Temple Israel Doorpost - March 2015

March 2015

Adar / Nissan 5775

From the Rabbi’s Study…

By Rabbi David Ross Senter

Several weeks ago, Dr. Ira Schwartz visited with me to discuss programming for Yom HaShoah. With his usual enthusiasm, Ira opened the conversation with the following question. “Tell me about the best Yom HaShoah program of your career.” Without hesitating, I responded, “The rededication of a Holocaust Torah.”

Ira replied, “Let’s do that here!” I explained that the Torahs had been distributed over 40 years ago and that they rarely become available. This did not discourage Ira. “Perhaps there is a congregation in possession of a Torah without the funds to restore it. We could partner with them and restore their scroll. The Torah would then be shared by both congregations.”

Dr. Schwartz’s proposal intrigued me. I immediately contacted Susan Boyer, the US Curator of the Memorial Scrolls Trust. Susan informed me that, for the first time in decades, a Memorial Scroll is available. She encouraged us to apply for guardianship of the scroll. Susan further encouraged me to travel to Phoenix, Arizona to meet the chair of the Memorial Scrolls Trust to advocate personally for our application.

On February 9th, I met with Mr. Jeffrey Ohrenstein, Chairman of the Memorial Scrolls Trust. I explained the unique nature of Temple Israel and delineated the reasons why I believe we are the most compelling candidate for guardianship of this sacred scroll. Mr. Ohrenstein assured me that he would present our application to his fellow trustees with his strong recommendation for approval. Mr. Ohrenstein returned to London, and met with his fellow trustees. I am pleased to report that the trustees of the Memorial Scrolls Trust have agreed, in principle, to grant guardianship of a Czech Memorial Scroll to Temple Israel. We eagerly await the finalization of paperwork to formalize this historic event.

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Purim Megillah Reading Wednesday, March 4th, 6:30pm

Purim Carnival Sunday, March 8th, 10:30am-12pm

Tot-ally Shabbat & Kiddie Kiddush and 4th Grade Led Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, March 13th, Tot Shabbat 5:45pm 4th Grade Led Service, 7:30pm

Sisterhood Cooking Class Sunday, March 15th, 9:30am

Brotherhood Speaker: Jennifer Shoer Sunday, March 22nd, 10:30am Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy

Board Meeting Tuesday, March 24th, 7:00pm, Board Room

Women’s Seder Sunday, March 29th, 3pm, Details to Follow

Rabbi Senter’s Office Hours Wednesday 10:00am-5:30pm Thursday

10:00am-3:00pm

Friday

9:00am-1:00pm

Sunday 9:00am-12:00pm (when school is in session)

(Continued from Page 1) The favorable response to our application reaffirms the unique nature of Temple Israel. I am very grateful to serve such an amazing congregation.

The Story of the Czech Memorial Scrolls In 1938, Hitler annexed the northern and western segments of Czechoslovakia. These territories were granted to him as a “land for peace” appeasement deal. In 1939, Hitler’s forces occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia. The areas known as Bohemia and Moravia were placed under the control of the Nazi SS. The culture of the Nazi occupation in these territories was somewhat different. In other areas, the confiscated ritual items were destroyed. In Bohemia and Moravia, these items were carefully catalogued and stored in the Jewish Museum of Prague, renamed by the Nazis as the Jewish Central Museum. Many theories exist regarding the Nazi’s motivations. There is no documentation to help us understand why they chose to preserve these ritual items. The result of this decision is the single largest collection of Judaica in existence.

Among the collections of the Nazi’s Jewish Central Museum were over 1,800 Torah Scrolls, confiscated from the decimated Jewish communities of Bohemia and Moravia. After the war, the confiscated Torah Scrolls remained in storage in an unused synagogue located in Michle outside Prague.

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Tuesday Afternoon 5:30pm Friday Night 7:30pm Saturday Morning 9:30am Followed by Kiddush Luncheon

In 1963, a cash strapped communist government was looking to raise funds. An art dealer by the name of Eric Estorick arranged for the purchase of 1564 Torah Scrolls using funds provided by philanthropist Ralph Yablon. The sale was finalized in 1964, and the Torahs were donated to the Westminster Synagogue in London. The Memorial Scrolls Trust was formed to determine the disposition of these sacred texts. A team of expert scribes were employed to determine which scrolls were Kosher (fit for ritual use) and which scrolls were more suited as a memorial. The scrolls were then distributed to synagogues, educational institutions and museums around the world.

Save the Date: Spring Social & Fundraiser Saturday Night, May 9th at Temple Israel More Details to Come!

March March March March

6th 13th 20th 27th

5:20pm 6:29pm 6:37pm 6:45pm

Thoughts of Spring

by Fran Berman, Acting President & VP, Ritual With the snow piling up at a ridiculous rate in February, it is wonderful to contemplate the arrival of spring in the next few weeks. In March, our Jewish calendar gives us relief from serious matters with the holiday of Purim, which mandates silliness, playfulness, and even drunkenness.

I hope to see you all at our reading of the Megillah on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30 PM. Dress up in your most creative or silly costume, and help drown out each mention of Haman’s name with noise from groggers or foot stomping. Rabbi Senter promises to add some new creative touches to the Megillah reading, but you’ll have to be there to experience it. I hope to see many of our Hebrew School students and parents in costume for Purim, since regular classes have been canceled for that afternoon.

March is also a time of planning for spring. On Saturday, April 4th, the second night of Passover, we will hold our annual Community Seder, which will be led for the first time by Rabbi Senter. Jeffrey Friedman has agreed to organize this year’s seder, but a team of helpers will be needed for setup, so please let Jeffrey know if you are available. And be sure to reserve your seat at the seder when the notice goes out. This is an event that can bring together everyone in our temple community -- young and old, families and those who are single, newly arrived and longtime members.

A committee headed by Ira Schwartz and Brian Hyett has begun work on the Spring Social, to be held on the evening of May 9th. This is a big event and needs

many hands to make it a success, so if you have talents to share or just want to lend a hand, please contact Ira or Brian.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors has begun planning for the Annual Meeting, which will occur on Monday, May 18, preceded by the traditional hot dog supper.

This year marks the end of the two-year board terms of all board officers and one at-large member, so the Nominating Committee has begun to seek candidates to fill all eight seats. If you are interested in serving on the board, please contact Stephanie Ilberg-Lamm, Sandy Roberts, or any member of the current board.

Treasurer Howard Rubin has begun work on the 2015 budget, which must be voted on at the meeting, and a Bylaws Committee has been working on changes to some parts of our bylaws that will go before the community in May. Finally, the Annual Meeting will be a chance to honor some of the people who went above and beyond in serving the Temple community this year. If you have someone you want to nominate for recognition as a Shem Tov (good name), please let me or Barney know.

Another new development begins this month, when I will travel to New York with Rabbi Senter and Bob Bradbard for an all-day workshop called Sulam for Current Leaders, run by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We will join synagogue representatives from various parts of the country in developing our leadership skills through this one-year program, which will involve the entire board of directors and other key volunteers and staff in the synagogue. We welcome this opportunity to strengthen our community, and we look forward to sharing what we learn with all of you in the months ahead.

To Our Upcoming B’nai Mitzvot Families Don’t forget while planning your Bar/Bat Mitzvah that Temple Israel offers a beautiful social hall for not only your kiddush luncheon but also your evening affair. Our rental fee is less than 1/2 of what other function halls charge, we have a great dance floor, a 120” video screen and perfect lighting. The children can occupy the social hall while the adults lounge comfortably in our schmoozatorium, where we can offer separate dining.

Contact the Temple Office for more information.

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Brotherhood On Sunday, March 22, our own congregant Jennifer Shoer, a professional genealogist, will discuss Reconnecting With Your Jewish Roots: Methods and Techniques for Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy. Jennifer is the next speaker in the Temple Israel Brotherhood Sunday breakfast series.

Sisterhood We hope you will join us at one of our many, upcoming events below!

Save the Date: Women’s Passover Seder, Sunday, March 29th. Details to follow.

“Oh No Passover is Coming and I Will Starve” Cooking Class will be held on Sunday, March 15th from 9:30am-12:00pm. Limit: 10 people. Cost: $10.00/person. Please RSVP to the temple office. Please contact Lorrie Grossman for more information at beachmaven131@gmail.com.

The Book Club will be meeting on Sunday, March 8, 1:30pm to discuss The Rosendorf Quartet by R. Rozendorf. Please contact Pat Moreinis Dodge at Moreinis@comcast.net for more information.

Women Talking has not picked their March date, but if interested please contact Rachel Kurshan at rachelkurshan@gmail.com for more information.

Yoga – For upcoming dates please contact Deborah Levine at dlevine12@yahoo.com.

If you know of a member of the community who could use financial assistance, please call the Rabbi at (516) 450-5117 and leave a message with contact information. We can provide short-term help for utility bill payments, etc. and all will be kept in the strictest confidence.

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Tree of Life Have you noticed the beautiful Tree of Life in our sanctuary? Did you know it was created by one of our own congregants? Many leaves are still available. Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Wedding, New Baby...Honor the mitzvah of a loved one today. $180/each

Membership

Hebrew School News

The membership committee met this month to discuss ongoing and new initiatives for the year. We are planning to send a survey to the congregation in order to solicit general feedback about your experiences at TIP this year. Please take a moment and fill it out. We and the religious school are planning an open house that will take place in late Spring. Be on the lookout for the particulars and please pass along the information to any local friends who may be interested in the Temple. Shabbat at Home will take place May 29th and we will be sending out information on that in early April. Hope to see you soon at one of our many Temple events!

Lots of exciting things are afoot in the Hebrew School! The 6th and 7th grade trip to the Mayyim Hayyim Mikveh in Newton, Massachusetts was postponed due to the weather, but we are actively looking for a new date to make this special experience happen for our oldest students.

Community Passover Seder This year's Temple Israel Community Passover Seder will be on Saturday, April 4th. Invitations to our congregation will be sent by email and advertisements will be published locally and regionally. All are welcome!

Sisterhood Cooking Class: Oh No, It's Passover and I Will Starve!!

Does your family look forward to Passover food with dread? Our 2nd Sisterhood cooking class (sorry if you missed "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Latkes”) will make yummy french toast with fresh fruit compote, "spaghetti" with home made fresh tomato sauce, and much more.

Sunday, March 15th at 9:30am - class will take place in the Temple kitchen.

Cost: $10.00 The class is open to only 10 people. Please let me know any dietary restrictions in advance.

The 5th graders led their Friday night service last month in excellent form — the service was a pleasure for all who attended. Please join us on March 13th at 7:30pm, when the 4th graders will lead the Kabbalat Shabbat service and have their turn to shine.

Meanwhile, the 6th graders are hard at work on their Passover play and the Passover candy sale was a great success (orders will be in on March 29th). We have partnered ‘big kids’ with some of our younger students to mentor them during our weekly Tefillah (prayer) service, and all grades continue to enjoy music and other special programming throughout their curriculum.

At last, Purim (and maybe spring?) is just around the corner. Look forward to joining us for the Purim Carnival on March 8th...and new this year, the parents will join in the fun by assisting with a rousing Purim ‘Schpiel’ for all students before the Carnival begins. Also for Purim, students are busy preparing Shalach Manot baskets - gifts of food and hamentaschen - to celebrate the feast of Purim. Chag Sameach to all!

Passover Candy Fundraiser Orders will be in on March 29th!

- Lorrie Grossman

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Youth Group Shalom Everyone!

Happy March & Happy Adar!

All I have to report about February is SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! As I am writing this article on February 12th, we are expecting another snowstorm that might lead to a third school cancellation!

Enough already??

But all is not lost, yours truly has kept busy, ordering Purim Carnival prizes, sending out flyers, looking for hamantaschen bakers and organizing volunteers.

SAVE THE DATE! On Sunday, March 8th, we are having our annual PURIM CARNIVAL! There will be games, prizes, a 50/50 raffle to benefit the Youth Fund, and, of course, HAMANTASCHEN!! All other important information is on the flyer!

Children AND adults are encouraged and invited to dress up as your favorite Jewish characters! Anyone who comes in costume will get 2 prize tickets. If you don’t want a prize, you can always share with a child!

ALSO, the January 25th TRIVIA SUNDAE event that was cancelled due to snow, has been rescheduled to MARCH 29th. Parents please be on the lookout for that flyer and encourage your children to attend; it’s a fun way for them to learn all kinds of Jewish trivia!

As always, please feel free to call or email me with questions or ideas at 603-969-2984 or EGT9@aol.com.

L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, your friendly youth person

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Gesher Gesher will meet on March 29th at 3pm. The topic, which is rescheduled from January, will be the Role of Music in the Modern State of Israel: pioneer songs, political protest songs, music with its roots in all the many countries Jews have called home. We will look at what type of music has been popular when, and which songs are so iconic that they have almost become the country's soundtrack.

Children are natural scientists, intent on experimenting, observing, and discovering the world around them. Current research suggests that science experiences in the early childhood years support learning in other critical domains, specifically language and literacy development. How fortunate we are to have a holiday that seems to have been made for scientific investigation: Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees!

As you can imagine, the children of the Early Learning Center spent lots of time this past month engaged in all kinds of scientific explorations! They mixed up organic potting soil made from a compressed brick of coconut fiber and planted parsley and nasturtium seeds, avocado pits, and white potatoes. They placed celery stalks and white carnations in colored Laura Sher water and patiently observed the plants “absorb nutrients” and change color, and then had Director, ELC fun cutting the stems and seeing the tiny “transporting” tubes (xylem). The children also sorted almonds, brazil nuts and hazel nuts, and mastered the skill of cracking them open (and eating them)! And they also had fun crumbling, breaking and “decomposing” the tree bark in our discovery table. And on the few days when we braved the artic cold that this month has brought, and ventured outside, the children discovered animal tracks in the snow!

We also hosted a Tu B’Shevat Seder for our families (a tradition dating from the 16th century), where we tasted 15 different types of fruit indigenous to ancient and modern Israel, drank juice of differing shades to represent each season, and ate a chocolate date birthday cake in honor of the trees.

Tu B’Shevat also reminds us of our responsibility to care for the earth. Collectively we performed the mitzvot of Tzedakah (doing justice) by planting a “ring of trees” in Israel through our donation to the Jewish National Fund.

Wishing you a healthy and happy month ahead!

L’Shalom, Laura

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Etz Hayim & Siddurim Fundraiser Every year the school purchases a number of Etz Hayim books for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah class. These are the red books in the sanctuary that contain the Torah and Haftorah readings for the entire year.

This year, we’ve been offered a discount if we order 25 or more. The school only needs 12 and the sanctuary is always in need of additional copies. If you are interested in this opportunity to purchase and dedicate an Etz Hayim book (Chumash) for the sanctuary please contact the office. The cost is $65, which covers the price of the book plus a small donation to the Temple.

Siddurim (prayerbooks) are always available, as well, to dedicate a nameplate in honor or memory of a loved one. The cost per siddur is $50.

Klezmatics in Portsmouth March 12, 2015!

On Thursday, March 12, the Klezmatics will make their Portsmouth debut at the Music Hall as part of the Boston Jewish Music Festival, a multi-city, month long music series that brings a wide range of Jewish music to the greater Boston area. Temple Israel and Greater Seacoast Jewish Federation are the local co-sponsors of the concert, and a committee from Temple Israel is engaged in local outreach to ensure great attendance that night. Tickets: $20/$25/$36. http://bostonjewishmusicfestival.org. The Klezmatics are a Grammy Award-winning klezmer music group based in New York City who have achieved fame singing in several languages, most notably mixing older Yiddish tunes with other types of more contemporary music of differing origins. Mark your calendars now! It should be the biggest gathering of Jewish music lovers in Portsmouth in many years — or ever.

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INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT Mark Pierzynski & Giuseppe Erba and Barbara Pierzynski to the Michael A. Mittelman Memorial, Marilyn & Alvin Mars in memory of Rose Gross KIDDUSH FUND Adina Linden in memory of her sister Nordia Kay, Fran Lampert get well to Bob Goldberg, Cara Siegel HEBREW SCHOOL DONATION FUND Irving Bratter in memory of Joseph Cohen RABBI’S FUND Steven & Jeanne Wishengrad, Kurt & Rhoda Isselbacher in memory of his father Albert Isselbacher, Howard & Janice Steinberg in memory of his father Joseph Steinberg, Fred Feldman in memory of his father Mendel Feldman, Meryl Wein LIBRARY FUND Helen Arnold in memory of Wynn Arnold, Doris Freedman in memory of her mother Beatrice Downs, Paula Singer in memory of Ann Singer, Naomi & Arnold Fishbein in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz

Heartfelt Thanks My heartfelt thanks for all the moral support, kind words, beautiful cards and donations that you sent during the past few months.

Meryl Wein

TZEDAKAH FUND Jacqueline Ross in memory of her father and mother Arthur and Jeannette Black CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND Jewel Davis in memory of her mother Frances Lowe Davis PRESCHOOL DONATION FUND Fran Lampert in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, mother of Sue Tober BUILDING MAINTENANCE FUND Mickey Allen in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, mother of Sue Tober

Mazel Tov: to Fran Berman on the birth of her first grandchild Jacob Javier Klein Get Well: to Bob Goldberg and Maury Friedman Condolences: to Sue Tober and family on the passing of her mother Rosalyn Schwartz

When you are observing a family member’s yahrzeit, please be aware that you are welcome to say Kaddish not only at the Friday night or Saturday morning service, but also at the Tuesday minyan at 5:30pm, and, when school is in session, at the Wednesday school minyan at 5:00pm or Sunday children’s learning service at 9:15am.

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March Yahrzeits:

Adar 10 / Nissan 11

1 William Woolfson, Lazar Kantor, Jack Lessow, Louis Baer, Perla Ohayon, Mendel Feldman 2 Ann Belinsky, Abraham Levitt, Benjamin Gersh, Sam Rosenfield, Harry Fleischman, Barney Roach, Margaret Levine 3 Benjamin Cohn, Rose Osher, Jack Shulman, Bessie Stromer, Frances Goodman, Jonathan Brann, David Davidson 4 Philip Cohen, Henry Greenberg, Louis Forman 5 Minnie Brown, Solomon Levine, Lillian Greenfield, Robert Leavitt, Alexander Vero, Richard H. Goldberg, Joseph Fritz 6 Hester Shcwartz, Lena Gorman, Shirley Ginsberg

16 Katherine Goldberg, Ruth Heller, Irving Katz, Loretta (Lucky) Levy, David Rosengard, Ida Rubin, Libbye Halperin, Louis Poyourow 17 Irving Tober, Louis Schopick, Norman Freedman, William Hirshberg, Carol Schultz, Celia Weinberg 18 Bernard Levy, Abraham Prostkoff, Frances Dricker 19 Abraham Grossman, Charles Johnston, Jack Naparsteck, Alvin Effron, Stephen Bauer 20 Sarah Moldoff, Benjamin Tober, George Freedman, Harvey Ludwig, Stanley M. Epstein, John McQueeney 21 Mary Mackles, Irene Trott, Harry Klein

7 Sylvia Kahn Hillson, Louis Boxer

22 David Kushious, Jeffrey Gutin

8 Morris Greenfield, Dorothy Schwartz, Milfred Kniaz

23 Abraham Taube, Morris Saitz, Sara Cohen

9 Joseph Greenberg, Ann G. Schwartz

24 Minnie Zeidman, Leah Fleischman, Jacob Schertz, June Singer, Sidney Trubowitz

10 Henry Robbins, Susan Freedman Knussen, Norman Geller

25 Ida Grossman, Frieda Schramm

11 Sarah Greenberg, Rose Koiles, Harriet Berman

26 Meyer Sharansky, Gussie Landsman, Anne Baisuck, Herman Slass

12 B. Shafran, Barbara Silverman, Jacqueline Boibeaux, Sarah Trubowitz

27 Annie Cantor, Joseph Schwartz

13 Betsey Weiss, Ira Goldberg, Seth Lampert, Henry B. Glick, Paul Rubin

29 Rose Richman

14 Gus Cronheim, Megan DuPrie, Arthur Shaver 15 Lucille Abelson, Isaac Rottenberg, Peter Dricker, Helen Eskin

28 Belle Windt 30 Benjamin Green, Ronald Brass, Max (Manny) Weisner, Evelyn Berman, Harold McCrensky 31 Rose Cohen

Memorial Lights 10

Remembering our dear departed is an important Jewish tradition. A beautiful way to memorialize our loved ones in perpetuity is with a plaque in our sanctuary. Memorial plaques can be reserved or ordered for $250.

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MARCH 2015

Temple Israel 200 State Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-436-5301 OFFICE HOURS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday

9:00 am 9:00 am 11:00 am 9:00 am

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1:00 pm 1:00 pm 5:30 pm 1:00 pm