CBI December 2015 Kolenu

Chanukah, unlike many other Jewish holidays, is pretty much a one-pony show. There is no Seder, no required festive meal, and no forbidden activities or melakhot. Along with a handful of liturgical additions – the primary ritual of Chanukah is lighting the candles. In fact, almost every chapter on Chanukah in Judaism's major law codes explicates various details about candles: why do we light the candles, what kind of candles, who lights them, where do we light them, and when is the choice time for lighting candles? Perhaps the most fascinating for me personally, is the directive that our hanukkiot should not be similar to a bonfire. That is to say, they should be in a straight line across, so each and every candle can be individually discerned when looking directly at it. If the candles are arranged in a circle, or if the flames are combined, it would be impossible to differentiate between the lights. The legal principle behind this directive (and the legal principle behind almost all the laws related to lighting the hanukkiah) is pirsumei nissa, or publicizing the miracle. By allowing each person to see the distinct light of each candle we simultaneously recall the story of Chanukah and offer the chance, and challenge, to experience the miracle anew.

The idea of an individual candle or a single flame in our tradition reaches beyond just the Chanukah candle. Before Passover, our tradition commands us to remove all of our leaven (chametz) from our possession. This obligation is manifest in the ancient practice of using a single candle to search each crack and crevice in our homes, a job that a large flame or torch could not easily accomplish. The individual candle does not only function practically, it is also a reminder that the spiritual cleaning for Passover, the removal of our internal chametz (often understood to be excessive pride and hubris), cannot be done with a superficial once-over. The small flame, the dim light, takes us another step deeper to access the space of our psyche that we are more hesitant to engage.

The Mei Hashiloach (Rabbi Mordechai Yosef of Isbitza, 1800-1854) embellishes this point, exploring the difference between a torch and a single flame. He claims that while the Torah, represented by a torch, is capable of refining the whole person over time, an individual mitzvah, or a single flame can penetrate the depths of one's immediate religious experience. He illustrates this point from the Talmud, "Concerning which mitzvah was your father most scrupulous – He answered that it was the mitzvah of Tziztit (fringes)." (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 118b) The Mei HaShiloach comments that he needed this particular mitzvah – a candle, as it were – to replenish that place in his soul in which he saw himself as deficient. By wrapping himself each morning in his tallit, this gentleman was reminded of where he needed to focus his energy – on the miracles of the tradition to which he needed to be awakened. The tallit was for him an impetus for growth.

Each of us may also have a specific mitzvah that moves us in a unique way, and forces us to open up to the world in a fresh way through the lens of Judaism and its minor and major miracles. Viewing the candles collectively arouses in us an awareness of potential for future growth. Each Chanukah candle represents a specific moment in our lives, a specific mitzvah that penetrates us, or a miracle that we have yet to allow ourselves to experience. By keeping them separate and distinct, the task of recognizing each one is realistic.

So I ask you – what will you recall as you light each candle this Chanukah? What miracle will the light help you recognize? How can each candle kindle your soul?

Jonathan, Cameron, Coby, Sammy and I wish you much brightness and joy this Chanukah and may 2016 bring happiness, health, joy and peace to all! Chanukah Sameach!

Words from Wolintz-Fields

Chanukah Lights: Potential for Growth

December 2015

Kolenu Congregation B’nai Israellarwy y nb tlyhq

Kislev–Tevet 5776

Upcoming EventsSynagogue Chanukah FairSunday, December 611:30am–2:00pm

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December 2015 • Kislev–Tevet 5776

Congregation B'nai Israel Service Schedule

Friday/Holiday Evening Services: 7:30pmFriday Junior Congregation: 7:30pmShabbat Morning Serivces: 9:00am

Shabbat Junior Congregation: 10:15amSunday Morning Services: 9:00am

Monday through Friday Morning Minyan: 7:45am

December 2015Kislev–Tevet

Friday, December 4, 2015Candle Lighting 4:13pmUSY ShabbatEvening ServicesJunior Congregation

Saturday, December 5, 2015Parashat VayeshevBirthday ShabbatShabbat Morning ServicesTorah Study Group

Friday, December 11, 2015Candle Lighting 4:13pmEvening Services

Saturday, December 12, 2015Parashat MiketzRosh ChodeshShabbat Morning Services B'not Mitzvah - Amanda and Lauren Brodsky

Friday, December 18, 2015Candle Lighting 4:15pmEvening Services

Saturday, December 19, 2015Parashat VayigashShabbat Morning ServicesTorah Study Group

Friday, December 25, 20159:00am MinyanCandle Lighting 4:19pmAnniversary ShabbatEvening Services

Saturday, December 26, 2015Parashat VeyechiShabbat Morning Services

Clergy

Rabbi Ellen S. [email protected]

Hazzan Steven [email protected]

Rabbi Richard Hammerman, D.D. Rabbi Emeritus

Cantor Daniel GreenCantor [email protected]

Staff

Office Manager/BookkeeperLaurie [email protected]

Administrative AssistantChristine [email protected]

Officers

PresidentBob Van [email protected]

1st Vice PresidentMichele [email protected]

2nd Vice PresidentJeremy [email protected]

TreasurerFred [email protected]

Financial SecretaryPosition Open

Recording SecretarySteve [email protected]

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As the days get shorter and shorter, it gets more and more depressing that it's only 4:30, and yet it looks like midnight outside. As if that wasn't enough, we hear the news from France, from Mali, from Israel, from Israel, always from Israel, tragedy after tragedy, pain and sadness, loss and darkness. As we face our deepest despair we are suddenly confronted with Chanukah, the festival of light. Unlike Christmas, which has been announcing its presence since before Halloween, Chanukah strikes like a silent ninja, approaching us every year at a different time: will it occur on Thanksgiving? Will it be a New Year's Chanukah? It always strikes in the night when we least expect it, but so desparately need it. This year, let us hope that the lights of the Chanukiyah will light our darkest hour, and send hope and comfort to all of us. May they ignite our own hearts so that we may continue the ongoing mitzvah of being an Or La'Goyim – a light onto all nations. May we be an example of love and grace to all who we meet in our days, and may the warmth of sun and life come quickly to us all.

Hazzan Steven Walvick

The fall is almost over and winter will arrive in just a few weeks. The Festival of Lights, Chanukah, is almost here again. Once again, we will light the menorah to remind us of our freedom, the rebuilding and rededication of the Second Temple and of course the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days. Chanukah means "dedication." As we light the menorah with our family, our friends, and all of our children and grandchildren, let it be a reminder that we must continue our dedication to Judaism and to our Kehilla. It's another opportunity to teach the importance of keeping the lights burning in our Jewish community.

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 5:00pm please join us with the entire family for our Community Chanukah Candle Lighting. We will be lighting the menorah on

the synagogue front lawn and Hazzan Walvick will lead us in Chanukah songs, followed by latkes, jelly doughnuts and beverages in the social hall. There will several community and religious leaders joining us for this event. Looking forward to seeing you there! Happy Chanukah!

A Message from Our President Bob Van Bochove

Community Chanukah Candle Lighting at CBIWednesday, December 9, 2015 at 5:00pmChanukah Menorah Lighting on the Front Lawn and Singing of Chanukah Songs

Folllowed by a Chanukah Celebration in our SociaI Hall:* Latkes, Jelly Doughnuts and Beverages prepared by our Men's Club* Dreidel Spinning Contest* lndoor Menorah Lighting* Sisterhood Gift Shop Open for all your Holiday needs* Spend time with your Congregation B'nai lsrael Family and Community* Creating Jewish Memories on the Jersey Shore for 65 Years

Everyone is invited to Celebrate! This Event is free of Charge!For any questions please call the Synagogue Office at 732-349-1244.

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It's Not Too Early to Start Thinking About ChanukahChanukah, Oh Chanukah.…No excuses this year not to shop at the Sisterhood Judaica Shop! We will be open for all your holiday purchasing ! Visit us for a full week (varied hours each day) in the synagogue lobby:

Tuesday, December 1 – 6:00-7:30pmWednesday, December 2 – 4:00-7:00pm (Open to Talmud Torah students during class time – suggested amount $10)Thursday, December 3 – 11:00am-2:00pmFriday, December 4 – 10:00am -1:00pmSunday, December 6 – Chanukah FairMonday, December 7 – 10:00am-4:00pm (vicinity of gift shop area & classroom 1)Wednesday, December 9 – 4:00-5:30pm (Talmud Torah Hours)

Sisterhood

Make us your #1 stop by first shopping in our

CBI Judaica Sisterhood Gift ShopForget buying at the local malls in NJ or small strip malls. Keep it within the

CBI family and shop with us instead! (no big markups and no sales tax)

New beautiful merchandise has arrived, much from Israel. Don't delay many – original one of a kind pieces! We can also special order from our catalogs or online

if the order is large enough to permit. For more information contact Terri at 732-864-1566 or Susan at 732-279-0443.

Sisterhood Book ClubTuesday, December 15th 7:30pm

The Sisterhood Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday December 15th at 7:30pm to discuss The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. The meeting will take place at the home of Sandy Welsher. Please RSVP so that Sandy can give an accurate list to the gatehouse security.

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Men's Club

December 2015 Update by Michael Perks, Men's Club President

We want to thank everyone who attended November 11th's FJMC "Man of the Year" dinner to cheer for our honorees. This year, CBI Men's Club had two "Man of the Year" award winners: Michael Collins and Lou Bonus, with B'nai Israel USY President, Steven Glassoff as our "Youth of the Year" winner. Mazel tov to all of you...we thank you for everything you've done (and continue to do) for our congregation! Please see biographies and photos of winners in this Kolenu issue.

Since it was such a big hit last year, Men's Club will again host a "Movie Nite & Chinese Buffet Dinner" on Thursday, December 24th, with our CBI "movie mavens," Steve and Marion Pardes in charge... see announcement in this issue and fliers on lobby table. Please remember to mark your calendars and return your RSVP's...this is sure to be a delicious and fun get-together!

Upcoming Men's Club Events:

Sunday, December 6th Chanukah FairMen's Club handles food concession...volunteers needed.

Sunday, January 3rd Hearing Men's VoicesHeld after morning services. Breakfast will be served.

Friday, January 22nd Board of Directors Shabbat

January 2016 Third Annual Student Essay ContestBeginning in January. Details to follow.

Sunday, February 7thSuperbowl Party & Betting PoolIt's not too soon to think about the ever-popular get together and important fundraising event for CBI Men's Club.

Movie Nite &Chinese Buffet Dinner

Please join us for an evening of delicious food and quality

entertainment. Dinner will be served before the movie with dessert served after our feature film:

"For My Father"Nominated for 7 Israeli Academy Awards

Thursday, December 24, 20156:30pm

Cost: $18 per personEveryone is invited....and please bring your non-member

guests! Wine, beer, and soft drinks will be served. (must be 21 or older)

Please complete and return by December 11th with your check made out to CBI Men's Club.

Mail to: Hy Mittleberg, 49 Melody Avenue, Brick, NJ 08724.

Name(s): Number Attending:

Email Address:

Phone Number:

Amount Enclosed:

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December 1 – Mona GinsbergDecember 2 – Rabbi Richard Hammerman Estelle HerbstDecember 3 – Henry SheryDecember 4 – Ruth AdlerDecember 5 – Joanne GlassoffDecember 6 – Beatrice Lipper Lawrence SilversDecember 7 – Amanda Brodsky Lauren Brodsky Suzanne KohnDecember 8 – Carol Oppenheim Martin Poretskin Barbara TellerDecember 9 – Lorraine McKeown Steven Pardes Tammy Werner Shayne WinnDecember 10 – Francene Beel Ellyn Lyons Leslie PortDecember 12 – Joel PerlmutterDecember 13 – Lisa Kassenoff Ruel Rotem Keith Vansickle

December 14 – Emily Bloom Sophia Bloom Jordan MallenDecember 15 – Samuel Abrahamovic Barbara StoneDecember 16 – Jerome Berkowitz Diane JarrettDecember 17 – Frank Louis Leila PoretskinDecember 18 – Allison Rozovsky Brad Singer Martin WhitemanDecember 19 – Sharon Berkowitz Amanda CabeyDecember 21 – Nerissa Manela Lillian SokolowDecember 22 – Rachel Gordon Marlene SimpsonDecember 23 – Louis Bonus Renate LewinsonDecember 24 – Joseph BirnbaumDecember 25 – David Jarrett Jordyn TouitouDecember 26 – Douglas Collier Marc Kassenoff Rae Rozovsky

December 27 – Barbara Cohen Ellen FalkDecember 28 – Avrum Glassoff Martha HarweenDecember 29 – Gail Brody Emma Grunin Elliott Kleinman Jeremy Meyerberg Carol SchlesingerDecember 30 – Matthew Brodsky

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Anniversaries (Anniversary Shabbat – Friday, December 25th)

אני לדודי ודודי ליDecember 6 – Martin and Teri AbramsonDecember 6 – David and Allysa WeintraubDecember 9 – David and Sandra OttenbergDecember 9 – David and Jan PelcmanDecember 11 – Alan and Carol SwingerDecember 14 – Jeffrey and Beatrice Lipper

December 15 – Tobias and Ardith NamensonDecember 20 – Dennis and Ellyn LyonsDecember 21 – Herman and Ruth AdlerDecember 22 – Milton and Janice GelzerDecember 22 – Barry and Jan SalisDecember 26 – Glenn and Susan Jacobs

December 27 – Jay and Lauren GordonDecember 27 – Paul and Rochelle HalpernDecember 27 – Robert and Frances KirschnerDecember 28 – Brad and Estera Singer

Birthda�s (Birthday Shabbat – Saturday, December 5th)

יום הולדת שמח

Mazel TovDr. Neil & Michelle Brodsky on their daughters Amanda and Lauren marking their B'not Mitzvah

On the upcoming wedding of Larissa Taff and Greg Morganoff - daughter of Robert and Nava Taff and granddaughter of Shirley Taff

Our CondolencesDaniel (Julie) Berger and Family on the passing of his father Edward Berger.

Richard (Judy) Bolotsky and the passing of his mother Marcia Bolotsky


- In memory of Frances Abramson - Samuel Abramson - In memory of Samuel Barsky - Harvey and Marilyn Poretskin - In memory of Anna Behar - Irving and Betty Nierenberg- In memory of Ilse Beitman - William Beitman- In memory of Paul Beitman - William Beitman- In memory of Sophia Berger - Leslie Berger Port- In memory of Richard Bierman - Lynn Berman- In memory of Minnie Blumenthal - Corinne Blumenthal- In memory of Max Brody - Michael and Gail Brody- In memory of Herbert Bunis - Joel and Lisa Bunis- In memory of Lena Buzzel - Thelma Rubens- In memory of Mendel Dodyk - Jerry Dodyk- In memory of Friedel Ehrmann - Charlotte Ehrmann- In memory of Burton Federman - Arthur and Sherry Stein- In memory of Sara Gellerstein - Carole Cohen- In memory of Irving Gilbert - Carole Cohen- In memory of Robert Gitlen - Bernie and Irma Dansky- In memory of David Goldsmith - Evelyn Rabinowitz- In memory of Eric Gottesman - Sandra Gottesman- In memory of Benjamin Hacken - Eleanore Kopp- In memory of Sara Kahane - Rozlyn Sherman- In memory of Sarah Karpen - Penny Peters- In memory of Rose Koplowitz - Eleanore Kopp- In memory of Morris Korcarz - Rose Laiter- In memory of Harvey Lee - Michael and Terri Gibbor- In memory of Claire Levine - Corinne Blumenthal- In memory of Irving Levine - Lilian Levine- In memory of Martha Mednick - Michael Mednick

- In memory of Abraham Lewis Metersky - Muriel Levine- In memory of Abram Morris - Kenneth and Sylvia Davis- In memory of Stanton Morris - Kenneth and Sylvia Davis- In memory of Jay Nierenberg - Irving and Betty Nierenberg- In memory of Steven Prawer - Toby Schier- In memory of Fannie Rabinowitz - Evelyn Rabinowitz- In memory of Yetta Racusin - Betty Richman- In memory of Gustave Rappeport - Theresa Londner- In memory of Ted Rose - Corinne Blumenthal- In memory of Hannah F. Shery - Henry Shery and Family- In memory of Frances and Louis Shiffer - Phyllis Natter- In memory of Leon Skolnik - Harriet Wolf- In memory of Julius Sokolow - Lillian Sokolow- In memory of Claire Stein - Arthur and Sherry Stein- In memory of William Stein - Arthur and Sherry Stein- In memory of Bella Strauss - William Beitman- In memory of Jakob Strauss - William Beitman- In memory of Rebecca Strauss - William Beitman- In memory of Fay Teitelbaum - Lynne Bennardo- In memory of Abraham Wasserman - William Beitman- In memory of Gustave Wasserman - William Beitman- In memory of Marie Wasserman - William Beitman- In memory of Rika Wasserman - William Beitman- In memory of Mina Weil - Fred and Evelyn Weil- In memory of Gertrude Wolf - Harriet Wolf- In memory of Jack Wolf - Harriet Wolf- In memory of Arnold Wolinsky - Irene Wolinsky- In memory of Max Yurman - Leslie Port and Paul Walitsky

Yahrzeits

11:30amto

2:00pm

SundayDecember 6th

@ CBI

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Talmud Torah

Poignant Points from the Principal by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields Attendance Policy: Continuity is a major key to success in education. A resolution passed by the CBI Board of Education in 2007 states that a student must attend classes 75% of scheduled days. If not, he/she must complete a school project to be determined by the Principal, and Board of Education. If a student misses more than 50% of scheduled days, he/she will not receive credit for that year of Religious School, graduate Talmud Torah and will not receive the Israel Funds set aside for their 11th grade. In addition, there will be a delay in receiving their Bar/Bat Mitzvah date and having his/her Year in Advance. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration. If such circumstances exist, the parents will be required to meet in person with the Rabbi and a member of the Board of Education to determine whether the policy should be waived and how the absences can be effectively made up. 4 Times arriving 15 minutes late and leaving 15 minutes early will be considered an absence, in other words 4 tardies (4 times arriving 15 minutes late), or 4 times leaving 15 minutes early) = 1 absence). If you have any questions, please speak to Rabbi Wolintz-Fields. Perfect Attendance:This year we will return to awarding our students with certificates for monthly Perfect Attendance at Talmud Torah. We have some students who attend Jewish Day Schools, such as Solomon Schechter and CBI Talmud Torah, and so do not attend on Wednesdays. If they have perfect attendance at their Jewish Day School and CBI Talmud Torah, they will qualify for a monthly Perfect Attendance Certificate. Tardiness and leaving early will be held into consideration for Perfect Attendance. If you have any questions, please speak to the Principal.

September 2015 Perfect Attendance Kitah Alef – Gavin Dempsey Kitah Gimmel – Jacob KassenoffKitah Dalet – Coby Fields Kitah Vav – Jillian Weintraub Kitah Zayin – Cameron Fields October 2015 Perfect Attendance Kitah Gan – Brynley Brodzinski Kitah Alef – Gavin Dempsey, Madelyn WikoKitah Bet – Olivia Babinski, Samuel Fields Kitah Gimmel – Jake Nadell Kitah Dalet – Lilly Fried Kitah Heh – Holden DempseyKitah Vav – Zachary Lewis Kitah Zayin – Mykala Brodzinski, Cameron Fields, Ian Singer, Rachel Singer

November 2015 Perfect AttendanceKitah Alef – Gavin Dempsey, Madelyn WikoKitah Gimmel – Jacob Kassenoff, Jake NadellKitah Dalet – Coby Fields, Lilly FriedKitah Heh – Holden DempseyKitah Vav – Zachary Lewis, Brandon LewisKitah Zayin – Cameron Fields, Ian Singer, Rachel Singer

Talmud Torah is in Session:

December JanuaryWednesday – 2, 9, 16 Wednesday – 6, 13, 20, 27Sunday – 6, 13, 20 Sunday – 10, 24, 31

Junior Congregation w/Max Silverstein:

Friday, December 4, 7:30pm Saturday, January 23, 10:15am

We are back from Chicago and had a really great trip. We visited Lincoln Park Zoo, Grant Park, Soldier Field, the Field Museum, the Volo Auto Museum, Northwestern University, went to a Bulls basketball game, did a high ropes course with teambuilding exercises and a boat tour of the Chicago River highlighting the building architecture and Lake Michigan. We shopped, ate at some wonderful kosher restaurants and enjoyed each other's company. A big thanks to Jonathan Fields for being such an excellent tour guide and booking agent!

TRUSY in Chicago

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B'not Mitzvah Spotlight

Amanda Brodskyחנה באשעDecember 12, 2015Parashat Miketz

Amanda has been looking forward to marking her Bat Mitzvah with her twin sister Lauren. She is a 7th grader in the Pinnacle program at Intermediate North. Amanda is an exceptional and bright student, achieving high honor roll the past two years. In addition to her Hebrew studies at B'nai Israel, she is involved in a number of activities in and out of school. At Intermediate North, she runs cross country and track and is presently playing on the field hockey team in an offensive position. She is also a member of Interact and will be participating in the Lead & Seed Youth Training Institute at Intermediate North. Amanda is an accomplished dancer in ballet, jazz, lyrical ballet and tap. She is an amazing tumbler, and she loves playing tennis and playing piano. She loves reading, listening to music, watching T.V. and just hanging out with her friends. Amanda has chosen to support Ronald McDonald House at Monmouth Medical Center as her B'not Mitzvah project. Both Amanda and her sister Lauren have been collecting items to donate to the families who are utilizing their services. We are so proud of Amanda's accomplishments and we are looking forward to this special moment in her life.

Love you with all our hearts,Mom, Dad and Matthew

Lauren has been working so hard over this past year practicing her Hebrew for her Bat Mitzvah with her twin sister Amanda. Lauren is a 7th grader at Intermediate North. She is a dedicated and hardworking student, achieving high honor roll the past two years. Lauren is very active in a number of activities, both inside and outside of Intermediate North, in addition to her Hebrew studies. For the past two years, she has played defensive positions on the field hockey team at Intermediate North. She is also a member of Interact and will be participating in the Lead & Seed Youth Training Institute at Intermediate North. Lauren is a very talented dancer and loves to dance ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical ballet. She also loves playing tennis, reading, listening to music, playing piano, watching T.V. and spending time with her friends. Lauren has chosen to support Ronald McDonald House at Monmouth Medical Center as her B'not Mitzvah project. Lauren and her sister Amanda have been collecting items to be donated to Ronald McDonald House. We are so proud of Lauren's accomplishments and we can't wait for this special moment in her life.

Love you with all our hearts,Mom, Dad and Matthew

Lauren Brodskyאסתר חיהDecember 12, 2015Parashat Miketz

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Around the Synagogue

Ocean County has been a great place to call home. Now is the time to make it your permanent home!We never know when the end of life will come. The only thing we know for sure is that our own death will be at a very inconvenient time. Let us admit that it will probably be our spouse or our children who will have to make the funeral and burial arrangements. But do we even own a burial plot?

If we do not make these hard decisions during our own lifetime, our family members will have to do so without being able to ask our opinion. And they will have to do it hastily. Is that really what we would want?

End-of-life decisions should be for each of us to make – not anyone else. We ourselves deserve to choose our own burial placeand funeral arrangements. Let us not leave these for others to decide in haste.

Congregation B'nai Israel urges you to visit our synagogue office or main lobby and take home a copy of our B'nai IsraelMemorial Park Guide & Policies. Then contact our Cemetery Chairman to reserve plots for yourself and loved ones in ourbeautiful Jewish cemetery, which is lovingly maintained by dedicated volunteers from our congregation. Your family will beeternally grateful.

B'nai Israel Memorial Park is located at the corner of West Whitty Road and Old Freehold Road in Toms River. For more information please contact Fred M. Weil, Cemetery Chairman, at 732-797-0197 or [email protected].

Cantors Ruth and Daniel Green to Present a Musical Chanukah ProgramMonday, December 7 at 1:00pm

On Monday, December 7, 2015, the first day of Chanukah, Cantors Ruth and Daniel Green will present a musical program at 1:00pm at Congregation B'nai Israel. The program will be sponsored by the combined Hadassah chapters of Toms River, Leisure Village West and the Renaissance.

Ruth Katz Green served as Cantor of Temple Beth Shalom in Manalapan for twenty years and is now their Cantor Emerita. Daniel Green, Ruth's husband, is Cantor Emeritus here at Congregation B'nai Israel.

All are invited to come celebrate the joy of Chanukah and join in singing Chanukah song favorites. Admission is open to both men and women and is free of charge. Refreshments will be served.

Sharon and Rabbi Richard Hammerman Being Honored by Masorti OlamiCongregation B'nai Israel's Rabbi Emeritus Richard Hammerman and Sharon Hammerman will be honored by the international Masorti/Conservative organization, Masorti Olami/World Council of Conservative Synagogues at a festive last day of Chanukah Tribute at the Park Avenue Synagogue, New York City, on Sunday, December 13, 2015. Sharon and Rabbi Richard Hammerman will be presented with the Rabbi Mordecai Waxman Rabbinic Leadership Award for their pioneering work in serving Conservative/Masorti communities throughout the world and in Israel. After retiring from Congregation B'nai Israel, Rabbi Hammerman served as Vice President for North America of Masorti Olami/World Council of Conservative Synagogues. Their children (Rabbi) Eytan and Rebecca Hammerman were previously recognized for their service as educators and rabbinic leaders at Congregation Beth El, Madrid, Spain by Masorti Olami and received the Chayil Masorti Youth Leadership Award.

Rabbi Richard and Sharon Hammerman served Congregation B'nai Israel, Toms River, NJ for 31 years and were known as local community leaders. In addition, they are, and have been stalwart Masorti/Conservative leaders internationally and in Israel for almost 50 years. They are the proud parents of passionate Jewish professionals Leah, Rabbi Eytan (Rebecca), and Rabbi Yael (Rabbi Joshua Rabin) and grandparents of Ary, Rena, Lani, and Hannah.For more information about attending the Masorti Olami Tribute, and to offer greetings, go to: http://masortiolami.org/annual-tribute-event-2015 or 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, 212-280-6039.

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Louis Bonus2015 Man of the YearBorn in 1929 in New Jersey, Lou spent most of his life in Mt. Vernon, New York and graduated from Columbia University with a BS in Pharmacology and an MS in Biostatistics. Lou served in the U.S. Navy for four years, was stationed at St. Albans Naval Hospital and served on the battleship USS Missouri. In 1953, he married his wife, Jean, with whom he has a son, a daughter and four wonderful grandchildren. After leaving military service, Lou worked in retail pharmacy, and then started his own business in the Bronx. Lou also worked for Vick Chemical Company, and was Director of Development Information Services at Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceutical Company. Lou served on the Summit, New Jersey, Jewish Community Center Board of Trustees and was Shacharit morning services leader, who was known as "Tuesday Minyan Captain." Lou is a former Commander of Toms River Jewish War Veterans. After joining Congregation B'nai Israel in 2001, Lou became Commander of Toms River Jewish War Veterans and has been a "loyal attendee" at Friday morning services. He was instrumental in making Men's Club Shabbat a great success and a wonderful B'nai Israel tradition, which the congregation looks forward to every year.

Michael Collins2015 Man of the YearA native of London, England, where he studied at London Polytechnic, Michael emigrated to America in 1960, and found his very first "home" at the New York City YMHA. In NYC, he attended the famed Fashion Institute of Technology and spent several years working in that city's garment industry. After marrying "the love of his life," Elaine, the couple moved to Suffern, where he lived for forty-six years and raised his three children. For Michael and his family, devotion to synagogue has always been an intrinsic part of their lives and at Suffern's Congregation Sons of Israel, he served in many capacities, including Congregation President and Men's Club President. In 2011, the Collins moved to Toms River, joined CBI and became very involved in Men's Club, where he experiences "team work at its best." Michael is the "go to guy" for the ever-popular "Superbowl Betting Pool & Party" fundraiser, "Men's Club Shabbat" "Sisterhood-Men's Club Shabbat" and is always ready to BBQ. He says that he is humbled to receive this honor and is "grateful to the shul and Men's Club for its warmth and character. " Michael thinks that we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude and he is thankful for the quality-of-life with which he has been blessed.

Steven Glassoff2015 Youth of the YearSteven is the current Toms River USY (TRUSY) President and an eleventh-grader at Toms River High School North. He is also a second-year student at Ocean County Vocational Technical School, where he is studying Culinary Arts. Steven's Judaic studies began at the age of three, when he entered Congregation B'nai Israel's "First Step" program and Nursery School and continued as he moved on to Solomon Schechter Academies in both Howell and Marlboro. Steven is an active member of Toms River High School North's "Buddy Club," where he volunteers to work with disabled students during after-school hours. He also enjoys volunteering with "Wag On Inn Rescue," helping to bring homeless dogs to New Jersey, in order to find "forever homes" for them. Steven's twin brother, Matthew, also serves on the Board of Toms River USY and his older brother, Sam, is a past USY Board member. Steven's parents, Avrum and Joanne, are very proud of Steven and all that he continues to achieve.

Around the Synagogue

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5776 Chanukah Supplement

Introduction to Chanukah HighlightsChanukah, like Passover, is a holiday that celebrates the liberation from oppression. It also provides a

strong argument in favor of freedom of worship and religion. In spite of the human action that is commemorated, never far from the surface is the theology that the liberation was possible only

thanks to the miraculous support of the Divine. Chanukah is not Biblically ordained. The liturgy for the holiday is not well

developed. It is actually a quite minor festival. However, it has become one of the most beloved of Jewish holidays. In an act of defiance against those in the past and in the present who would root out Jewish practice, the observance

of Chanukah has assumed a visible community aspect. Jews will often gather for communal celebrations and public candle lighting. At such celebrations, Chanukah songs are sung and traditional games such as dreidel are played.

The festive nature of Chanukah is enriched through family gatherings. Receiving gifts has also become part of our celebrations. Who among us does not

like to receive gifts? Yet gifts are not limited to toys or clothing or other physical possessions. Indeed, Chanukah teaches us that these are not the ultimate gifts.

Much of the activity of Chanukah takes place at home. Central to the holiday is the lighting of the Chanukiyah, an eight branched candelabrum to which one candle is added on each day of the holiday until it is ablaze with light on the eighth day. (The Chanukiyah also referred to-erroneously-as the Chanukah Menorah. A true Menorah has a total of only seven branches.)

This Chanukah, let us focus on even greater treasures, even more precious rewards. We hope that these Chanukah Highlights may help us to restore Chanukah to its original luster, giving added light to our lives.

Historical Background to the Festival of ChanukahChanukah, or the Festival of Rededication, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement

by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. Although it is a late addition to the Jewish liturgical calendar, the eight-day festival of Chanukah has become a beloved and joyous holiday. Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, a holiday of joy and happiness is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish festive occasions. In this darkest of Seasons, with its short days and long cold evenings, as we kindle our hanukkiyot, the light we create is not merely a form of physical illumination but of spiritual illumination as well, intended to bring added meaning and holiness into our lives. Beginning in 167 BCE, the Jews of Judea rose up in revolt against the oppression of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire. The military leader of the first phase of the revolt was Judah the Maccabee, the eldest son of the priest Mattityahu (Mattathias). In the autumn of 164, Judah and his followers were able to capture the Temple in Jerusalem, in an eight-day celebration, which was patterned on Sukkot, the autumn festival of huts. Much later rabbinic tradition ascribes the length of the festival to a miraculous cruse of oil that burned for eight days.

Central Mitzvah of ChanukahThe central mitzvah of Chanukah is to kindle lights. These lights serve as physical reminders of the miracle of Chanukah

the triumph of the few over the many, the fight for religious freedom in the face of the threat of forced assimilation. The lighting of the Chanukah candles act as a concrete symbol of the resolve to "publicize" the miracle of Chanukah, to ourselves and our families, to the neighborhood – indeed, to the world. Interestingly, the origin of the lights is probably not Jewish at all. Many pagan religions observed winter solstice torch festivals to enlighten the darkest days of the year. As the story is told in the First Book of Maccabees, Judah rekindled the menorah of the Temple after cleansing it. Jews adapted the practice of candle lighting to the Chanukah holiday. And, although the practice was rooted in pagan customs, the religious leadership of the people infused it with religious significance. The Rabbis of the Talmud, some 364 years later, recorded the famous legend of the single cruse of oil that miraculously lasted eight days to give a religious meaning to this popular practice. Since then, Rabbinic Authorities surrounded the ritual of candle lighting with specific laws and customs designed to make this act fully Jewish. (Even the requirement for the candles to be in one line reflects the rabbis' concern that one should not think that the Chanukiyah was representative of a torch, the kind used in ancient pagan rituals.)

How important is it to kindle Chanukah lights? The Rabbis said that if a person must choose between buying supplies for Chanukah lights and wine for the Shabbat Kiddush, the Chanukah lights are to be acquired first. Even if one is studying Torah, the lesson must stop in order to kindle the Chanukiyah.

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Lighting the Chanukiyah is the major ritual act of the Chanukah festival. As such, the procedures for kindling the Chanukah lights, while not complicated, have been precisely outlined for us. The first decision to be made is where to place the Chanukiyah(ot). If you interpret the dictum "publicize the miracle" to refer to the outside world, you may decide to place the Chanukiyah in a window sill or even outdoors. This is the preferred practice. If "publicize the miracle" refers to your own family, choose any convenient central location in the home, perhaps on a fireplace mantle, a breakfront, the dining room table, or another location in the major traffic pattern of the house. Many families create a "candle lighting center" for Chanukah, surrounded by decorations, presents, greeting cards, dreidels, etc.

A cautionary tip: Place sheets of aluminum foil or trays under the Chanukiyah(ot) in order to catch dripping wax or even to prevent the spread of fire. If you must leave the house while the lights are burning, be sure to position the Chanukiyah(ot) in a safe place. The Chanukiyah(ot) should not be moved after the lights are kindled. It can, however, be repositioned from night to night.

Virtually all Jews kindle the lights of the Chanukiyah beginning with the one light on the first night of Chanukah, two lights on the second night, and so forth until all eight lights of the Chanukiyah are burning on the eighth and final night of the holiday. There was a great debate among the disciples of two of the most famous rabbis of the Talmud concerning this practice. The School of Shammai argued that all eight lights should be kindled on the first night and that on each subsequent night one light should be taken away. The School of Hillel countered that the purpose of the holiday is to "increase our joy," so they began the holiday with one light per night, gradually adding an additional light each night.

Why are there two candle lighting traditions included in the Gemara? There are two answers: the practical and the ideological. The practical reason for two suggestions is that the Rabbis probably did not really know how to do the ritual. It had developed among the people and different groups most likely followed different practices. The ideological reason reflects one of the great hallmarks of Judaism – its embrace for pluralism. Although the Rabbis had to settle on one practice, they included the discussion and reasoning for both traditions in the official record of their deliberations. Of course, the practice of the School of Hillel was adopted as the standard ritual and our modern candle lighting ceremony is descended from this decision.

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CandlelightingThe placement of the candles in the Chanukiyah and the proper procedure for kindling the lights can be remembered as

Set to the left, light to the right.The basic pattern of placing and kindling the candles is:

1. Set the shamash or leader candle in its holder.2. Place the candle for the first night in the far right holder. (This is the set-up for the first night of Chanukah.)3. Light the shamash.4. Chant the berachot, or blessings, On the first night of Chanukah, three blessings are recited:

a. L'hadlik ner shel Chanukahb. Sheh'asah nissim la'avoteinuc. Shehecheyanu (said only on the First Night)

5. After the appropriate blessings are chanted, sing Ha-neirot Hallalu, Maoz Tzur, and other Chanukah songs.6. When all the lights are kindled, place the shamash in its holder.7. On the second night, repeat the above and add a candle on the next holder toward the left of the first night's candle.8. On each subsequent night, continue to add one candle toward the left, until, on the eighth night, all holders are filled.9. Using the shamash, light the newest candle first.

Hadlakat NerotBarukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav vtzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam sheh'asah nissim la'avoteinu ba-yamim ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh.

On the first night only add the following.Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam shehecheyanu v'ki-y'manu v'hegeyanu la-z'man ha-zeh.

DreidelThe joy of Chanukah is enhanced through playing games, the most popular of which is dreidel. The dreidel is a spinning

top. Its name in Yiddish means "turn." The Hebrew word for dreidel is sevivon. There are four letters on the dreidel: Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin. They stand for the words, Nes Gadol Haya Sham, which means "A Great Miracle Happened There." Dreidels in Israel have these letters: Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Peh. They stand for the words, Nes Gadol Haya Po, which means "A Great Miracle Happened Here."

Everyone starts with an equal number of nuts, raisins, or pennies. Each player puts one of these in the middle. The firstplayer spins the dreidel. If it lands on:

Nun – the player does nothingGimel – the player takes everything in the midldeHey – the player takes halfShin – the player puts one in

An easy way to remember is:N = nothingG = getH = halfS = share

Before the next player spins, everyone puts in another nut, raisin, penny, or whatever item you are using to play.

Chanukah Foods and TraditionsIn commemoration of the legendary cruse of oil, it is traditional to eat foods fried in oil. The most familiar Chanukah

foods are the European (Ashkenazi) potato pancakes, or latkes, and the Israeli favorite, jelly donuts or sufganiyot. The tradition developed in Europe to give small amounts of money, as well as nuts and raisins, to children at this time. Under the influence of Christmas, which takes place around the same time of year, Chanukah has evolved into the central gift-giving holiday in the Jewish calendar in the Western world

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Sufganiyot (Doughnuts)6 tbsp. margarine softened 1 cup warm water (110–115 degrees)2 packages Active dry yeast ¾ cup granulated sugar4 ½ to 4 ¾ cups of all purpose flour 2 eggs1 tsp. Vanilla Vegetable shortening for deep-fat fryingSifted powdered sugar Jam or jelly

Dissolve yeast in warm water; add 1 ½ cups of flour to form a sponge. Cover; let rise until bubbly, about 45 minutes. Creamgranulated sugar, margarine, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy and thick. Stir in yeast sponge and enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth, 5-8 minutes. Roll to ½ thickness; cut with floured 2 ½ inch biscuit cutter. Cover; let rise until almost double, about 1 hour. Heat shortening in deep-fat fryer to 375degrees. Fry doughnuts a few at a time, about 3 minutes, turning once. Drain on paper toweling. Fill doughnuts with jam or jelly, using pastry tube. Dust with sifted powdered sugar or while still warm dip in honey. Makes 2 dozen doughnuts.

Chanukah SongsLight One Candle

Light one candle for the Maccabee's childrenWith thanks that their light didn't die Light one candle for the pain they endured When their right to exist was denied Light one candle for the terrible sacrificeJustice and freedom demand Light one candle for the wisdom to know When the peacemaker's time is at hand.

Chorus: Don't let the light go out It's lasted for so many yearsDon't let the light go out Let it shine through our love and our tears.

Light one candle for the strength that we needTo never become our own foeLight one candle for those who are sufferingPain we learned so long agoLight one candle for all we believe inThat anger not tear us apartAnd light one candle to find us togetherWith peace as the song in our hearts.

Chorus: Don't let the light go outIt's lasted for so many yearsDon't let the light go outLet it shine through our love and our tears.

Maoz Tzur (Rocky Fortress)

The lyrics of this song date back to approximately the 13th century C.E. It is believed to be written by a man named Mordecai, because that name is encrypted in the first of the five stanzas. The music dates back to at least the 18th century, and possibly as far back as the 15th century. Most people are only familiar with the first stanza, which is reproduced below. This very literal translation is not what most people are used to seeing (it is usually translated as "Rock of Ages").

Maoz tzur y'shuatiL'kha na-eh L'shabei-achTikon beyt t'filatiV'sham todah n'zabei-achL'eit tachin matbei-achMitzar ha-m'nabei-achAz egmor b'shir mizmorChanukat ha-mizbei-achAz egmor b'shir mizmorChanukat ha-mizbei-ach.

Rocky Fortress of my SalvationIt is delightful to praise youRestore my house of PrayerAnd there we will give thanks with an offeringWhen you have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foeThen I will complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the altarThen I will complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the altar

A less literal but more singable translation:

Rock of ages, let our song, praise Your saving powerYou amid the raging throng were our sheltering tower.Furious they assailed us, but your help availed usAnd your word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.And your word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.

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Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

- In honor of Cameron Fields marking her Bat Mitzvah - Chuck and Marsha Bernstein- David and Judy Kessler- Rita Simpson- Arthur and Sherry Stein- Dr. Edward and Beatrice Walvick- Gertude Weil

- In honor of my birthday - Lillian Levine

- In honor of my birthday - Penny Peters

- In honor of the birth of Harold and Fran Lowenfels' grandson, Dean Lowenfels - Rita Simpson

- In memory of Aaron and Ruth Jablon - Michelle Bellay and Edna Mostarda

Educational Endowment Fund

- In honor of Lou Bonus' Man of the Year award - Dr. Glenn and Susan Jacobs

- In honor of Michael Collins' Man of the Year award - Dr. Glenn and Susan Jacobs

- In honor of Hy and Megina Mittleberg's Simchat Torah honor- Elaine Kaplan- Shirley Shames

- In honor of Mel Traum's 95th birthday - Murray and Penny Peters

- In honor of Cameron Fields marking her Bat Mitzvah - Noel and Penny Leifer- Fred and Evelyn Weil

- In honor of Fred Weil's 80th birthday - Mona Ginsburg- Walter and Susan Kahn- Howard and Ruth Schutzbank- Gertrude Weil

- In honor of the marriage of Dr. David and Janet Miller's daughter Amy to Steve Kravetz - Shirley Taff

- In memory of Phyllis Berger - Dr. Brian and Ruth Kerr

- In memory of Edward Berger - Leslie Berger Port

USY Fund - In honor of the birth of Sandra Gottesman's great-grandson, Yakov Yisrael - Judge Milton and Janice Gelzer

Congregation B'nai Israel Gratefully Acknowledges the Following Contributions

Sam Epstein Education Endowment Fund

- In memory of Sam Epstein - Beatrice Epstein

- In memory of Max Fleischman - Beatrice Epstein

Ritual Fund

- In honor of a mishaberach said for my grand niece - George Young

- In honor of a mishaberach said for our son-in-law John Beaver - Penny Peters

Kiddush Fund

- In honor of my birthday - Elaine Kaplan

- In honor of Marvin's birthday - Marvin and Phyllis Kerr

- In honor of their 33rd anniversary - Hy and Megina Mittleberg

- In honor of their 53rd anniversary - Avrum and Averil Glazier

- In honor of their 61st anniversary - Marvin and Phyllis Kerr

- In honor of their 62nd anniversary - Hy and Perle Schechter

Be a Patron Oneg or Kiddush SponsorCelebrating? Any occasion – be it important events in your child's life, your work life, or your home life; a graduation, anniversary, anniversary of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah, birthday, engagement, retirement….

A Patron sponsorship is designed to allow you, the congregant, to celebrate special occasions with your congregation family when you are not inviting many outside guests. The food provided by a Patron sponsorship will be ample for the usual number of congregants attending Shabbat Services plus a few invited guests. Consider becoming a Patron sponsor of a Friday night Oneg Shabbat or a Saturday morning Kiddush. Just contact the Synagogue Office to make arrangements for sharing your simcha with our whole Congregation!

Thank you to Sponsoring our Oneg and Kiddush:

Dr. Adam and Michelle Repole for sponsoring our Oneg and Kiddush in honor of their daughter Hannah marking her Bat Mitzvah.

Daniella Joyner for sponsoring our Oneg and Kiddush in honor of her daughter Kayla marking her Bat Mitzvah.

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Synagogue Funds

Arielle Eytan Memorial Fund: Provides materials for the Nursery School Program. Mitzvah Care Fund: Helps needy families and individuals within our Congregation. Educational Endowment Fund: Perpetual support for our Talmud Torah educational programs. Esther and Frank Simon Youth Lounge: Provides and maintains items and furnishings in our Youth Lounge. Harry and Molly Garson Fund: Used for special annual programs for the children of Congregation B’nai Israel Talmud Torah. General Fund: Used to support the ongoing needs of Congregation B'nai Israel. Goldsmith Endowment Fund: Used for the education of our youth. Memorial Plaques: Installed in the Sanctuary to memorialize dear ones who are deceased. Music Fund: Provides for musical programs and ongoing musical needs for Congregation B'nai Israel. Dr. Norman J. Meyers Library Fund: Used to support the Congregation B'nai Israel Library.Prayer Book Fund: Used to purchase Chumashim and weekly Sabbath and High Holy Days prayer books. Books may be dedicated to specific individuals.

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund: Used for needy individuals and causes.Ramah-Youth Scholarship Fund: Provides scholarships for summer educational and cultural programs for our youngsters (Camp Ramah, USY on Wheels, Israel Pilgrimage, etc.) Ritual Fund: Used to purchase new siddurim, tallitot and other ritual items needed to benefit and assist the Congregation. Rosen Adult Education Fund: Perpetual support for Adult Education. Talmud Torah Fund: Used to support the Religious Schools of B'nai Israel and to enhance our educational program. Tree of Life: Leaves may be purchased in honor of special occasions and family simchas. USY Fund: Used for scholarships toward regional or national events and programs for the youth of our synagogue. Yahrzeit Fund: Supports Talmud Torah in memory of dear ones. Yizkor Fund: Memorializes dear ones who are deceased. All requests must be in writing accompanied with payment to the Synagogue Office.

Congregation B'nai Israel Gratefully Acknowledges the Following Contributions

Happy Chanukah! This is a perfect time to share your simchas of your loved ones by dedicating a Leaf for those that you love. Chanukah comes early this year. Please consider adding a Leaf to our Tree of Life now. Your check for $150.00 each is made payable to Congregation B'nai Israel. You get 4 lines and 29 spaces per Leaf.

Share your children and grandchildren's simchas by adding a Leaf to our Tree of Life. What a lovely gift! Add a leaf to our Tree of Life or reserve some for the future. Please call me, Arlene Neugarten at 732-929-0545 or call the office, 732- 349-1244 for more information. You can also chip in with friends to share a special birthday, marriage, anniversary, bar/bat mitzvah, graduation, birth of a child or grandchild, etc. Hoping to hear from you.

Shalom, Arlene Neugarten, Tree of Life Chairperson

Thank you to those who added the following to our Tree of Life:It is a tree of life to those who uphold it – Proverbs 3:16-8

CAMERON ELIZABETH FIELDSBAT MITZVAH OCTOBER 31, 2015WITH MUCH NACHAS AND LOVE

MOMMY-DADDY-COBY-SAMMY-BUSTER

LAUREN NICOLE BRODSKYBAT MITZVAH 12-12-15

WITH MUCH LOVE, PRIDE & JOYMOM, DAD, AMANDA & MATTHEW

CAMERON ELIZABETH FIELDSBAT MITZVAH – VAYERA 5776

MAY YOU SEE 20/20 BILATERALLYMAZEL TOV! LOVE, NANNY

AMANDA BROOKE BRODSKYBAT MITZVAH 12-12-15

WITH MUCH LOVE, PRIDE & JOYMOM, DAD, LAUREN & MATTHEW

TO ALLYSA WEINTRAUB – 11/2015CHAIR, CBI BOARD OF EDUCATION

IN GRATITUDE FOR DEVOTION,COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, LOVE

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CBI Academy for Learning and Journeying 5776

Women's Rosh Chodesh Study Group 10:30am–12:00pmJoin us for an informative, lively, and confidential gathering of women sharing in the celebration of the new Hebrew month. Rosh Chodesh is a time for women to gather for insightful study through various activities and conversation on the topic of the new month. Coffee and nosh are always served.

Monday, December 14 – Rosh Chodesh TevetWhy Jews Eat the Way We Do?

Thursday, March 10 – Rosh Chodesh Adar II More About Jewish Food and Eating Habits

Thursday, April 7 – Rosh Chodesh NisanDoes Pluralism Really Work?

Monday, May 9 – Rosh Chodesh IyarAll Begins with a Date

Thursday, June 9 – Rosh Chodesh SivanWedding Bells

Lunch and Learn iEngage 2.011:30am–1:00pmEngaging Israel: from the Shalom Hartman Institute Lecture Series – A video produced by the Shalom Hartman Institute, featuring Hartman scholars discussing these topics, will be watched and then discussed. Lunch at each session will be served. Please RSVP the Monday before each session. These programs are open to men and woman.

Thursday, December 17 – Values Nation: Israel is the project of the Jewish people, in which Jewish values and ideals meet the challenges of governance and everyday life. What resources within the Jewish tradition can contribute to the shaping of Israel as a paragon of moral and democratic values and help fulfill the aspiration of Israel to be a nation of values?

Thursday, March 17 – The Jewish People as a Tribal Family: Explores how the Jewish tradition conceptualizes the Jewish people as a tribal family. It recognizes that Jewish collective identity has always been a divided and tribal one, requiring the balancing of collective consciousness with individual and tribal sensibilities.

Thursday, May 19 – The "Orthodox" Jewish Tribes: Explores two Jewish tribes within Israel that conceive of orthodoxy as the only authentic form of Judaism: the ultra-orthodox and religious Zionists. It presents a nuanced understanding of the defining characteristics of each tribe, the challenges they face, and their place within the broader mosaic of Israel society.

Monday, June 6 – The "Liberal" Jewish Tribes: Examines the four Jewish tribes within Israel that reject the monopoly of orthodoxy – Masorti (traditional), "Jewish" secular, Israeli secular, and "Jewish Non-Jewish."

Evening iEngage 2.0 - Central Themes of Dilemmas of Faith 7:00pm–9:00pmWednesday, December 2 – What Does it Mean to Believe? The Challenge of the Rational and the Reasonable: Explores the challenges of faith in a world defined by personal choice. What makes a life of faith compelling? Rabbi Dr. Donnie Hartman argues that modern Jews will only choose faith if it is both rational and reasonable.

Wednesday, March 2 – Dilemma of Biblical Theology: What is the Redeeming Idea of Monotheism? Explores how the Bible wants us to understand God and holiness. Dr. Micah Goodman suggests that biblical monotheism is about the absolute uniqueness of a God who is beyond nature and beyond the world. Since our beliefs in God shapre our vision for humanity and the world, Jewish theology strives to instill the ethos that perfection is not possible in the human realm.

Wednesday, May 11 – Dilemma of Theodicy: Where is God in the Midst of Suffering? Addresses the problem of understanding God, God's power, and God's goodness in the face of evil. Rabbi Lauren Berkun suggests that there has never been one response to the problem of theodicy. She offers several different traditional Jewish approaches to the question of evil and G-d's in the world.

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December 2015 Events Calendar

KolenuSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

1:00pm Hadassah Board Meeting6:30pm Executive Board Meeting7:30pm CBI Board Meeting

2

Talmud Torah7:00-9:00pm Evening iEngage

3 4 USY Shabbat4:13pm Candle Lighting7:30pm Evening Services7:30pm Jr. Congregation

5

Birthday Shabbat9:00am Shabbat ServicesTorah Study Group6:30pm Kadima Event - Skyzone & Starbucks

6

Chanukah 1st CandleTalmud Torah11:30am Chanukah Fair

7

Chanukah 1st DayChanukah 2nd CandleHebrew High School

8

Chanukah 2nd DayChanukah 3rd Candle

9

Chanukah 3rd DayChanukah 4th CandleTalmud Torah5:00pm Community Chanukah Candle Lighting at CBI

10

Chanukah 4th DayChanukah 5th Candle

11

Chanukah 5th DayChanukah 6th Candle4:13pm Candle Lighting7:30pm Evening Services

12 Rosh Chodesh

Chanukah 6th DayChanukah 7th Candle9:00am Shabbat ServicesB'not Mitzvah - Amanda and Lauren Brodsky

13 Rosh Chodesh

Chanukah 7th DayChanukah 8th CandleTalmud Torah12:30-6:00pm Tzofim Field Trip to Liberty Science Center

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Chanukah 8th DayHebrew High School10:30am Women's Rosh Chodesh Study Group

15

1:00pm Hadassah Regional Meeting

16

Talmud Torah6:30pm Kadima Event -

"Jeopardy Live"

17

11:30am Lunch & Learn iEngage

18

4:15pm Candle Lighting7:30pm Evening Services

19

9:00am Shabbat ServicesTorah Study Group

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Talmud Torah

21

Hebrew High

22 23

No Talmud Torah

24

Men's Club Chinese Dinner and Movie

25

Office ClosedAnniversary Shabbat Community Give Back9:00am Morning Minyan4:19pm Candle Lighting7:30pm Evening Services

26

9:00am Shabbat Services

27

No Talmud Torah

28

No Hebrew High

29 30

No Talmud Torah

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CBI December 2015 Kolenu

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Transcript of CBI December 2015 Kolenu