The Bulletin The Monthly Publication of Congregation B’nai Israel

January 2015

Tevet/Shevat 5775

Hello January!

Goodbye 2014, hello 2015! It is amazing how quickly time flies. This is the time of year when

we reflect on the past and start to make plans and promises to ourselves, our family and our

friends about the future. Some of us will vow to exercise more. Others will start a new diet.

Maybe you want to kick a bad habit, learn

something new, get organized, help others, or

spend more time with the ones you love most.

No matter what you decide to change in your

life or not change, be sure to make the most of

everyday and every moment because each

passes so very quickly. Days turn into

months and months into years and before we

know it, our kids are grown and we are grand-

parents. Don’t let these events go by unno-

ticed. Cherish them today and tomorrow. Live

your life to the fullest. Don’t wait for a special

occasion to use the good china. Do it today.

Smile at someone you don’t know. Say hello.

See what a difference those simple acts have on

those around you. You will be glad you did! Enjoy 2015 because it will be gone before you know

Join us for a special Martin Luther King, Jr. program on Friday, January 16, 2015.

We are honored to welcome Ron Aiken as the speaker for the evening as we

celebrate the fundamental values that Dr. King shared with the world.

Shabbat service begins at 7:30pm, followed by our speaker and a wonderful Oneg.

W

O

R

D

S

F

R

O

M

Y

O

U

R

P

R

E

S

I

D

E

N

T

S

H

A

R

O

N

S.

H

U

D

G

I

N

S

Shalom to everyone!

This month, I asked Ralph Ellis, Board Trustee, to explain our congregational strategy

for financing a new part-time rabbi. We want every member to understand our plans. I

hope you will sign on with us as we focus on providing an energizing new chapter in

Congregation B’nai Israel’s story.

Sharon

Shalom Y’all & Happy New Year!

We are entering an exciting time at Congregation B’nai Israel. As they say, “The people

have spoken” and we have undertaken the project of increasing our rabbinic presence.

The Board of Trustees is working hard to accomplish your goals and desires. The rabbin-

ic search committee, under the excellent leadership of Dedee Hamson, has submitted a

package to the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) to attract applicants to

fill a part-time rabbinic role at CBI. The congregation has voiced the need for an increase

in rabbinic presence, and this package will provide for that need. We have conducted

three meetings at CBI for all to understand the process and ask questions. Two of these

were Saturday night Havdalah meetings and one was during religious school. The short

list of items that the new rabbi will fill includes more Friday nights, more interaction with

religious school students and teachers, more visibility in the community, and availability

for life-cycle events. In essence, we will simply have more interaction and more time

with our rabbi. For all of you who love Rabbi Feldstein, we agree with you! However, his

availability to fulfill all the requirements that the members of CBI expect conflicts with

his full-time job. This is a mutual understanding and agreement between Rabbi Feldstein

and Congregation B’nai Israel to part ways in the summer of 2015.

One of the main points of this new endeavor is, “How do we pay for the extra rabbinic

presence?” The answer is ALL OF US! The new rabbinic presence will be an additional

$50,000 budget requirement per year for a minimum of three years. We are asking all of

the congregants of CBI to pledge money. We have had several members step up and sign

pledge sheets that will get us towards the budget we require. Attached is a pledge sheet to

fill out. The new rabbinic presence starts summer of 2015 but we need to start funding the

special account specifically earmarked for the rabbi’s salary now. All contributions for

this important endeavor will be publicized. On the pledge sheet there are many levels to

contribute. The main point is that this is OUR RABBI and WE ALL NEED TO CON-

TRIBUTE!

To achieve the minimum goal of $50,000 per year, we need families/individuals to pledge

at all levels from $10 per month to $200 per month. We have had very good response so

far. Fill out the pledge sheet and return it today!

Thank you for your support!

Ralph

Ralph Ellis

Trustee, Congregation B’nai Israel

COngregation B’nai Israel

rabbinic fund

Pledges Received!!!

$200 per month or $2,400 per year or more

Hector & Claudia Charyton

Mike & Debbie Edison

Stu & Cheryl Rich

Brian & Kerry Cross

Ralph & Angie Ellis

$100 per month or $1,200 per year or more

Dennis & Sharon Hudgins

Linda Rampil

Dan & Dedee Hamson

Glenn & Peg Kersey

Zach & Sari Flug

Brad & Mindy Smith

Barbara Kaplan

Gene & Susan Burden

John & Sandy DeMuth

$50 per month or $600 per year or more

Steve & Andrea Feinstein

Additional levels of commitment

Margery Klepinger

Stacey Feldman

There are 85 families at CBI – Where is your name????

RABBI FUND PLEDGE I/WE, ______________________________________________________, pledge to make the following special contribution to Congregation B’nai Israel (CBI), Fayetteville, GA, for a period of three years beginning January 2015 and ending in December 2017, for the purpose of establishing a fund to be used solely to pay for the professional services of the rabbi of Congregation B’nai Israel. This special contribution is in addition to synagogue dues, Religious School tuition or any other contributions made to CBI.

Please mark a selection below: _____$2,400 per year for a period of three years, payable ____ annually ($2,400 each January)

____ quarterly ($600 per quarter) ____ monthly ($200 per month)

OR _____$1,200 per year for a period of three years, payable

____ annually ($1,200 each January) ____ quarterly ($300 per quarter) ____ monthly ($100 per month)

OR _____$365 per year for a period of three years, payable ($1 per day) ____ annually ($365 each January) ____ monthly ($30 per month) ($360 per year) OR

$___________ per year OR $ __________per month for a period of three years

I/We would prefer to pay via: ____ credit card (Please fill out and sign separate credit card authorization) ____ check (must be a separate check from any other checks payable to CBI and should be made payable to CBI Special Fund) Signature ________________________________________ Date signed ____________________________ Signature ________________________________________ Date signed ____________________________

Congregation B’nai Israel

COMING EVENTS

Don’t miss any of these amazing CBI events! Check your E-Blast, the CBI website,

or call the Office (678-817-7162) for more details!

January 2 Shabbat Service led by Susan Burden 7:30PM

January 7 Mahjong 10:00AM

January 9 Family Shabbat led by Susan Burden

Chili/Salad Bar/Meat Dinner 6:30PM

Service 7:30PM

January 13 CBI Board Meeting 7:00PM

January 15 Southside Seniors 12:30PM

At Jim & Judy Freeman’s Home

January 16 Shabbat Service led by Susan Burden 7:30PM

MLK Speaker

January 17 Brotherhood

At Georgia World Congress Center

College Football Hall of Fame 1:00PM

Taco Mac 3:00PM

January 21 Mahjong 10:00AM

January 23 Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Feldstein 7:30PM

New Member Shabbat

January 30 Shabbat Service led by the Confirmation Class 7:30PM

RITUAL & PULPIT NEWS

Beginning on January 2, 2015, we will be using our new Mishkan T’filah prayer books

every Shabbat. They are currently stored on a rolling cart, which is located at the

front entrance of the sanctuary. Be sure to take one before services and also return

the prayer book to the cart when ur service ends.

Stay tuned for more information on what we are doing to respectfully remove our

Gates of Prayer siddurim from the sanctuary.

Other Upcoming Ritual Activities:

January 9: Family Shabbat and Meat Dinner (Chili and Salad Bar)

Dinner at 6:30pm; service at 7:30pm

See page 9 in the Bulletin for more information

January 16: MLK Speaker Ron Aiken following Shabbat service

January 23: New Member Shabbat with Rabbi Feldstein

Rabbi Feldstein’s

2015 Schedule

January 23, 2015 New Member Shabbat/6:30pm/

New Member dinner/7:30pm service

February 27, 2015 Learning Shabbat /7:30pm

March 27, 2015 Shabbat /Adult B’nai Mitzvah /7:30pm

May 15-16, 2015 Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Davison/

7:30pm/Friday service & 10:00am/Saturday service

May 29, 2015 Confirmation Service/7:30pm

June 13, 2015 “A Special Evening” honoring Rabbi Feldstein/TBA

Keep this schedule handy during the year!

Congregational Meat Dinner and Family Shabbat

Friday, January 9, 2015

6:30pm—Chili and Salad Dinner (Meat Meal) 7:30pm—Shabbat Service, led by Susan Burden

It’s Chili and Salad Bar Night Bring your favorite recipe!

(Just remember—no cheese, butter, or sour cream)

Chili with beef and beans White chicken chili Black bean chili Turkey chili

Garden salad Bean salad Spinach salad Veggie tray

SOME DELICIOUS IDEAS

Any vegetable dish desired Any meat dish desired Cornbread Italian bread

Drinks and desserts will be provided

Children will be decorating pots and planting parsley for Passover

The CBI Wine Tasting and Cheese Party held December

6, 2014 was a fantastic evening. Karen and Jeff Kalins

opened their home and shared their knowledge of wine.

The guests also enjoyed wonderful desserts and had a

great opportunity to spend time with old and new friends

in the CBI family. Thank you to the Kalins and to all who

attended this event. It truly was a fabulous evening!

Time For Wine & Cheese

CBI

CELEBRATES

JANUARY—HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jonathan Davison

Melanie Charyton

Ben Cross

Mike Edison

Dan Hamson

Gaia Hamson

Dennis Hudgins

Sharon Hudgins

Fern Goldstein

Michael Goldstein

Debra Johnson

Ian Mednick

Len Polinsky

Ben Tarleton

Wayne Tyler

Adam Weston

JANUARY—HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

John & Sandy DeMuth

Ralph & Angie Ellis

David & Margery Klepinger

If you would like your birthday or anniversary in

the bulletin, or if you would like to wish someone

a Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary or other

simcha, please contact the office at 678-817-

7162. It is our wish to include everyone.

REFUAH SHLEIMAH

A speedy healing to all who need

prayers and thoughts:

Kathy Baker June Kunkel

Donald Borim Ray Levine

Emma Bradford Nat Maryn

Gail Burger Joel Mendelsohn

Joy Carter Amy Rollins

Toni Faraldi Gail Schwartz

Sari Flug Martin Schwartz

Leroy Foster Scott Siegel

Joe Gilliland Lois Speaker

Hunter Klepinger Kimberly Steinberg

IMPORTANT CBI CONTACT INFORMATION

Call us:

678-817-7162 (CBI phone)

678-817-1279 (CBI fax)

Email us:

cbiadmin@bnai-israel.net

(Angie Ellis, Administrator)

sburden@bnai-israel.net

(Susan Burden, Cantorial Soloist)

Write us:

Congregation B’nai Israel

P.O. Box 142481

Fayetteville, GA 30214

Send all donations and other communications

to Angie Ellis or Susan Burden at the above

address or by calling or emailing.

“As soon as healing takes place,

go out and heal someone else.”

~ Maya Angelou ~

SAVE THE DATE

Next Seniors Luncheon is

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Details will follow in the E-Blast!

High Holiday Choir Auditions

We are looking for a few good men and women who would like to

serve our congregation by singing in our High Holiday Choir.

Please contact Susan Burden to schedule an audition or for more

information: 678-817-7162 or sburden@bnai-israel.net

CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL

BROTHERHOOD

GA World Congress Center Site & Philips Arena - Atlanta

Please Contact: Ralph Ellis

rellis@bnai-israel.net or text 678-378-3691

to carpool or for more information

Disclaimers:

The Brotherhood has no entry requirements or dues.

We love women but you have to be a brother to join us!

Drink responsibly. Don’t drink and drive.

http:// www.cfbhall.com and www.tmacrestaurants.com

College Football

Hall of Fame 1pm

& Taco Mac 3 pm

Saturday, Jan 17

JANUARY 2, 2015

Irving D’Giff (Rob Alpert’s grandfather)

Alice Smith (Brad Smith’s mother)

JANUARY 9, 2015

Lorraine Hudgins (Dennis Hudgins’ mother)

Bessie Kachinski

Morris Krasow (Mel Krasow’s father)

Benjamin Mendelsohn (Joel Mendelsohn’s father)

Lucille Morris (Meredith Rosenberg’s mother)

Zelig Shepps (Ray Levine’s grandfather)

Abe Steinberg (Ron Steinberg’s father)

Emma Stephens (Marge Gersten’s mother)

R. J. Stephens (Marge Gersten’s brother)

Leonard Ullman

JANUARY 16, 2015

L. O’Neal Cave

Alex Feinstein (Steve Feinstein’s father)

Rhoda Gellman

Samuel Kachinski

Hilda Millstone

JANUARY 23, 2015

Irving Borim (Elaine McGee’s father)

Felisa Charyton (Hector Charyton’s mother)

Anne D’Giff (Rob Alpert’s grandmother)

Ellen Schwartz (Seth Schwartz’ mother)

Lawrence L. Siegel

JANUARY 30, 2015

Mildred Jaye (Honey Aiken’s mother)

Howard Richman

Yahrzeits

CALENDAR OF JEWISH HOLIDAYS

NOTE: Each holiday begins and ends at sundown on the days listed

JEWISH YEAR 5775

SECULAR YEAR SEPTEMBER 2014 - SEPTEMBER 2015

SELICHOT 5774 SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Saturday

ROSH HASHANA SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2014

Wednesday - Friday

YOM KIPPUR OCTOBER 3-4, 2014

Friday - Saturday

SUKKOT OCTOBER 8-15, 2014

Wednesday - Wednesday

ATZERET - SIMCHAT TORAH

OCTOBER 15-16, 2014 Wednesday - Thursday

HANUKKAH DECEMBER 16-24, 2014 Tuesday - Wednesday

TU B’SHEVAT FEBRUARY 3-4, 2015

Tuesday - Wednesday

PURIM MARCH 4-5, 2015

Wednesday - Thursday

PESACH APRIL 3-10, 2015

Friday - Friday

YOM HASHOAH APRIL 15-16, 2015

Wednesday - Thursday

YOM HAZIKARON & YOM HAATZ’MA’UT

APRIL 21-23, 2015 Tuesday - Thursday

LAG B’OMER MAY 6-7, 2015

Wednesday - Thursday

SHAVUOT MAY 23-24, 2015 Saturday - Sunday

TISHAH B’AV JULY 25-26, 2015 Saturday - Sunday

SELICHOT 5775 SEPTEMBER 5, 2015

Saturday

Say not in grief 'he is no more'

but in thankfulness that he was.

~ Hebrew Proverb ~

WEEKEND with

ISJL RABBI JEREMY SIMONS February 6-8, 2015

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

6:30pm

Family Shabbat Dinner - Meat

Chicken Soup Shabbat

Bring your favorite chicken soup

or any non-dairy dishes or sides

Drinks and dessert will be provided

7:30pm

Shabbat Service with Rabbi Simons

Torah reading and insightful message

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015

10:00am

Torah/Text Study

Bagel breakfast provided

7:00pm

Family Havdalah and Program

Bring a dairy dessert or appetizer

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

10:00am

Rabbi Simons joins our children

at Religious School

Rabbi Jeremy Simons will join us for an

incredible weekend of special activities.

He comes to us from the Institute of

Southern Jewish Life through our

annual partnership with the ISJL and its

educational initiatives for Jewish

children in the South.

Rabbi Simons graduated from the Ohio

State University with dual degrees, with

honors and distinction in Philosophy

and Political Science.

Call the CBI Office at 678-817-7162 for more information about the Rabbi’s visit or any of

the planned activities.

SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES

AND SERVICES

WEEKEND with

ISJL RABBI JEREMY SIMONS

February 6-8, 2015

~~ From the CBI Social Committee ~~

Sign Up for a CBI Oneg

It's a Mitzvah to enjoy Shabbat with food and friends! Pick a special day, anniversary or open date that works

for you! Providing an Oneg is an important way to help build our friendships and CBI community.

Thank you for your support in making our Shabbat special!

Please sign up and get additional Oneg information at SignUp Genius

HELP -- HELP -- HELP

We need Oneg families to sign up for:

January 16, 23, and February 13

Please help us by choosing one of these dates

if you have not already done so.

WHO IS READY TO LEARN AND SHINE????

Ever wanted to try your hand at leading a Shabbat service?

Now is your golden opportunity!

Our CBI Lay Leadership Group can include you

Lay leadership is fun, interesting, and meaningful. We will teach you the basic order of the service and

how to conduct a service from the bima. There will be a 90 minute class, with hands-on practice. After

that, whenever CBI might need a lay leader for services, you’ll be on our list to call. You can even pair

up with another lay leader and share the service together. It would be an amazing way to support the

congregation -- plus, you’ll experience the incredible feeling of helping bring prayer and meaning to our

community.

Please contact Susan Burden at 678-817-7162 or email at sburden@bnai-israel.net

for more information. The Lay Leadership Class will be forming soon.

The Congregational Hanukkah Party in December was an event to remember! A special thank you goes out to all

that worked so hard to create a day that everyone wholeheartedly enjoyed. Religious school students sang and en-

tertained us with their musical talents under Susan Burden’s direction, with a special thanks going to Zachary Saleh

for playing his cello. Danielle Foster, her Religious School staff, and our youth group students set up, cleaned up,

and ran the games. The Bingo, Sufganiyot Shuffle, and crafts were fantastic! Amy and Brad Caplan with their “Band

of Brothers” cooked and served us a yummy lunch in the social hall, decorated perfectly just for the occasion! The

latkes were fried perfectly by Alex and Dedee Hamson, and our Silent Auction was a big success. Thank you all for

your donations of prizes, baked goods, latke batter, and time.

Parents, youth group, and congregants all came together to enjoy the feeling of community, celebrate the holiday

and create lasting memories for our youngsters and ourselves!

A HAPPY HANUKKAH CELEBRATION AT CBI

Donating supplies is one easy way for each of us to help CBI cut down on expenses. When you visit Costco, Sam’s, or Wal-Mart, pick up something for CBI from our WISH LIST. Drop the item off on the table in the office. If each of us donated one item per a month, it would make a HUGE difference in CBI operating expenses!

CBI Wish List

toilet tissue

liquid hand soap

coffee (reg & decaf)

plastic tablecloths

paper plates (No Styrofoam)

plastic tableware

paper towels (rolls)

C-fold paper towels

Splenda or Equal

33-gallon trash bags

disposable cups for hot & cold (No Styrofoam)

napkins

Tzedakah—Doing the Right Thing

In our Jewish world, justice and righteousness

are very important concepts. We are obligated

or commanded to embrace them. The word

“tzedakah” means justice. In other words, we

are always obligated to do the right thing. To

perform an act of “justice” is to be a righteous

person. When we have extra money or time or

materials, it is the right thing to share with those

in need. Even when we are needy ourselves

and cannot contribute financial gifts, we should

perform acts of tzedakah, such as giving our

time and energy to help others.

Jewish High Holiday services remind us that

tzedakah (justice), t'shuvah (repentance), and

tefillah (prayer) are the three actions we should

take to help make up for our short-comings.

Hopefully, each of us will begin walking that path

today!

“As we work to create light for others,

we naturally light our own way.”

~ Mary Anne Radmacher ~

DONATIONS In Memory of Charles Adler Ray Levine

In Memory of Barbara Levine Ron & Kimberly Steinberg

In Memory of Lillian Levine Ray Levine

In Memory of Susan Levine Ray Levine

In Memory of Sandra Rose Tucker Claudia Tucker

Dollar-A-Day Stuart & Cheryl Rich

Fly Chai Mike & Debbie Edison

General Fund Mark Allen

Glenn & Peg Kersey

Security System Rob & Sherri Alpert

Yahrzeit Panel Ralph & Angie Ellis

Zaban Shelter Howard & Vicki Leopold

Store Hours

Sun 9:00AM-9:00PM | Mon-Thu 9:00AM-

10:00PM | Fri-Sat 9:00AM-11:00PM

The Forum at Ashley Park

342 Newnan Crossing Bypass

Newnan, GA 30265

CBI Board Rules on advertising in The Bulletin

When advertising in The Bulletin, the board voted that business card

size advertising would be $100 per year UNLESS you are a

member in good standing, in which case the fee is 50% of that or

$50.00.

The advertising fee will double as the size of the advertising doubles

from business card size, up to 1/2 page. The largest size ad is 1/2

page.

Contact Angie Ellis in the Office at 678-817-7162 to discuss ad place-

ment.

Thank you to Town Square Jewelers in Fayetteville

for your generous donations of gift items

for our Silent Auction

To schedule an appointment at our Peachtree City office, or to

discuss a legal matter please call Eric Slepian of Slepian &

Schwartz, L.L.C. at (770) 486-1220.

Slepian & Schwartz, L.L.C.

42 Eastbrook Bend

Peachtree City, Georgia 30269

Is Atlanta Based Call 800.786.8787 for Personal Banking Needs.

SunTrust’s Internet address is www.suntrust.com

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Shabbat service, led

by Susan Burden

7:30pm

3

4

No RS

5 6

7 Mahjong

10:00am

Hebrew School

6:30pm

8

9 Family Shabbat

Dinner (Chili and

salad bar)

6:30pm

Shabbat service, led

by Susan Burden

7:30pm

10

11

HHS/Conf - 9:00am

RS - 10:00am

12

13

Board Meeting

7:00pm

14

Hebrew School

6:30pm

15

Southside Seniors

Luncheon

12:30pm at Jim and

Judy Freeman’s home

16

Shabbat service, led

by Susan Burden

7:30pm

MLK Speaker - Ron

Aiken

17

Brotherhood Event

College Football Hall

of Fame at World

Congress Center

1:00pm

Taco Mac

3:00pm

18

HHS/Conf - 9:00am

RS - 10:00am

19 23 21

Mahjong

10:00am

Hebrew School

6:30pm

22 23

New Member

Shabbat Service, led

by Rabbi Feldstein

7:30pm

24

25 HHS/Conf - 9:00am

RS - 10:00am

26 27 28

Hebrew School

6:30pm

29 30

Shabbat service, led

by Confirmation

students

7:30pm

31

January 2015 - Congregation B’nai Israel