May 2016 Bulletin - Congregation Beth Israel, Portland Oregon
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL Dear...
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CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL “A Family of Families” February 2010 Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00 am Please come and join us. CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES Dear Friends, For the last two weeks of January and from now on until Simchat To- rah in October, we’re reading Torah passages completely suffused by the presence of Moses. He is such a ubiquitous figure that the Pentateuch is often called “Torat Moshe,” the Torah of Moses. And that is because the name “Moses” appears in the text almost as often as the name of the deity! Let me share two ideas about Moses and his popularity. First, you might note the difference between God and Moses. God is the giver of the Torah; Moses is the re- ceiver. Neither one is sufficient without the other, much in the same way that the quarterback is irrelevant unless there is a wide receiver somewhere down the field to catch his pass during the Super Bowl. Early midrashic texts (about 1500 or more years ago) tell us that God had the Torah in heaven long before the creation of the world, but that the Torah without people to act on it was, in reality, a dead letter. Nothing could happen with To- rah, it could have no effect, until some people on earth received it and took it seriously. Moses and the Israelites who gathered at Sinai with him – and all of their succes- sors, which means us – became the doers of Torah, the catalyst that made the high ideals embodied in the books come to life. Moses, then, becomes the symbol for all of us who proudly proclaim that we are “the people of the book.” (By the way, that expression first was used in the Koran, where Jews are called “ul hakitab.” Sometimes it helps to read what others have written about us. Maybe they are not always wrong.) Our mission, our task on earth, is to make the values of Torah real in the society in which we live. Like Moses who had to transmit the val- ues of the new revelation to his people, our purpose as modern Jews is no different: we are the people who are commanded by God to make Torah values come into reality in our world. That makes Moses a pretty impor- tant and persistent figure; he represents what we our- selves are supposed to do with our lives. A second thought – I have been reading Bruce Feiler’s book about Moses. It is called “America’s Prophet,” and it is a book well worth reading. Bruce traces how the idea and image of Moses has persisted in American his- tory, motivating all sorts of different people in different eras and ages to thoughts and actions that produced free- dom. From the words of the New England Pilgrims to George Washington to the Civil War (both sides!) to Martin Luther King, Jr., Moses has been summoned to speak for the oppressed and persecuted and to encourage those who would alleviate their burdens. In a telling passage, the author points out that Moses was called for- ward more frequently in Civil War rhetoric than even February Friday, February 5 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm Saturday, February 6 Shabbat Service 9:00am Friday, February 12 Shabbat Service The Torah will be read by Rikki Schmitchel 7:30 pm Saturday, February 13 Shabbat Service 9:00am Friday, February 19 Reform Shabbat Service Traditional Shabbat Service (Racusin Chapel) 7:30 pm Saturday, February 20 Shabbat Service 9:00am Friday, February 26 Shabbat Service 6:00 pm Followed by Family Dinner Saturday, February 27 Shabbat Service 9:00am
Transcript of CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL Dear...
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL
“A Family of Families” February 2010
Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00 am
Please come and join us.
CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Dear Friends, For the last two weeks of January and from now on until Simchat To-rah in October, we’re reading Torah passages completely suffused by the presence of Moses. He is such a
ubiquitous figure that the Pentateuch is often called “Torat Moshe,” the Torah of Moses. And that is because the name “Moses” appears in the text almost as often as the name of the deity!
Let me share two ideas about Moses and his popularity.
First, you might note the difference between God and Moses. God is the giver of the Torah; Moses is the re-ceiver. Neither one is sufficient without the other, much in the same way that the quarterback is irrelevant unless there is a wide receiver somewhere down the field to catch his pass during the Super Bowl. Early midrashic texts (about 1500 or more years ago) tell us that God had the Torah in heaven long before the creation of the world, but that the Torah without people to act on it was, in reality, a dead letter. Nothing could happen with To-rah, it could have no effect, until some people on earth received it and took it seriously. Moses and the Israelites who gathered at Sinai with him – and all of their succes-sors, which means us – became the doers of Torah, the catalyst that made the high ideals embodied in the books come to life.
Moses, then, becomes the symbol for all of us who proudly proclaim that we are “the people of the book.” (By the way, that expression first was used in the Koran, where Jews are called “ul hakitab.” Sometimes it helps to read what others have written about us. Maybe they are not always wrong.) Our mission, our task on earth, is to make the values of Torah real in the society in which we live. Like Moses who had to transmit the val-ues of the new revelation to his people, our purpose as modern Jews is no different: we are the people who are commanded by God to make Torah values come into reality in our world. That makes Moses a pretty impor-tant and persistent figure; he represents what we our-selves are supposed to do with our lives.
A second thought – I have been reading Bruce Feiler’s book about Moses. It is called “America’s Prophet,” and it is a book well worth reading. Bruce traces how the idea and image of Moses has persisted in American his-tory, motivating all sorts of different people in different eras and ages to thoughts and actions that produced free-dom. From the words of the New England Pilgrims to George Washington to the Civil War (both sides!) to Martin Luther King, Jr., Moses has been summoned to speak for the oppressed and persecuted and to encourage those who would alleviate their burdens. In a telling passage, the author points out that Moses was called for-ward more frequently in Civil War rhetoric than even
February
Friday, February 5 Shabbat Service
7:30 pm
Saturday, February 6 Shabbat Service
9:00am
Friday, February 12 Shabbat Service
The Torah will be read by Rikki Schmitchel 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 13 Shabbat Service
9:00am
Friday, February 19 Reform Shabbat Service
Traditional Shabbat Service (Racusin Chapel) 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 20 Shabbat Service
9:00am
Friday, February 26 Shabbat Service
6:00 pm Followed by Family Dinner
Saturday, February 27 Shabbat Service
9:00am
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 Saratoga
Telephone-361.857.8181/Fax-361.857.8227 Email: [email protected]
Website: bethisraelcc.com
Rabbi Kenneth Roseman Debbie Bustillo, Office Administrator
Susan Martin, Corpus Christi Community Religious School Administrator
President….……….….….…………..…... ..Maury Wolfson First Vice President….……..…..……………..Suzy Hilliard Second Vice President……............………Rikki Schmitchel Secretary .…......…....…......…………………….Rona Train Treasurer………….….....…..…………………....Ed Mange Past President……………………...……….Andy Lehrman Sisterhood Co-Presidents…..........................Meredith Ryan Iris Karas Cofty President……..….................……....Meredith Hilliard Adult Education……….………………...…....David Jacobs Cemetery Co-Chairs.....................Robert Adler, Carl Kuehn, Gary Blum and Clara Braslau Ritual Committee Co-Chairs…….….......Andrew Sheinberg and Joe Loon Program Coordinator…………….……...… Meredith Ryan Membership Committee Chair….……………..Susan Martin Social Action Committee Co-Chairs. …...... Michelle Arevalo-Davila, Diana Stillman Dues Committee Co-Chairs..….………….…..…Ann Engel and Leslie Kane Building Chair…………………………...…...David Jacobs Grounds Chair………………………...….Rikki Schmitchel Fine Arts...............................Laurie Mintz and Ross Burney Webmaster.…………………..………….…….Jack Widder
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Dear Members of CBI, Our Congregation continues to move for-ward with religious services, adult study sessions and special projects. The board, Sisterhood, and all committees work effi-ciently for the betterment of Congregation Beth Israel. You are important as a congregant. Shortly you will receive a call from an officer or board member requesting suggestions that we might implement. During my many years of participation in our Jewish Community, the one thing that gratifies me most is the fact that our board efforts result in positive outcomes and with-out rancor. Later this month, we will celebrate the festi-val of Purim. We read the Megillah and twirl the grogers-noisemakers as we drown out the name of Haman. We also pay hom-age to the beautiful Queen Esther. As we close, I am pleased tell you that at-tendance at services has increased. Come participate. Congregation Beth Israel is the place to be for Jewish stimulation. Shalom, Maury Wolfson .
Jesus; he was that important. Bruce’s point is that no other figure in the mythology of America has been so constant and so important as Moses, and that alone should make us want to hear, over and over, the story of this legendary Jewish leader.
You will enjoy and learn from reading Bruce’s book. Even more, you will enjoy and learn from reading Moses’ book. Or better yet, try both. Like chicken soup, it won’t hurt you, and it might just make a difference in your life. Shalom, Kenneth D. Roseman, Rabbi
Corpus Christi Community Religious School
In anticipation of Tu B’Shevat, which falls on January 30th this year, students gathered under the Dr. Ben Groner per-gola on Sunday morning, January 24th. Rabbi Roseman gave us a tour of the bib-lical garden. We are hoping the plants will survive the freezing weather we had earlier. After returning to their class-rooms, students made bird feeders and played Tu B’Shevat games celebrating the birthday of the trees. Look for pic-tures in this bulletin.
Stefani Rozen, senior assistant director of Greene Family Camp and a former stu-dent of our religious school, will visit on Sunday, February 31st, to tell our stu-dents about this summer’s camp. Bro-chures with camp dates and other infor-mation are on the table just inside the door.
Hopefully, all parents of religious school students received an email from me about the Corpus Christi Ice Rays game on Saturday, February 20th. Gregg Silverman has generously offered tickets to our students and their families. Con-tact me by Sunday, February 7th, if you’re able to attend.
We will not have Sunday School on Feb-ruary 14th. Following school on Sunday, February 28th, everyone is encouraged to attend the JCC Purim carnival. Details will follow. Shalom! Susan
A Message from the Family Corner
Thank you to all who have helped with the Shabbat dinners. This month will prove to be just as en-joyable. If you would like to have your child utilize the childcare during services, please make sure to check them in and out. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Meredith Ryan at 960-0698.
Shalom,
Meredith Ryan
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES
Sunday School 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
February 7, 21 & 28
Hebrew School 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm on Thursday
February 4,11, 18 & 25
From the Jewish Community Council
SISTERHOOD NEWS February 3rd
Sisterhood Executive Board Meeting JCC @ 12:00
March 7th Passover Wine and Appetizer Party
Location and Time to be Announced Volunteers needed…...
If anyone is interested in taking over the Sisterhood Secretary position or helping Clara in the gift shop, please contact Meredith Ryan at 960-0698 or Iris Karas at 413-575-2625.
The new Sisterhood Cookbook is officially underway!!! We are in need of volunteers and co-chairs for a variety of committees, and everyone who wishes to volunteer for any committee should email or call Barbara Schwamb ([email protected], 992-4085) or Rona Train ([email protected]) to join the team!! Current list of the committees and the chairpersons for each: Appetizers: Judy Itkin, Dolly Oshman, Sandra Oshman, co-chairs Breads: Rona Train, Barb Schwamb, co-chairs Soups, Cheese & Egg Dishes: Suzy Hilliard, Elisa Cox, co-chairs Meat, Poultry & Fish: Meredith Ryan, co-chairs Salads: Laura Smith Noe, Robin Adams, co-chairs Vegetables: Elisa Cox, chair Jewish Foods: Judy Itkin, chair International Foods: Meredith Ryan, chair Deserts: Amy Krams, chair Food Fest Favorites: Publishing: Natalie Honigbaum, chair Sponsor Solicitation: Toby Shor will co-chair (We are hoping to find several sponsors for the book and the various chapters in it!) Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. -Margaret Cousins
The Yellow Lily is the floral symbol of grati‐tude, our theme for Sisterhood for this
year.
PURIM SHABBAT DINNER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH SERVICES 6 PM
DINNER TO FOLLOW
DRESS IN YOUR FAVORITE COSTUME!!
BRING YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
PLEASE CONTACT MEREDITH RYAN AT 960-0698 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
FEBRUARY-TRAIN LIBRARY NEWS By popular demand the “CATS” have added a newly re-leased book to the Train Library
Start-Up Nation The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle
By Dan Senor and Saul Singer Learn the answer to the trillion dollar question: how is it that Israel, a 60 year old country of 7 million people, surrounded by enemies, with no natural resources, produces more start-up companies than large, stable and peaceful nations like Japan, China, India, Canada and the UK? “When an Israeli en-trepreneur has a business idea he will start it that week. Israelis put chutzpa first” claim the authors. While our economy struggles with economic recovery, Israel’s resiliency provides surprising clues for success. Start-Up Nation is easy to read, fascinating in its content and perfect for discussion. A Must Read!
Shalom in 2010 The Library Cats
Rabbi Roseman Gave Sunday School Students a tour of the Biblical Garden.
PURIM IS HERE – WELL, ALMOST
The festival of Purim begins on Saturday night, February 27 and continues through the next day. Purim, as most of us know, is the celebration of the deliverance of the Jews of Shushan (Persia) from the sinister plot of Haman and his henchmen. According to the book of Esther, Haman schemed to murder the Jews in order to confiscate their wealth. However, because he could not assert this motivation openly, especially to King Ahashuerus, he told the ruler that the Jews were flaunting the laws of the kingdom and, presumably, were therefore both disloyal themselves and a model
of treasonous behavior for others. This rationale was obviously a fraudulent excuse for Ha-man’s real purpose, but it was enough to secure assent from the not-very-bright king. Esther, the beautiful Jewish heroine of the story, replaces Vashti as the queen and learns of the plot. She is initially afraid to appear before the King, since he has not invited her to come forward. But her uncle, Mordecai, persuades her to enter the royal banquet chamber. Esther invites Ahashuerus and Haman to a sumptuous dinner. During the dinner, Ahashuerus must go out into the garden to relieve himself. Haman seizes the opportunity to persuade Esther not to unmask his nefarious doings. But, on the way across the room, he trips and falls on top of the reclining queen. Just at that moment, Ahashuerus returns and sees his prime minister in a compromising position. Haman is arrested, not for the reason that he ought to be, but for making a sexual advance toward the queen. He and his sons are executed, Mordecai is promoted to high station, and everything turns out well for the Jews of Shushan. The book of Esther is a controversial book. It purports to have been written during the Babylonian Exile, but is probably several centuries later, a story written during the Per-sian period (fourth or even third century, BCE). After the Temple in Jerusalem was de-stroyed by the Romans, the new rabbinical leadership of the Jewish community gathered at Yavneh (near Tel Aviv) and tried to decide what books would be in the canon (approved list) of Scripture. Esther was one of the problematic books, mostly because there is no mention of God or prayer or religion in the book and because of its rather bawdy passages. Their conclusion was, however, that Esther belonged in the Bible because a salvation of a Jewish community, such as is described in the book, could not have occurred unless it had been part of God’s plan. WE SHALL CELEBRATE PURIM WITH THE READING OF THE MEGILLAH ON FRIDAY,
FEBRUARY 26 AT 6:00 PM SERVICES.
COME IN COSTUME COME PREPARED TO DROWN OUT HAMAN
COME TO CELEBRATE AND HAVE FUN, SING AND REJOICE THEN STAY AND JOIN TOGETHER FOR A FESTIVE FAMILY DINNER
TRADITIONAL KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES SCHEDULED
Once-a-month, lay members of Congregation Beth Israel conduct traditional Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath) services in the Racusin Chapel. These services last about 45 minutes; attendees often then join the rest of the congregation in the Sanctuary for the Rabbi’s sermon, the concluding parts of the service and the Oneg Shabbat. The mood of these services is relaxed and celebratory, and all are welcome.
The schedule for the entire year is: We encourage you to enter these dates on your calendar now so that you will be able to attend these services when they occur.
February 19, 2010 May 21, 2010 March 26, 2010 June 18, 2010 April 30, 2010
Brandeis National Committee
The next meeting of the Brandeis National Committee will be on Wednesday, February 17 at 11:30 AM at the home of Elizabeth Susser,
225 Wilshire Place, 854-4450.
Brown-bag lunch.
Jacques Hettera will demonstrate how to make baklava. We shall eat lunch while our dessert is baking.
$10.00 fee is requested.
RSVP to 991-6152 or [email protected]
Congregational Passover Seder The congregational Passover seder will be held on the second night of Pesach, which, this year, falls on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. The seder will be held in the Grossman Auditorium of CBI. A reservation form will be included in the March issue of the CBI Newsletter, and we encourage you to return it as soon as possible. Reservations are a must. Because of the popularity of this seder, priority will be given to reservations from members of CBI; only if there is space available will reservations be made available at a later date to unaffiliated members of the community.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm
5 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm
6 Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am
7 Sunday School 9:30am—12pm
8
9
10 CBI Board Meeting @ 7pm
11
Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm
12
Shabbat Service 7:30 pm
13
Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am
14 No Sunday School
15
16
17
18 Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm
19 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm (Traditional Services held in Racusin Chapel)
20 Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am
21 Sunday School 9:30am—12pm
22 23
24
25 Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm
26 Shabbat Service 6:00 pm
Followed by Family Dinner
27 Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am
28 Sunday School 9:30am—12pm
1 March 2
3 4 Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm
5 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm
6 Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am
february 2010
P E R P E T U A L YAHRZEITS
Sabbath of February 5th *Bernice Beck *Joseph Sigmund Bein *Ernest Everett Bobys *Isaac Braslau *Max Geschwir Stephen Gold *Anna Goltzman *Ben E Gordon *Jacob Greenberg *Dorothy E. Grossman Gussie Harris Millie Heffler *Sam Krasner *Simon Kratzenstein *Freda Lebowitz Mary Mayerson *Kornelia Meister Sarah Rodriguez Charles Theodore Shimansky *Helen Silver *Anna Wallock *Marcus Wiener Sabbath of February 12th *Ida Grossman Cohen *Lucy Danziger Henia Ferszt *Sarah Goldstein *Mollie Grossman Aaron Harry Karas *Zula M. Kridel *Rosalind Lieberman David Radunsky *Harold Louis Rockmore *Jack Roth David Schlang Sarah Jean Swiff Lesser *Jacob Wiener
Sabbath of February 19th *Rachel Abbey Esther Allen *Fannie Sokolov Braslau Charles Browne Max Browne Abe Feferman Madeline Levinson Forman Howard Freedman Abe Geller *Hirsch Goldstein *Oscar Greenberg *Harry Jacobson *Esther Jessel Claire Joseph Julius Karchmer *Nathan Kessler *Rae Kleinman *Vera Reich Kleniec Robert Meyer Korn Sophie Krams *Florence Krinsky Kuritsky *Martha Levy *Ann B. Luce *Bertha E. Minsky Martha C. (Bess) Nance *Arel Nisenson Rochelle Eileen Roby Fannie Shapiro Solomon *Yetta Tatar *Hyman Tolman *Sidney D. Weisman *Louis Weltman *Rabbi Sidney A. Wolf *Isadore Ziedman
Sabbath of February 26th Evelyn Baum *Moritz Daniel Cohn *Heinrich Dannenbaum *Lester Kenneth Davis *Jack Ducler Abraham Feinberg *Irving Leo Fenster *Nathan Friedman *Archie Goodman David Greenberg *Sidney Irving Greenberg *Lester Gunst *Bert Haas *Alice Harrosch *Adolf Hausman *Freda Jacobson *Sheldon Katz *Daniel Laser *Samuel David Levinson *Shirley Liedeker Alvin Roseman Harry L. Shapiro *Rose Siskind *Louis Susser *Rae Weltman *Dora Wolfson
The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Yahrzeit Donations In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Sam Roosth Hyman & Elinor Roosth
Joesph Jessel Willard Martin
Sarah Adler Robert Adler
Bertha Liedeker Barbara Samuels
Reva Horn
Fannie Maniloff Jerry & Phyllis Rozen
Bertha Train
Herbert Train Rona & LA Train
Bill Adams, Sr. Bill & Robin Adams
Phil Seldin Iris & Andy Lehrman
Harold Robert Applebaum Gertrude Applebaum
Adult Education Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From
Nathan Stillman David Jacobs
Dee & Harriet Diaz
Audrey S. Zane Memorial Sisterhood Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From
Libby Isenberg Laurie Mintz
Cemetery Endowment Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Max Goodman
Sam Kane
Marvin Rubin Marilyn & Irving Braslau
Sam Hausman
Annette H. Holliday
Bernice H. Beck
Sam Kane
Marvin Rubin Lorraine Hausman
Albert Zalim
Sam Kane
Marvin Rubin Mille Zalim
Nathan Stillman
Marvin Rubin Marvin & Yetta Leshin
Fine Arts Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Frida Shejet Sharfman Bill & Susan Martin
General Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Sam Kane Suzanne & Joseph Patrick
Doris Katz & Annette Cottingham
Jerry & Phyllis Rozen
Frank & Paula Armstrong
Nathan Stillman Raymond & Elizabeth Falk
Michael Weil Jerry & Phyllis Rozen
Joseph Jessel Jay & Barbara Lack
Lew Engel
Irvin Seymour Block Herman & Ruth Josephs
In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From
Scott Rhodes and Kari Oshman Jerry & Phyllis Rozen
Conversion of Grace Kopf Raymond & Elizabeth Falk
Dottie Heffler's Birthday
Phyllis Roseman's Birthday Jerry & Phyllis Rozen
Donation------------------------------------------------------ From
LA & Rona Train
Hebrew Rest Cemetery Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Marvin Rubin
Sam Kane Jerry & Elizabeth Susser
High Holyday Appeal Donation------------------------------------------------------ From
Scot & Deborah Oshman
Leslie Simon Scholarship Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Sam Kane Ed & Heleen Mange
Andrew Mange
Mitzvah Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Frida Shejet Sharfman Brian & Natalie Honigbaum
The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions
Don’t forget . .You can remember a friend or relative with a mini-mum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds
support camp scholarships, education, cemeteries, fine arts, library, and 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.
Nelson Landscape Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Nathan Stillman George & Helen Barron
Oshman Family Foundation Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Dr. Joseph Oshman Dr.& Mrs. Lowell & Elizabeth Kepp
Jay & Barbara Lack
Dr. Joseph Oshman Dr. & Mrs. M.E. Hanisch
Penny Baum Perpetual Torah Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Marvin Rubin
Sam Kane Chris & Robert Adler
Frida Shejet Sharfman
Sam Kane
Marvin Rubin Karma & Michael Lakin
Recovery of-------------------------------------------------- From Joyce Wormser Karma & Michael Lakin
Rabbinical Endowment Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Sam Kane David & Ann Engel
Recovery of-------------------------------------------------- From LA Train David & Ann Engel
In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Dorothy Jessel's Birthday David & Ann Engel
Racusin Jewish Outreach Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Louis Racusin
Miriam Racusin
Dr. Joe Oshman
Joe Jessel Robert Racusin
Recovery of-------------------------------------------------- From Joe Sheinberg Robert & Chris Adler
Ruth Josephs
Seaside Beautification Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Sam Kane Dee & Harriet Diaz
Sikora 11 Fund In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Grace Kopf's conversion Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Lois Blum
Train Library Recovery of-------------------------------------------------- From LA Train Robert & Chris Adler
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Michael Weil
Nathan Stillman Robert & Chris Adler
Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson
Frida Shejet Sharfman Mille Zalim
Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson
Alan & Norma Levens
Marvin Rubin Sam J. & Pat Susser
Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson
Donald & Lillian Katz
Sam Kane Sam J. & Pat Susser
Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson
Marcia Marks
Alan & Norma Levens
Donald & Lillian Katz
Nathan Stillman Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson
Marvin Rubin
Nathan Stillman
Sam Kane
Frida Shejet Sharfman Jeri Kolpack
Sam Kane
Michael Weil Bruce & Shelly Jacobson
Recovery of-------------------------------------------------- From LA Train
Charles Clark Evelyn Maltz & Kenneth Maltz
LA Train Jeri Kolpack
Bruce & Shelly Jacobson
In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Grace Kopf's conversion Jeri Kolpack
Dorothy Jessel on her Birth-day Bruce & Shelly Jacobson
CONGRATULATIONS
To Chris Adler who is being honored with a “roast” on February 25 by the Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni group
RABBI ROSEMAN IN THE COMMUNITY
On Wednesday, February 17, Rabbi Roseman will be the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Trinity Encores, a group of residents at Trinity Towers. He will speak about Purim and the biblical book of Esther.
On Friday night, February 19, Rabbi Roseman will be the guest speaker at Temple Beth El in Fort Worth as part of there invited preacher series. He will talk on the topic “Why Jews Succeeded in America.” .
Your Congregation Beth Israel Board at Work:
You will soon be receiving a phone call from a member of CBI Board of Directors. We want to find out what can be done to make your membership more valuable. Thanks for taking a little time to help us help you.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY Rabbi Kenneth D. Roseman, Ph.D.
It is no secret, of course, that Israel has gotten some bad press recently. Some of this we always expect, particu‐larly from Israel’s Arab neighbors. Israel sometimes does something questionable, and then it should be legitimately held to account. But what would be remarkable is if its neighbors had anything good to say about the Jewish state. Televised images from the conflict in Gaza and the subsequent Goldstone report, Israel’s security fence and alleged mis‐treatment of Palestinians have undermined the State’s standing in world opinion. This is hardly news. It’s the kind of perspective we can read on the editorial pages of many newspapers on a regular basis, that our kids hear all the time on college campuses and that is common currency, especially in certain elitist intellectual circles. So, it’s nice to know that there is another side to the story, even if that side is rarely told in the journals that de‐light in attacking Israel, in UN debates and in demonstrations on college quadrangles. The side to which I refer is Israel’s long history of providing aid to other countries when they are in desperate need. Israel’s efforts began in 1958 with the establishment of MASHAV, the Center for International Cooperation. For‐eign Minister Golda Meir made made her first visit that year to Africa. She was appalled by conditions she witnessed and arranged MASHAV’s first outreach to the extraordinarily dry and impoverished countries of sub‐Saharan Africa. Very quietly – because, after all, most of these are Moslem countries and the PR fall‐out would have been destructive if it became known that they were accepting help from Israel or Jews – Israeli agricultural technicians went into Mali and Niger and Chad and other places to teach the people how to use drip irrigation and how to maximize their food produc‐tion. By the 1970s, Israel had extended its humanitarian agenda by opening its borders to refugees from Vietnam, Bosnia and Kosovo, and this at the same time that the nation was resettling hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. The principles at work are biblical. Deuteronomy (15:7) tells us: “If there be among you a needy man, one of your brethren, within any of your gates, in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother.” And Leviticus (19:16) commands that “you shall not stand by idly while your neighbor bleeds.” In this day and age, when communication capabilities have made our world one very small community, it is easy enough to think of every human being on the face of the planet as, in some way, a brother or a sister, as a neighbor. Since MASHAV began, fifty‐two years ago, Israel has extended its hand of helpfulness and support to over 140 countries. When disaster strikes, Israel has been among the first to respond. By 1997, MASHAV decided that the needs were sufficiently acute that it established a specialized unit to coordinate and provide medical help on the international scene. In Israel’s “Eye Treatment Camps,” opthamologists provide medical care and train indigenous professionals. These programs include training in epidemiology and emergency and disaster medicine and a course in Advanced Trauma Care. In the year 2000, Israel conducted such programs in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, the Dominican Republic, Latvia, Uzbekistan and China. No big publicity; no taking of credit. Israel did this simply because it can, and it’s the right thing to do. In the same year, 2000, projects included upgrading the Trauma Center at Al‐Amal Hospital in the Gaza Strip (Did Hamas or the PLO or their friends ever breathe a word of this?), the construction of a cancer center in Mauritania, an ICU unit in Kharkov (Ukraine) and medical facilities in Turkey following a disastrous earthquake there. All of the staff and equipment was donated by Israel.
Just a week ago, only 48 hours after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Israel had assembled and sent airborne two 747s loaded with military and civilian medical personnel, including 120 doctors and nurses, rescue teams, search dogs and equipment and supplies for establishing a sophisticated field hospital capable to treating 500 patients daily. The hospital even included an MRI machine and the satellite capability of consulting with specialists all over the world to assure the best medical treatment possible. By Friday afternoon last week, the hospital was up and running, the only facility in Haiti offering advanced treatment for the seriously wounded. A reporter from CNN was amazed that Israel was able to send a complete, modern hospital halfway around the world, while the United States, which lies only a few hundred miles away, had yet to put its mission in place. The sad aspect of this heroic story is that Israel was able to mobilize so quickly because its people have had much experience – too much experience – in addressing emergencies. The rapid response skills displayed in Haiti have been honed through years of rescuing critically wounded victims of suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism. Among other Israelis responding to the Haitian crisis is a team of Israeli Orthodox Jews from ZAKA, an organiza‐tion founded during the first wave of suicide bombings to collect the scattered body parts of victims in order to bury them in conformity with traditional Jewish religious law. ZAKA’s team arrived so rapidly that its workers were in posi‐tion to rescue the living, which they do with incredible speed and skill. They arrived in Haiti on Friday afternoon, just before the Sabbath. At once, they were dispatched to a collapsed school building, where they pulled eight students from the rubble. They worked straight through the Shabbat – be‐cause Jewish law mandates that the saving of human lives takes precedence over even the most serious ritual obliga‐tions. They paused only briefly to welcome Shabbat with wine and bread, an experience they reportedly shared with rescue workers from Egypt and Qatar. Israel is often accused of using “disproportionate force” to protect its citizens. When you hear that kind of statement, I hope you will also be ready to respond with evidence of “disproportionate goodness.” Israel is a small country; its population is about 7.5 million people, less than one‐third the number of people who live in Texas, and Is‐rael certainly has its own financial stringencies and needs. Yet, as a responsible citizen of the world community and as a bearer of a strong and long religious tradition of caring and helping the needy, regardless of who they are, Israel has a remarkable record of helping whenever and wherever help is needed. I hope you will share this information with oth‐ers; they need to hear the other side of the story.
Cont….
Miriam Recognition Award
The annual Jewish Women’s Joint Installation will be held on Wednesday , May 12, 2010. An invita-tion is forthcoming, but please save this date. The MIRIAM RECOGNITION AWARD will be pre-sented recognizing an outstanding woman of the Corpus Christi Jewish Community. The recipient will be honored at this luncheon and will receive a MIRIAM’S CUP. The committee will be accepting nominations for this award from the community. A NOMINATION WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED WITH A RESUME OF THE INDIVIDUAL, according to the following guidelines:
1. Full participation in a variety of calendar community activities, with emphasis on contribu-
tions to Jewish organizations. 2. Ongoing acceptance of responsibility as a Leader and/or a Worker in the Jewish community. 3. Value and quality of contribution in time and work to the Jewish community. 4. Previous recipients of the Woman of the Year Award and the Miriam Recognition Award are
NOT eligible. IT IS NOT MANDATORY TO MAKE A SELECTION FOR THE MIRIAM RECOGNITION AWARD EACH YEAR.
Please do not go to the person you intend to nominate for the resume. If you obtain help from family members, please ask them not to consult the nominee. If you need help preparing a resume or have questions concerning the nomination, please contact any of the following recipients of the Woman of the Year/Miriam Recognition Award: Chris Adler Ruth Josephs Marcia Marks Leigh Sheinberg Fran Brodkey Glenda Kane Laurie Mintz Ruth Sheinberg Roz Ferrell Ruth Kane Mary Lynn Rhodes Elizabeth Susser Dorothy Heffler Amy Krams Elinor Roosth Rona Train Suzy Hilliard Karma Lakin Phyllis Roseman Mille Zalim Nedra Lockhart Please send your nominations for the Miriam Recognition Award to: Suzy Hilliard 4817 Lake Granbury Corpus Christi TX 78413 or [email protected] by March 1, 2010. Important Reminders:
1. A resume is needed for the nomination 2. Do not consult the nominee for a resume 3. Nomination deadline is March 1, 2010.
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