georgia Weinstein

Father-in-law of Cliff Weinstein

Debbie Guthermann

Mother of Josh Guthermann

Reina Ingram

Mother of Sandra Levine

Arthur Levitt

Grandfather of Alisa Billings

Morris Liberty

Uncle of Terri Swartz Russell

Fanny Stark

Mother of Philip Stark

Helen Stechler

Mother-in-law of Toni Stechler

Feb 24 / 3 Adar

Norma Berinstein

Mother of Susan Orenstein

Grandmother of Julia Mabuchi

Eugene Frankel

Father of Bob Frankel

Hilda Olderman

Mother of Jerry Olderman

Raymond David Reibstein

Father of Lois Bruss

Robert Wissoker

Brother-in-law of Barbara Wissoker

Harry B. Wolfe

Father of Mitchell Wolfe

Darrell Zaslow

Brother of Michael Zaslow

Feb 25 / 4 Adar

Michael Chessman

Brother of Daniel Chessman

Morris (Mo) Diamant

Husband of Lisa Diamant

Richard Fowler

Father of Kathie Becker

Solomon Gemorah

Uncle of Sharon Levin

Joyce Hirschtick

Mother of Jon Hirschtick

Dinah Horovitz

Sister of Stanley Wolf

Elnatan Horovitz

Brother-in-law of Stanley Wolf

Florence Levinson

Mother of Ellen Schwartz

Elizabeth (Elsie) Kepecs Lovy

Grandmother of Elliot Lovy

Rabbi Abraham (Abe) Morhaim

Father of Esther Hausman

Ben Paller

Father of Joan Bines

Helen Singer

Grandmother of Doreen Grossman

Feb 26 / 5 Adar

Jennie Achter

Mother of Gene Achter

Alice Ben-Horin

Mother of Gideon Ben-Horin

Nettie Bressner

Grandmother of Jason Bressner

Leon Brykman

Father of Louis Brykman

Frances Elowitch

Grandmother of Leslie Sherman

Hertzel Fishman

Father of Leora Fishman

Joanne Klein

Mother-in-law of Marty Thrope

Shlomo Kliger

Father of Isaac Kliger

Sadye Solomon

Grandmother of Carolyn Leshin

Feb 27 / 6 Adar

Shirley Aaronson

Sister of Phyllis Blumberg

Sara Ben-Meir

Grandmother of Jon Ring

Hyman Block

Father-in-law of Audrey Block

Blanche Brown

Mother of Wendy Damsky

Tzipora Eisenman

Mother of Rabbi Bernard

Eisenman

Shirley Golden

Mother of Ilene Weiner

Sendell Charles Miller

Father of Susan Wolfe

Magda Schwartz

Grandmother of Yaeli Schwartz

Isaac Shapiro

Father-in-law of Shirley Shapiro

Helen Tarmy

Mother of Arnold Tarmy

Feb 28 / 7 Adar

Alan Altman

Father of Stephen Altman

Robin Evans

Sister of Karen Evans

Jacob Goldman

Father of Maury Goldman

Violet Katz

Mother of Leonard Katz

Pauline Nidus

Mother of Louis Nidus

Jay Stoler

Father of Sue Wacks

Mar 1 / 8 Adar

William Alpert

Father of Joel Alpert

Virginia Bufe

Mother of Janet Plotkin

Tillie Getman-Gertner

Mother of Marvin Getman

Asher Ifrah

Brother of Miriam Sidman

N. Harold Paley

Uncle of Marcia Camac

Dorothy Ouzer Testa

Mother of Susan Cook

Charles Woods

Father of Larry Woods

Mar 2 / 9 Adar

Lester Abelman

Father of David Abelman

Leo Alper

Father-in-law of Charleen Alper

Al Binik

Father-in-law of Ronald Rosenbaum

Lee Briskin

Aunt of Marsha Tucker

Edward Myron Cohen

Brother of Margie Gilson

Joseph Epstein

Grandfather of Stacie Simon

Leonard Hantman

Husband of Barbara Hantman

David Mironer

Son of Alan Mironer

Emanuel Steer

Father of Dorothy Seltzer

Mar 3 / 10 Adar

Mendel Feldman

Father of Fred Feldman

Dorothy Kaplan

Aunt of Michael Kaplan

Samuel Musnikow

Father of Alan Musnikow

Al Stein

Father of Judith Canter

Mar 4 / 11 Adar

Lillian Cooper Bines

Mother of Harvey Bines

Howard Theodore Hermann

Father of Kate Hermann-Wu

Harry Miller

Father of Arnie Miller

Molly Pesin

Mother of Stuart Pesin

Etta Pomeranz

Mother of Stanley Pomeranz

Yetta Schwenk

Mother of Paul Morgenstern

Gloria Sheldon

Mother of Allen Sheldon

Richard Stephenson

Father of Matthew Stephenson

Mar 5 / 12 Adar

Samuel Canter

Father of Joe Canter

Gertrude Glantz

Mother of Carol Glantz

Eli Laredo

Father of David Laredo

Richard Robinson

Father of Melissa Foster

Mar 6 / 13 Adar

Mollie Blotnick

Mother of Shirley Moskow

Abraham Chausmer

Grandfather of Benjamin Perlman

Fred Perlmutter

Brother of Burt Perlmutter

Sarah Rumsky

Grandmother of Judy Lipperman

Jacob Sandals

Father-in-law of Alan Mironer

Mar 7 / 14 Adar

Bertha Berg

Mother of Helen Marcus

Reuben Bergman

Brother of Naomi Kielar

Jack Fox

Father of Arthur Fox

Eleanor Goldman

Mother of Marsha Soloway

Irving Katz

Father of Joseph Katz

Sigmund Roos

Father of Dan Roos

Nettie Schwartz

Mother of Shelly Schwartz

Henry Seltzer

Grandfather of Judy Zola

Jacob Shanes

Grandfather of Cindy Bobrow

Mar 8 / 15 Adar

Maurice Becker

Father of Dave Becker

Grandfather of Bob Becker

Louis Feinberg

Father of Robyn Samuels

Blanche Ginsburg

Mother of Rona Cohen

Elinor Livingston

Aunt of Bob Becker

Mordecai Nidus

Father of Louis Nidus

Sylvia Rosen

Sister of Phylis Blumberg

Joanna Stark

Mother of Elyse Stark

Mar 9 / 16 Adar

David Asher

Uncle of Ryan Asher

Nelly Danon

Mother of Monique Brykman

Joseph Gordon

Father of Bob Gordon

Carmel Gottlieb

Mother of Robin Goldstein

Edward Greenspan

Father of Jennifer Hurwitz

David Kahan

Father of Morton Kahan

Stanley Kaplan

Father of Michael Kaplan

Rose Rivka Karp

Mother of Carolyn Karp

Joseph Lapidus

Father of Marcia Kaunfer and Anne Lerner

Grandfather of Rabbi David Lerner

Fay Marcus

Mother-in-law of Helen Marcus

David Mayer

Grandfather of Julie Greenberg

Josephine Perlmutter Narva

Sister-in-law of Betty Friedman

Frances Green Resnick

Grandmother of Judy Zola

Elissa Sena

Sister of Laura Krich

Mar 10 / 17 Adar

Mindy Alperin

Mother of Matt Alperin

Sim Gluckson

Father of Carrie Gale

Philip Kriegler

Father of Vicki Markuse

Dorothy Leppert

Sister of Zelda Cohen

David Wasserman

Son of Maxine Wasserman

Mar 11 / 18 Adar

Joseph Bressner

Grandfather of Jason Bressner

Dino Garber

Father of Manuel Garber

Carole Goldman

Mother of Howard Goldman

Robert Jaffer

Brother of Aubrey Jaffer

Isaac Kaplan

Father of Alice Gordon

Minna Katz

Sister of Babsy Krichmar

Rose Lerner

Mother of Deanna Wolk

James Lux

Brother of Kate Rudawitz

Paul Rubenstein

Father of Marc Rubenstein

Fannie Schwartz

Mother of Myrna Olderman

Mar 12 / 19 Adar

Nathaniel Fuhrman

Father of Phyllis Landman

Rabbi Norman Geller

Father of David Geller

Louis Jacobs

Father-in-law of Ben Brosgol

Pauline Jacobs

Sister of Betty Friedman

Evelyn Tavan

Mother of Steve Tavan

Mar 13 / 20 Adar

Elia Blechter

Brother of Miriam Blechter

Esther Chait

Mother of Laurence Chait

Grandmother of David Chait

Bella Chausmer

Grandmother of Benjamin Perlman

Samuel Druy

Father of Mark Druy

Jerrold Gross

Stepfather of Alexis Borisy

Myer Marlin

Grandfather of Nancy Liberman

Marion Mintzer

Mother of Linda Cohen

Pearl Owades

Mother of Gordon Owades

Paul Sidman

Husband of Miriam Sidman

Mildred Wolkow

Sister-in-law of Toni Stechler

Mar 14 / 21 Adar

Harry Bloom

Father of Jacob Bloom

Jules Freeman

Grandfather of Melissa Warneck

Samuel Hantman

Father-in-law of Barbara Hantman

Joshua Ifrah

Father of Miriam Sidman

Louis Jauvtis

Father of Harvey Jauvtis

Earl Kaplan

Uncle of Michael Kaplan

Monty Karoll

Brother of Doreen Karoll

Paul Kendall

Father of Stephanie Kendall

Richard (Steve) Lowell

Father of Harvey Lowell

Lee Ann Schimkowitz

Mother of Stephanie Buckler

Lawrence Schwimmer

Uncle of Joel Shwimer

Sadie Silver

Grandmother of Cindy Bobrow

Julius Thrope

Grandfather of Marty Thrope

Mar 15 / 22 Adar

Beatrice Berman

Mother of Sylvia Perlman

Eva Bobrow

Mother of Mark Bobrow

Rabbi Saul Eisenman

Father of Rabbi Bernard

Eisenman

Edith Epstein

Grandmother of Julie Shirazi

Stanislaw Feld

Husband of Anita Feld

Devree Gold

Mother of Nancy Capparelli

Rose Kornblum

Grandmother of Sandra Levine

J. Leonard Schatz

Husband of Sylvia Schatz

Mar 16 / 23 Adar

Sam Achter

Father of Gene Achter

Marvin Aronson

Husband of Helen Aronson

Father of Ruth Aronson

Diana Cooper

Grandmother of Suzanne Cooper

Stella Fritz

Aunt of Miriam Boucher

Lillian Harris

Mother of Elizabeth Pressman

Gladys Hurwitz

Mother of Phyllis Goldman

Ruth Lynn

Mother of Eileen Feldman

Mar 17 / 24 Adar

Edna Greenberg

Mother of Sharon Smith

Evelyn Zimmerman

Mother of Bobbi Perlmutter

Ida Volimsky

Grandmother of Naomi Sacks

Mar 18 / 25 Adar

Herbert Evans

Father of Karen Evans

Hertzel Freifelder

Father of Marsha Tucker

Norton J. Greenberger

Father of Wendy Czarnecki

Clara Kahan

Mother of Morton Kahan

Haim Katz

Father of Karen Garber

Stuart Stoler

Brother of Sue Wacks

Ching C. Wu

Mother of Ailsa Hermann-Wu

Mar 19 / 26 Adar

Adelaide Konterwitz

Mother of Elaine Shwimer

Maurice Leshin

Father of Stew Leshin

Blanche Marlin

Grandmother of Nancy Liberman

Yahrzeits

Richard Masters

Father of Harold Masters

Lynne Mironer

Wife of Alan Mironer

Rita Mizner

Mother of Gail Spatz

A. Mary Ohanesian

Mother of Linda Kahn

Ruth Sprince

Grandmother of Scott Lerman

Mar 20 / 27 Adar

Benjamin Cofman

Father of Babsy Krichmar

David Dinner

Father of Charleen Alper

M. Shakman Katz

Grandfather of Kate Hermann-Wu

Oskar Markuse

Father of Jack Markuse

Harry Meyerson

Brother-in-law of Hal Goldberg

Raymond Meyerson

Father of Roni Woods

Ethel Sacks

Mother of Marc Sacks

Mar 21 / 28 Adar

Hyman S. Bailey

Father of Zelda Cohen

Beulah Seide Bresler

Mother of Joel Bresler

Eliezer Dagan

Father of Doron Dagan

Philip Hertz

Father of Diane Eisner

Terez Herzl

Mother of Robert Sugar

Joanne B. Simches

Sister of Lorri Owades

Mar 22 / 29 Adar

Sharon Pesin Blank

Sister of Stuart Pesin

Harry Fader

Father of Linda Laredo

Louis Gross

Brother-in-law of Charles Hollander

Sidney Migdol

Grandfather of Steve Tavan

Stanley Resnick

Father of Laurie Speicher

Edna Machtiger Rosenman

Mother of Esther Rosenman-Hochman

Abraham Tassel

Father-in-law of Janet Tassel

Mar 23 / 1 Nisan

Carole Judith Epstein

Sister of Wendy Katz

Lucille Klinghoffer

Aunt of Marsha Tucker

Jack Silver

Grandfather of Cindy Bobrow

Samuel Udell

Father-in-law of Phyllis Udell

Mar 24 / 2 Nisan

Samuel Kreiger

Father of Arthur Kreiger

Samuel Rothmel

Grandfather of Ethel Rothmel

William Tuchin

Grandfather of Jeff Sokolov

Toba Waldman

Grandmother of Barbara Palant

Mar 25 / 3 Nisan

David Doynow

Father of Lori Schechner

Michael Lewis

Son of Pearl Lewis

Marlene Louise Kreinin

Mother of Elana Markovitz

Walter Rothfeld

Uncle of Marsha Tucker

Lorraine Shindell

Mother of Paula Dangel

Leonard Weil

Father of Marilyn Weil-Abelman

Gladys Weiner

Mother of Ann Chait

Estelle Weiss

Grandmother of Emily Ring

Mar 26 / 4 Nisan

Joshua Berinstein

Father of Susan Orenstein

Grandfather of Julia Mabuchi

Hilda Elster Halton

Mother of Toni Stechler

Leonard Handler

Father of Risa Bressler

Rose Markovitz Lubar

Mother of Dennis Markovitz

Norma Tinkelman Neustadt

Mother of Paul Neustadt

Phyllis Orenstein

Mother of Barry Orenstein

Grandmother of Julia Mabuchi

Alan D. Perlmutter

Brother of Burt Perlmutter

Manfred Rost

Father of Claudia Handwerker

Roberta Tilem

Mother of Matthew Tilem

Martin Weiss

Grandfather of Emily Ring

Abraham Wissoker

Father-in-law of Barbara Wissoker

Mar 27 / 5 Nisan

Kenneth Goodman

Husband of Mindy Levitt

Rose Lieberman

Mother of Sylvia Schatz

Edith Pierce

Grandmother of Jud Pierce

Sylvia Robinson

Grandmother of Melissa Foster

Aryeh Stein-Azen

Nephew of Sharon Stein

Cousin of Aviva Stein

Dave Tavan

Grandfather of Steve Tavan

Mar 28 / 6 Nisan

Muriel Gluckson

Mother of Carrie Gale

Louis Nager

Grandfather of Jill Wollins

Arie Shapira

Father of Aithan Shapira

Harry Zimmer

Father of Barbara Wissoker

Mar 29 / 7 Nisan

Barbara Berger

Wife of Robert Berger

Harry Bonder

Father of Vivian Cohen

Charlotte Kalus

Mother of Joseph Kalus

Sidney Noveck

Uncle of Risa Bressler

Mar 30 / 8 Nisan

Geraldine Bressler

Mother of Larry Bressler

Hyman Cook

Father of Stewart Cook

Sarah Kupiec

Mother of Israel Kupiec

Rebecca Leshin

Grandmother of Stew Leshin

Harold Roberts

Father of Bruce Roberts

Andrew H. Tane

Son of Betty Pious Heindel

Mar 31 / 9 Nisan

Eli Chase

Father of Arleen Chase

Robert Garwin

Father of Terri Fisher

Irving Hott

Father of Estha Blachman

William Nelson

Husband of Joyce Nelson

Lieber Obstein

Grandfather of Mike Ablove

Sansook Park

Mother of Jenni Smirnova

Stanford Zimmerman

Father of Ken Zimmerman

Donations

The congregation gratefully acknowledges the following contributions:

Michael & Sara Jane Healy

Evelyn Silver, beloved mother

Adult Education

In memory of Carol Lider Thrope, beloved sister-in-law

Marc & Aileen (Thrope) Grossberg

Beautification

In memory of:

Debbie Soe Goldman, beloved niece

Barbara Labitt

Sarah Davis, beloved sister of Mark Lichtenstein

Miriam Sidman

Phyllis Rubinovitz

Ralph & Helen Zelinsky

Yahrzeit of Myrna Alpert, beloved wife, mother & grandmother

Irwin Alpert

Bereavement Fund

In appreciation of:

The Bereavement Committee for their caring and support

The lovely Shabbat dinner provided by Temple Emunah

The Hineni Committee for their support and caring

Ellen Baum, for making the beautiful shawl Rabbi Lerner, and with thanks, for his compassion, support & guidance during this difficult time

Steve & Amira Aaron

In celebration of Ralph & Sandra Levine, on the engagement of Max Ades & Chloe Peddle

Ken & Lois Bruss

In memory of:

Murray Lefkowitz, beloved father of Amira

Aaron, with thanks to the Temple Emunah Community for their caring and support

Steve & Amira Aaron

Carol Thrope

Hal & Sandy Miller-Jacobs

Elsa Winthrop, beloved wife and mother

Dr. Terrence O’Malley, with Philippe, Emily and Aviva Winthrop

Esther Sherer, beloved mother of Me’ir Sherer

Penny, Larry, and Ian Andler

Bess Ezekiel Memorial Fund

In honor of the engagement of Hilana Ezekiel & Adam Schlitt

The Sherman Family

Billy Dalwin Preschool Fund

In honor of:

Audrey Sandler, our wonderful Temple Isaiah religious school teacher, on the occasion of her son Steven’s Bar Mitzvah

Rabbi Amy Hertz and the Religious School Team at Temple Isaiah

The engagement of Hilana Ezekiel & Adam Schlitt

Shelley, Stuart, Jessie & Rina Rossman

Steven Sandler’s Bar Mitzvah

Shelley & Stuart Rossman

In honor of Shelley Rossman

Jill Smilow & Howard Brick

In memory of:

Jean Presser, beloved grandmother

Leonore Miller, beloved mother

Ellen Mazow

Yahrzeit of:

Phyllis Nerenberg, beloved mother and grandmother

Anna Nerenberg & Marc, Lee & Jacqueline Bernstein

Dick Wissoker z”l Species Panel

In memory of:

Buzz Hausner and Beth Hardiman, on the engagement of Sophia Hausner and Brad Avery

Wendy and Jonathan Bernays on the occasion of their son’s wedding

Ken & Lois Bruss

Emunah Scholarship Fund

In memory of:

Esther Sherer, beloved mother of Me’ir Sherer

Ken & Lois Bruss

Carol Thrope, beloved wife of Marty Thrope

Miriam Sidman

Family Education Fund

In memory of Esther Sherer, beloved mother of Me’ir Sherer

Arleen Chase

Beth and Brad Kramer

Jennifer and Alec Powers

Family Table

In honor of Marcy Lidman and Lois Bruss for making the High Holidays feel more holy

Arleen Chase

In memory of Irma Mass, beloved mother

Charlotte Mass Kupiec General

In honor of:

The engagement of Hilana Ezekiel to Adam Schlitt

Ralph & Sandra Levine

Ken Teitelbaum on the occasion of his retirement

Amira & Steven Aaron

Mazal Tov to:

David Ezekiel & Elise Richman Ezekiel on the engagement of their daughter, Hilana to Adam Schlitt

Carl Mikkelsen & Barbara Posnick on the wedding of Eiliff Mikkelsen & Katie Dickey

Bob & Kathie Becker

Buzz Hausner & Beth Hardiman

Bob & Kathie Becker

In memory of:

Carol Lider Thrope, beloved wife of Marty Thrope

Roger Harris

Sid & Deanna Wolk

Joe & Elaine Siegel

Phyllis Brick

Lois and Ken Bruss

Gary Shostak

Barney & Harriet Weinstock

Marilyn Tracey

Janet & David Goldberg

Arthur & Adele Kress

Clara Kay Lamer

Cliff & Georgia Weinstein

Carol Lider Thrope, our friend and neighbor

William & Lynn Taber

Ken & Marcie Theriault

Harriet Noble, beloved wife of Bob Becker

David & Susan Shnidman

Cliff & Georgia Weinstein

Clifford Librach, brother of Austan & Diane Librach, and uncle to Faith Librach & Jennifer Nall

Diane Librach

Estelle Schwartz, beloved mother

Jake & Claudia Handwerker

Hannah Rotner, beloved aunt and great-aunt

Max Wieselthier, beloved uncle and great-uncle

Alice & Marty Gordon

Steven Teitelbaum, and in honor of Maddy & Ken Teitelbaum reading Torah and Haftorah in his memory

Amira & Steve Aaron

Esther Sherer, beloved mother of Me’ir Sherer

Bob & Kathie Becker

Ross, Adam and Wein Family

Eva Brostoff, beloved mother

Carolyn Lichtenstein

Gayle Golden, beloved sister of Mark Zelermyer

David & Carol Srebnick

David Speicher, beloved husband of Laurie Speicher

Jerry & Ellen Baum

Barbara Blachman, beloved mother of Ed Blachman

Julie Greenberg & Ron Chaney

Ken Tucker, beloved husband of Marsha Tucker

Laurie Speicher

Bertha Wissoker, beloved mother-in-law

Barbara Wissoker

Esla Winthrop, beloved mother of Philippe Winthrop. May her memory be a blessing!

Spencer, Judi, Lucy and Maxwell Ross

Rita, beloved sister of Rosa DiStefano

The Galler family

Yahrzeit of:

Samuel White, beloved father-in-law

Sumner Hoffman

Alan Silver

Rosaline Buckler, beloved sister

Mrs. Micki Shpilner

Nathan Cutler, beloved father

Krana Rosen

Linda Abromson, beloved mother, mother-in-law and Tata

Leslie, Alan, Zachary & Josh Sherman

Zoa White, beloved mother-in-law

Sumner Hoffman

Frieda White, beloved sister

Nathan Ledewitz, beloved brother

Phyllis Blumberg

Paul Jon Selsky, beloved son

Betty & Lenny Selsky

Geoffrey Zola z”l Holocaust Education Fund

In celebration of Judy Zola, on the occasion of Rebecca Zola’s engagement

Jane, Richard, and Ethan Aronson

Ken & Lois Bruss

Glatzer Memorial Fund

In memory of Carol Lider Thrope

Sheila Kojm & Louis Stuhl

Hineni

In memory of Carol Lider Thrope

Janet & David Thrope

Holy Book Fund

In honor of:

Marjorie & David Becker, on the birth of their great grandson

Richard & Ruth Aronson

Yahrzeit of Abraham Solomon, beloved grandfather

Méli Solomon

And in loving memory of Carol Lider Thrope, beloved wife of Martin Thrope, and loving mother to Sam, Kendra, Juliana, and Charlene

Peggy Moses

In reverance of the miracle of lights on Hanukkah!

The Moses family

Israel Committee

In honor of:

The Bar Mitzvah of Garry & Eileen Feldman’s grandson

Happy Thanksgiving!

Richard Hochman & Esther Rosenman-Hochman

The engagement of Hilana Ezekiel & Adam Schlitt

Rick & Margo Reder

Donations

Yahrzeit of:

Howard Menzin, beloved brother and uncle

Joseph Rothstein, beloved brother-in-law, and uncle

Ruth Schoenberg, beloved grandmother and mother of the Menzin family

The Menzin family

Isaak Schub & Rachel Sonkina, beloved parents

Ethel Eizengart, beloved mother-in-law

Irina Zeylikman

Kiddush Fund

In honor of Janet Goldberg with thanks for bringing our community together this year

Carl Mikkelsen & Barbara Posnick

Yahrzeit for Elliott Case

Miriam C. Librach

Ladle Fund

Library Fund

Sisterhood

Phyllis K. Thrope Memorial Fund

In honor of:

Fred Ezekiel, on the engagement of his granddaughter, Hilana Ezekiel, to Adam Schlitt

Miriam Sidman

Ralph & Sandra Levine

Elise Richman Ezekiel & David Ezekiel, on the engagement of Hilana Ezekiel to Adam Schlitt

Sandra & Ralph Levine, on the engagement of Max Ades & Chloe Peddle

Phyllis Brick

Annette Koren, Kallat Bereisheet

Arleen Chase

Yahrzeit of Nathan Brostoff, beloved father

Carolyn Lichtenstein

In memory of:

Carol Lipson, beloved mother of Steve Lipson. May her memory be for a blessing!

Barbara Blachman, beloved mother of Ed Blachman

Arleen Chase

Sarah Davis, beloved sister of Mark Lichtenstein

Charleen Alper

Mark & Carolyn Lichtenstein

Landscape

In honor of the wedding anniversary of Rebecca Benson & Art Kreiger

Evelyn Benson

In memory of Carol Thrope, beloved wife of Marty Thrope

Jerome & Sharon Smith

Yahrzeit of:

Doris Solomon, beloved mother

Meli Solomon

Donald “Buddy” Cohen, beloved husband

Lillian Cohen

In honor of:

Ralph & Sandra Levine, in celebration of the engagement of Max Ades & Chloe Peddle

Alison Dick & Ed Willins

Barbara Posnick

Marilyn Tracey

In memory of Harold Mukamal, beloved father of Ken Mukamal

Ken & Lois Bruss

Memorial Plaques

In memory of Carol Thrope and in appreciation for all that Marty Thrope does for Temple Emunah

Linda & Ira Skolnik

Rabbi Kling Perkins

Discretionary Fund

In celebration of the birth of our grandson, David Ralph, to Catherine & Alex Quatrano

Doreen Karoll & Steve Quatrano

In honor of the wedding of Eilif Mikkelsen & Katie Dickey

Mark & Judi Canter

In memory of Nathan B. Levine, beloved father

Deborah Levine

Yahrzeit for Annie Kossoi, beloved grandmother

Elise Goldberg

Rabbi Lerner’s Discretionary Fund

In appreciation of:

Rabbi Lerner’s kindness and support during our loss

Elaine Wiesen

Rabbi Lerner

Carol Hirsh

In honor of:

Gideon Borisy’s Bar Mitzvah

Alexis Borisy & Lia Meisinger

With immense gratitude and appreciation

Maxine Marcus

In memory of:

Barbara Blachman, beloved mother of Ed Blachman

Alison Dick & Ed Willins

Noe Selig Perelman

Les Perelman

Barry Seidman, most beloved husband

Barney Pearlman, beloved father

Lila Rifken Pearlman, beloved sister

Valerie Seidman

Yahrzeit of:

Rose Rosendorn, beloved mother

Muriel Shapiro

Dr. Martin Weiner, beloved father

Ilene & Mark Weiner & family

Religious School

In memory of Esther Sherer, beloved mother of Me’ir Sherer

David Kahan & Lori Harrison-Kahan

Emily & Adam Samansky

Yahrzeit of Inbal Netzer, beloved sister

Lior Netzer

In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of Miriam Sidman’s granddaughter, Tallulah

Sid & Deanna Wolk

Social Justice Committee

In celebration of the marriage of Eilif Mikkelsen & Katie Dickey

Alison Dick & Ed Willins

In memory of:

Eric Jordan Moskow, beloved son & brother

Richard, Shirley, Jeffrey & Neal Moskow

Gayle Golden, beloved sister of Mark Zelermyer

Barbara & Paul Neustadt

Anna Nerenberg & Marc Bernstein

Ellen & Richard Mazow

Janet & David Thrope

Yahrzeit of:

Special Needs

Faye Rosenbaum, beloved wife and mother

Max Rosenbaum, beloved father and grandfather

Ron & Alicia Rosenbaum

In memory of Carol Thrope, beloved wife of Marty Thrope, mother and grandmother

Steven & Susan Lipson

Marcia Camac

David & Carol Srebnick

Alison Dick & Ed Willins

Valerie Seidman

Wednesday Minyan Study Group

In appreciation of Wednesday Morning Minyan Study Group

Méli Solomon

In celebration of the engagement of Sophia Hausner to Brad Avery

Alison Dick & Ed Willins

Yahrzeit of:

Helen Andler, beloved mother

Eliot Andler

Minnie Becker, beloved grandmother

Bob & Kathie Becker

Youth

In honor of the engagement of Deena Abramson to Gabriel Frame

Mark & Michelle Abramson

In memory of Esther Sherer, beloved mother of Me’ir Sherer

Al and Gila Namias

Racial Justice Shabbat

On a grey, wet January evening, Emunah kicked off our annual Racial Justice Shabbat with a Shabbat meal. Rabbi Rachael Bregman relayed her remarkable rabbinic and personal journey. She lives in Brunswick, Georgia, the scene of Ahmad Arbury’s murder and the trial of his alleged killers. On Friday night we gathered around ten round tables in the Social Hall, simultaneously celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of racial justice and experiencing Shabbat. We dined on delicious food, drank wine, listened to stories and told some of our own.

On Saturday morning, Rabbi Bregman offered a D’var Torah in which she pointed out that Moses’s dual identities – as an Egyptian of privilege and as an Israelite – positioned him to speak out against the enslavement he witnessed. About thirty of us studied with Rabbi Bregman after kiddush. The talk was scheduled for an hour, but a hearty subgroup continued to learn for another two hours!

Rabbi Bregman met with teens in the evening and seventh graders and their parents on Sunday morning. This weekend program provided a brief respite from the ongoing stress of life in a polarized and unjust world. We emerged nourished and ready to move on together.

Tel Aviv 8:45 PM

Niggun Saloon 1 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 PM

10 19 Shevat

Shaharit 7 AM

Men’s Torah Study 7:30 AM

Niggun Saloon 1 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 PM

17 26 Shevat

Shaharit 7 AM

Niggun Saloon 1 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 PM

24 3 Adar

Shaharit 7 AM

Niggun Saloon 1 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 PM

Be a Shabbat Summer Speaker!

During July and August, we invite Emunah members to be a summer speaker during Shabbat services. Topics in the past have included personal stories of recent trips, Jewish identity and, of course, the speaker’s individual take on the weekly Torah portion.

If you have an interest in speaking this summer to our community, or if you know a Temple Emunah member with an interesting story you’d like to hear, please contact Terri Swartz Russell, summer speaker coordinator, to sign up for a date: terrisrussell@yahoo.com or 617-448-3996.

Clergy and representatives from Lexington’s faith communities gather for LICA’s (Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association) annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. The next LICA gathering will be March 30.

26 4 Nisan

March 2023 / Adar-Nisan 5783

6 13 Adar

Erev Purim/Ta’anit Esther

20 27 Adar

27 5 Nisan Shaharit 7 AM

Mazel Tov to Our March B’nei Mitzvah

* What Can We Do About Antisemitism? Mar. 30 Interfaith Dinner – info on page 5

Bayla Roskind, child of Michael Roskind & Pam Hess (Mar. 11)

Ari Zolondick, child of Steve Zolondick & Allison Page (Mar. 18)

IMPORTANT PASSOVER DATES

Friday, March 31 Deadline to submit h . ametz forms

Tuesday, April 4 Bedikat H . ametz

Wednesday, April 5 Bitul H . ametz

Wednesday, April 5 Siyyum B’khorim

Check the Temple Emunah website for details.

Address Service Requested

Temple Emunah Celebrates H . anukkah