December tekiah for website 104

Congregation Beth Torah Monthly Newsletter

A Note from the Rabbi Rabbi Rick Shapiro

(Continued on page 2)

Visit our website: www.beth-torah.org

December 2014 • Issue 284 • Kislev/Tevet 5775

A

Joel Winston Social Justice Program

Consecration is a lifecycle event for our young students. Around kindergarten, students take part in this fun and moving ceremony in which they and their parents commit to the study of Torah. Consecration with this year’s kindergarten class takes place on Sunday, December 14th, at 9:30 a.m. during Family Worship. The congregation is invited to this

annual life cycle event.

Turkeys, Turkeys everywhere….Our turkey drive for Pleasant Green might be over, but don’t forget the other mitzvah opportunities that come at this time of year at Pleasant Green. Pleasant Green would love your help carving turkeys, bagging groceries, labeling and sorting food, and calling people about deliveries. You can help in the evenings leading up to or on Christmas Day. Contact Lucy M. Harmon, [email protected] or (913) 371-0231.

JFS Hanukkah BlessingsJewish Family Services makes a point every year that the joy of Hanukkah belongs to every Jewish family in the Kansas City area. In order to make that happen, we need to help out by shopping for some of the families that otherwise would not know the joy of opening gifts as they light their hanukkiah. The wish lists of these families are filled with necessities and little niceties that we take for granted. Contact Aaron Nielsenshultz to get information on how your generosity can shine a light at [email protected].

Goodwill Clothing DriveBeth Torah is partnering with Goodwill to collect clothes. There’s a donation barrel in the entryway to Beth Torah, so bring your gently-used clothing donations and drop them off in the bin. Donation receipts are available in the office.

reStartWe’re continuing a more than 25-year tradition this January when Congregation Beth Torah goes to serve meals at reStart on weekends throughout January. Sign-ups are going ahead! You can register for a shift by going to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4daea72babf94-january2, by finding Scott Franklin on a Sunday morning at the Weiner Religious School, or by calling the office.

Dear Friends,

Soon the lights of Hanukkah will shine before us, those delicate little tapers ablaze with the light of generations. The candles themselves are spare and fragile, burning for a short time, then guttering and dying. Yet the light they give forth is neither spare nor fragile: it is powerful and steadfast, enduring the centuries, shining forth through the ages from the time of the Maccabees, reminding us of their successful struggle for survival, reminding us of the sacrifices made for the cause of religious freedom. And the lights of the hanukkiah will soon shine forth once again here in our own homes, reminding us that it is in this great nation that the ideal of religious freedom has planted its firmest roots, flourishing in the soil of American democracy.

But the kindling of the Hanukkah menorah sends us another message as well. Just as each evening we must replace the fragile candles with new ones to beam forth the message of freedom, so, too, must we continually renew our efforts to assure the survival of religious pluralism here in America. In recent years religious intolerance has played a prominent role in American life and politics. Today there are a great many organizations that continue to do everything within their power to undermine our foundation of religious pluralism and erode the wall of separation between church and state. This movement, known as the “Religious Right,” makes no secret of the fact that their agenda is to legislate their narrow version of Christian morality for all Americans. Many of these organizations believe and state publicly that this is and ought to be a Christian nation first, last, and always.

But more offensive even than all this is that the New Religious Right claims exclusive authority to speak for God. They claim that they alone know what is God’s will; they alone know what is good and what is evil, what is right and what is wrong; they alone possess the knowledge of which individuals speak for God and which speak for Satan. And since they have been unable to convert the world by moral suasion, they seek to do so by legislation.

www.beth-torah.org |

Torah Portion & Haftarah

December 5/6 13 KislevVayishlach, Gen. 32:4-36:43Haftarah – Hosea 11:7-12:12

December 12/13 20 KislevVayeishev, Gen. 37:1-40:23Haftarah – Amos 2:6-3:8

December 19/21 28 KislevMikeitz, Gen. 41:1-44:17Haftarah – Zechariah 4:1-7

December 26/27 4 TevetVayigash, Gen. 44:18-47:27Haftarah – Ezekiel 37:15-28

Worship

We can see their hand in many places, including the areas of abortion and family planning, public aid to parochial schools, and the rights of homosexuals. They seek to outlaw abortion and birth control because they believe it is against God’s will. They seek to use American public tax dollars to support their private schools because they believe what they teach there is alone in conformity with God’s wishes. They seek to take over our public schools because they believe that their morality is the only true morality. And they seek to deprive gays and lesbians of all rights in our society because they believe that this, too, is God’s will. They care not that the vast majority of Americans disagree with them and have a totally different conception of God’s vision for the world: a vision of compassion and justice for all human beings – including women, children, and homosexuals.

As Jews, we know all too well the consequences of religious absolutism, of religious bigotry and hatred: the Crusades, the pogroms, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust all continue to speak to us through the mists of time. And as Jews, we ought to recognize the threat of this movement to our continued survival and well-being in this “land of the free and home of the brave.” We ought to, but we haven’t.

My prayer, as each of us kindles the fragile Hanukkah tapers this year, is that we keep the vision of the Maccabees ever before our eyes. Let us vow once again to do what we must to protect the precious legacy bequeathed to us from ages past; a legacy of religious liberty and freedom; a legacy dreamt of and fought for by the Maccabees, brought to these shores by the Pilgrims, and firmly implanted here by the generation of Washington and Franklin and Jefferson; a legacy reaffirmed by each and every subsequent generation as their spiritual heirs.

My prayer is that we finally awaken to the symbolism before our eyes, to the message of the Hanukkah candles: that just as they must be conscientiously and continually tended and replaced if their light is to continue to burn brightly in our homes, so, too, must we be constantly and conscientiously on our guard if the beacon of religious liberty is to continue to blaze forth in our nation. As we kindle the lights of Hanukkah this year, let us remember the Maccabees, and let us also give new meaning to the immortal words of President John F. Kennedy: “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, ... that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend and oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.”

Lynn joins me in wishing all of you a wonderfully happy and healthy Hanukkah. May you enjoy it and ever bask in the light of liberty.

(A Note From the Rabbi, Continued from page 1)

In Memoriam:

Marilyn WalderCousin of Rabbi Rebecca

Reice

JoAnne HicksMother of Ginny Epsten

Anne Jacobs

Mother of Laura BolterGrandmother of Hannah

Michelson and Rachel Bolter

Hugo HollandFather of Fred Holland

Zelmon Shvartzman Loved one of Joyce and Alisa

Kartch

Debbie KeplingerSister of Robin O’Bryan

Lunch with the RabbiThursday, December 18th, 12 – 1:30 p.m. in the Library

Join Rabbi Rebecca Reice this month for some lunch and some learning at our next Lunch with the Rabbi. We will be in the library on Thursday,

December 18th, at noon. Bring your own lunch or call the office at (913) 498-2212 to order a sandwich.


Leadership Last month it was Thanksgiving. This month it is Hanukkah -- another time of year when we reach out to friends and family and attempt to celebrate together.

At Beth Torah, we are asking our members to join us in celebrating our past, and beginning the process of envisioning our future. Sunday, December 7th at noon will be the first in a series of workshops led by Rabbi Shapiro. If it seems to you that we’ve already done this, I ask you to consider the following:

• YourthoughtsandreactionsaredifferentnowthatRabbiLevinhasretired,andisnolongerleadingthe congregation.

• The approach of theseworkshops is different, guided by Rabbi Shapiro’s experience in leadingcongregations in transition from their retired rabbi to being prepared to welcome a new rabbi.

•Thecongregationalhealingandgrowthprocesstakestimeandmanyforms.

•Workingtogetherensuresyourthoughtswillbepartofthefuture.

•Andyoumaymeetandworkwithnewpeople.

We hope you will want to be part of this process, and can make the time to join your fellow congregants. If you can’t make it, or if workshops “are not your thing,” please feel free to speak directly with Rabbi Shapiro, myself or any board member and share your thoughts.

Linda Zappulla

On October 26th we had the opportunity to share the most current financials with the congregation at our first of many quarterly congregational forums. I was able to report that we are currently trending very well. We are approximately $39,000 in the black and are running just slightly behind budget on income. This good news is partially explained by timing, and will likely balance out during the year. On the expense side, we are doing very well. We have found many opportunities to reduce spending and therefore are considerably ahead of budget. I also reported that the sale of the Sprint Tower was finalized and we were able to secure just over $440,000 in unrealized capital gains. Just as we reported at the annual meeting, we intend to use a portion of these funds to begin the Digital Education project and pay off our line of credit from the previous year. We are very pleased with the support that we are enjoying from both the community and the staff with regards to staying within our current budget. We look forward to reporting again in the next quarter.

Notes From the TreasurerJudy Hellman for being honored by the Kansas City, MO chapter of the NAACP at their 47th Annual Freedom Fund Luncheon, for her decades of making a difference in civil rights in our community.

Nanci and Steve Hirschorn on the marriage of their daughter, Lindsey Alexis Hirschorn, to Evan Langweiler.

Robert Kort on the marriage of his son, Elliot Kort, to Elyse Greenberg on October 26th.

Linda Zappulla, Board [email protected]

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If anyone is interested in helping to organize beth torah’s

photo archive, please let us know! If you are AVAILABLE, please contact Laura in the office at (913) 498-2212.

Dan Davidson, [email protected]


Confirmation and Our Civil Rights Journey

Several years ago, Beth Torah began heading south for our Confirmation Trip. That’s exactly what our Confirmands and I did over the second weekend in

November. We embarked Thursday night on a Civil Rights journey with Etgar 36. Meeting up with teens from Reform congregations in Rockville, Maryland and Oklahoma City, we traveled from Atlanta to Montgomery, to Selma, to Birmingham and back to Atlanta.

Along the way, we visited significant historical sites and interactive museums. We learned about the work of the Southern Poverty Law Center and stood

where Rosa Parks boarded the bus for the last time before the boycott began. We celebrated Kabbalat Shabbat with Montgomery’s Reform Congregation Beth Or.

Saturday morning, I led the group in a creative Shabbat morning service outside by the Edmund Pettus Bridge. During worship, Rabbi Vered Harris (on our bus with her teens from Oklahoma City) led us in a special Torah study focusing on Abraham’s negotiation with God over the planned destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah from the weekly Torah portion. It

was a beautiful meditation on the importance of standing up for what is just for your community. That morning, we met Joanne Bland, who marched and was beaten and jailed on Bloody Sunday when she was only 11 years old. She took us to where the marches began. It was fitting that on Shabbat, after considering Abraham’s search for righteous people in the Torah portion, that we followed in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel in walking across the Edmund

Pettus Bridge.

Our students were most deeply moved when they met with people like Joanne who lived this history; people who lived through the struggles of the Montgomery bus boycott, Bloody Sunday, and the “Bombingham” years in

Birmingham. As three stars emerged signaling the end of Shabbat we were led on a powerful walk on the Freedom Way in Kelly Ingram Park. That site, the place where children the age of our teens and younger were attacked and jailed for peacefully protesting for their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms was the setting for Havdallah. Even more powerful that evening was singing freedom songs with and shaking hands with one of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s friends and colleagues, Bishop Woods.

Sunday morning, we visited the King Center, as well as Dr. King’s childhood home, neighborhood and grave. We walked the Civil Rights Walk of Fame beginning with a statue of one of Dr.

King’s great inspirations for non-violent protest: Mahatma Gandhi. We joined Dr. King’s Atlanta congregation, Ebenezer

Baptist Church, for their College Sunday Service and visited the Names Project, the custodian of The AIDS Memorial Quilt, a modern non-violent folk art protest.

It was a three day journey through history, accompanied by guests who had lived this history. Our students were moved and impressed by what they learned and experienced. This trip has made for a great initiation into the seriousness and

importance of identifying and living your values, speaking up for what is right and true, and growing into Jewish adulthood – three key elements of our Confirmation year. Mark your calendars now to hear from these young people and witness their Confirmation on Shavuot morning, May 24, 2015 / 6 Sivan 5775.

Rabbi Rebecca Reice, Rabbi Educator [email protected]


Hanukkah Home ServiceAntiochus Epiphanes, Hellenistic king of Syria, outlawed Jewish observance and placed a statue of the Greek god Zeus on the altar of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Mattathias the Priest and his five sons - Hasmoneons who came to be known as the Maccabees - fought against Antiochus’ armies. They recaptured Jerusalem in 165 B.C.E., restored the Temple and rededicated it on the 25th day of Kislev, celebrating for eight days. The congregation of Israel decreed that the event should be observed with joy at the same season every year.

Why do we celebrate Hanukkah? Years later, in the Babylonian Talmud, the rabbis added the story of the oil that was supposed to fuel the Temple’s Ner Tamid for one day, but burned for eight. They thought the Maccabees had assimilated with the gentile culture, so they shifted the emphasis from the triumph for religious freedom to God’s miracle of the oil.

In the 19th century, the Zionist movement once again promoted the Maccabees as heroes in its efforts to encourage Jews to fight for religious freedom and establish an independent Jewish state.

Blessings A A B’rachotPlace the candles from right to left, and kindle them from left to right. A way to remember: Add left, light right

First night only:

Ba·ruch a·ta, Adonai Eh·lo·hei·nu, meh·lech ha·o·lam, a·sher ki·d’sha·nu b’mitz·vo·tav v’tzi·va·nu l’had·lik ner shel Chanukah.

Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah

Ba·ruch a·ta Adonai, Eh·lo·hei·nu meh·lech ha·o·lam, she·he·che·ya·nu v’ki·ye·ma·nu v’hi·gi·a·nu la·z’man ha·zeh.

Blessed are you, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to celebrate this season.

Ba·ruch a·ta, Adonai Eh·lo·hei·nu, meh·lech ha·o·lam, she·a·sa ni·sim la·a·vo·tei·nu ba·ya·mim ha·hem ba·z’man ha·zeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in days of old at this time of the year.

See the back cover of this Tekiah for Hanukkah information.


ConnectionsHow do you budget your energy? We budget our money. The mortgage gets paid, and then we pay our bills, and then we buy food, and then, if we have money left, we put some away and then we buy the non-essentials of life. We budget our time. We spend our time at work, then we give it to our friends and family, and then, if there is any left over, we spend some time on ourselves. But how do we budget our energy? The fuel for our monetary budget is our income, the fuel for our time budget is our calendar, and the fuel for our energy budget is our soul.

In your life, what do you care about? Are there activities that you just walk through and some you are hyper present for? And how do these decisions determine what you do with your energy? Is the religious education of your family important to you? If it is, do you spend your energy discussing religious school in the car? Do you pore over the Beth Torah calendar with your family and decide together what you will attend? Do you reach out and phone a Beth Torah friend to attend an adult ed activity? What about social justice? How does repairing the world fit into your energy budget? Will a shift at reStart feed your soul?

Prayer and worship take energy. What does spending a Shabbat service exploring your relationship with God take from you? What does it give you?

Plan your monthly energy budget in December. There is a plethora of spending opportunities. What is the first item on your budget? Check out our calendar in this Tekiah to balance your energy checkbook. Energize with our Hanukkah Sermon in Song, invigorate with a Shabbat morning text study, reinforce yourself by attending Consecration, and enlighten yourself by making a point to light Hanukkah candles each and every night. Budget your energy with the goal of making deposits into your energy supply.

Have a wonderful December and may it be hugely profitable for your energy supply.

Laura Intfen, Community Connections [email protected]

Silent Auction ReturnsBe sure to join us on Sunday evening, February 8th, for the 18th Annual Chili Cook Off and Fun Fest!

Our new committee is dedicated to making the 2015 Chili Cook Off silent Auction the best ever!We can’t do it without your help. We need NEW merchandise, such as:

•Gourmetfoodbaskets•Restaurantandstoregiftcertificates•Yourbesthomemadegoodies•Jewelry•Homedecor

These are just a few of the many possibilities. We’re looking for items that would attract your bid. If you, or someone you know, might be willing to donate, please contact us. Items can be brought to the Beth Torah office, or we will gladly pick them up. We will be happy to provide tax receipts for all donations.

We heard your comments in the past, and are following your suggestions. You will see a broader variety of merchandise and much lower starting bids.

Please contact us:Marcia & Larry Rittmaster (913) 649-9524 [email protected] & Jerry Klinock (913) 663-5446 [email protected]


Adult Education Offerings for December 2014

Yiddish CircleYiddish Circle of Learning continues to grow in the Bride’s Room at Beth Torah. Bring a lunch for an hour of learning time devoted to the Yiddish language and culture. Knowledge of Yiddish not a requisite for attending. Come learn and laugh with Ray Davidson each Friday at noon.

Wisdom on WednesdaysStudy sacred texts with other Beth Torah members on Wednesdays at noon in the Bride’s Room. The Wisdom on Wednesdays crew is reading and discussing Pirke Avot, a tractate of the Mishna that contains short sayings of the sages of the Rabbinic Period. Many familiar Jewish quotations, such as the one that begins, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” are found in Pirke Avot, which is often translated as Sayings of the Fathers. You’re invited to join us any Wednesday that you are available. We eat and schmooze from noon to 12:30 p.m., and study from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Discussion on the Writings of the TorahJoin the community in discussion on Shabbat morning, 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. in the library.

Jewish Book ClubContact Rabbi Shapiro to be a part of our new Jewish Literature discussion group. Find out what book will be discussed in December by calling the Beth Torah office at (913) 498-2212.

Kabbalat Shabbat Study GroupJoin the Kabbalat Shabbat Study Group on Friday, December 19th, at 5:30 p.m. in the Sader/Shimkin Library for a new way to welcome Shabbat. We’ll examine readings, recite poetry, explore guided meditations, sing songs, or light candles as a way to enhance your Shabbat experience. No foreknowledge of Kabbalah is necessary. This group is open to anyone, so please feel free to bring a friend.

Saturday Night at the MoviesJoin your community for an exploration of the Jewish experience in America as portrayed in feature films of the past 50+ years. Each film will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Beth Torah Ulam and be followed by a discussion led by Rabbi Shapiro. Join us January 24th, for a viewing of The Pawnbroker. Refreshments will be served. Please note: NO MOVIE NIGHT IN DECEMBER.

Altered Books RecapOur Altered Books Affinity Group program was a huge success! A group of friends came together with facilitator Bridey Stangler to discuss the role and function of memory in Judaism, and they created beautiful artwork that complimented and supported their memories.

If you’re interested in getting a group together to learn about an area of Jewish learning, let Aaron Nielsenshultz know. He’s glad to help facilitate the creation of a group or to brainstorm with you on ways that it can be fun and compelling. Your imagination is your only limit!

Adult Education


CBT Music Program“Come here, I will show you a new way to the Creator: Not through speech, but through song! Let us sing and Heaven will understand us.” --Nahman of Brasia (1772--1811)

Our Festival of Lights is just around the corner, and it’s a nice time to consider how to create a more family-oriented experience, focusing in on what makes the holiday really special. In lieu of gifts, sometimes families plan games, latke-making nights, and movie nights.

On Friday, December, 19th, at 6:30 p.m., the entire congregation is invited to a wonderful Hanukkah service, when both our Kids Choir and our Adult Choir will lift their voices and sing old songs and new. We will let the rich music of Hanukkah warm our souls and brighten our spirits. Families and friends will have the opportunity to light hanukkiot together, reflecting on how we can share the light of our community with everyone around us. A scrumptious and festive Latke Oneg will follow the service.

I’ll look forward to seeing many of you on December 19th, and hearing how you’ve expanded your Hanukkah experiences. Let’s remind ourselves that our family and our community are our true gifts.

Emily Tummons, Music Director

Emily Tummons, Music [email protected]

Stay Connected!Visit our Website: www.beth-torah.org

Follow us on Twitter: @BethTorah

Join us on Facebook: Congregation Beth Torahhttp://on.fb.me/vQ8E5P

(or e-mail us at [email protected] and we will send you the links!)

PJ Library & FAMJamLooking for a way to make Fridays a little special? Why not come to FamJAM/PJ Library at Congregation Beth Torah! On the second Friday night of each month, you can sing along with FAMJam from 5:50 to 6:05 p.m., and then we’ll share a PJ Library book and a craft or other fun project from 6:10 to 6:25 p.m. Enjoy

a snack at the nosh before worship, and you’ll still be able to get your kiddos home in time for bed. We’d love to see you on December 12th!

PJ Library/Shalom Baby, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, is brought to you in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. It is also generously supported by Jewish Community Foundation Legacy Fund, Jewish Heritage Foundation and Menorah Legacy Foundation.

PJ Library benefits:The PJ Library program opens your whole family up to a world of Jewish books at no cost to you. Children who are enrolled in the PJ Library program are eligible for Jewish camp scholarships as they grow up. Contact Aaron Nielsenshultz in the Beth Torah office to see how your family can take advantage of this amazing program.

Make Music with UsOur Adult Choir and Kids Choir would love for our members to join in our music-making. Our Adult Choir rehearsals have moved to Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30 p.m. TAG students over b’nai mitzvah age are welcome! Anyone under the age of 13 is welcome to join our Kids Choir. We rehearse seasonally, 8:30-9:00 a.m. on Sundays, right before religious school begins. Contact Music Director Emily Tummons at the Beth Torah office for more information at [email protected].


Aaron Nielsenshultz, Director of Youth, Education, and Engagement

[email protected]

Camp and Israel OpportunitiesDecember might seem like a strange time to talk about summer opportunities for the youths in your life, but on the Jewish calendar, this is the right time to start planning for summer fun.

College-ageBirthright trips take 18- to 26-year-olds to Israel throughout the year; the summer programs fill fast. There’s something for every interest, from outdoor adventure trips to traditional sight-seeing journeys—and don’t forget, Rabbi Reice can get you priority on URJ Kesher trips. Check out http://www.gokesher.org/ for details.

High SchoolNFTY offers several summer travel programs, with trips going to Israel or even to Prague and Poland. There are summer options as well as semester-long study-abroad programs. Warning: These trips will change your life! http://www.nftyisrael.org/ is your source for information.

Elementary through High SchoolWhere does it all begin? With camp! There are half a dozen camps to send your children to, from URJ camps throughout the Midwest to Jewish camps in the Missouri Valley. Camp teaches a deep love for Judaism and Jewish identity. It’s a great experience.

I’m more than happy to answer any questions you might have about these opportunities or to tell you about scholarship information as well. Give me a call in the office to learn more.

School InformationTAG second trimester begins on Wednesday, December 3rd. Come at 6:30 p.m. for pizza sales and a schmooze with your 7th-10th grade friends before classes begin at 7:00 p.m. We can’t wait to see you!

Winter break is coming! Mark your calendars for these days off:

December 17th: No TAG classes; winter breakDecember 21st: No Sunday school classes; winter breakDecember 24th: No TAG classes; winter breakDecember 28th: No Sunday school classes; winter breakDecember 31st: No TAG classes; winter breakJanuary 4th: No Sunday school classes; winter break

Breakfast or Ice Cream SponsorshipAre you looking for a fun way to honor a special occasion in your life or in the life of someone you love? Why not sponsor breakfast on Sunday mornings or ice cream on Wednesday evenings for our religious school children? They’ll be grateful, and your simcha will be commemorated with special joy. Call Cathy Nix, in the Beth Torah office, to arrange your sponsorship today.

Weiner Religious School News

November was a great month for BTTY. On the 15th, we had a program that focused on NFTY’s social action theme for the year, which is gender equality. It was really fun to discuss some more serious topics with our members. On December 6th we will be having our first ever “Night on the Crown.” We’ll head to Crown Center and go ice skating, grab a bite to eat and have a good time. We hope to see some new faces at this program. Happy Holidays!

- Margo Hellman, BTTY President

YOUTH GROUP NEWS:


Pleasant Green Thank You: We’d like to thank everyone who donated money for turkeys during our drive for Pleasant Green for Thanksgiving: Ellen Taylor, Barbara Gutierrez, Douglas Greenwald, Henri Goettel, Steve Cole, SueAnn Strom, Ann Shepherd, Arlene Shalinsky, Kevin & Lorie Oellien, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Jacobson, Edis Parkans, Jo-Ann Harris, Larry & Marcia Rittmaster, Linda Zappulla, David Spizman & Karen Loggia, Stuart Lewis, Rebecca Reice & Asher Lazarus, Linda Stark, Bill & Charlotte Kessler, Adrianne Applebaum, Jeff Altman and Sunshine Lighting, Joel & Susan Waxman, Robert & Debra Henneke, Allison Roodman, Robert & Jill Campbell, Gloria Bernstein, Barry & Linda Katz, Denise Pakula, Dr. Marvin & Eva Steiner.

Bar Mitzvah of Josh Frumkin

Josh Frumkin, son of Ilya and Michele Frumkin, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah at Shabbat worship on Saturday, December 13th, at 10:30 a.m. Josh is a seventh grade student at Pleasant Ridge Middle School. Josh enjoys playing baseball and competitive basketball, spending summers at Camp Sabra, and spending time with his friends and family. Josh is the brother of Evan, 10, and Lauren, 8, and is the grandson of Sam and Pauline Frumkin of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, as well as Gene Bumpas of Leawood, Kansas, and Judi Bumpas of Blue Springs, Missouri.

B’nai Mitzvah for the Month of December

YOUTH NEWS:Beyond Chai Keep your 18- to 26-year-old connected to Congregation Beth Torah with Beyond Chai. This program sends out care packages twice a year with holiday-specific Judaica and a note from the rabbis. Just provide contact information for your child or children, and we’ll take care of the rest. Registration is FREE. If you’ve already paid for Beyond Chai, contact Aaron. Register by calling the Congregation Beth Torah office.

BTTY Beth Torah Temple Youth’s next event is on Saturday evening, December 6th . Watch your inboxes, Twitter and Instagram for more information.

Coming up: BTTY serves dinner at reStart on Sunday, January 25th, followed by our annual dinner at Winstead’s. Clear your calendar and join us for this community-service project.

JYGJoin your 6th-8th grade friends for an Ice Cream Oneg after worship on Friday, December 12th. This evening will be one of fun and friendship—not to mention yummy treats. Let us know you’re coming.


Happening in the Community:BAGEL BASHLooking for something to do on Wednesday, December 24th? Why not go to the annual Bagel Bash, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Kansas City! For singles and couples, this yearly event is a way to warm up on a cold December evening. Watch the Federation’s Face-book page for more details. Bagel Bash is for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Must be 21 or older to attend.

WANTED: DRIVERS FOR JET EXPRESSA program of Jewish Family Services, JET Express provides rides for older adults who no longer drive, taking them to the places they need to go. Whether it’s to the doctor’s office, shopping, to synagogue or church, or to meet a group of friends for a social outing, JET Express is helping older adults stay independent longer, and the volunteers who help them feel like they make a difference in some-one’s life. JET Express is looking for new volunteer drivers for the program. Becoming a volunteer is convenient, flexible and rewarding. You must be 21, have your own vehicle to drive and hold a valid driver’s license and have current auto insurance coverage. Drivers participate in a short training before they begin driving. If you’re interested in volunteering for JET Express, please call (913) 730-1410, and use your car to be a star.

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS Jewish Family Services Food Pantry is open to help meet the ever-growing need for food assistance in Kansas City all year ‘round. With the demand for food increasing, there is currently an urgent need for several items in the pantry including protein products, especially tuna and peanut butter. The Pantry has both VAAD-supervised kosher and non-kosher food options. It provides direct food assistance with staples such as grains, dairy, protein, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Personal care and household items are also available when possible. To become a food pantry recipient or donor, call JFS at (913) 327-8250. To volunteer, please call (913) 730-1410. Check with the JFS office for the exact hours the pantry is open.

HEALING SERVICE SET FOR DECEMBERThe Community-Wide Healing Service, under the auspices of the Jewish Community Chaplaincy program housed at Jewish Family Services, will take place Thursday evening, December 11th, at Village Shalom, 5500 W. 123rd St., in Overland Park. The service begins at 6:30 p.m. It is open to the entire community regardless of one’s level of observance. Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, Jewish Community Chaplain, will facilitate the service. Please make reservations for the healing service by calling JFS’ office at (913) 327-8250 or sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Many of us think about charitable donations as we approach the end of the tax year. Thank you for including Beth Torah in your thoughts. Here are some possibilities:

Tree of Life - commemorate a mitzvah or simcha with a leaf on our Tree of Life recently installed in the Ulam.

Planned Giving - each commitment of a future gift helps us qualify for grant money from the Bushman Community Endowment Fund.

Appreciated Securities - look into how the tax benefits from your donation can be increased without paying tax on the gain.

Giving Tuesday is December 2, 2014 - To bring us back from the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, consider matching your shopping dollars with giving dollars.

Your generosity to Beth Torah is an investment in our community. We thank you.

THANK YOU for your YEAR END GIVING!


Beth Torah General FundIn Memory Of:Ida Applebaum Edith Shaw Barry & Linda KatzIda ApplebaumSusan ChoucrounSam Hipsh Johnette & Shel Zimmerman Susan Choucroun Mitzi & Steve KatzSanford Mayer Dunn Patsy Dunn ShanbergHarvey Hykin Harold & Rita OlsenDebbie KeplingerWilliam Klopper Kevin & Karen Agron FlatteryClayton Lee Wood Jo-Ann S Harris

In Honor Of:Our children, Meaghan & Seth Zimmerman Johnette & Shel ZimmermanSpeedy Recovery of Betsy Wanger Barry & Linda Katz

Rabbi Reice Discretionary Fund In Memory Of:Dorothy & Walt Lammers Glenn Esser

Rabbi’s Fund For Social Justice ProjectsIn Memory Of:Ida Applebaum Barry & Marge Skikne

Rabbi Levin Discretionary Fund In Memory Of:Barbara BreselGussie EllisHal Snitz Bill & Charlotte Kessler Sanford Dunn Patsy Dunn Shanberg Marjorie Lantos Dr. Michael Artman Irene Serlin Tina SheaMarilyn Wacknov Paul Wacknov

Contributions In Honor Of:Speedy recovery of Craig Wacknov Paul Wacknov

CBT Fund For Families In NeedIn Memory Of:Ida Applebaum Phyllis Goldberg Jim & Kelly Kaplan Family Ellie Penner Herb & Susan Crane Anne Jacobs Phyllis Goldberg Denise & Jerry PakulaDebbie Keplinger Phyllis Goldberg Denise & Jerry Pakula Ellie PennerIn Honor Of:Herb Crane’s birthday Ellie Penner

Hunger FundIn Memory Of:Ida Applebaum Maggie Adler Joel & Susan WaxmanIrv Gewertz Henri GoettelAnne Jacobs Maggie Adler Sharon & Jeff Altman Annette & Joel Fish Henri GoettelDebbie Keplinger Maggie Adler Sharon & Jeff Altman Adrianne & Vic Applebaum Annette & Joel Fish Henri GoettelSimon Ozar Stephanie & Adam Elyachar I.I. & Lesly OzarAnna Richolson Rowena JacobsHarry Schulzinger Jacob SchulzingerStanford GilgusDave StudnaHelen Supofsky Janet & Jeff RazafskyElaine K. Waxman Joel WaxmanStacy Yedlin Maggie Adler

In Honor Of:The Bat Mitzvah of Morgan Caviar Arlene Shalinsky

Choir FundIn Memory Of:Anne JacobsSusan ChoucrounSam Hipsh Jenifer & Michael BlumSusan ChoucrounDebbie KeplingerMargaret V. Pecora SueAnn StromSusan Choucroun Frances Sandhaus Sara & Scott Goldstein

Social Justice FundIn Appreciation Of:Laura Intfen, for all the amazing work she does for the Beth Torah community Don Goldman & Martha Gershun

In Honor Of:The birthday of Eileen Garry Jackie Garry

CBT Camp Scholarship FundIn Memory Of:Ida Applebaum Maureen & Sandy SalzEdgar Broughton Betsy Wanger

In Honor Of:The speedy recovery of Stan GoldmanThe speedy recovery of Betsy WangerRobin O’Bryan’s birthday Maureen & Sandy Salz

Dr. Milton L. Tate Torah FundIn Memory Of:Stacy Yedlin Sara & Scott Goldstein

Youth Activities FundIn Memory Of:Anne Jacobs Denise, Steve & Blaire EllenbergRonald Chapman Paul Chapman


“A Half Truth is a Whole Lie”Jewish Proverb - Contributed by Margo Hellman

Poster by Irene Goldstein

Artist’s statement:When I chose this quote in a blind drawing, it seemed vague to me at first, but as I thought about it, I realized that half truths are everywhere around us, in advertising, in politics, and in person-to-person dialogue. When we hear just part of a story, we are left to draw our own conclusions, which in fact could be totally erroneous.

Meaningful Jewish Vision with Henri Goettel

The Gift Shop at Congregation Beth Torah for Hanukkah

We hope you all have a wonderful Hanukkah holiday. The Gift Shop is a one-stop shop for all your holiday needs. We have gifts for all ages and all price points. New items arrive every day including: Gelt, Dreidels, Menorah, and all sorts of fun jewelry. Remember that our Hanukkah Raffle begins November 17th through December 14th. Anyone who makes a purchase of $18 or more will be registered to win a Dreidel and some Gelt for Hanukkah.

Ideas for the Eight Nights of Hanukkah:1) Have a goal to light candles every night as a family 2) Have an evening with friends 3) Participate in a family mitzvah project 4) Talk about your Hanukkah family traditions 5) Try a new recipe 6) Eat latkes 7) Join the CBT community on Friday night worship 8) Share the “holiday joy” with everyone you meet

As the days are growing shorter, we need more candles to light the dark. What if we tried to light the dark through identifying a social justice project? A donation of the “gift” of time or money over the next 12 months would bring light and begin the work of repairing our world. The Gift Shop at Congregation Beth Torah is one way to support the community. Watch for another chance to repair the world through The Gift Shop’s January Social Justice Project.

It is time to order a new Mah Jongg card for 2015. The Gift Shop at Congregation Beth Torah will be selling Mah Jongg cards with Marlene Kahn as our coordinator. If you wish to order a Mah Jongg Card for 2015, we hope you will contact Marlene Kahn at 305-322-5998 or The Gift Shop at Congregation Beth Torah at 913-498-2212.

Happy Hanukkah to everyone! The Gift Shop at Congregation Beth Torah


December 2014 Calendar

Shabbat SponsorshipsDecember 5th: Nosh sponsored by Eric and Shanny Morgenstern in honor of the Beth Torah community. December 12th: Nosh sponsored by SueAnn Strom in honor of her birthday; and Joel and Donna Krichiver in honor of their wedding anniversary.


Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDShawnee Mission, KS

Permit No. 721

Congregation Beth Torah6100 W. 127th Street

Overland Park, Kansas 66209www.beth-torah.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Tekiah # 284, December 2014Congregation Beth Torah

(913) 498-2212 Fax: (913) 498-1071e-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.beth-torah.org

OfficersPresident................................................Linda Zappulla First Vice President...................................... Barry KatzVice President........................................ Mike GinsbergVice President............................................... Matt HaunSecretary ............................................... Bonnie SwadeTreasurer ................................................ Dan DavidsonImmediate Past President........................ Michelle Cole

Board of TrusteesJeff Altman Chuck Cantor Tom Cohen June CraneTodd Davisson Mike Fine Miki Herman Bob MilgrimDavid Spizman Frank Sterneck SueAnn Strom

BTTY President................................... Margo Hellman

StaffInterim Rabbi......................... Rabbi Rick Shapiro, D.D.Rabbi Educator ................ Rebecca R. Reice, M.A.J.E.Founding Rabbi ................ Mark H. Levin, D.D., D.H.L.Music Director...................................... Emily TummonsDirector of Community Connections ..........Laura IntfenDirector of Finance .......................... Todd Janvrin, CPADirector of Youth, Education, and Engagement ....................................................... Aaron NielsenshultzOffice Manager....................................... Robin O’ BryanAdministrative Assistant..........................Sharon AltmanAdministrative Assistant ................................. Cathy NixBookkeeper.......................................................Barb Kitt

BTTY Adviser: Hannah MichelsonJYG Advisers: Rachel Bolter & Zach Zwibelman © Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park, KS

Latke Hanukkah ShabbatCome celebrate the 4th night of Hanukkah with us at Beth Torah!

Worship begins at 6:30 p.m. on December 19th, with our Kid’s choir

and with the lighting of our congregational menorah!

Enjoy an enlightening Sermon in Song featuring our Kids and Adult choirs. Sing along with some favorites and enjoy some peaceful listening.

Feed your soul with some traditional Hanukkah goodies as we have latkes and sufganiyot for Oneg Shabbat. Bring your menorahs from home and play dreidel games at the tables in the ulam while you enjoy the treats.

Chag Sameach and may the holiday bring you freedom and light.

December tekiah for website 104

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