CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL

“A Family of Families”

January 2015

Friday, January 2 Shabbat Service @ 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 3 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, January 9 Shabbat Service @ 6:00 pm *Family Dinner to Follow

Saturday, January 10 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, January 16 Shabbat Service @ 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 17 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, January 23 Shabbat Service @ 6:00 pm *Note early service time

Saturday, January 24 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, January 30 Shabbat Service @ 7:30 pm Saturday, January 31 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am

CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES >>

Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00am

Please come and join us

In the musical “My Fair Lady” Professor Henry Higgins argues that he can tell everything he needs to know about a person as soon they open their mouth. In much the same way, it is possible to tell a great deal about a Jewish group as soon as you open their prayerbook.

In January we will start using our new prayer book 'Mishkan T'filah' the most recent prayer book of the Reform Movement and this prayerbook will say a lot about us. As a congregation that embraces both Reform and Conservative Judaism, that celebrates a pluralistic model of Jewish life and is committed to be being welcoming and inclusive, this new prayerbook reflects these values and allows us to express them more effectively in our varying worship styles. As the Reform movement has embraced more traditional practices, so too has the prayerbook changed to reflect more traditional aspects of the prayer service. Therefore Mishkan T’filah can be used (with some supplementary material) for all our services, better reflecting our reality as a congregation in which multiple expressions of Jewish belief and practice can sit side by side as part of one congregational family.

Like every other Reform prayerbook before, Mishkan T’filah provides a variety of options, not only reflecting different levels of traditionalism but also a variety of different philosophies and approaches to prayer, from the mystical to the psychological. In previous prayerbooks this was achieved by having multiple services. The big blue Gates of Prayer had no less than 10 Friday night services (compared to the grey book’s more manageable 3!). Mishkan takes an innovative approach to this by including multiple options in one service, with the Hebrew and translation on one side of the page spread and interpretive readings on the other, each of which can be chosen to reflect that prayer in the service. This innovation allows for many different options and choices of prayer within one service and allows for each page of the prayerbook to be used to teach about the prayers, with the interpretive readings used as commentaries on the prayers. In fact I will be doing just that with several of the core prayers in the course of the Friday night services in January, as we use the new book to gain insight into the meaning of the prayers we are praying.

However, it is also true that this innovative format has challenges. We are used to moving in a straightforward fashion through our services but praying from Mishkan works a little differently and will require a learning curve for it to become as comfortable as our current prayerbooks. With that in mind, all our services in January will be ‘learning services’, focused not just on prayer, but on learning about prayer and particularly how to pray from this new prayerbook.

Please join us at services in January as we explore prayer and learn to pray in ways new and old from Mishkan T’filah, our new prayerbook.

Rabbi Emanuel

RABBI’S MESSAGE

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CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL

4402 Saratoga Blvd Telephone:361.857.8181

Fax: 361.857.8227 Email: congregation@bethisraelcc.com

Website: bethisraelcc.com

Rabbis Ilan Emanuel, Rabbi

Rabbi Kenneth Roseman, Rabbi Emeritus

Staff Debbie Bustillo, Office Administrator Jana Zager, Religious School Director

Leslie Green, Shabbat Dinner Coordinator

CBI Executive Board President Suzy Hilliard

First Vice President Chris Adler

Second Vice President Mike Hiatt

Secretary Chris Kuehn

Treasurer Robin Adams

Past President Jim Gold

Sisterhood Representative Susan Martin

Adult Education Chair David Jacobs

Cemetery Chairs Robert Adler

Carl Kuehn,

Gary Blum

Ritual Committee Chairs Andrew Sheinberg Jim Gold

Membership Committee Chair Susan Martin

Social Action Committee Chair Jim Gold

Dues Committee Chairs Ann Engel

Leslie Kane

Building Chair Bill Adams

Grounds Chair Rikki Schmitchel

Fine Arts Chair Laurie Mintz

Committee Chairs

January….the time of new beginnings. We are now past the Fall and Winter Holidays and Food Fest, and have acclimated our new Rabbi to his new congregation. Now we turn our thoughts to other congregational concerns. We have organized a new committee to tackle outreach and in reach. We are working with a model first designed by Andy Taubman as a means of approaching the issues. Thanks to our committee who has stepped up enthusiastically to this challenge. We are also tackling some Bylaws clarifications spearheaded by Brian Honigbaum. In addition, I am looking hopefully forward, as we come out of one of the more difficult periods in which we have had more than our share of funerals. I hate that there has been so much sadness for our member families, but feel comforted by the support and love shown to each family touched by death. Rabbi Emanuel is planning a variety of educational programs for the remainder of the year and hope you will give several of them a try. A mitzvah day is also being considered and discussed. No matter where your interests lie, we hope you can find something special here at Congregation Beth Israel. Happy 2015!!

Suzy Hilliard President, Congregation Beth Israel

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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We send greetings for a Healthy and Happy New Year!

We look forward to spending fun times with our “Sisters” in 2015!

Brittany, Chris & Susan

CBI Sisterhood

FROM THE HONIGBAUM FAMILY They say that you learn who your true friends are not when mes are good, but when mes are bad. We have always known how wonderful the Jewish community is here in Corpus Chris but it was never more evident than during the last few months. Words can never express our thanks to all of you for the outpouring of love, prayers, food and comfort during Natalie’s illness. The support given to our family during this horrible me was one of the main reasons we all were able to make it through. Again, we can never thank each and every one of you enough for everything you did for our family.

Brian, Natalie, Mia and Molly Honigbaum

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Happy New Year CBI Family!! Our Chanukah Family Shabbat Dinner brought a record turnout! I need to give a special thanks to Inna Rogoff and Vicky Dvorkin, who helped in the potato latke preparation this year! You gals are the bomb!! I say the same thing every year, but 2014 seemed to zip by extremely fast! I hope you all had a fun holiday season and got to spend time with those you love – that's what it's all about! As we start a new year, I am looking forward to seeing more families at Shabbat services and at our upcoming dinners this year. If you have some free time to help me in the kitchen, just give me a call and join in the cooking fun! Our next Family Shabbat Dinner will be on Friday, January 9th at 6pm with dinner to follow. Take a break from cooking and let's bring in Shabbat together. Remember to bring a yummy dessert to share and we'll do the rest!!! Until we break bread together again, may you and your families be blessed with a Happy, Healthy, Joyous and Prosperous New Year ... Leslie Green Family Shabbat Dinner Coordinator Email: clutterqueen2758@gmail.com Phone: (804) 334-5662

Family Corner

$$$ FUND FACTS $$$ As Treasurer of CBI, here is the featured fund for this month, with information regarding the purpose of the fund. Please keep our funds in mind as you make contributions to our congregation and earmark your payment if you want your contribution made to a particular fund.

Shor Family Learning Fund This fund was established to provide educational opportunities for adult, Jewish learners and to underwrite the cost of special programs, speakers, and/or field trips. Disbursement of monies from this fund shall be authorized by the Religious School Administrator, our Rabbi, and a member of the religious school committee.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself or Suzy Hilliard.

Robin Adams, Treasurer

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CHANUKAH 2014

Thank you Dr. Gary Blum for the pictures!

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Please join us at 7:00 PM in the Racusin Chapel on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 as we continue our very popular 92Y lecture series.

Thomas L. Friedman in Conversation with Dov Seidman: HOW to Repair Our World?

Join us for a conversations on HOW individuals, nations and business must urgently change how they behave, lead and operate in a world that is more interconnected and interdependent. Everyone is cordially invited to attend this free program.

92Y SERIES CONTINUES ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Coming in February 2015: INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM

Whether you are exploring Judaism for the first time or want to refresh your understanding of the fundamentals of Jewish tradition and belief, this is the class for you! We will explore the foundations of Jewish history, thought, and practice in four classes accessible to all who wish to learn. Open to the public.

2:00 pm with light refreshments

Sunday, February 8: Jewish History: The Bible and the Rabbis Sunday, February 15: Jewish History: Medieval and Modern Sunday, February 22: The Mitzvot: Jewish Law and Practice Sunday, March 1: The Festivals

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This event is made possible by: Racasin Jewish Outreach Fund

Monday, January 19th Lecture at 7:00 pm

Refreshments and

book signing to follow.

Jewish Bible Scholar to speak at Congregation Beth Israel

4402 Saratoga Blvd. Corpus Christi, TX

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December was a short and quiet month for Religious School. Camp Young Judea visited for a presentation to show our children how fun summer camp can be! Please remember that if you are interested in sending your child(ren) to Jewish sleep away camp, whether it be CYJ or Greene Family Camp here in Texas or one of the many other Jewish camps in the US, there are many opportunities to help with funding. Mark your calendars: There is no Sunday School on December 21st or December 28th for Winter Break. Sessions will resume on January 4th. Have a restful vacation!

Dates to Remember: Greene Family Retreat – March 6-8, 2015 www.greene.urjcamps.org/yearround

Camp Young Judea – www.cyjtexas.org/retreats Spring Camp (Kids Only) – March 6-8, 2015 and Passover Camp – April 9-12, 2015

Corpus Christi Community Religious School Jana Zager, Director

Religious Education Classes

Hebrew School 9:15 am - 10:15 am

Sunday School 10:30am - 12:30pm

January 4, 11, & 25

BRANDEIS

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 9:30 am: meet at the JCC

Craft Experience Visit to FIRE IT Ceramics Prices according to craft piece chosen

Dutch Treat Lunch follows at the Phoenix at 337 Allister Port Aransas

$10.00

RSVP 991-6152 or Nedradl@aol.com

Sun  Mon  Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri  Sat 

        Jan 1  Office Closed 

2 Shabbat Service 

@7:30 pm 

3 Shabbat Service 9:00 am   

  

4 

Hebrew School 9:15‐10:15 Sunday School 10:30‐12:30

5 

 

6 

 

7   

8  9 Family Shabbat Service  @ 6:00 pm Family Dinner to Follow  

10 Shabbat Service 9:00 am    

11 Hebrew School 9:15‐10:15 Sunday School 10:30‐12:30

12  

13  ~CBI Board mee ng at 7pm 

14    @7pm Thomas Freedman

15    

16 Shabbat Service 

@7:30 pm 

17 Shabbat Service 9:00 am              

18

NO  SUNDAY SCHOOL  

19 MLK Day ~Dr. Joel Hoffman Lecture @ 7pm

20 

21   

22    

23 Shabbat Service 

@ 6:00 pm *note early Service

 

24 Shabbat Service 9:00 am     

25 Hebrew School 9:15‐10:15 Sunday School 10:30‐12:30

26 

 

27 

 

28    

29   

 

30 Shabbat Service 

@7:30 pm    

31 Shabbat Service 9:00 am     

January 2015 

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PERPETUAL YAHRZEITS Sabbath of January 2nd *Scott Applebaum Harold Bloom Werner Buchmann John Carrillo, Sr. *Samuel Chitrit/Skala *Frank Davis *Henry Davis *Anne Dawson *Vivian Groner *Abe Heifetz *Abe Heifetz *David Isenberg *Libby Isenberg *Jennie Karren *Milton Kovner *Sarah Kurzner *Rachel Levinson Forest Levy *Fannie Maniloff Rosalyn Opinsky *Gertrude Pashkoff *Fannie Pasternak Harold Perlman Marvin Rubin *Nathan Simon Horace Simon Jr. Nathan Stillman *Herbert Train

Sabbath of January 9th *Max Abrams *Myron Appel *Hannah Bobys *Edith Braslau *Phil Chivian Charles Davis Judith Goldsmith *Roy Ilowit Sam Kane Rita Karp *Bernard Kovner Lucille Levy William Rosenkrantz

Frida Sharfman *Simon Weil *Abraham Wilson *Pesach Zelinsky

Sabath of January 16th *I. Alexander *Frances Barnes *Mitchell Daum Merrell Gleimer *Bernice Goldman *Julius Goodman *Reva Horn *Joseph Jessel *Bernard Kane *Selma Laser *Carrie Lichtenstein *Malka Lichtenstein *Anna Maltz *Charles Maltz *Ralph Mange *David Mayerson *Abe Nebrat Morris Pearl Sam Roosth *Al Rosenthal *Ida Silverman *Rose Vinar Philip Wallock *Jennie Wiener *Stephen Wolfson

Sabbath January 23rd *Sarah Adler *Michael Baum *Hilda Blum Fannie Charney *Max Chase *Adrian Danziger Mary Gogel *Max Goodman *Simon Grossman *Silas Gunst

David Itkin *Mayer Katz *Dora Kolpack Faina Laties Miles Lerman *Effie Marks *Lillian Nisenson *Sarah Rockmore *Anna Shapiro *Edward Unger

Sabbath of January 30th *Alta Pauline Benson *Rebecca Block *Yetta Bloom *Isaac Braslau Alex Brownstein Fannie Gottlieb Elinor Greenberg *Jacob Greenberg *Sam Hausman Millie Heffler *Annette Holliday *Florence Kovner *Pearl Krasner Maxine Lenzberg Delano Lockhart Madelyn Loeb *Saera Loeb *Anna Makrow *Sam Maltzman *Mabel Minsky *Hirsch Mozes *Baruch Orshanski *Jeanne Payson *Paul Racusin Harry Reingold Eddie Rodriguez Charles Shimansky *Oscar Spitz *Mindel Tepper *Abraham Willensky *Albert Zalim

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The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions

Don’t forget . You can remember a friend or relative with a minimum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds support camp scholarships, education, cemeteries, fine arts, library, & building improvements, to name a few. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the honored person or family. Please make checks payable to CBI and specify the fund. Call the CBI office with any questions.

Yahrzeit Donations

In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From

Joseph Grand Edith Mason & Family

Joseph Newman

Joseph Meister

Ted Mason

Aranka Kane Karen & Harold Kane

Al Geller Elise Geller

Dorothy Greene Madeleine & Michael Appel

Harold Applebaum Gertrue Applebaum

Fannie Maniloff Phylis & Jerry Rozen

Anna Maizel Chris & Robert Adler

Jann Horner Meihl Sam Horner

Lois Simons Linda & Marvin Snider

Audrey Zane Sisterhood Memorial Fund

In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From

Richard Rocklin Cheryl Zane

Audrey Zane

Cemetery Endowment Fund

In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From

Alan Levens Lois & Gary Blum

General Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From

Alan Levens Mille Zalim

Offenberg Library Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From

Benjamin Heller Lois & Gary Blum

Mitzvah Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From

Alan Levens Rona & LA Train

Recovery of------------------------------------------------ From

Natalie Honigbaum Rona & LA Train

Rabbi Emanuel Discretionary Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From

Phil Seldin Iris & Andy Lehrman

Fran Brodkey

Alan Levens Catherine & Sam L. Susser

Shelly & Bruce Jacobson

Fran Brodkey Harriet & Dee Diaz

Donation----------------------------------------------------- From

Vincent Muscarello

In Honor of-------------------------------------------------- From

Rabbi Emanuel on his installa-tion

Iris & Andy Lehrman

Recovery of------------------------------------------------ From

Marsland Reynolds Catherine & Sam L. Susser

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78413

Please excuse our mess while we reorganize the gift shop.