Temple Israel Doorpost - May 2016

May 2016

Nisan / Iyar 5776

From the Rabbi’s Study…

As I write this article, the phone is constantly ringing. As well it should, today is erev, erev Pesach. Passover is the holiday of questions. A call from Wells, Maine inquiring about the availability of matzah, a last minute seder reservation, a UNH student looking for a seder and countless questions regarding the recent Law Committee decision regarding legumes on Passover.

According to recent statistics, the Passover Seder is the most observed ritual event of the Jewish calendar. Seemingly non observant Jews go to great lengths to attend the Passover Seder even when they are traveling. What is it about the Passover Seder that is so significant? What aspect of the ritual calls to the Jewish soul in a way that surpasses even the call of Rosh Hashana’s Shofar?

Yom HaShoah Remembrance & Speaker Kati Preston Sunday, May 1st, 3pm, Sanctuary

Shabbat at Home Friday, May 6th, Various Seacoast Homes

Bat Mitzvah of Sadie DiCarlo Saturday, May 7th, 9:30am, Sanctuary

The simplistic answer is gastronomical Judaism. We Jews love to eat. A student of mine described all Jewish holidays as follows. “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.” While the gastronomical experience of a Seder might be attractive, could the allure of Matzah really outshine the cheesecake of Shavuot? Do the bitter herbs of Passover taste sweeter than Rosh Hashana’s honey? Can those ever improving Passover bagels hold a candle to Shabbat’s Challah? While Passover’s gastronomic experience is unique, one would hardly classify it as gourmet.

Annual Meeting & Hot Dog Supper

Perhaps it’s about history. The collective opportunity to remember a time long passed, a shared moment in history that we consider defining. For the traditional Jew, this may be the case. What is the draw for the non-traditional Jew? I have had people at my Seder table who question the historic accuracy of the exodus. Why would someone celebrate events which they are not certain occurred?

Saturday, May 28th, 9:30am, Sanctuary

The answer is found in the words of the Seder, “bchol dor v’dor chayav adam lir’ot atzmo k’iylu hu yatza miMitzrayim” (in every generation a person is required to view themselves as if they experienced the exodus). Tradition teaches us that we are supposed to feel as if we went from slavery to freedom. My grandmother once said the following Continued on page 2

Monday, May 9th, 6pm/6:30pm Meeting

Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Sakelarios Saturday, May 14th, 9:30am, Sanctuary

Bat Mitzvah of Natalee Wizwer Saturday, May 21st, 9:30am, Sanctuary

Bar Mitzvah of Max Greenspan Save the Date: 6/5 Community Picnic

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

10:00am-3:00pm

Friday

9:00am-12:00pm

Sunday

9:00am-12:00pm

Continued from Page 1 in jest, “Every woman who has cleaned the house for Passover, prepared a Seder and served it, has experienced the exodus once their work is done.” The Seder reminds us of past events through ritual and symbolism yet the Seder is not about those events, it is about growth and understanding by facing challenges. Each of us has challenges in our lives. We become slaves to those challenges if we are not able to adapt and grow while facing life’s challenges.

Each of us faces challenges that require us to rise up and evolve on personal and professional levels. The Seder and its rituals remind us that even slaves can evolve and grow by facing challenges and adapting. Challenges can be frightening. They force us to step out of our comfort zone. It is important for us to understand that each challenge presents opportunity for significant growth. This is a promise of the exodus narrative and one of many divine truths contained in the Passover Seder. The stories of our sacred texts, as celebrated on Passover, are a delivery system of divine truths and lessons. These sacred truths make the discussion of historical accuracy irrelevant.

May May May May

2

6th 13th 20th 27th

7:32pm 7:40pm 7:47pm 7:54pm

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

Annual Meeting & Hot Dog Supper Monday, May 9th, 6pm for Supper 6:30pm Meeting Begins Open to All Congregants—Join Us! No RSVP Required/No Cost

Sisterhood Join us at one of our many upcoming events!

SAVE THE DATE: TIP Community Picnic, Sunday, June 5th, 11:30am at New Castle Commons.

Bring the family! We hope you will consider bringing a dairy or parve dish to share. Stay tuned for more information.

Activity Group Updates: Sunday, May 1st Women Talking will be meeting at 1:30pm @TIP Schmooze. Contact Rachel Kurshan at rachelkurshan@gmail.com for more information.

Sunday, June 26th, Book Club will meet at 1:30pm to read Guide To The Perplexed, by Dora Horn.

Contact Pat Moreinis Dodge at pat@pmid.org for information.

Questions? Email TIsisterhoodNH@yahoo.com.

Thank You! To all who attended this year’s Passover Community Seder.

We had a record 80 people come together to celebrate Pesach.

Kudos to Jeffrey Friedman for taking on the kashering of the TIP kitchen every year for Passover and also for all his hard work organizing the Seder!

Bat Mitzvah of Sadie DiCarlo Saturday, May 7th, Temple Israel Sanctuary My name is Sadie DiCarlo. I go to The Cooperative Middle School in Stratham, NH. Some of my interests are playing piano and concertina, writing, hiking, playing field hockey, lacrosse, acting and many others. Judaism is important to me because it is part of who I am and I would love to learn more about it. I did thirteen mitzvot and my favorite one was a trash cleanup along Jennes beach in Hampton NH. It made me feel happy that I was cleaning up the environment for the animals and people.

Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Sakelarios Saturday, May 14th, Temple Israel Sanctuary My name is Jacob Sakelarios. I attend Hampton Academy in Hampton, NH. My interests include Karate, playing Baseball, Basketball, running Cross Country, and creating and building RC Cars, Drones and Robots. Judaism is important to me because I am able to be part of another community besides school, sports and hobbies. I have had the opportunity to meet others that I would not have previously met by attending religious school and Temple activities. For my Bar Mitzvah, I have done thirteen individual mitzvah projects instead of one large one. The projects were under the topics of Torah, Avodah, and G’milut Hasadim. Some examples of what I did were watching a movie about the Holocaust, visiting another temple for a Shabbat service, and participating in a community beach clean up.

Bat Mitzvah of Natalee Wizwer Saturday, May 21st, Temple Israel Sanctuary My name is Natalee Wizwer. I attend Newmarket Junior High School. My interests are dancing, skiing, shopping, hanging with my friends, singing, being with my family, acting and doing science experiments. Judaism is important to me because I think it is important to keep our culture and heritage alive.

Bar Mitzvah of Max Greenspan Saturday, May 28th, Temple Israel Sanctuary My name is Max Greenspan and I attend Berwick Academy. In my spare time I enjoy reading and playing tennis and basketball. My Jewish identity is a source of constant comfort and pride. I know that wherever I go I can draw from this caring community for support, friendship, and inspiration.

3

Education “BOARDING FOR THE FLIGHT TO ISRAEL AT GATE...CHAPEL…” Who knew we had an 'airplane' in the chapel?! The children in grades K-2 can tell you we do! The youngest students headed off on their pretend trip to Israel with passports in hand on April 4th. They visited several “cities” in the building and floated in the social hall's “Dead Sea” with newspapers. The camels in the schmooze were stars! A big thanks to all the seventh graders and parents who guided kids between the stations, manned the “Egged Bus” and sold them snacks in the “Dizengoff Café.” The children had a wonderful time learning about our homeland and have already asked if we can ‘fly’ there again soon. Parents also stepped up to hunt for chometz around the building with grades K-2 this past weekend. Clues led them to find different types of leavened food to be removed before Passover. It is wonderful for the faculty to see the young people becoming comfortable with their synagogue. The shy kids from the Fall are now confident Pesach cleaners marching around their shul!

The older students are wrapping up several weeks of intense learning and focus. All of the class services have shown that their hard work has paid off. I am very proud of the students who challenged themselves to learn just a few more prayers this year in the Shabbat Tefilah. Kol haKavod! Grades 3-7 served as parents, witnesses, ketubah signers and wedding guests as the Mock Wedding of Elisa and Andrew Share was conducted in our sanctuary.

Mazel tov on the groom and bride, escorted to the chupah by solemn 6th graders! The kids thank you for showing them how a Jewish wedding is celebrated! There was rapt attention for the service until the kiss caused a collective “Ew!” to be shared by the under 13 year olds.

The school has held two learner's seders during this pre-Pesach week for the young people and the halls are filled with four questions. Everyone is ready to head out into the wilderness to wrestle with the

4

responsibility of freedom. The faculty and I wish you all a wonderful and meaningful Chag. We look forward to seeing you all back after the vacation week. - Noa Bourke, Head of School

Ritual Spring is starting to settle in and here are a few things to look forward to around the Temple in addition to the nicer weather. On June 10th there will be a musical Friday night service with Rabbi Sruli Dresdner. He comes to us from Long Island via his current position in Auburn, Maine. Save the date Sunday June 12th for a luncheon following services for Shavuot. Look for more details in the Doorpost in June. Cantor Nafshi will be with us on July 1st for a musical Friday night service. This is also the first day of the new start time for Friday night services which will begin at 6:15pm.

Enjoy the spring, summer will be here soon enough.

L’Shalom, David Olken

Israel Affairs Committee The Israel Affairs Committee's Tuesday evening study -discussion meetings about Israel past and present will conclude on Tuesday 5/3l, 7pm, in the Board Room with a focus on the history of the peace process, current conditions, and future prospects. Readings for these topics are available on the Temple website, and you are welcome to attend whether or not you have read or have attended previously.

Since February, the Committee has sponsored three Sunday morning brunches with attendance averaging about 25. We look forward to a fall brunch and presentation by Israeli Deputy Consul General for Boston, Matan Zamir, September 25th, 10am-noon, topic TBA. The Committee's goal has been to deepen the congregation's understanding and support of Israel. We are gratified by the interest members have shown, and welcome your feedback on this year's programming as well as what you would like to have in the future.

Leaving Our Narrow Places for the Great Outdoors

By Fran Berman, President Writing this column, I sit at my computer sniffing the scent of the chicken soup simmering on my stove, which I will serve to a few friends and family at my Passover Seder in a few days. By the time you read this column, the Seder will be a memory, and the last days of Passover will have come and gone.

All of the effort put into the Pesach observance will have faded from view as we ponder the future, proclaiming, “Next year in Jerusalem!�

Just as our ancestors left the narrow constricts of slavery in a foreign land for their long trek to Erets Yisrael, recounted in our Seders, we are now moving out of our narrow place of winter into the full warmth of spring. Our freedom will hopefully include time relaxing outdoors, unencumbered by gloves, boots, and down jackets. I look forward to enjoying a walk in the forest, a stroll by a brook, a visit to the beach to experience the power of the surf and the life hidden beneath the waves. Are these Jewish activities, I wonder? What does nature have to do with Judaism?

In my life, nature has a close tie with Judaism.

Growing up in a secular household, my experience of the High Holidays did not include synagogue attendance. Rather, it involved taking a drive to the ocean or a lake and going for a peaceful walk with my family. Perhaps that is why on Yom Kippur I always like to have some time during the afternoon fast to sit quietly and observe nature.

Similarly, on Shabbat afternoons during the warmer weather, I like to put my feet up in a comfy chair on my screen porch and read a book, pausing now and then to listen to a bird or watch a squirrel in a nearby tree. These moments in nature enrich my experience of Shabbat, reminding me that our world belongs not just to us, but to all living creatures. As we move into the season of gardens, orchards, and wild flowers, it is good take some time out to enjoy the natural

beauty that surrounds us here in New Hampshire. I encourage each of you to make a connection with nature on one of our beautiful spring Shabbats. The moments spent communing with the natural world can provide you with a real source of spiritual renewal and refreshment, the essence of what Shabbat can be.

If you have children in your household, make sure they also have a chance to connect with nature on their own terms now that the weather is warmer and the outdoors is more accessible. So many of our children run from one structured activity to another, with few moments on their own to explore, create, or just enjoy the world around them. I see this as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor -- so many of our children are shuttled between secular and religious school, sports, music lessons, and other structured activities, with little time to lie in the grass and just be. I hope that this spring and summer, the freedom we celebrated on Pesach comes to everyone in your household, young and old, and that we can all break free of our constricted, busy lives for a while and enjoy some of the wonders of nature.

Seacoast Family Promise If you're already a SFP volunteer, curious about volunteering, or just interested in learning about what family homelessness looks like here in the Seacoast (no commitment to volunteer), please come to: Seacoast Family Promise Training Sunday, May 22, 12:45-2:30 p.m. at Temple Israel (lunch included) Trainings like these rotate among the faith communities that make up SFP, so this is a rare chance to take the training in your very own, conveniently located and familiar synagogue! We still need more volunteers to fill all the jobs that need to be done, so if you are at all interested, contact Margie Wachtel at may12@comcast.net or 603-498-0473. Also coming up in May: The popular Barn Dance fundraiser, on May 14 in Hampton. For tickets, or to learn more about Seacoast Family Promise generally, please visit www.SeacoastFamilyPromise.org

5

What fun we had on April 9th! Over 100 people gathered to schmooze, nosh, gamble and relax.

And we raised almost $7,000 along the way!

Stay tuned for next year’s theme. Let’s make it even bigger and better in 2017!

6

Many thanks to the committee for all their hard work: Leslie Allen, Sara Arnold, Bert Freedman, Jeffrey Friedman, Alissa Gold, Helen Hanan, Meaghan Herman, Alissa Holmes, Brian Hyett, Lovey Oliff, Sandy Roberts, Ira Schwartz, Elissa & Rabbi Senter!

Every year at Pesach we are obligated to retell the story of the Exodus of the Israelite people from Egypt. It’s the crucial event that marks the beginning of the Jewish people.

And believe me, our preschoolers had no trouble feeling that they personally had been liberated from slavery to freedom! Over the course of several weeks, through stories, songs, and movement, the children experienced the adventures of baby Moses (floating in a basket on the River Nile, narrowly escaping crocodiles), the hard work of the Laura Sher slaves (as they dug and hammered bricks every day and Director, ELC every night), a heated confrontation with Pharaoh to “Let my People Go,” and the annoying plague of frogs hopping everywhere!

The children also hosted a Passover Seder for their families, highlighting their culinary talents with homemade charoset (chopped apples, nuts and honey), maror (freshly grated horseradish root), and the best matzah balls ever!

We also spent time this past month immersed in experimentation with both salt water and yeast, as they each play pivotal roles in the Pesach story. We “grew” cubic crystals of salt (actually the mineral halite), from the evaporation of mixtures of highly saline solutions. And we changed tiny grains of yeast from dormant to active organisms, which produced foaming bubbles of carbon dioxide, with just the simple addition of warm water and sugar! “Oh, so this is how bread becomes leavened!” the children exclaimed. And then, of course, we made a very simple and classic French bread, pain ordinaire!

And now that spring is truly here and the days are warm and inviting, the children have been honing their skills as “monkeys extraordinaire!” Every day on our playground both Elian and I are witness to the powerful, strong, and confident young people that our preschoolers are becoming, all because they confront the challenge of pulling themselves across, up, or over the monkey bars!

Please consider donating to the ELC Playground Fund to help pay for our playground. Each and every gift makes a difference in the lives of our preschoolers, enabling them to fulfill the mitzvah of Shmirat HaGuf, caring for their bodies through an active lifestyle.

Wishing you a Happy Pesach, and a healthy month ahead!

L’Shalom, Laura

7

Shalom Everyone & Happy May! On Sunday, April 17th, Youth Group went to Fox Run Mall!! “The mall???” you say? Yes, indeed, but not to shop!

We piled a bunch of 4th–6th graders into two cars and went to Glow Golf, a brand new indoor mini golf venue right next to Macy’s! With black walls, neon murals and 27 neon outlined holes, it is dark but not too dark, and really fun!

After about half hour of pizza and flowing conversation (and can I say how proud I was when one of the kids, totally unprompted, started to say hamotzi and they all joined in?), golf clubs were chosen, balls were put into the glow machines, and an hour of friendly competition ensued.

There was laughter galore, some intense concentration and quite a few incredulous “Whaaat?” when the ball didn’t cooperate. And as the designated score keeper I was pretty impressed by the honesty in self reported scores!

We finished up with an exciting laser game: Each person took turns evading laser beams inside of a cube, while the rest watched on a screen!

It must have all been quite fun because I got more than a couple “Can we have one more event? Pleeease?” No promises, but you never know!

And now for the THANK YOUs: Amy Borne for driving and the VERY generous donation of tokens for the laser game, Matt Tackeff for picking up the pizzas and delivering them just in time, and John Tackeff for discovering this fun venue in the first place!

As always, please feel free to call or email me with any suggestions or questions at 603-969-2984 or egt9@aol.com.

L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, your friendly youth group person

8

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT FUND Mickey Allen in memory of her mother Rae Pearl LIBRARY FUND Paula and Karl Singer in memory of her father Harold McCrensky, Bernice Richman in memory of Rose Richman PRESCHOOL DONATION FUND Marcia Blacker & Cynthia Freedman in memory of their grandfather Barney Freedman, Naomi & Arnold Fishbein in memory of Bernard Shapiro, Selma Freedman at time of yahrzeit PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUND FUND Richard David Grossman HEBREW SCHOOL DONATION FUND Gail Bradbard in memory of Norris Bendetson, Gail Bradbard in memory of Cory Don W. Coombs, Gail Bradbard speedy recovery to Nancy Wheeler KIDDUSH FUND Lisa ‘Hershey’ Hirschkop DINNERMAN/ROTTENBERG FUND Barbara Fox in memory of her mother Sarah Borwick RABBI’S FUND Mark & Mindy Weinblatt TZEDAKAH FUND Ken Hirschberg get well to Maxine Fine 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

9

May Yahrzeits:

Nisan 23 / Iyar 23

1 Maurice Lightung, Rae Pearl

17 Andrea Rudl

2 Lena Rosen, Tillie Fein

18 Charles Zitomer

3 Samuel Kline, Judith Kramer

19 Morton Nannis, Tillie Spaien

4 Joseph Cohen, Milton Roberts, Ida Silverman, Roberta Berman, Brina Lampert

20 Ida Karpman, Nathan Neyer, Eugene Barbehenn, Harriet Gorski

5 Louis Bradbard, Rae Scheckter, Mollie Wolf

21 Rose Lisagor, Benjamin Karpman 22 David Scheen

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

23 Eva Weisner, Jean Mittleman, Betty Feffer, Mark Freedman

7 Annie Freaman, Danielle Harman, Sol Lesser, Laura Share, Samuel Share, Mildred Friedman

24 Samuel Small, Kenneth Fleisher, Charles Gorman, Louis Shamesman, Milton Manin, Marc Rothstein

8 Sadye Schwartz

25 Doris Jacobs, Honey Shaines, Morris Coles

10 Edward Segel, Sarah Bratter 11 Massie Winer, Anna Siegel, Lillie Sorkin

26 Annette Task, Helen Naparsteck, Dora Rosenfeld, Melvyn Feitelson, Herman Fink

12 Jeanette Kaufman

27 Arthur Schwartz

13 Pamela Shulman

28 Sam Linden, Abraham Selzer

14 Moses Haritonov, Ethel Pierce

29 Ida Gersh, Manashe Polimar, Lilian White

15 Bessie Rosenbloom, Ida Cooper Harry Singer

30 Max Greenberg, Shirley Vaughn, Harry Winebaum, Melba Meister

16 Hyman Berlin

31 Walter Mayer, Sr.

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 5pm or Sunday children’s learning service at 10:30am.

10

11

Temple Israel Portsmouth Board of Directors Fran Berman, President Barney Share, Immediate Past President David Olken, VP Ritual Robert Bradbard, VP House Sam Berg, VP Education Mel Prostkoff, Recording Secretary Matthew Herman, Financial Secretary Howard Rubin, Treasurer Sue Goldin, Director Amy Hyett, Director Stephanie Ilberg-Lamm, Director Alan Lincoln, Director Ira Schwartz, Director Jennifer Sebeny, Director

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday

9:00 am 9:00 am 11:30 am 9:00 am

OFFICE HOURS 200 State Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-436-5301

Temple Israel

- 1:00 pm - 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm - 12:00 pm