Temple Israel Doorpost - September 2015

September 2015

Elul/Tishrei 5775

From the Rabbi’s Study…

New Hampshire’s Seacoast has a very different culture than North Bergen, New Jersey where I grew up. Each and every day I thank God for the culture and beauty of my adopted home. I feel blessed to live in the most beautiful region of New England among some of the most wonderful people I have been blessed to know.

This being said there are lessons that can be learned from other communities and their practices.

Growing up in the New York metropolitan area (apologies to Governor Christie for this reference), a Jewish overnight camp experience was the rule rather than the exception. The average Jewish camp experience was 6-8 weeks. Our parents viewed Jewish camping as an investment in our Jewish future.

As a Rabbi, I have the opportunity to meet people who come from vastly different backgrounds. I am always interested to learn about people’s spiritual journey.

Often there is one person or experience that is pivotal in shaping the journey. Those of us who have had the privilege to attended Jewish camp almost unanimously point to the Jewish camping experience as an essential Jewish experience that has framed our Jewish identity.

One can argue that my conclusions are skewed by personal bias and based on anecdotal data. This accusation would be 100% correct. I am an alumnus of Jewish camping as are all of my children. I look upon my Jewish camping experience as a formative Jewish experience. The data upon which I base my conclusions about Jewish camping was not collected scientifically.

My data points are the personal stories of the people I encounter.

Some may not be convinced that first hand testimony is sufficient information to draw a definitive conclusion.

Are the people I encounter typical representations of camp alumni? Perhaps only the most passionate are likely to encounter a rabbi. One can say that some other Jewish experience would serve as formative in Continued on page 2

Senior Coffee with the Rabbi Tuesday, September 1st, 4pm, Schmooze

Preschool Open House for Returning Students Wednesday, September 2nd, 10am, Library

B’nai Mitzvah of Gabriella & Miguel Shetreet Saturday, September 5th, 9:30am, Sanctuary

Board Meeting Tuesday, September 8th, 7:00pm, Board Room

Hebrew School Opening Day & Sisterhood/Brotherhood Kickoff Sunday, September 13th, 9am Hebrew School 10:30-12, Sister/Brotherhood Food in the Schmooze

Rosh Hashanah Erev Services, September 13th, 7:30pm Services, September 14th & 15th, 8:30am

Sukkah Building/Brotherhood Breakfast Annual Cemetery Memorial Service Sunday, Sept 20th, Sukkah 7:30am, Cemetery 1pm

Yom Kippur Kol Nidre, Tuesday, September 22nd, 7pm Services, Wednesday, September 23rd, 8:30am

Hebrew School Sukkah Decorating Sukkot Dairy Potluck Dinner Sunday, Sept 27th, 9am Decorating, 6pm Dinner

(continued from page 1) the absence of Jewish camping. These points are addressed by the data currently available.

Data on the effects of Jewish camping is available all over the internet. Independent studies demonstrate that Jewish camp builds Jewish identity. These studies include the National Jewish Population Survey (2001), the UJA Federation Jewish Community Study (2011), and the Pew Research Center Portrait of Jewish Americans (2013).

In 2011, the Foundation for Jewish Camp commissioned a study conducted by Professor Steven M. Cohen, Director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive at NYU. “Camp Works: The long-term impact of Jewish overnight camp” used data from 26 national studies of adult Jewish engagement to produce the first statistical look at the effect of Jewish camping on individual as well as communal Jewish identity.

The study concluded that alumni of Jewish camps are: 

Emotionally attached to Israel (55% higher than general population)

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Engaged in synagogue life (45% higher than general population)

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Engaged in home rituals, i.e., lighting Shabbat candles (37% higher than general population)

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Donate to Jewish charities (30% higher than general population)

We have added a Jewish camping resource list to our website to help you identify an option that may be appropriate for your family. Please visit www.templeisraelnh.org/education/jewish-camping/ resource-list/ to view the camp resource list.

Special thank you to Amy Borne for sharing her Jewish camping experience which inspired this article.

September—A Time to Look Ahead, but also to Remember

By Fran Berman, President September is a month of new beginnings at Temple Israel and throughout the Jewish world. We say goodbye to 5775 and usher in the new year with a slew of holidays that will carry us into early October.

Our religious school reopens on Sept. 13 with a program welcoming new and returning students, and that very night we welcome the new year, 5776, at our Erev Rosh Hashanah service. I want to wish all of our students, teachers, and parents a year of learning, growth, and deepening Jewish connections.

Traditions are an important part of the holidays. The tastes of apples and honey remind us of the sweetness of the new year. Some families have traditions of going to a local orchard to pick their apples for the new year, or visiting the farmer’s market to get fresh, local honey.

This is a great way to usher in the new year as a family.

September seems a bit early to be thinking about summer camp. I am planting the seeds early specifically because Jewish camping is not yet a cultural norm in our Seacoast Jewish community.

Please consider investing in your children’s (or grandchildren’s) Jewish future. Consider giving them the gift of a Jewish camping experience in 2016.

Familiar but special tunes take their place in our High Holiday services each year, whether the haunting melody of Kol Nidre, the full and deep resonance of Avinu Malkeinu, or the sweet sounds of B’Sefer Chayim. Even the Torah melodies are special on the High Holidays, with the special High Holidays trope reminding us to pay attention, this is different. These melodies tap into our memory banks, returning us to earlier years and experiences we had almost forgotten.

Some of my favorite synagogue moments of the year come during Neilah at the end of Yom Kippur, when we sing the special High Holiday melodies for the final time as the light fades in the sanctuary and we close in on the real start to our new year.

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Continued on page 5

Please visit www.jewishcamp.org/sites/default/files/ u5/NEW%20Camp_Works_Brochure_For_Web.pdf to view complete data.

Bat Mitzvah of Gabriella Shetreet Saturday, September 5th, Temple Israel Sanctuary My name is Gabriella Channa Shetreet and I currently attend the Rye Junior High School. I will be going into the seventh grade this fall. I enjoy playing the clarinet and teaching myself how to play the piano by ear. I play a wide variety of sports, including soccer, golf, and lacrosse. I ski for fun in the winter and swim in the summer and spring. My favorite sport is soccer; currently, I play in the fall and winter but this year I will start playing in the spring also.

Being a part of Hebrew School during the school year lets me reflect on my Jewish life. I enjoy seeing new and old classmates every year and I continue to develop friendships with them. Judaism is important to me because it is inherently part of my life. By being Jewish, I am part of something that is very special, large and old. Our collective Jewish past has been one of hardship, but as Jews, we survived, continue to survive and stay strong. Judaism is also important to me because it teaches me to be good and to follow my heart. Spreading kindness makes me feel happy, like a cup of hot cocoa with extra whipped cream on top.

For my Bat Mitzvah project, instead of performing one huge mitzvah, I chose to do thirteen small mitzvahs. One mitzvah I performed was interviewing my great-grandmother, Mrs. Reba C. Weiner, who is one hundred years old. I interviewed her about her religious upbringing as a child and what it was like to be a Jewish girl in her time. She talked a little bit about how when she was in school, she was discriminated against and she didn't even realize it. She also talked about her Jewish neighborhood. She said that her parents had hired a Rabbi to teach her Yiddish, but the Rabbi was very strict, so her parents stopped the tutoring. As a result, she wasn't able to learn Hebrew or Yiddish. She said she has always marveled at the language and the script, saying how beautiful it is.

Another mitzvah project that meant a lot to me was baking challah with my mom. My mom was taught how to make challah by another congregant of Temple Israel, Mrs. Marge Goldberg, when my older brother, Miguel, was a baby. My mom still has the recipe and we made it together and had fun!

Bar Mitzvah of Miguel Shetreet Saturday, September 5th, Temple Israel Sanctuary My name is Miguel Moshe Shetreet. I attend the Rye Junior High School. Judaism is important and meaningful to me. One of the beautiful elements of Judaism is giving mitzvot. Mitzvot can range from giving a hug to donating to charity. Mitzvot make other people feel happier and it has the effect of making me feel happy in giving. One of my favorite holidays is Hannukah. Hannukah's bright flames make me happy and the flames are symbolic of the teaching within Judaism. For example, parents and elders do a mitzvah by telling the elaborate story of Hannukah. It is this teaching that is so important to me. Judaism shapes life and people in a good way. We believe in knowing right from wrong. We also believe in creating happier families. Judaism binds families in a unique way and makes us one.

I completed 13 mitzvah projects. The most important one to me was extremely special and it warmed my heart like frying latkes in a pan. I repaired my neighbor’s post that had been run down by a plow during our last winter. When I told my neighbor, Mrs. Pongrace, that I would repair her fence it made her feel great. She said to me, “I am extremely thankful that you can do this for me, so thank you.”

Her smile spread from ear to ear. Mrs. Pongrace was an elderly woman whose husband created the post which had their last name engraved on it. The post meant a lot to her and it has been there for ages. There has always been a feeling of happiness that emanated from the post.

Another project of significance to me was helping coach and umpire for my younger brother's baseball team. Baseball is one of my favorite sports and my dad was the coach for his team. Helping to teach these kids one of the greatest games ever created was an incredible experience. I taught them aspects of the game such as sliding, pitching, fielding, and hitting. I really enjoyed helping out and teaching the younger generation to play baseball.

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HIGH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE & TICKET INFO *please note earlier 8:30am start times for morning services* Saturday, September 5

Selichot Program (Movie & Service)

7:51 PM

Sunday, September 13

Erev Rosh Hashanah

7:30-8:30 PM

Monday, September 14

1st Day Rosh Hashanah Torah Service (approx.)

Children’s Service Sermon, Shofar Family Service Tashlich - Prescott Park

8:30 AM-1:15 PM 9:45 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM (approx.)

11:30 AM After Services

Tuesday, September 15

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Torah Service (approx.)

Sermon, Shofar

8:30 AM - 1:15 PM 9:45 AM 11:00 AM (approx.)

Sunday, September 20

Annual Cemetery Visit

1:00 PM

Tuesday, September 22

Erev Yom Kippur - Kol Nidre

7:00-9:00 PM

Wednesday, September 23 Yom Kippur Service Children’s Service Sermon, followed by Yizkor Service Mincha Neilah (approx.)

Break the Fast

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September 4th September 11th September 18th September 25th

6:54pm 6:42pm 6:29pm 6:16pm

8:30 AM-2:15 PM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM (approx.)

4:30 PM 5:15 PM After Services (Please RSVP to the office)

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

Message from the President (Continued from page 2) As we welcome the new year, we also look back at the year just past, particularly on Yom Kippur. The serious reflections of the Day of Atonement remind us to consider who we have been, how we have affected those around us. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we have the opportunity to ask forgiveness from those we have slighted or harmed in any way during the past year. It is a time to consider all of our actions of the past year and to make amends if we can. This is the time to pick up the phone or write a note to people in your life and let them know you are sorry for any hurt, intentional or not. At this time, I want to ask each of you for that forgiveness if I have hurt you in any way.

Let’s begin the new year with a fresh start as a holy community.

603-498-0473. Our next host week is Sept. 6-12th.

You can also help by shopping at Rolling Green Nursery in Greenland on Sept. 19. More info about Seacoast Family Promise is at www.sfpnh.org.

Membership After a busy summer, we look forward to getting back into the routine and welcoming lots of new members to TIP. As you prepare for the high holidays, if you know anyone who might be interested in joining us for services, please encourage them to contact the office for tickets. Save the date for our new member brunch, which will be on Sunday morning, Oct. 18th during Sunday School.

Brotherhood & Sisterhood

I hope you all have a sweet new year, one that includes health, happiness, and new beginnings.

May we see a year of peace and fulfillment, here at Temple Israel and in our larger world. Shanah tovah u’metuka!

Join us for “Food in the Schmooze” on Sunday, September 13th from 10:30 – Noon. Come join the Sisterhood & Brotherhood for a nosh and the opportunity to learn more about Brotherhood & Sisterhood, or to just catch up with friends. This nosh follows the Hebrew School Kickoff and all parents are welcomed and encouraged to join us.”

Seacoast Family Promise/SFP

Ritual

Fun Facts: Last year, SFP provided 14 families (18 adults & 30 children) with 3,290 “bed nights” of shelter and 9,870 meals. Not only did these services keep people safe, fed and housed during some rough times, but 80% percent of the guests secured housing at their exit, and 72% of adult guests secured or maintained employment while in the program.

The High Holidays come early this year, just a week after Labor Day. Details are outlined in the High Holiday packet, but there is one change from previous years that is not listed.

The last fun fact is where YOU come in: About 40 children and adults from Temple Israel played a part in these success stories by cooking, serving dinner, or staying overnight with the guests.

(Dinners and overnights happen at the Methodist Church on Miller Avenue in Portsmouth.) Our group still needs help with dinners on Saturday nights, and overnights here and there. We only serve about six weeks per year, and you don’t even need to commit to every time. Can you help? Please contact Margie Wachtel at may12@comcast.net or

This year many of the English reading and Ark opening honors will be handed out in real time as the service progresses. Cards will be printed describing what to read on which page or when to open the Ark, when to go up on the Bimah (in advance to help the service run smoothly) and where to sit. Volunteers will circulate and hand these cards out. If you are approached, please say yes. I want to thank you in advance for your assistance in helping the service run smoothly and through your participation making it more meaningful for your fellow congregants. On behalf of the members of the Ritual Committee I want to wish you all a Shanah Tovah – a good, happy and healthy new year!

5 L’Shalom, David Olken

Greetings from the Education Committee of Temple Israel. We hope you had a wonderful summer.

We are all very excited about the beginning of the new school year, starting the week of September 13th. This year will be full of great activities and studies both inside the Temple walls and out. Please stay connected to all events through our calendar on the website and in the information packet sent to all families with children in August.

One of the best aspects when looking towards a new year like this is the prospect of trying something new. You get a chance to preview the landscape of the school year calendar in advance and it is a great time to sprinkle in some activities that you and your children have never tried. Whether it is piano lessons, art classes, soccer leagues, or any number of interests, we are fortunate to live in the Seacoast with so much to offer.

In addition, perhaps this is also the year that you decide to get more involved with Temple. Naturally this is THE place for lifelong learning. The Temple offers many Adult Learning opportunities, and the Brotherhood and Sisterhood present wonderful and engaging events. You can join a committee. Do remember also that within the school itself there exist many events that could use your help to run, so thanks for keeping an eye out for these chances to support them and get involved.

Best wishes for a great upcoming school year.

Warm regards, Sam, VP Education, samuelberg@gmail.com

Fall Classes: “Torah Yoga” Sunday classes and private sessions will begin in October.

Contact instructor Deb Levine with your time preference at dlevine12@aol.com or 603.205.4073.

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Important Notice!

The Early Learning Center (ELC) Playground The new playground equipment is rated for children 5 and under.

It is for the use of the young students in the Temple Israel Early Learning Center and must be used under supervision of ELC staff only.

All other use is prohibited.

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.

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

Shabbat Club 9/26 at 10am. For incoming K-2! Meets in the library.

Shabbat stories, songs & fun. Contact Noa to RSVP & discuss snack restrictions/concerns.

Laura Sher Director, ELC

Rosh Hashanah is a time for new beginnings, and this New Year brings an exciting change to the Early Learning Center: the installation of our inviting, state of the art playground equipment.

Current research suggests that children who have access to quality outdoor play spaces, designed to promote whole body exercise, not only develop fit and healthy bodies, but creative and active imaginations, low stress levels, and a respect for themselves and others (Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play). Who knew that our tiny 23’ X 31’ space, now filled with challenging climbing structures and slides, would provide such a transformative environment!

But now you may ask, why is a new playground important to a Jewish Early Childhood preschool? The answer is simply this: embodied in our curriculum that nurtures Jewish learning is an exploration of Jewish values and ways of being. Incorporating Jewish values, such as Shmirat HaGuf, (caring for the gift of our bodies), into our everyday activities, is the essence of our program.

As this year comes to a close and the New Year is approaching, I look forward to beginning my fifth year as Director of the Early Learning Center and once again working with my wonderful assistant, Elian Tackeff. It is an honor and a blessing to teach young children and I am humbled to be entrusted with their care.

Our first day of school begins on September 9, 2015. Elian and I will be warmly welcoming four new preschoolers and five returning students to the Early Learning Center. We are excited to have these young children and their families join our vibrant Temple Israel Community and embark on what we hope will be a thoughtful journey into Jewish life.

Wishing you a joyous, sweet and good New Year, “L’Shana Tova!”

L’Shalom, Laura

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Shalom Everyone & Happy September!

I hope you have all had a nice summer and your children are all rested and ready for a new school year. Can you believe that not only is summer almost over, but Sunday the 13th of September is the first day of Hebrew School and, yes, also Erev Rosh Hashana?!

Our first Youth Group event will be on September 27th.

To start the year 5776 on a meaningful note, and in keeping with our Hebrew School theme of Tikkun Olam, Youth Group (Grades 4-7) will be partnering with Blue Ocean Society to clean up a corner of Peirce Island. A pizza lunch at Flatbread will follow. Who says we can’t mix pizza and mitzvah? Now let’s hope that the weather cooperates!

Parents, if you haven’t already sent in your Registration/ Release Forms that came in the Hebrew School package, please do so as soon as possible.

I will also email the form along with the flier for the first event. Do watch for the emails with the Youth Group subject line and please RSVP promptly.

You want the “friendly youth group person” to stay happy, right?

Save the date for our Bowling and Pizza event on Sunday, October 18th.

Please feel free to call or email me with any ideas, suggestions or questions at EGT9@aol.com or 603-9692984.

Wishing you all a sweet new year 5776, L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, your friendly youth person

THE SEACOAST JEWISH FEDERATION EXTENDS ALL GOOD WISHES FOR A SHANAH TOVAH TIKATEIVU TO THE ENTIRE SEACOAST COMMUNITY MAY WE AND THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF ISRAEL BE BLESSED WITH PEACE AND PROSPERITY

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INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT Elaine Lampert in memory of her parents Mort and Brina Lampert and grandparents Mary and Arthur Saklad, Mark Harrison in memory of his mother Zelda Harrison HEBREW SCHOOL DONATION FUND David Bradbard in memory of his parents William and Ann Bradbard, Maura & Paul Martino in memory of Stacy Whittier’s grandmother RABBI’S FUND Mark and Susan Berman in honor of their son Aidan’s Bar Mitzvah, Gerald Oster and Phyllis Jonas, Linda Cote in memory of her father Louis Mackles, Elaine Lampert in memory of her grandparents Brina and Morton Lampert and Morris and Katie Lampert, David Bradbard in memory of his parents William and Ann Bradbard, Jeffrey Salloway LIBRARY FUND Maxyne Alexander in memory of her mother Ida Belostock, Doris Freedman in memory of her father Kenneth L. Downs and mother-in-law Annie Freedman, Allen and Adina Linden in memory of her father Carl K. Prietz

CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND Ethel Trubowitz in memory of her mother Fanya Mason, Barbara Levenson in memory of Bertha Gorewitz Levenson, Jeannette and Bernard Goodman in memory of her brother William Lederman and his father Samuel Goodman PRESCHOOL DONATION FUND Naomi & Arnold Fishbein in memory of Ruth Knowles, Phyllis & David Kravetz in memory of her parents Charlie and Sally Gouse, Steven Sacks in memory of his father Burton P. Sacks, Arlene Scampini in memory of her father Morton Lampert, mother Brina Lampert, grandfather Morris Lampert, grandmother Katie Lampert, grandmother Mary Saklad and grandfather Arthur Saklad DUES ABATEMENT FUND Claudia Leblanc in memory of her grandmother DINNERMAN ROTTENBERG ENDOWMENT Howard Silverman in memory of Lolly Silverman

TZEDAKAH FUND Diane Goulston in memory of Marlene and Alan Rubin’s niece Judy Pedell, Joe Diament in memory of his parents Eli and Anne Diament, Glenn Mackles in memory of his parents Louis and Charlotte Mackles

Memorial Lights

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.

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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September Yahrzeits: 1 David Korff, Mildred James

16 Mary Singer, Saul Mark, Elias Leitman

2 Sumner Savsovitz, Salle Roffman, Benton Dearborn

17 Ella Blankenberg

4 Hyman Kovnit, Jacob Gerstein, Yakov Shumskiy 5 Samuel Tober 7 Fanny Slome 8 Pauline Alkon, Ann Diament, Alfred Heilbronner, William Lederman, Rose Paul 9 Kenneth Fox, Leo Shoer, Martin Elkin, Frances Lockman 10 May Levy, Jack Pearl 11 Molly Winebaum 12 Annie Hooz, Herman Winick 13 Abraham Glaser, Benjamin Chertok, Bertha Gerstein

18 Samuel Goodman, Rita Rabinowitz, Michael Mittelman 19 Elsa Vero 20 Wilna Hufnagel, Lorraine Lasky 21 Taube Hornblas, Gloria Blum 22 Anne Lampert, Robert Reingold 23 Stella Goodman, Bernice Levingston, Sheldon Herman, Harold Duprie 24 Philip Fox 25 Lillian Lessow, Esther Milechman, Louis Shapiro, Jacob Dinnerman, Jack Kalish 26 Gerald Landgarten, David Goldberg, Rose Krasker, Leah Selzer, Carl Prietz 27 Minnie Lederman

14 Samuel Kirzner, Mildred Gorman Pollack, Sarah Shoer

28 Hortense Bernheimer

15 Hyman Black, Dora Lightman, Meyer Simmons, Leon Steinberg, Arthur Lieberman, Bessie Fins, Samuel Roessler

30 Adele Goldberg Smith, Rachel Beaupre, Bess Grossman, Molly Leitman

Cemetery Benches Due to an increased number of requests, the Cemetery Committee is seeking donations to purchase and install two (2) granite benches adjacent to the bench presently located in the front section of the cemetery. The cost is $750/bench. Engraving is extra. Please send your donation to: Cemetery Bench, Temple Israel, 200 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

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Elul 17 / Tishrei 17

29 Irene Kline

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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

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