Temple Israel Doorpost - June 2015

June 2015 From the Rabbi’s Study…

As I pen these words I am completing the first year of my tenure at Temple Israel. In some ways the time has flown by. It is hard to imagine that a year has passed since our moving trucks arrived in New Hampshire. My garage is still half full of boxes that are yet to be unpacked. This being said, Elissa and I feel that Temple Israel is our home. While we intellectually understand that this has not always been the case, we feel as if the Temple Israel family has always been part of our lives.

Our comfort is due to the way in which you (the TIP family) have welcomed us into your hearts and homes.

It can only be described as a warm welcome embrace.

This is the reality of our Kehilah Kedosha (sacred community). Being an outsider at Temple Israel is a very temporary state of being. Our strength is found in our ability to embrace and welcome people to our Kehillah.

Visitors often comment about the warm inclusive nature of our community. Temple Israel should be proud of this reality. As other communities talk about becoming a welcoming and inclusive community we can be proud of the fact that we have a culture that facilitates a welcoming and inclusive environment. It seems to be part of our DNA. There is a danger in articulating this reality without words of caution. Temple Israel is one of the most welcoming and inclusive congregations I have ever encountered. This being said, we can not allow ourselves to become complacent in this reality. The demographics of the Jewish community are constantly in a state of flux. This is particularly true of the Seacoast Jewish Community. We need to be ever sensitive to the needs of the people who come through our doors as well as the greater community.

May we as a community continue to embrace the diversity of the people we are blessed to encounter.

Sivan/Tammuz 5775 In doing so we bring to fruition the vision of our Holy texts "My house will be a house of prayer for all people." (Isaiah 56) Thank you for the privilege of serving such an amazing congregation.

With Torah blessings, Rabbi David Ross Senter

AED Orientation Lesson Tuesday, June 2nd, 6pm after minyan

Nancy Mae Shaines Library Presents: Deli Man Movie & Dinner Thursday, June 4th, 6pm Dinner, 7pm Movie

Kvetcher’s Club Open House Sunday, June 14th, 9:30am

Bar Mitzvah of Ryan Trotsky Saturday, June 20th, 9:30am

Board Meeting Tuesday, June 16th, 7:00pm, Board Room

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

By Fran Berman At this year’s Annual Meeting, on May 18, Temple Israel took a few important steps to move into the future. We voted in new officers for the Board of Directors, adding David Olken as VP ritual, Sam Berg as VP education, Mel Prostkoff as recording secretary, and Matt Herman as financial secretary. These individuals have volunteered to spend their time and talent to make sure Temple Israel grows and prospers over the next few years. I was honored to be elected President and look forward to leading the board and the congregation as we grow from strength to strength during the next two years. The members of the Board will continue working to develop leadership skills through United Synagogue’s Sulam for Current Leaders program this year.

David Bachrach, outgoing VP education, for helping TIP continue to be a learning congregation during the recent leadership transition in the religious school.

The congregation also voted in some bylaws changes that the board has spent many hours formulating and discussing, under the leadership of Board member-atlarge Alan Lincoln. Among other things, these changes bring Temple Israel more in line with the principles and practices of the Conservative movement in Judaism and clarify board and committee responsibilities.

On behalf of the board, I want to thank the congregation for supporting our efforts to make our bylaws more closely reflect our core principles and practices.

Alan Lincoln, Board member-at-large, for his tenacious and thoughtful work on the bylaws revision.

We also honored a few individuals for their service to Temple Israel by presenting them with certificates of appreciation. Please take a moment to thank these folks when you see them -- without them, our synagogue would not be the well-run, active place that it is.

Amy Borne, Sisterhood president, for her leadership in revitalizing our women's organization.

Noa Bourke, school director, for her boundless enthusiasm for the Hebrew School students and her school leadership.

Maury Friedman, z”l, for the many carpentry projects he initiated and completed for the Temple over the years.

Amy Hyett, outgoing recording secretary, for keeping an accurate record of board activity.

Brian Hyett, for exemplary volunteerism in his dedication and service to the Temple and Brotherhood.

Sandy Roberts, outgoing immediate past president, for his many years of service to the temple on and off the board.

David Schwartz, outgoing financial secretary, for his service on the board and within the Temple Israel community.

Ira Schwartz, Board member-at-large and Endowment chair, for his unswerving dedication to overseeing the temple endowment and for helping bring the Holocaust Torah to our synagogue.

Rabbi David Senter, for outstanding contributions and leadership within the Temple, Board, Hebrew School and the community.

Elissa Senter, for sharing her talents and enthusiasm with the Temple community in her many roles.

Barney Share, outgoing president, for leading Temple Israel through many difficult transitions over the past two years.

Al Spaien, for his many, many hours spent making sure the temple was open, available, and running smoothly.

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

Many other congregants went out of their way to serve the community in the past year -- too many to name here.

I hope we can all take inspiration from the efforts of those around us and join with them in building a stronger, more vibrant Jewish community in the year ahead.

Bar Mitzvah of Ryan Trotsky Saturday, June 20th, Temple Israel Sanctuary My name is Ryan Trotzky. I am in the 7th grade at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine. My hobbies include soccer, basketball, lacrosse, skiing and mountain biking, and I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Judaism is important to me because it is something I share with my family, and its traditions and celebrations bring my family together.

For my Bar Mitzvah project I am organizing a fundraiser at school to raise money to help buy school supplies for children in Ghana. During the school year, we had a visitor from Ghana who ran an orphanage and a school. When I learned of the conditions and lack of resources of the school, it had quite an impact on me, and I knew I wanted to help. In becoming a Bar Mitzvah, I have realized that it is important to look beyond oneself and to appreciate and contribute to the world around us.

Thank You from Al Spaien

Save a Life: AED Orientation

While still feeling the spirit and camaraderie of the Shang–Chai Shindig, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that had a hand in the planning, preparing, and executing of a wonderful evening that brought our community together. I am sorry that I can’t thank each of you by name individually but I don’t know the names of everyone that gave of their time and effort to make the evening a success.

Rather than leave anyone out THANK YOU ALL for making the evening enjoyable and successful.

As part Kendall Lamm's bat mitzvah project Kendall identified a program through the State of New Hampshire for the purchase of an Automated External Defibulator (AED) at a reduced price for non for profit institutions. After presenting her research to the Temple Israel Board of Directors and securing funding from the generous Grant of the Mackles Family in memory of Charlotte & Louis Mackles, she ordered the AED, facilitated its installation and has organized a class to orient all members of Temple Israel on how to use the AED now installed and located in the first floor lobby next to the entrance of the social hall.

It is always great to be together with friends and neighbors for simchas. I enjoyed every minute of it, but did feel a bit uncomfortable in a role I am not used to, being the honoree. Thank you all for the honor and thank you all for making me part of the community.

To those of you that wanted to be there but had other commitments, I certainly understand since it is family that originally brought me here. ~Al

Please attend a 45 minute orientation on AED use: Tuesday, June 2nd, 6:00-6:45pm, Schmooze (immediately following minyan) Presenter: Bill Wood, Preparedness Coordinator NH Bureau of EMS, (603)223-4228 William.Wood@dos.nh.gov

DUES PAYMENTS Please remember to send in your dues before year end. All payments were 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

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Thank You to All Who Helped Make This Year’s Spring Event & Tribute to Al Spaien a Great Success!

Access Sports Medicine Atlantic Digestive Specialists Nancy & Melvin Alexander Leslie & Matthew Allen Mickey Allen Sara & Ian Arnold Elyse & David Bachrach Jan & Jim Bailey Rhonda & Russ Bernstein Fran Berman Blueberry Bay Farm The Borne Family Paula & Stuart Boxer Bob Bradbard Gail Bradbard Shelley Brass Cabot House Cindy & Bob Chaikin David Cline Club Boutique CycleFierce Jennie & Peter Dinnerman Carmen Duran The Early Learning Center Helena & Richard England Susan & Roger Epstein Espresso Dave’s Esta The Face Cafe Barbara Fein Rhoda & Fred Feldman Deb & Bert Freedman Selma Freedman Bea Friedman Ellen Fineberg & Vince Lombardi Shirley & Elliott Fishbein Naomi & Arnold Fishbein Marianne & David Forman George & Phillips Alissa Gold

Marge & Bob Goldberg Susan & Michael Golden Diane Goulston Great East Butcher Company Lorrie & Dick Grossman Richard David Grossman Helen Hanan & Mel Prostkoff Marsha & Ben Herman Alissa & Steve Holmes Lydia & Josh Howard Amy & Brian Hyett Estelle Israel Nancy & Andrew Jaffe Mark Jacobs JD Howard Dental, LLC Brenda Johnston The Juicery Evelyn Karu Arline Koiles & Izzy Bratter Ken Kowalchek Steve Kahan Elaine & Shel Krasker The Lamm Family Frances Lampert Robin & Wayne Lehman Barbara Levenson Dana & Shaula Levenson Donna & Stu Levenson Deborah Levine Renee Levy Carol & Alan Lincoln Adina & Allen Linden Marilyn & Alvin Mars Mezzanine Catering Evelyn & Michael Miller Sally, Israel & Ron Mirsky Geraldine Mittelman Harold & Gloria Moldoff Pat Moreinis-Dodge Mulhern & Scott, PLLC

Mybreastcancersupport.org Nancy Mae Shaines Library Committee Carmen & Gregg Pollack Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center Cori McGrath, Olde Port Properties Monika & David Olken Bernice Richman Sandy & Helaine Roberts Roberts Law Office Chris & Rachel Robie Nancy Rosen Marlene & Alan Rubin Allison & Howard Rubin Laura & Michael Rubin Rob Ruben & Anne Caplin Joanne Samuels Jennifer & Peter Sebeny Diane & Barney Share Laura & Ron Sher Jennifer & MJ Shoer Rabbi & Elissa Senter Jennifer & Ira Schwartz Renee Silverman Paula & Karl Singer Michael Singer Gloria & Harvard Sitkoff Nancy & Zachary Slater Kristine & Thomas Slater Eve Spaien and Family Gail Spaien and Family State Street Discount Dena & Jeffrey Stern Susan Spaulding Stewart, Realtor The Spring Event Committee Lisa Stewart-Krutter Temple Israel Brotherhood Temple Israel Gift Shop Julie Whitehouse ...and many anonymous friends

LEAF ON THE TREE OF LIFE IN HONOR OF AL SPAIEN As part of Al Spaien’s special tribute, a leaf on the Temple Israel Tree of Life in the sanctuary has been purchased and inscribed by the event committee. Look for it over the next month when you join us for services. Many leaves are still available if you interested in commemorating a special occasion.

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Convocation was a success, with the third graders receiving their suddurim from their teachers who kvelled about their accomplishments. Well done Kitah Gimmel!

Sixth graders took over the leadership role for the Temple Israel religious school. They were given a blessing by the graduating 7th graders. Teachers for the class presented each child with a chumash. These will be well used in their coming b’nai mitzvah year.

We want to extend a big congratulations to Sarah Hoskin.

Sarah was recognized by her peers as a leader in her values and learning. She exemplifies the qualities we strive to teach to all of our students. Sarah is a leader with her peers and the younger students. Mazel tov!

A big thank you to all the kids who participated in the annual t-shirt design competition. Kudos go to Elias Matso—this year’s winner!

Convocation also served as an opportunity to thank two amazing parents who supported the school this year. Lydia Howard worked with other volunteers and children and made over 900 hamantaschen this year!!! Extend our thanks to her before she moves to Florida. We will miss her very much and send her all of our love and hope the family makes new friends down south.

Alice Ehrlich was also recognized for going above and beyond helping the school. Subbing in classes, transporting kids, shopping for supplies, setting up for events, and being the go-to person for every need -- she has been a tremendous blessing to our school!

Thank you Alice and Lydia!

We are planning several school events in June, July and August for kids in grades 3-7. Stay tuned for dates!

There will be a one hour Shabbat morning program with stories, and Shabbat appropriate games on May 30th, June 13th, July 11th and August 22nd for kids in current grades K-2. We will be in the library from 10-11.

Please let Noa know if you will be attending any of these dates.

L’Shalom,

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Noa Bourke

7th Grader Elias Matso with his winning t-shirt design!

This past month the children of the Early Learning Center were busy preparing for the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, which is celebrated on the sixth day of the month of Sivan, corresponding this year to May 24th. Shavuot was first celebrated in ancient Israel as a pilgrimage festival, when newly harvested barley and wheat, and the first fruits of the season were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. After the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, the nature of Laura Sher Shavuot began to change, and is now associated with Director, ELC the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, which also occurred in the month of Sivan, seven weeks after the Exodus.

There are many mitzvot and traditions associated with Shavuot (in addition to reading the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth), one of which is bringing food to those in need, Hazan et HaKol. Our field trip to the Seacoast Family Food Pantry and delivery of a wagonload of non-perishable food, fulfilled this mitzvah, and was an eye opening experience for the children. Another Shavuot tradition is decorating the Synagogue (or our classroom!) with flowers and greenery. The children had lots of fun mastering the art of flower arranging with neon yellow forsythia and sweetly scented cherry and lilac blossoms. We also eat dairy and food “shaped” like the Torah, since “the words of the Torah are as a nourishing as milk and as sweet as honey.” And you can just imagine the fun the children had making homemade blintzes slathered with Nutella! Lastly, the children painted walking sticks for our very own hike to Mt. Sinai (which was actually Four Tree Island), where we were joined by the Israelite people, (actually our families), for a wonderful celebratory picnic (with “first fruits” of the season and our blintzes, of course)!

As our year comes to a close, Elian and I bid farewell to six graduating students and one who will be living abroad. We are proud of all of our preschoolers, for each has acquired social, emotional and academic skills, and a strong foundation in Jewish traditions, holidays and values. May our children continue to grow in strength and go forth into the world forever doing deeds of loving-kindness.

Thank you to all of our preschool families for the gift of your children, and thank you to Elian Tackeff, my amazing assistant.

L’Shalom, Laura

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Ritual It is an exciting time to be a member here at Temple Israel! I’m honored to serve as the incoming VP of Ritual and look forward to working with Rabbi Senter and the other members of the committee, including our new President and former VP Ritual, Fran Berman, who have worked so diligently in past years. As a member for over twenty years I have come to realize this is a special place. We are big enough to be a full service congregation, but small enough to have room to allow everyone a role for meaningful participation.

Come join us for a Tuesday afternoon Minyan and D’rash with the Rabbi, or visit on a Shabbat morning and stay for a hearty Kiddush and visit with friends and fellow congregants. Please send me any comments, questions or suggestions that you would like the committee to discuss. If you prefer to give your feedback in person, our next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, June 3rd at 7pm. I look forward to working with you to help make our congregation a place we can all comfortably call our spiritual home.

L’Shalom, David Olken

Seacoast Family Promise Our Seacoast Family Promise crew is doing great, having just finished one host week in May and looking forward to another one starting June 7. We could still use a couple more volunteers to help us serve dinner and stay overnight with the homeless families at First United Methodist Church in Portsmouth. The commitment is only about six nights per year! Also, a volunteer training (offered only twice a year) is coming up on June 7 in the afternoon, conveniently located at South Church in Portsmouth. If you've never been to a training, or haven't been in years, please try to attend. For more info about the training or new volunteer opportunities, please contact Margie Wachtel at may12@comcast.net or 603-498-0473. Finally,

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Seacoast Family Promise would like to thank the children of Kitah Gan, and their teacher Elissa Kaplan Senter, for collecting $102 in tzedakah for SFP. About half of the money was given in quarters, which will be given to the guests to use when they do their laundry.

Sisterhood Come join us for Hadassah 101 on Sunday, June 14th from 10am – Noon. Where: The home of Brenda Johnston, 10 Glendale Road, Rye. Come learn more about Hadassah and their “Every Step Counts” program. Please bring comfortable walking shoes for a stroll on the beach across from Wallis Sands.

RSVP to Shelley Brass at brassun1@comcast.net or 603-431-8207.

Adult Education: Ancient Hebrew for Everybody Temple Israel is offering a summer Introduction to Hebrew Alphabet and Reading class. The Hebrew “alef bet” is the oldest alphabet in continuous use and can be used for reading ancient and modern Israeli Hebrew, as well as Yiddish and Aramaic. Tuesday evenings, June 9th - August 11th, 6:00-7:15 pm in the Library at Temple Israel. Students will learn to read the Kaddish, the most used prayer in Jewish life, in Aramaic. The public is encouraged to participate, especially teenagers.

Tuition is $35, including the textbook. For more information, contact instructor Kathryn Mulhearn at isogloss@outlook.com. To register, contact Temple office at templeoffice@templeisraelnh.org or 603-436 -5301 x10.

This course is a prerequisite for the Biblical Hebrew Reading and Grammar Course starting Sept. 2015.

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT David & Michelle Baer, Marilyn Gorman & Rosilyn Steinberg in memory of their father Charles Gorman, Gloria Turner in memory of her father Julius Applebaum, Bert & Deb Freedman in memory of his brother Mark Freedman and in memory of Jim Leavitt, Gloria & Harold Moldoff in memory of her grandmother Molly Fisher, Elaine Krasker in memory of her grandfather Samuel Shapiro RABBI’S FUND Joan Hankin in memory of her mother Ida Gersh, Mikahil Klarov, Howard & Janice Steinberg, Joanne Deutsch in memory of her father Walter Mayer, Sr., Ronald & Arlene Pinkus in memory of Rabbi Chaim Gershon Freidlin, Alissa & Steve Holmes in appreciation for their son Tyler’s Bar Mitzvah LIBRARY FUND Eleanor & Eugene Schaffer in memory of Maurice Friedman, Bernyce Goodman in memory of Max Soldon, Frances Lampert in honor of Al Spaien, Arnold & Naomi Fishbein in honor of Al Spaien

TZEDAKAH FUND Diane Goulston in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz, Phyllis Heilbronner in memory of her beloved husband Hans Heilbronner and her mother in law of blessed memory Helen Heilbronner, Goldie Fink in memory of her husband Herman Fink CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND Arline Coles in memory of Jim Leavitt, Elliot & Shirley Fishbein in memory of his brother Jerome Fishbein, Arline Coles in memory of her husband Morris Coles PRESCHOOL DONATION FUND Robert & Judith Weisner in memory of Eva Weisner, Selma Freedman in memory of her son Mark Freedman, Selma Freedman at time of yahrzeit and in honor of Al Spaien KIDDUSH FUND Myrna Promer & Robert Weisner in memory of their mother Eva Weisner

Get Well: to Mary Rottenberg & Ronald Meenes KVETCHERS CLUB OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY JUNE 14TH, 9:30AM Like to chat, complain, kvetch — join with the kvetchers, Sundays at 9:30am in the Schmooze.

Come for an open house on the 14th and see what we’re all about. For more information contact Irwin & Audrey at 603-436-5096 or akmann@comcast.net.

June June June June

5th 12th 19th 26th

8:00pm 8:05pm 8:07pm 8:08pm 9

June Yahrzeits:

Sivan 14 / Tammuz 13

1 Arthur Taube, Nancy Mae Shaines, Sophie Levin 2 Judith Norin, Nathan Lorde, Max Bradbard 3 Milton Rosen, Goldie Freedman 4 Harry Olken 5 May Tetenman, Shirley Katz 6 Maurice Yoffee, Rabbi Goldin

17 Robert Levy, Mary Goodman 19 Ethel Shapiro, Mandel Shoer, Nathan Feldman 20 Lizzie Weiner, Raymond Katz, Philip Weinberg 21 Michael Anthony Smith, Phillip Moldoff, Evelyn Paul

7 Hilda Dearborn

22 Beatrice Lisagor, Sam Fisher, Herman Windt, Ann Bradbard

8 Irving Shoer, Ruth Levin, Harold Fluster, Stanley Allen

24 Elizabeth Pinn, Evelyn Poster, Edward Shaines, Molly Singer, Susie Seidner

9 Miriam Rosenberg, Shelley DelGaudio, Muriel Leavitt

25 Adele Goodman Hoeflich, Ethel Gold

10 Herman Wilson 11 Philip Halprin, Theodore Lang 12 Henry D. Freaman, Irwin Benjamin

26 Fae Briskin, Rose Lang, Dora Vetstein 27 Lionel Levitt, Fannie Green, Isaac Shamash, June Dinnerman

13 Charles Slome

28 William Kline, Barney Levenson, Frieda Schertz

14 Dorothy Berlin

29 Maude Bierhans, Ted Johnston

15 Harry Teitelbaum

30 Fannie Zeidman, Benjamin Gurtman, Annie Klaiman

Memorial Lights

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16 Meyer Liberson

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.

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.

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.

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9am Preschool Graduation

5:45p Tot-ally Shabbat

Temple Israel Portsmouth Board of Directors Term Length

Term End

Fran Berman, President

2 years

2017

Barney Share, Immediate Past President

2 years

2017

David Olken, VP Ritual

2 years

2017

Robert Bradbard, VP House

2 years

2017

Sam Berg, VP Education

2 years

2017

Mel Prostkoff, Recording Secretary

2 years

2017

Matthew Herman, Financial Secretary

2 years

2017

Howard Rubin, Treasurer

2 years

2017

Sue Goldin, Director

3 years

2018

Amy Hyett, Director

3 years

2018

Stephanie Ilberg-Lamm, Director

3 years

2017

Alan Lincoln, Director

3 years

2017

Ira Schwartz, Director

3 year

2017

Jennifer Sebeny, Director

3 years

2017

Harvard Sitkoff, Director

3 years

2017

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday

9:00 9:00 9:00 9:00

am am am am

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

Temple Israel

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