Temple Israel Doorpost - April 2015

April 2015

Nisan/Iyar 5775

From the Rabbi’s Study…

By Rabbi David Ross Senter

In Ashkanaz communities, the prevailing custom for Passover is to refrain from legumes known as Kitniyot.

The earliest mention of the Kitniyot custom is found in the Talmud (9th century) which quotes a minority opinion as follows “Rav Johanan ben Nuri prohibits rice and millet, because it is close to leaven.”

The Talmud rejects the opinion of Rav Johanan ben Nuri (Pesachim 35a). Later in the same tractate (Pesachim 114b), Rav Ashi tells us that Rav Huna and Rava used to eat rice at the seder. Rav Ashi concludes, “We do not pay attention to the opinion of Rav Johanan ben Nuri (in this matter).” At this point in history the custom of refraining from eating Kitnyot was a minority opinion which was not practiced widely.

In later generations, the Kitnyot custom is referenced as universally practiced in Ashkenaz countries. The Ba’alei Tosofot (13th century France) mention the custom of refraining from eating rice, beans, millet, and lentils. The Shulchan Aruch and later commentaries note an Ashkenazi prohibition on the following legumes as Kitniyot; beans, kasha (buckwheat), millet, mustard, lentils, peas, rice and sesame seeds (Bet Yosef, Rama and Mishnah Berurah).

The Mishnah Berurah cites three reasons for refraining from legumes known as Kitniyot:

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Kitniyot is often grown in the same fields as other grains and other grains may get intermingled among the Kitniyot.

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Kitniyot can be processed into products that appear as chametz, creating Marat Ayin (the appearance of impropriety).

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Kitniyot is processed and handled by the same vendors as other grains and other grains may get intermingled among the Kitniyot.

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Preschool Family Passover Celebration Wednesday, April 1st, 11:30am, Preschool

Community Seder Saturday, April 4th, 6:30pm, Social Hall

Tot-ally Shabbat & Kiddie Kiddush Friday, April 10th, Tot Shabbat 5:45pm

Open House for Potential Members Sunday, April 12th, 9:30-11am

Nominating Meeting Tuesday, April 14th, 6:30pm, Schmooze

Yom HaShoah Event Sunday, April 19th, 3pm, Sanctuary

Board Meeting Tuesday, April 21st, 7:00pm, Board Room

April Break Sunday, April 26th - Sunday, May 3rd No Preschool, No Hebrew School

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)

removal of extraneous chametz materials. The rigorous inspection is carried out prior to Passover.

(Continued from Page 1) In my humble opinion, reason No. 2 no longer applies. A trip to the Butcherie in Brookline will reveal that one can purchase Kosher for Passover cheerios, cake, bagel mix, etc. The availability of mass produced chametz imitations creates a common knowledge of their existence, thereby eliminating the concern of Marat Ayin (the appearance of impropriety).

On the other hand, reasons No. 1 & 3 are very applicable today. As a person who cooks beans on a regular basis, I can testify that other grains often get mixed into kitniyot (barley is a common extraneous material found in packages of beans). It is admirable for Ashkanaz Jews to continue the custom of refraining from kitniyot for these reasons alone.

Many Ashkanaz Jews feel compelled to follow the tradition of refraining from kitniyot to maintain the practices of previous generations. The concept of minhag avoteinu b'yadenu (marinating the custom of previous generations) adds an additional aspect to perpetuating this practical custom.

Sephardic Custom Regarding Kitniyot There is a common misconception that Sephardic tradition is not concerned with kitniyot. While the Sephardic tradition does not prohibit the consumption of kitniyot there are significant precautions that are followed in order to guarantee that extraneous chametz materials are not mixed into kitniyot products consumed on Passover. Sephardic tradition requires the careful inspection of all kitniyot products to facilitate the

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

Eating Kitniyot in a Home Following Sephardic Custom Regarding Kitniyot As discussed earlier, both Sephardic tradition and Ashkanaz tradition have similar concerns regarding kitniyot. The concerns align in areas of extraneous materials (reasons No. 1 & 3 above). Ashkanaz tradition addresses these concerns with a unilateral ban.

Sephardic tradition addresses these concerns by establishing inspection procedures to remove extraneous materials. Both approaches are valid ways of addressing real concerns.

There is a concept in Halacha (Jewish law) that allows Minhag Hamakom (local custom) to override individual custom. This is particularly true where departing from the local custom will cause disharmony (Pesachim 50b). It is the author's opinion that this principle is most appropriately applied in our situation. An Ashkanaz Jew who is invited to the home of a Sephardic Jew on Passover should feel free to follow the Minhag Hamakom (local custom) and enjoy the kitniyot products served by his/her host. Doing so will promote Ahavat Yisrael (love for one's fellow Jews) and Achdut Yisrael (harmony among one's fellow Jews).

May we be blessed to find avenues to promote Ahavat Yisrael (love for one's fellow Jews) and Achdut Yisrael (harmony among for one's fellow Jews). May we be similarly blessed opportunities to build meaningful relationships with our neighbors of other faith traditions, bringing to fruition the vision of our Torah "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:17)

April April April April

3rd 10th 17th 24th

6:54pm 7:02pm 7:10pm 7:18pm

By Fran Berman, Acting President & Ritual Chair April is a time of new growth, new energy, possibilities. Appropriately enough, we will start the month with our Community Passover Seder on Saturday, April 4th, led for the first time by Rabbi David Senter. It should be an evening of good fellowship, delicious food, and a renewed sense of community. I hope to see many of you there!

The spring is a great time to look at where we are and where we are going as a community. So the Membership Committee’s online survey was well timed, and it delivered some excellent news. Some 77% of those responding rated their experience at Temple Israel as very good or excellent. Another 23% rated it satisfactory, and nobody gave an unsatisfactory rating.

The survey also asked for suggestions to make members feel more welcome, more connected, and more engaged. The board and our temple committees will be reading the many responses with interest, and I’m sure these comments and suggestions will spark all kinds of new insights and new ideas. If you did not fill out the survey but would like to share suggestions, email templeoffice@templeisraelnh.org with the subject line Membership Survey.

NOMINATING MEETING Tuesday, April 14th, 6:30pm If you are interested in putting your name forward for an open seat on the Board of Directors, please contact Stephanie IlbergLamm (seklamm@comcast.net) or any other member of the board.

DUES PAYMENTS Please remember to send in your dues before year end so we can appropriately budget for next fiscal year. All payments are due by May 30th, 2015.

If you are not sure if you have a balance, please contact the Office and Alissa Holmes can assist you. 603.436.5301 x10

In another new beginning, the Board of Directors begins a leadership development program in April, holding our first session in the Sulam for Current Leaders program through United Synagogue. This program promises to deliver a stronger, better organized board through board participation in a series of six workshops in the year ahead. The first of these sessions, on April 15, will focus on assessing our leadership plan, taking each board member (incoming as well as current) through a board selfassessment exercise to identify our board’s strengths and where we need to focus our attention to reach the next level. The session will be led by Aimee Close, Transformation Specialist with United Synagogue.

Over the next few years, the Sulam program promises to help TI leaders develop a shared vision and purpose, better understand their roles, foster partnerships between lay and staff leaders, create an annual learning agenda, build an environment friendly to innovation, welcome emerging leaders,

and establish clear succession plans. Wishing everyone a wonderful Pesach and many new beginnings this spring!

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Brotherhood

Here are two ways you can help. Thank you!

Join us on Sunday, April 12th at 3pm for our Yom HaShoah program. This moving ceremony will feature Rabbi Senter speaking about the Holocaust Torah, which will be on site. Also, planning for the spring fundraiser “The Shang’Chai’ Shindig” is well underway. Look for your invitation in the mail this week!

-- Attend an SFP fundraiser, such as the Robert's Maine Grill community suppers on 4/1 or 4/8, or the popular Barn Dance on 5/23. More info at sfpnh.org (select "About," then "Events").

Sisterhood Save the Date: Sunday, April 19th – Sisterhood Spin at Cycle Fierce! Come join us at 1:15pm for a 50 minute “spin.” For those interested, we will go for a coffee/tea/snack to eat after. Cycle Fierce 2454 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth (in the McKinnon’s Shopping Plaza) This is my very first indoor cycling class.

What can I expect? What is so unique about indoor cycling is how accessible it is to all fitness levels. It’s YOUR ride! As a beginner, our studio staff will help you set up and adjust your bike so you are comfortable and properly positioned. You can ride at your own pace and modify your resistance on the bike as needed.

Our instructors will coach and guide you during the ride and will always demonstrate modifications for all fitness levels.

In lieu of a fee for this class, donations will be accepted for Temple Israel’s Educational Endowment.

Seacoast Family Promise The SFP volunteers from TIP are looking forward to hosting the families again during the weeks beginning May 3 and June 7. Fortunately, our volunteer teams (for cooking, serving and staying overnight with the guests) are complete right now. But whether or not you are a handson volunteer, you can still be part of our temple community's commitment to SFP.

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-- Join the SPF TIP email list to find out about other ways to help, such as donating specific items that families need when they move out of the program. To join the list, send your email address to Margie Wachtel: may12@comcast.net.

Nancy Mae Shaines Library Hello Library Lovers! We at the library have been busy planning several projects to note.

First, the online library survey is available through April. Please let Sara know if you would like a paper copy. Participants can be entered in a raffle for gift cards to RiverRun Bookstore, Friendly Toast, and Portsmouth Book & Bar. Thank you for your input - we want to make sure the library fits your needs!

In the coming months, we will integrate brand new workstations for your use, both Mac and PC! Thanks to MJ Shoer, Howard Rubin, and all of our library fund donors for making this possible!

Sara has been revamping the teen area, planning additions to the collection and recataloging fiction for easy browsing. We now have a teen graphic novel section - come check it out!

In addition, we are excited to announce the prospect of an official rare book collection! The committee is currently researching proper archival cases to display our treasures. If anyone is looking for a worthy cultural cause to donate to, please keep this project in mind. Rabbi Senter helped sort through crates full of antiquarian and other special Judaica that we would like to keep protected while on display in our lovely space.

A friendly reminder to check your shelves for library items-- although we do not have late fees, we do need to replace items that are not returned in a timely manner. Contact Sara if you would like to renew items you are still using.

Lastly, Movie Night will be announced soon thanks to a Cultural Endowment grant - thank you! We’ll be in touch with a date and title soon.

Ritual Friday nights offer a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to experience Shabbat. Our Friday night service starts at 7:30pm with some familiar songs and prayers, such as Shalom Aleichem and L’cha Dodi. We read some psalms in

English, with each person reading a few verses.

We all join in the song, “It’s time to say good Shabbos” as we greet one another warmly. One highlight is Rabbi Senter’s D’var Torah explaining some aspect of the week’s parsha and its relevance in our lives. The service concludes around 8:30pm, and is followed by an Oneg in the schmooze, where those attending catch up with one another, meet new people, and relax after a busy week. If you have not experienced a Friday night service recently, please give yourself a treat and join this warm introduction to the Sabbath.

Those with young children (ages 2-6) are invited to our new monthly Tot-ally Shabbat Friday night service, which starts at 5:45pm and finishes around 6:30pm, followed by kid-friendly snacks.

This is a special Tot Shabbat service with songs that the children (and parents) can easily learn.

Rabbi Senter has devised a special booklet with the songs and bright illustrations. It is a real joy to see the children actively participating, whether by volunteering animal sounds, offering answers to the rabbi’s questions, or just singing or dancing along. Parents have a good time, too!

This year, Passover begins and ends on the weekend, so we are canceling our usual Friday night service as many members attend a Seder at home.

If you do not have a Seder to go to on Friday, April 3rd, and would like to join another family, please let Alissa Holmes know. And if you are holding a Seder and have room for one or two more guests, also let Alissa know. We will hold a Saturday morning Shabbat and Passover service on April 4, starting at 10am instead of the usual 9:30. We hope the later start will make it easier to get to shul after attending a first night Seder .

The Community Passover Seder is Saturday, April 4th, at 6:30pm. A big thank you to Jeffrey Friedman and Leslie Schwartz for organizing this once again. The food (catered by Sally Cobb of Mezzanine Catering) will be delicious! This year is special—Rabbi Senter’s first Seder at Temple Israel. All are welcome—please just let the office know so we have enough settings at the tables.

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Shalom Everyone!

On Wednesday, March 25th, Rabbi Senter and Elissa and the Holocaust Torah made their first official entrance to Temple Israel during Hebrew School hours. This excellent timing provided a wonderful teaching opportunity whereupon the Torah scroll was unrolled in the Social Hall—protected by tallit that was a wedding gift from Rabbi Senter’s grandmother to his grandfather—and all the kids got to experience a meaningful connection by viewing this Memorial Scroll created by a scribe hundreds of years ago. We at the school look forward to participating in the journey of the scroll as it is incorporated into Jewish life here at our Temple.

On Sunday, April 12th from 9:30-11, we are holding an Open House for potential new members and new students. If you know someone who might be interested in attending, please let them know or direct them to our website.

Questions can be directed to Amy Hyett, our membership chair. I am happy to answer questions, too.

A big thanks to parents who have helped out in the school this month. It takes a village to raise a fantastic group of kids and it is a pleasure to work with all of you in this holy endeavor! If you haven’t had a chance to volunteer yet, please consider signing up to help when you see the volunteer forms coming around with next year's school registration papers.

Along those lines, I think I speak for all of us when we extend a HUGE THANK YOU to Elian Tackeff to once again putting on the BEST Purim Carnival EVER!!! Did you hear the giggles?

See the wide eyes at the prize table? Hear the mumbling hamantaschen filled mouths? I sure did! Elian worked with parent and teacher volunteers to make this event happen THANK YOU TO ALL HELPERS! Look for registration paperwork for the 2015/16 school year over the next month. We appreciate your prompt response to handing this in so we can start planning for next year! Happy 6 Pesach to all and enjoy your children. Chag Sameach, Noa

Cognitive and behavioral theorists believe that “the heart of all learning lies in the way that we process our experiences.” And in an early childhood classroom, the more hands-on the experiences are, the more a child can learn with their “whole” self: their intellect, their senses, their feelings and their personalities. This past month has been filled with many new experiences that generated wonder, excitement and joy!

We introduced Havdalah, the ceremony with which we transition from the holiness of Shabbat, to a brand new week.

Laura Sher On Mondays we now bid farewell to Shabbat with blessings Director, ELC and songs, as we sip a cup of juice, light a special braided Havdalah candle, and smell besameem (cinnamon and cloves), symbolically holding on to the sweetness of Shabbat just a little bit longer…

We also spent our days immersed in all things related to Pesach! Telling the story of the Exodus of the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt over 3000 years ago is the highest goal of the holiday. And in our classroom we told (and retold!) the Passover story through song and movement, as the children took on the roles of Yocheved, Miriam, Moses, the Israelite slaves and King Pharaoh.

As “slaves,” the children built all kinds of structures from a host of materials (marshmallows and toothpicks, boxes and glue, bricks painted with sand). And of course, we made edible mortar (charoset) with apples, nuts and honey, experimented with yeast, explored the properties of water and salt, and mastered the culinary art of making fluffy matzoh balls!

Pesach is also know as Chag HaAviv, the Spring Festival, and is a time of new life and rebirth. And although the ground in New Hampshire is still covered with snow, the children have embraced the outdoors with zeal, as the brightening sunshine and warmer days beckon. We can’t wait to start digging and planting in our raised bed gardens!

Looking ahead…Fall registration is now open! Our schedule is MWF 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you know of any families who are exploring preschool options and are looking for a warm and nurturing environment, where children can grow and develop a love of learning, please have them contact me at preschool.director@templeisraelnh.org. Wishing you a healthy and happy month ahead, with warm thoughts of spring!

L’Shalom, Laura

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Shalom Everyone and Happy Spring! It is almost time to celebrate Pesach, but first let me tell you about Purim!

On Wednesday, March 4th, we celebrated Purim with Rabbi Senter’s really cool Megillah Reading/Purim Spiel/Funny Movie Scene Power Point Presentation! The Social Hall was packed, the hamantaschen were delicious and Ken Kowalchek made sure the adults washed it all down with an appropriate shot of something strong!

On Sunday, March 8th, it was all about young people!

First, there was a Purim Play in the Sanctuary. I hear the bearded Esther was hilarious, enthusiastic parent actors didn’t want to leave the stage and the horse was very convincing. I also hear there was a ton of laughter and I hope someone there was videotaping it so I can see what I missed!!

Then, it was time for our Annual Purim Carnival!

The Social Hall once again filled up, this time with many costumed children of all ages. Games were run by energetic 6th and 7th graders who were, I’ve been told by many parents, very kind to the little children (OK, some kvelling is in order now), prize tickets were exchanged for fun prizes, runners ran around replenishing prize tickets, 400 or more yummy hamantaschen were devoured, and the LePage Family won the 50/50 raffle and promptly donated their winnings back to the Youth Fund. Thank you Gail, Tom & Ari!!!

An hour and a half of happy shrieks, fun games, yummy hamantaschen, cute costumes and, the oh so hard decisions about which prizes to choose! None of it would have been possible without help of many volunteers, SO BIG, HUGE THANK YOUS go to: Hamantaschen Crew: Lydia Howard, Rhoda and Fred Feldman, Laurie Barr, Alice Ehrlich, Amy, Sam and Miles Borne, Sarah Albion, Sadie DiCarlo, Abby Asch, and Lorrie Grossman Game/Raffle Ticket Sellers: Laura Sher, Amy Borne, Elissa Senter

Game Crew: Members of 6th & 7th Grades and Deborah Ehrlich Head Runner: Meryl Wein Prize Table Crew: the amazing teens: Dana Sher, Rebecca and Rachel Salzman and Hannah Siegel

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Also Dan Hastie our custodian for setting up tables and chairs and putting away 6 huge boxes of Carnival Stuff, Noa Bourke and my fellow teachers for lining up helpers and moral support, Ron Sher for his great pictures, The Lamm Family and Ian Warner for cleaning up at the end, Michele Albion, Jeanne Wishengrad, and Erika Baril for volunteering wherever needed, Miss Rowan McNally aka Harry Potter, also last year’s winner, for picking the winners, Alissa Holmes, Al Spaien and last but not least, Dr. Ira Schwartz and The Cultural Endowment Fund for providing the funds for prizes and refreshments! THANK YOU ALL! YOU ARE AWESOME!

Wishing you all a Happy Pesach! L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, your friendly youth person

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT Bert & Deborah Freedman in honor of the Moldoff’s 60th Anniversary, David & Marianne Forman in memory of his father Louis Forman, Sue & Steve Tober in memory of their fathers Daniel Schwartz and Benjamin Tober, Gloria & Harold Moldoff in memory of his mother Sarah Moldoff and her father Albert Woolfson, Stanley & Rita Robbins in memory of Bessie & Morris Marcus, Paula & Stuart Boxer in memory of his father Louis Boxer and her father David Rosengard, Rosilyn Steinberg & Marilyn Gorman in memory of their mother Lena Gorman, Gloria Turner in memory of her mother Pauline Applebaum KIDDUSH FUND Gary & Rene Levy in memory of Sue Tober’s mother, Rosalyn Schwartz, Leonard & Roberta Baer in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, Leonard & Roberta Baer in memory of Louis Baer, Arline Koiles & Izzy Bratter in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, Frances Lampert in memory of her mother Annie Baisuck, Michael & Debbie Jean Debeck in honor of Sarah Hoskin’s Bat Mitzvah, Maureen Sher in memory of Harry Fischman, Liz & Matt Jacobs, Laura & Michael Rubin, Beth & Scot Sakelarios HEBREW SCHOOL DONATION FUND Michael Rubin in memory of his father Paul Rubin RABBI’S FUND Sandy & Helaine Roberts in honor of the Moldoff’s 60th Anniversary, Alan Cronheim, The Shepard Broad Foundation in honor of Sue Goldin LIBRARY FUND Joan Hankin in memory of her father Ben Gersh, Shaula & Dana Levenson in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, Myrna & Howard Promer in memory of her father Max Weisner, Paula & Karl Singer in memory of her father Harold McCrensky

Bob & Marge Goldberg want to thank all of you who have offered your good wishes and prayers for Bob’s improved health.

TZEDAKAH FUND Diane Goulston in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, Nancy & Mel Alexander in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, Shirley Fleischman in memory of her husband Harry Fleischman, Agnes Cabot in memory of her father Alexander Vero, Arline Coles in memory of her mother Sarah Simmons, Sue & Steve Tober in thanks to Rabbi Senter for his support during shiva/minyan at their home, Shel & Renee Goodman in memory of Robert G. Lippemeier and her brother Stephen Bauer CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND Jody Kahn in memory of her grandmother Sylvia Hillson, Betty & David Effron in memory of his father Alvin Effron and her father Herman Slass, Shirley & Elliott Fishbein in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, Shirley & Elliott Fishbein in memory of her father Jack Lessow and his father David Fishbein, Ethel Trubowitz in memory of her husband Dr. Sidney Trubowitz, Bernice Richman in memory of her mother Rose Richman PRESCHOOL DONATION FUND Ira & Veta Stone in honor of the Moldoff’s 60th Anniversary, Ira & Veta Stone in memory of his mother Elizabeth Stone, Selma Freedman, Naomi & Arnold Fishbein in memory of Gloria Sanford, Naomi & Arnold Fishbein in memory of Toby Channen’s father Harvey, Irving Gutin in memory of his son Jeffrey Gutin DUES ABATEMENT FUND Ethel Trubowitz in memory of her loving mother-in-law Sarah Trubowitz

Condolences to: Bea Friedman and family on the passing of Maury Friedman

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April Yahrzeits:

Nisan 12 / Iyar 11

1 Tillie Shapiro, Rose Handler, Morris Silverman

16 Louis Bradbard, Rose Scheckter, Mollie Wolf

2 Annie Yoffee, Barney Freedman, Aaron Warach

17 Gladys Goodman, Max Freedman, Ernie Kessler, Sarah Polimar, Gertrude Borden

3 Miriam Ackerman, Otto Salzman, Robert Lasky

18 Annie M. Freaman, Danielle Harman, Sol Lesser, Laura Share, Samuel Share, Mildred Friedman

4 Bertha Fox, Sylvia Portman, Lee Harrison 5

Sarah Black, Esther Shulman, Rosalie Katz, Ruth Dennis

19 Dora Taube 21 Edward Segel, Sarah Bratter, Edward Siegel

7 Lawrence Friedman, Davida Roberts, Jerome Fishbein

22 Rev. Jacob Meyerson, Anna Siegel, Lillie Sorkin

8 John Rosenbloom, Katie Lampert

23 Jeanette Kaufman

9 Herman Blank, Sarah Levine, Robert Brann, Pauline Bailey, Frederick Gersh

24 Pamela Shulman

10 Samuel Kolikof, Leonard Levy 11 Eric Goulston, Sarah Borwick, Max Rosenfield 12 Maurice Lightung, Rae Pearl 13 Lena Rosen, Tillie Fein 14 Samuel Kline, Judith Kramer 15 Joseph Cohen, Milton Roberts, Ida Silverman, Roberta Berman, Brina Lampert

25 Moses Haritonov, Ethel Pierce 26 Bessie Rosenbloom, Ida Cooper, Harry Singer 27 Hyman Berlin 28 Rose Singer 29 Charles Zitomer 30 Morton Nannis, Tillie Spaien

Thank you from the Cemetery Committee The cemetery committee would like to thank Gloria and Harold Moldoff for their generous donation to purchase a funeral pall for the Temple. May the thoughts of our departed loved ones always be a blessing.

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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