January 2018
Vol. 27 - No. 5
Tevet - Sh’vat
Happenings
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From Rabbi Mintz, Rabbi Emerita
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A Message From Reb Jamie
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A Note From the Cantor
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The Co-President’s Message, Sam Lieberman
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Providing Service at CPT
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Bereavement Support Group
7
Trial of the Century
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Chanukah Celebrations
9
Jewlicious Learners
10-11
Poetree
12
Yahrzeit and Celebrations
13-14
Calendar at a Glance
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Congregation P’nai Tikvah meets on the 1st and 3rd Shabbat of the Month 2685 South Rainbow Blvd, STE 108 Las Vegas, Nevada 89146 702.436.4900 Congregation P’nai Tikvah will worship on Shabbat, January 5th and 19th. Tot Shabbat, Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv services will begin at 6:30 PM on January 5th. On January 19th, Shabbat-Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv services will begin at 7:30PM. Torah Study will be on January 6th and January 20th at 9:30 AM at 2685 South Rainbow, Suite 108. If you are interested in sponsoring an oneg to celebrate an event or memorialize a loved one, please call 702.436.4900 for sponsorship and catering opportunities. $ :
Message from Rabbi Emerita Yocheved Mintz Dear Chevreh: A new year...seems like only a few months since we wished one-another a Shanah Tovah, and now we are turning to one another and saying "Happy New Year!" It's true, of course, that we have two opportunities to re-set, re-calibrate, and re-new; but we should note that there is a subtle difference between the two New Years. At Rosh HaShanah, we spend ten intensive days working on our personal t'shuvah, taking the five steps towards return and repentance. On January 1st, we often make a list of "Resolutions". On Rosh HaShanah we wish one another a Shanah Tovah ...a good year; on January 1st, we wish one-another a "Happy New Year." And, of course, on Rosh HaShanah, we spend a great deal of time in contemplation and prayer; and on New Year's Eve, we generally party and enjoy the fireworks that are detonated across the globe. Two New Years. How blessed are we to mark and celebrate both. May we bless one another with yet another good, happy, and healthy year. And, now, more than ever....l'Shalom,
Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Rabbi Emerita/Senior Educator
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o
t Reb Jamie Message from We know you are super busy with your finals, so we just wanted to say‌
All of us at Congregation P’nai Tikvah
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A Note From the Cantor Usually I try to make my articles not so serious. Music to me is joyful. However, there is a big discussion going on with my cantorial colleagues right now that is causing a bit of a dilemma. It concerns, “How do we separate the beloved Art from the Artist (or in this case a composer)” when the actions of the artist are proven to be reprehensible? This composer has written many melodies that are sung in synagogues throughout the country. We have sung some of his melodies. The composer is Shlomo Carlbach. His Hassidic style melodies have helped bring kavanah to many prayers. But for many women, listening to his music has become painful due to the revelation that he had molested many women and young girls. In this time of several harassment allegations coming to light in our country, this one affects me greatly. Many of my colleagues feel that we should no longer include his music in our worship. Some think we should focus on the positive, separating the music from the man. In an article in the Forward, Sharon Rose Goldtzvik tells her mother’s story of a meeting with Carlbach where he touched her inappropriately. She also brings up a Lilith Magazine story that brings up his harassment of women, and how it has been ignored up to now. “Yet despite the fact at least some of the stories of the women and girls Carlebach abused became public during his lifetime, and despite the fact that his pattern of sexual misconduct has been an open secret for decades, the Jewish community as a whole has reacted with little more than a shrug.” (Sharon Rose Goldtzvik, Forward Magazine online Dec. 7. 2017) This, again, brings up the question, “How do we separate the man from the music?”. His music has been so uplifting to me, and many others. But I know of one cantor who has family of women who are full of grief when they hear this music. He no longer uses any Carlbach music in his services. It is a sad choice for any cantor to make. Give up music that is uplifting to show that you do not support the behavior, or to continue to use it and focus on the positive part of his life? This is what is happening with my colleagues now. And I am still pondering and wondering. I hope we all have a wonderful secular New Year. L’Shalom, Cantor Marla Goldberg 4
From the Co-President… 2018 provides us with numerous opportunities as we seek answers to vital questions about our congregation. Are we viable? Are we sustainable? Will we be here for future generations? Please consider these things as we work together to define our future. Step up your commitments to our congregation in terms of time, effort and whenever possible, financially. As we prepare for our major fundraiser of the year, Feb 18, at UNLV, help us secure program ads, raffle prizes and individual ticket and table sales. Your help is greatly appreciated and the success of this event is yet another element of defining our overall future. I value what each and every one of you contribute to CPT individually and collectively to the CPT family and know we can create a shared vision of our future together. I look forward to seeing you at services and events in 2018 and if you need anything at all, or have ideas you wish to share with myself or the board, please feel free to call me at any time at 702-286-0739. Thanks for all you do,
For $40.00 a prayer book can either be purchased for personal use or be dedicated to the congregation “In Memory” or “In Honor of” and a card from CPT will be sent to the family. The prayer book plate will be placed on the inside cover of our Kol HaNeshamah siddur.
VOLUNTEERISM ABOUNDS AT CPT
Homes are always needed for the various activities and meetings of our congregation. Offer a Personal prayer – If you’d like to write your own, please do so. If you would like to see it published in the newsletter, send it to FaithSilverman@gmail.com 5
Providing Service to CPT – Join and Participate! Your talents and active participation are both needed and welcomed. Hands on participation is necessary to provide the array of services that our congregation has to offer in a manner that is affordable, effective, and fulfilling. We are looking to provide as many requested services and events as possible. Join us in this important Mitzvah for our congregation and community. Please indicate three choices of participation. Each committee is led by a Board Member who will contact you. Speak to Stephanie Paykel or another CPT Board Member about your choices at services ___ Board of Directors and Nominating. We are responsible for recruiting and supervising election of new Board members and Board members whose terms of office are completed. Recommend appointments for Board members who have resigned before the expiration of their term of office. ___ Ritual, Holiday, and Special Events. What we do: Organize logistics and catering for High Holiday Services; Cater the Pesach Seder; Setup and takedown Friday Shabbat Services, coordinate Oneg; Planning for Sukkot, Chanukah, and Purim, including decorating and catering; and Planning other Special Events. ____ Adult Education. Organize Torah study; Recruit Speakers for the Brunch with Brilliants program; Provide creative ideas to plan and implement Adult Lectures, Classes or Programs to engage and educate. ____ Youth Education. We assist our Jewlicious Learning Educators in a wide variety of areas, including provision of needed materials, planning for classes, and other Youth events. ____ Fundraising. Encourage active participation from all Members to organize, plan, and support our fundraising activities in order to maintain and grow the Congregational Budget. Activities include our Annual Roast fundraiser and planning the Tribute Book; selecting, conceptualizing, planning and implementing additional fundraising activities. ___ Marketing and Membership: We need to maximize the visibility of CPT in the Las Vegas community and grow our membership. We are responsible for sending out press releases, engaging in marketing strategies, along with performing outreach functions, updating our Facebook page and other media. ____ Finance. Responsible for devising the Annual Budget, accounting of income and expenses, including reporting to the Board any significant deviance from budgeted items; approving contracts for consultants and venues; approving budgets for events. ___ Congregational Outreach: Coordinate with the above groups to Contact Members and potential participants to encourage attendance in upcoming classes, events and programs; Maintain and update Phone Lists; provide Greeters for Shabbat Services and other events; perform Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim (visiting or calling members who have been ill). Organize and send greeting cards for life events. Provide outreach to absent members. 6
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Chanukah Celebrations
Dave Clark, Evelyn Clark and Dale Gardner enjoy the company and the food at the Chanukah Pot Luck dinner. 12/15/2017 Daniel Piekarsky dances at our Chanukah Shabbat. 12/15/2017
Flash Mob Chanukiyot Lighting
12/16/2017
Followed by dinner at Canter’s with Seth Morrison, Faith Silverman, David Silverman, Reb Jamie Hyams, our waiter Jay, De’Anna Ernst, a patron from another table that joined us, Marcia Zack, Laurie Lytel and Joanne Goodwin. 9
Jewlicious Learning MayLee DeLee, Meyer DeLee, Sydney Knepper, Makayla Knepper, David Piekarsky, Mason DeLee and Danica Lockett performing at Chanukah Shabbat 12/15/17
Meyer DeLee, MayLee DeLee, Mason DeLee, Cheyenne DeLee, Mable DeLee and Danica Lockett prepare for an intense game of Dreidel! 12/18/17
Maple DeLee lighting the Chanukah candles with Rabbi Mintz and Cheyenne DeLee 12/18/17 10
KIDZ KORNER for January ALMOND BARLEY DATES ECOLOGY ENVIRONMENT FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH FIGS FOUR FRUIT
Y R A U R B E F C D T W
P K F E F Y W N K N O H
C O D R E O V Y E O L E
D E M L U S U M J M I A
S A R E P I N R N L V T
B A T R G O T P E A E S
B K I E R R L G W S S S
W N E I S A A L Y E F E
G F V A N O L N E E I P
C N A T U R E U A R G A
E C O L O G Y K R T S R
H T N E E T F I F I E G
GRAPES NATURE NEWYEAR OLIVES PLANT POMEGRANATE SEDER SPRING TREES WHEAT
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TREES by Harry Behn
Trees are the kindest things I know, They do no harm, they simply grow And spread a shade for sleepy cows, And gather birds among their bows.
POETREE TREES by Joyce Kilmer
They give us fruit in leaves above, And wood to make our houses of, And leaves to burn on Halloween And in the Spring new buds of green.
I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree
They are first when day's begun To tough the beams of morning sun, They are the last to hold the light When evening changes into night.
A tree that looks at G-d all day And lifts her leafy arms to pray,
And when a moon floats on the sky They hum a drowsy lullaby
Upon whose blossom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair
Advice from a Tree: Stand Tall and Proud Go Out on a Limb Remember Your Roots Drink Plenty of Water Enjoy the View Be Content with your Natural Beauty
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FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
Betty Baum -Remembered by Marian Baum Sidney Brandt -Remembered by Ann Brandt Charlotte Clark -Remembered by Susan & Rick Bindhamer Martin Hillman -Remembered by Anne & Gray Ullman Samuel Kamanitz -Remembered by Barbara & Andrew Holland Roseanne Klane -Remembered by Susan Dubin Bernice Kuryk -Remembered by Barbara & Andrew Holland Elaine Lytel -Remembered by Laurie Lytel Lee Sol Mintz -Remembered by Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Karen Anne Murphy -Remembered by Lynda French
Memorial plaques are available; to honor the departed, to inspire the living, to be remembered in the hearts of those we leave behind is, in a sense, to live forever. For further information, call the Synagogue office at 702-436-4900 13
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS Susan Dubin
January 12
Cindy Fox
January 14
Henry Fish
January 23
JD Jenkins
January 27
Meyer DeLee
January 28
P’nai Tikvah is a warm and welcoming, progressive, egalitarian, and pluralistic congregation focusing on the spiritual, educational, and social well-being of those who wish to live a fulfilling and meaningful Jewish life. Clergy and Staff Rabbi Emerita: Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Rabbinic Intern: Jamie Hyams Cantor: Cantor Marla Goldberg Educators: Rabbi Mintz and Cantor Goldberg Teacher’s Aide: Austin Royer Bookkeeper: Lynn Pisetzner Treasurer: Lynn Pisetzner Editor: Faith Silverman
702.436.4900 www.pnaitikvahlv.org info@pnaitikvahlv.org
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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE: January 5 January 6 January 19 January 20 January 21 January 22 January 29 January 31 February 2 February 3 February 5 February 16 February 17 February 18
6:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 AM 7:30 PM 9:30 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 AM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 AM 1:00 PM
Tot Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Rosh Chodesh Jewish Film Festival & Dessert Outing – $$ Biblical Hebrew Class Biblical Hebrew Class Tu B’Shevat Potluck Seder – location TBA Tot Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Biblical Hebrew Class Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Trial of the Century -Judge Michael Cherry and Jolie BrislinTam Alumni Center, UNLV-$$
Blessing for Tevet They say “it’s always dark before the dawn;” therefore, as we emerge from our dark days, let us remember that with the dawn comes awakening. May we be blessed with insight and understanding with our great awakenings. Amen. Blessing for Sh’vat Winter seems to bring growth to a halt, but deep within signs of new growth are stirring. May we all be blessed with that same sense of renewal and may we be blessed with a new secular year of health, happiness, fulfillment, and happiness. Amen. 15