Kol Kiruv March 2019
Adar I - Adar II
Happenings
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A Note From Cantor Goldberg
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A Message From Reb Jamie
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A Message From Rabbi Mintz, Rabbi Emerita 4-5 Upcoming Events
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Safe Place
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Mad Hatter Tea Party
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Jewlicious Learning
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Free Money
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Yahrzeit, Nid’vei Lev and Celebrations Calendar at a Glance
Vol. 28—No. 7
Congregation P’nai Tikvah will worship on March 1st and 15th. Tot Shabbat, Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv services will begin at 6:30 PM on March 1st. On March 15th, Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv Services will begin at 7:30PM at Adelson Educational Campus Chapel.
Torah Study will be at 10:00am on March 2nd and 16th. Call for locations.
If you are interested in sponsoring an Oneg to celebrate an event, memorialize a loved one, 14-15 or just because, please call 702.436.4900 for sponsorship opportunities. 16
A Note From Cantor Marla Goldberg As our holidays go, the one known to be the most fun is probably Purim. Ever since I was a little girl the joy of this holiday, with its food, costumes, carnivals, plays, songs, and general goofiness made the day so much fun. Who didn’t love to cheer Esther and Mordecai, and boo Haman? Much of my Purims were made up of Purim Shpiel performed when I was young by our Junior Choir.
Beginning in the 5th grade I was able to be a part of these performances. I got to, “Follow the Poppy Seed Road” as a munchkin in the Purim Wizard of Oz. I was Vashti in “Purim on the Roof”, and played Haman (the first of many times playing the villain) in another parody of various songs. These scripts, complete with parody songs from the musicals, were written by the first cantor I knew, Scott Colbert. Now the lyrics to “Follow the Poppy Seed Road” are pretty easy to figure out. In “Purim on the Roof” King Ahasheveosh and Vashti sang, “Do You Love Me” with Vashti pretty much telling the King, “I hate you, you’re a wretched mule, go find yourself a new queen, Fool!” Esther sang, “Mordecai, Mordecai make me a queen…” (to the tune of “Matchmaker’) and so on. After Cantor Colbert left, I took over for one play, I wrote “Shushan Side Story”. I don’t remember all the songs, but two I remember best went to “Tonight” and “Maria” I changed “Maria” to “Esther” and had the King sing: “Oh Esther, I just met a beauty named, Esther, and suddenly I found how wonderful a queen could be.” My version of “Tonight” was between Esther and Mordecai, Mordecai: The Jews, the Jews, he’s going to kill the Jews. If Haman has his way Jews will swing. Esther: But Mordecai, you know more than I, That to see the King is a crime. Together: But in this hour of despair, we’ll show the Jews we care Esther: For this I’ll risk my life. Mordecai: Oh, brave young queen, if the King you’ve seen The Jews can then be saved, we can fight, Together: Tonight.
There are so many songs and shows that can be parodied for Purim, my friend Cantor David Reinwald recently wrote “Hamiltaschen” (guess where that comes from.) The point is, to have fun. Purim is time to let our hair down, get a little crazy, and just have a good time. It truly fits the line about what every Jewish holiday is about: “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat!” So this Purim, kick off your shoes, wear a crazy costume, eat some hamantaschen, and sing some fun songs, Chag Purim Sameach,
Cantor Marla Goldberg 2
Message from Reb Jamie A recent article about new trends in synagogue architecture caught my eye – “Let There Be Light - synagogue architecture embraces new ethos?” As the architects begin a design process, they ask themselves a series of questions: “Who are we? Who is this congregation?” What does the setting, the house where we choose “to live”, to gather, to pray, say about us and how we relate to each other, to text, and tradition? Do we prefer a frontal presentation - where we are “talked at” or is circular seating more indicative and conducive to an intimate style? As we settle into our new home, we have the opportunity to ask ourselves these questions. Certainly our new site enhances our sense of safety and solidity. The prayer space is beautiful and inspiring. Set-up and clean-up are much easier, people stay at the oneg for much longer to schmooze, you don’t have to go outside and take a code to use the restroom. Several weeks back we read about the building of the sanctuary – the Mishkan ( משכןExodus 25:127:18). " "ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכםv’aso li mikdash v’shachanti b’tocham.” “And let them make Me a sanctuary (a holy place) that I may dwell among them.” What makes a place holy and why does the text say, “that I may dwell among them” and not “that I may dwell there”? Before the making of the sanctuary was God floating in space, disconnected from the Israelites? What is it about the act of “making the sanctuary,” of hammering, nailing, dying and weaving that makes it possible for God to “dwell among them?” The text doesn’t say “build me a house”, or “build me a place”, rather, it says “build me a Mikdash.” Mikdash מקדשshares the same root as kodesh קודשwhich means holy place, or sanctuary. Both the words Mishkan משכןand the word – ושכנתיshachanti come from the verb לישכוןwhich means to “to dwell, to reside.” In modern Hebrew, a shechuna is a neighborhood and shechenim are neighbors. Neighbors live in proximity to one another, they have relationships with each other. They have enough in common that they have chosen to be a part of each other’s lives in this particular way. When people come together to work on a project, they give of their time, their resources and their talents. They become invested in each other, they build friendships. In the building of the Mishkan, their work and commitment were expressed through the personal commitment of each person who participated. Together their group effort may have produced a Mikdash, a holy place, a Mishkan, a sanctuary, but God dwelled “b’tocham – inside of them” because it was through their hard work, through friendships and their commitment to one another, that the Mishkan, was filled invested with holiness and that the spirit of community emerged.
We have found a home in a beautiful building which has the potential to enhance and nurture us for many years to come. Let us each bring our talents, our passions and our commitment to one another as we build our community so that the spirit of God may dwell among us.
Reb Jamie Hyams 3
Message from Rabbi Emerita Yocheved Mintz Dear Chevreh:
“Mi she-nichnas Adarm narbin b’simcha” When one enters Adar, joy increases. The trees are budding and the winter winds are giving way to the promise of spring. Halleluyah! The month of March brings in the Hebrew month of Adar II, and, with it, the holiday of Purim, truly a time for joy and merriment. We’ll celebrate Erev Purim at my home, March 20. Since this is a “Come As You Aren’t” event, costumes are definitely encouraged. We’ll read the megillah, boo and cheer appropriately, and enjoy fun, food, and friends. But beyond the celebratory aspects of the holiday, what is it about this seemingly secular story that makes it worth being included in the TaNaKh? The names of the story’s heroes seem to be pagan. (Mordecai and Esther seem to variants of the names of the god “Marduk” and the goddess “Ishtar”. The name of G-d is not mentioned at all. Do we even read of anything vaguely Jewish about the community of Shushan? (Although it was a Jewish custom to fast in times of trouble.) Does Mordecai do anything to hide his cousin, Esther, from taking part in the “beauty pageant” to find a new queen for the Gentile king? (Megillat Esther 2:8 and 15) Mordecai throws on sackcloth and ashes when he hears of the decree proclaimed against his fellow Jews, but there’s no mention of him praying…merely lamenting (4:1). Esther, too, fasts, but doesn’t seem to pray when she endangers her life by appearing before the king, uninvited (4:11 and 16). Isn’t it strange that, after the Jews successfully defend themselves against their enemies, they did not offer up prayers of thanksgiving. It takes the midrash of Esther Rabbah and the Babylonian Talmud, to fill in some of the missing aspects of the text. For instance, it might be concluded that Mordecai’s refusal to bow down to Haman could be interpreted as him refusing to accept Haman’s promotion … a political act of defiance, the Rabbis interpreted it as a sign of disrespect for the fact that Haman wore an idol (Esther Rabbah 7:5). Furthermore, the Talmud (Megillah 13 a-b says that Esther actually kept Kosher in the royal palace and even goes to the Mikvah. Joshua Adler (“The Hidden Message of the Book of Esther”) notes that the Greek version of the Book of Esther is far more religious; and, while the Hebrew version of the Megillah does not mention G-d, the Septuagint and other versions say that Esther prayed fervently to G-d for deliverance. So, while on the surface, it seems that the Jewish community of Shushan neglected its religious obligations, Esther doesn’t seem to be identifiably Jewish, and, when the government gives the Persian Gentiles permission to kill the Jews, there is a plethora of volunteerism to carry out the slaughter, we might, therefore, conclude that the Jewish community lulled by their assimilation into the Gentile society were (continued) 4
(continued)
hated nonetheless, and would not be saved by their enemies. So, one of the lessons of the story of Purim is that assimilation does not guarantee equality or safety in Gentile society. (Is this not a message we’ve seen repeated generation after generation?) It is said that when the Messianic era finally comes, all the traditional holy days will be abolished, except for Purim (Yalkut Shimoni, Mishlei 9). Perhaps this is because the sages concluded that Anti-Semitism is an endemic disease, and assimilation does not make hatred of Jews disappear, and even when Moshiach comes, we can learn from this cautionary tale. It’s Adar; be happy!
Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Rabbi Emerita/Senior Educator
If you would like a copy of Kol Kiruv sent to your home, please send $72.00, along with your address to: Administrative Office 1697 Black Fox Canyon Rd Henderson, NV 89052
Clergy and Staff
P’nai Tikvah is a warm and welcoming,
Cantor: Cantor Marla Goldberg Student Rabbi: Jamie Hyams Rabbi Emerita: Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Educators: Rabbi Mintz and Cantor Goldberg Bookkeeper/Treasurer: Lynn Pisetzner Administrative Assistant: Faith Silverman Marketing Director: Cindy Fox
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.
702.436.4900 www.pnaitikvahlv.org info@pnaitikvahlv.org 5
Wednesday, March 6, 7:00pm
Adar II Rosh Chodesh Celebration A New Moon For All: Look Good, Feel Better Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences (student clinic) 9340 W Sahara Ave Ste 205, Las Vegas, NV 89117 Details: Choice of manicures, pedicures, facials, makeup application Cost: Varies - depending on service requested - from $7.00 manicures to $35 facials RSVP: Call Euphoria to reserve your beauty treatment and mention CPT by calling (702) 341-8111 SEATS ARE LIMITED! RESERVE EARLY Reservation deadline: February 28 When you call Euphoria, identify yourself as part of Congregation P'nai Tikvah. Hosted by Ellen Royer.
LIFE & LEGACY is a partnership program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to support Jewish communities in securing after-lifetime gifts.
An unprecedented transfer of generational wealth is taking place before our eyes. Yet Jewish organizations by and large have not fully recognized the possibilities or sought legacy gifts despite the knowledge that endowments will have an increasingly impactful role in sustaining the future of their organizations. Having this knowledge, the question HGF sought to answer is “Can Jewish communities be motivated to become proactive in encouraging widespread legacy giving?� With implementation of LIFE and LEGACY the answer is YES! 6
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ONLY $45 for Members • $55 for Non-Members
A Special Passover Seder Hosted by Congregation P’nai Tikvah
Menu
Gluten free, Vegetarian, Vegan & Kosher Options
Second Night Saturday, April 20, 2019
Charoset
Blasco Event Wing, UNLV Foundation Bldg
Kale salad
(SW Corner of Maryland Parkway and Cottage Grove Avenue)
Mediterranean Fruit Salad
Moroccan Carrot Salad Roasted Vegetables Mashed Potatoes Tzimmes Brisket Baked Salmon Macaroons Passover Dessert Matzo and More! Beverages Menu is subject to change
Led by Cantor Marla Goldberg and Reb Jamie Hyams
RSVP Now! 702-436-4900 pnaitikvahlv.org For More Information and Reservations
Members & Family $45 adult ꞁ $18 child (ages 5 - 12) Community Friends (Non-Members) $55 adult ꞁ $25 child (ages 5 - 12) Free for ages 4 & under and uniformed members of the Armed Forces Are welcome at no cost. 8
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Mad Hatter Tea Party
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Jewlicious Learning In the month of February we made progress in our studies and had fun in the process. Our younger students have played Hebrew Bingo and other games to enrich their Hebrew acquisition. Our older students have added to their ability to recognize roots, prefixes, and suffixes and thereby make educated guesses to translating prayer-book Hebrew. All of our students have learned about Kabbalat Shabbat, Erev Shabbat, Shabbat during the day, and Motzei Shabbat. In addition to hearing some good books, the youngsters had fun doing a reader’s theatre reading of a playlet written by student Aaron Brown. We are looking forward to preparing hamentaschen and doing a play as part of the Purim party, so stay tuned!
David Piekarsky reads the part of “Jake” in Aaron Brown’s original playlet. Meyer
Sophia Brown holds the Havdallah candle as high as she envisions her someday beloved will be tall. 12
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AMAZON SMILE 5% comes back whenever you shop through the smile.amazon.com portal. Sign Up and select Congregation P'nai Tikvah by typing it in Please note: do not use the apostrophe when searching use: Congregation Pnai Tikvah
It’s easy to find Box Tops. In fact, you may have some in your home right now. Clip Box Tops from your favorite products and turn them in to your child’s school today! Box Tops are each worth 10¢ and they add up fast! * Annie’s * Betty Crocker * Bugles * Cascadian Farms * * Fiber One * Finish * Gardetto’s * General Mills * Go-Gurt * * Green Giant * Hefty * Kleenex * Land O’Lakes * Larabar * Lysol * * Old El Paso * Pillsbury * Nature Valley * Reynold’s * Scott * * Totino’s * Yoplait * Ziploc * 13
MARCH BIRTHDAYS Jason Deal Harriet Bernstein Lesley Wagmeister John Wennstrom Laura Sussman Seth Morrison
March 8 March 14 March 19 March 21 March 26 March 29
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES Elliot & Zandra Bender Wendy & Laura Kraft Sussman Rick & Susan Bindhamer
March 9 March 11 March 24
MITZVAH ENVELOPES Lynda French -Thank you for the honor of opening the Ark Hedda Abbott -Thank you Rabbi Mintz
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FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH Gweny Bialac -Remembered by Stella Bialac Frank Brandt -Remembered by Ann Brandt Abraham Feldman -Remembered by Barbara & Andrew Holland Carolyn Gamerman -Remembered by Iris Katz
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
Philip Hafter -Remembered by Hedda Abbott
Rose Hafter -Remembered by Hedda Abbott Frances Hafter -Remembered by Hedda Abbott Sarah Herman -Remembered by Zelda Goldwater Michael Kosso -Remembered by Kristen Jaeger Krystina Michelle Martin -Remembered by Ann Castro Basha Piekarsky -Remembered by Jay & Ronald Piekarsky Alfred Rafa -Remembered by Marti Jenkins
Betty Steinberg -Remembered by Hedda Abbott Louis Tessler -Remembered by Harriet Bernstein & Rozlyne Tessler
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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE: March 1 2 4 6 11 15 16 18 20
6:30pm 7:30pm 10:00am 4:15pm 7:00pm 4:15pm 7:30pm 10:00am 4:15pm 7:00pm
Family (Tot) Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Jewlicious Learning Rosh Chodesh Jewlicious Learning Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Jewlicious Learning “Come As You Aren’t” Purim Party
Adelson Adelson TBA Rabbi Mintz Euphoria Rabbi Mintz Adelson TBA Rabbi Mintz Rabbi Mintz
4:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 10:00am 4:15pm 6:00pm 4:15pm
Jewlicious Learning Family (Tot) Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Jewlicious Learning Community Seder Jewlicious Learning
Rabbi Mintz Adelson Adelson TBA Rabbi Mintz UNLV Rabbi Mintz
6:30pm 7:30pm 10:00am 4:15pm 4:15pm 4:00pm 7:30pm 10:00am
Family (Tot) Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study Jewlicious Learning Jewlicious Learning Jewlicious Learning - Siyum Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service Torah Study
Adelson Adelson TBA Rabbi Mintz Rabbi Mintz Rabbi Mintz Adelson TBA
April 1 5 6 8 20 29 May
3 4 6 13 16 17 18
Blessing for the Month of Adar II: May we be blessed with the ability to commit to increasing joy in our lives, eliminate or greatly reduce that which doesn’t bring us joy, serve G-d with joy, wipe out our personal Amalek, and see the hidden G-dliness in our lives. Amen. 16