Agudas Achim Congregation 401 E. Oakdale Blvd., Coralville. IA 52241

Phone: (319) 337-3813 www.agudasachimic.org

March 2015 Adar —Nisan 5775

Schedule of Services

Purim Thursday, March 4 7pm Children’s Service (At Agudas Achim) Friday, March 5 8:30 am & 5:00 pm(At Chabad House)

Shabbat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) Friday, March 6 Shabbat Across Iowa 6:00 pm dinner RSVPs requested 7:45 pm Services Mishkan Tefillah Saturday, March 7 9:30 am Siddur Mishkan Tefillah Shabbat Vayakhel-Pekude/Shabbat Parah (Exodus 35:1-40:38, Numbers 19:1-22) This is the third of four special Shabbatot before Passover. The maftir section from Numbers details the matter of the red heifer. In Temple days the priest would use the ashes of the red heifer to purify people who were ritually impure which would have prevented them from eating of the Passover sacrifice. Friday, March 13 7:45 pm Siddur Sim Shalom Musical Service with Rabbi Rebecca Kushner Saturday, March 14 9:30 am Siddur Sim Shalom Shabbat Vayikra/Rosh Hodesh/Shabbat Hachodesh (Leviticus 1:1-5:26, Numbers 28:9-15, Exodus 12:1-20) ) This is the last of the four special Shabbatot before Passover. It falls on the Shabbat before Nisan unless Nisan begins on Shabbat as it does this year. In this case Shabbat Hachodesh coincides with Rosh Hodesh. That’s why there are three Torahs: One for the regular from Leviticus, the second one from Numbers for Rosh Hodesh and the third one from Exodus which states that the month in which Passover occurs is the first month of the year. Friday, March 20 7:45 pm Mishkan Tefillah Saturday, March 21 9:30 am Siddur Sim Shalom Shabbat Tzav/Shabbat Hagadol (Leviticus 6:1-8:36) The name of the Shabbat before Passover is called Shabbat Hagadol. It takes its name from the end of the haftarah which ends “I will send you the prophet Eliyahu to your before the coming of the great (hagadol) fearful day of the Lord.” Friday, March 27 7:45 pm Siddur Mishkan Tefillah Oneg Shabbat Program: Prof. Robert Cargill on “Song of Songs.” Saturday, March 28 9:30 am Siddur Sim Shalom

LIFE MILESTONES

The congregation extends its condolences to Su Groff-VanArendonk on the loss of her husband Wayne VanArendonk. The congregation extends its condolences to Janie and Jody Braverman on the loss of Janie’s father, Arnie Breggin. May they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Schedule of Services

Shabbat Pesach (Exodus 12:21-51, Numbers 28:16-25) Friday, April 3 NO Services – First Seder Saturday, April 4 9:30 am Siddur Mishkan Tefillah Michael Flatté will be leading music Schedule of Services on Passover Saturday, April 4 (Shabbat and the first day of Passover) 9:30 am Sunday, April 5 (Second day of Passover) 9:30 am Friday, April 10 (Seventh Day of Passover) 9:30 am Saturday, April 11 (Eighth Day of Passoverver and Yizkor) 9:30 am

THANK YOU

A special thanks to Doug Ginsberg at MC Ginsberg’s for repairing the Torah rimonim and engraving the Kiddush cups given to B’nai Mitzvah.

MARCH BOOK NEWS-Braverman Library and Becker Learning Center

How about brushing up on Purim’s story, traditions, and recipes this month? Whether among the adult or children’s books, you’re sure to find something to pique your curiosity- check it out! Fun fact: Did you know that our Becker Adult Learning Center is home to scholarly books which belonged to Dr. Jonathan A. Goldstein z"l, Maccabean scholar and Agudas Achim congregant?

Kippah Survey

Are you a woman who wears a kippah/ yarmulke? Email helana.darwin@gmail.com with the subject line “kippah” to participate in the first ever large-scale survey into the meanings associated with this symbol, as reported by the women who wear it. And please help spread the word!

mailto:helana.darwin@gmail.commailto:Helana.darwin@gmail.com

SEARCH COMMITTEE-Michael Flaum

The search committee has been very busy this month. After a long period of waiting, we finally received several applications for our interim rabbi position. We’ve conducted Skype interviews with 3 of these candidates over the past few weeks, and, after doing so, and conducting some preliminary reference checking, we have invited our top candidate for an onsite visit. His name is Rabbi Barry Diamond; he has been serving as an “intentional interim” over the last several years in multiple congregations. He is currently serving as the senior (interim) rabbi at a 600 family congregation in LA. Phone interviews with the board president and the cantor of that synagogue were overwhelmingly positive (as were other references). We really hope we can recruit him. He will be visiting us on the weekend of March 6-8. That means he will be here for our “Shabbat Across Iowa City” dinner on Friday March 6th. We hope to have a big turnout that night so he can meet as many congregants as possible. He will be participating in services both Friday night and Saturday morning, and will join us for lunch after Saturday services. He will then meet with members of the board with Rabbi Portman on Saturday afternoon, and with the search committee on Sunday morning. If anyone is specifically interested in meeting with him, Saturday afternoon is probably the most flexible time in his schedule. Once again, I have been really impressed by the dedication that the search committee members continue to show – we’ve basically been meeting every week of late, and almost everyone shows up to every meeting. It’s really quite something – Relational Judaism in action.

SISTERHOOD –Jorie Slodki

Winter Tea a Success! Our Winter Tea on 15 was a resounding success. Over twenty women gathered to eat, schmooze, and bid on our Silent Auction--which raised $500 for our campaign to honor Rabbi Jeff! Thank you to . . . Teresa Weiner for hosting Michelle Edwards for her fascinating talk on knitting and writing All those who donated items or bid for our Silent Auction Sisterhood Shabbat We will be hosting Sisterhood Shabbat on April 24 at the synagogue. We will need participants for leading parts of the service in English and/or Hebrew, and volunteers to bring food for the Oneg. If you are interested in helping, please e-mail sisterhood@agudasachimic.org Watch Your Inboxes We will be sending out an electronic survey to collect information on your hobbies and interests. We plan to use this information to give us ideas on what events to have in the future, and to connect Sisterhood members with similar interests. Whether you are interested in gardening, dancing, or underwater basketweaving, we hope to serve you better.

GIFT SHOP-Joanne Margolin

Passover will be here soon -- the first seder is Friday, April 3rd! As always, we have a variety of seder plates, plastic liners, haggadot, cards, beautiful matza covers, wash cups, kiddush cups, as well as stickers and the game of Passover Slides and Ladders for the children. If you think of something you’d like and can’t find it in the Gift Shop, please call and let me try to get it for you – no shipping and no tax!

Wishing you an early Happy Pesach ~ Joanne Margolin

351-2181 or jrmargolin@gmail.com

mailto:sisterhood@agudasachimic.org

RABBI’S COLUMN—Rabbi Jeff Portman

Each day the Iowa Senate and House meets there is an opening prayer delivered by a member of the clergy. I was invited by State Senator Bob Dvorsky to deliver the prayer a few days ago. The instructions that were given by the Senate was for the invocator to keep in mind the diverse religions that legislators have and not be exclusive. In my quick perusal of past invocations I was struck how what I would consider exclusive was apparently not the case with some of other clergy. Here is the text of my invocation. Lord, Master of the universe – You have bequeathed to all mankind the gifts of discernment and wisdom. We thank You for those gifts and we ask You to help and guide our elected representatives and their staffs as they work diligently to fulfill their challenging task of tackling our problems, while expanding opportunities for all of us in this great State of Iowa. O Sovereign, be with them as all those who labor for a better world. Help them to work in a spirit of cooperation to support all of the citizens of Iowa. We ask you to keep in mind the families and friends of these dedicated men and women who live all over Iowa. Be with them as their loved ones work in this capital city. We may individually have different perspectives on the ultimate questions religions speak to but here in these United States these differences are affirmed and celebrated. We are truly blessed to live in a county and state that allows each of us to come before You in our own way. Lord, we ask Your blessings on the President of the United Sates and the Governor of Iowa and all elected offi-cials in our State. Guide them as they contemplate legislation that will affect all the citizens of our state. The challenges are daunting but we are confident that Your guidance will be with these men and women as they

study, debate and ultimately pass legislation that will benefit all Iowans. Amen.

YOUTH DIRECTOR OPENING

We are accepting applications for the part time position of Youth Director at Agudas Achim Congregation in Coralville.

For about 3 hours per week, the Youth Director will provide a welcoming environment for our teens to meet, and guide our high school age students to become community leaders. The Youth Director supervises our teens while they hang out at the synagogue or plan events, such as a camping trip, ice skating, a Hanukkah party or assisting the religious school with the Purim carnival. Communicating news and activities with parents and teens through the synagogue bulletin, and through social media is also expected. For more information contact Vickie Ginsberg, at vlginsberg@hotmail.com, by Friday March 27, 2015.

mailto:vlginsberg@hotmail.com

FROM THE PRESIDENT—Vickie Ginsberg

Many congregants and friends have asked how best to honor Rabbi Jeff on his retirement. This is truly a unique occasion. The Board of Directors believes it is of great importance to meaningfully honor Rabbi Jeff in a coordinated effort. You have recently received the brochure laying out Our Campaign to Honor Rabbi Jeff Portman. This campaign will provide our congregation an opportunity to honor Rabbi Jeff and to fund our transition activities. To fully honor Rabbi Jeff, we are committed to making a successful transition. We will officially announce our progress at Rabbi Jeff’s retirement Gala Dinner on June 13. Please join us in honoring Rabbi Jeff with your gift to Our Campaign, and hope to see you at the Gala!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Rabbi Search Committee for their ongoing hard work. Members include Michael Flaum (chair), Jeff Braverman, Jody Braverman, Ellen Caplan, Lea Haravon-Collins, Leslie Schnoll Fitzpatrick, Mark Ginsberg, Phil Horwitz, Mike Margolin, Rita Marcus, Sally Scott, Susan Simon, Jerry Sorokin, Sue Weinberg and Kineret Zabner. This is a cohesive and very dedicated group. They have spent a great deal of time and energy to benefit of our entire congregation. Their task will not be complete until we have not only an interim Rabbi, but a settled Rabbi. Please join me in thanking this committee for their time spent, and work ethic. During this search process a great deal of information about our congregation has been brought forward. The process will continue to evaluate who we are and what we want. We feel the process is working. I am happy to say that while we are a very diverse and unique congregation (with our few issues!!), we are also a healthy congregation!

Now that this cold month of February is behind us, March brings us Purim, one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from a plot of extermination. This year Purim is celebrated on March 4-5. We read the Megillah (Book of Esther) and boo, hiss, and rattle gregers to blot out the name of Haman. We are commanded to eat, drink and be merry! It is also customary to hold a Purim carnival. Our religious school will hold their Purim carnival on March 1st during Sunday school. Children may come in costume, win prizes and enjoy the celebration with homemade hamentaschen. On March 4th at 7PM, come for the Megillah reading, celebrate together and enjoy hamentaschen. Let’s see what costume Rabbi Jeff wears this year!

As you know, we are in the process of recruiting an interim rabbi for next year. We have a top candidate that we are hoping to recruit and he is coming for a visit the weekend of March 6-8. It would be wonderful if he could meet as many people as possible, so please consider joining for the "Shabbat Across Iowa City" - Dinner - 6 PM on Fridday March 6, as well as services on Friday night and/or Satruday morning. He will also be available to meet with interested congregants after services on Saturday, and on Sunday at around noon.

"Satiric, surreal, unexpected and at times wildly funny. A savage black comedy that eviscerates an unexpected target: the Israeli army, officially known as the IDF. Whatever your image of the Israel Defense Forces is, heroic or otherwise, it's not

what you're going to see here." – Kenneth Turan, The Los Angeles Times "An engaging, desert-dry, feminist-minded comedy" - Globe and Mail

A smash hit in Israel and winner of the Best Narrative Feature Award at the Tribeca Film Festival, Zero Motivation is a unique, sharply observed, sometimes dark and often hilarious portrait of everyday life for a unit of young, female soldiers in a remote Israeli desert outpost. Playing out like M*A*S*H meets Orange is the New Black, Talya Lavie's brilliant debut details the power struggles of three women with different agendas and very little to do. Pencil-pushers in the Human Resources Office, best friends Zohar (Dana Ivgy) and Daffi (Nelly Tagar) spend their time playing video games, singing pop songs, jousting with stationery and dreaming of Tel Aviv. The indolent twosome are watched over by their aspiring senior officer, Rama (Shani Klein), who dreams of a higher position and a significant military career, but with a platoon of unskilled, idle, female soldiers without any drive under her charge, her ambitions for promotion are constantly thwarted. With shifts of tone that go from slapstick to satiric to horrifying with fluid ease, and with a superb supporting cast of characters, Zero Motivation is destined to be one of the most talked about films of the year.

AT FILM SCENE MARCH 2ND — Zero Motivation

ADULT EDUCATION — Kathy Jacobs

Adult Education Programs Discussion Groups:

Talmud 8:30 am (Tractate Brachot from the Jerusalem Talmud) Sundays 8:30 am Jewish-Christian Dialogue Group (Book being discussed: “God: A Biography” by Jack Miles) Saturdays 12:30 pm Jewish Fiction Book Group (The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon) Thursdays 8:30 am Hebrew (Sundays 12:30 am)

Robert Cargill Series on Biblical books read on the holidays and Yom Yerushalyim:

Friday, March 27 Song of Songs (read on Passover) 8:30 pm Friday, April 17 Ruth (read on Shavuot) 8:30 pm Sunday, May 17 “From Shalem to Jerusalem: The Etymology and Historiography of the Name Jerusalem’” 2 pm Friday, June 26 Lamentations (read on Tisha B’av) 8:30 pm

Musar Sunday – March29 10:30 am

Please read part 1 (pgs. 1-42) and the section on Gratitude (pgs. 63-74) from Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis.

Concerts Oleg Timofeyev , Thursday, March 12 Free Music of Remembrance, Sunday, May 3 3 pm

ONEG COMMITTEE— Andy Frank

Warm up some of those chilly March and April spring evenings by hosting an Oneg! Food, friends, and improving weather what could be better than that? There are many ways to help out with synagogue Onegs. Thanks so much in advance! 1. Use the Signupgenius website (which shows open dates and upcoming events; the current calendar extends through August): http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B4AAFAA2DA57-oneg

2. Email

3. Call Andy Frank (319) 512-0899.

4. No time for shopping? That's okay, there is an Oneg Fund, and others will shop for you! Please send your check to the synagogue, marked "Oneg Fund" on the envelope and the check memo.

The 9th Annual Russian Guitar Festival

IARGUS 2015

Special edition: UKRAINE!

March 12, 7:00 p.m., Agudas Achim Congregation, 401 Oakdale

Boulevard, Coralville, IA

The centerpiece of this celebration of klezmer music and

yiddishkeit will be the

phenomenal Duo Controverso from Chicago—

This is the duo’s second

appearance at IARGUS, last time they were with us 5 years

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B4AAFAA2DA57-onegmailto:c.andrew.frank@gmail.comtel:%28319%29%20512-0899

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS— Sarah Frank

Purim - every child's favorite Jewish holiday - starts on the evening of Wednesday, March 4. Come for the megillah reading at 7 PM. Lots of fun will be had by all! A costume contest for the kids, singing and Purim treats. On Friday, March 27 6at PM, join us for a vegetarian potluck Shabbat dinner. Challah and grape juice will be provided, bring a dish to share. Please RSVP to Sarah at srfrank@gmail.com

HEBREW & SUNDAY SCHOOL— Sonja Spear

Musical Shabbat! Kids eight and older will lead a short and sweet Shabbat service this Friday, February 27th at 6:30, followed by a potluck dinner. The charming and talented Karen Charney taught them a sweet niggun (wordless chant), a lively Lecha Dodi, and a spritely version of Hineh Ma Tov. The kids have been practicing these prayers and more in Hebrew School as well as in Sunday School. It has been a lot of work, and I’m sure they are looking forward to standing on the bimah in front of their friends and family. I invite everyone to join the service, including people who don’t have children at home. Everyone is welcome. Purim! The Purim Carnival is Sunday, March 1st from 11:00-12:00. Sunday School starts as usual at 10:00. Do you have to be in the school to go to the carnival? Of course not! Everyone is welcome. The Jewth Group is organizing games. There will also be a bounce house, a clown, and a children’s costume parade. Camp Herzl! A representative of Camp Herzl will be presenting information March 1st from 10:30-11:00. Parents are warmly invited to come to the talk and to stay for the carnival. February It has been a cold, cold winter. I think we got nearly a foot of snow around Tu B’shvat, when the school closed for the second week in a row. So February got off to slow start. Here are the highlights: The Three-Year-Old class made birdfeeders for Tu B’Shvat. The birds will appreciate the peanut butter. I know the kids did! The three-year-olds will meet again on March 1st to celebrate Purim. Bring a costume! The Kindergarten learned about Havdallah, the service for saying goodbye to Shabbat. They made filled little bags with mulling spice and rose petals for Havdallah besamim (spices). The Kindergarten explored the synagogue. They found the rabbi, the ner tamid (eternal light), the aron kodesh (holy ark), the bimah (stage), and a tallit (prayer shawl). The rabbi showed them the Torah. The kids learned some really hard words. (Aron Kodesh, in particular, was a mouthful!) So they will review these words in a synagogue treasure hunt in March. But first, Purim! The kids made pink, blue, and green Hamentashen out of Play-Doh for Purim. Next week they will hear the Purim story, act it out in costumes, and then attend the carnival. Lea Collins did a workshop on Dramatic Midrash. Since the Kindergarten was getting acquainted with the Torah, she had them pretend to be the Torah. She wrapped each kid in a tallit for a Torah procession. “It’s fun to be the Torah,” the class agreed.

mailto:srfrank@gmail.com

HEBREW & SUNDAY SCHOOL— Sonja Spear

The First Grade reviewed the Hebrew letters and sang Debbie Friedman’s Aleph Bet Song. A few of them have noticed that Hebrew seems to have a couple letters that make a sound like sort of like an H, only stronger. Most of them enjoy making this noise, but some of them find it a little weird. They reviewed Jewish holidays and symbols. In fact, they have covered one wall with a calendar of Jewish celebrations. For Purim, students learned about the custom of mishloach manot (sending portions), sending treats to friends and to the poor. They made colorful baskets for the goodies that they will pass out at home on Purim. They also explored the Purim story, wondering what they would have done if they were Esther or Mordecai. The Second Grade has been learning about Israeli cities. They turned the entire classroom into a map of Israel, with each student representing a city and reciting its major features. (There was some competition for Jerusalem.) They also made crowns for Purim and practiced booing Haman’s name! The second graders enjoyed Dramatic Midrash of the Cain and Abel story with Lea Collins. They acted out what it would be like to be Cain, Able, Adam or Eve in this story. They imaged what Adam and Eve would have said if they could have had a little talk with Cain about Abel. In turns out that the Second Grade has a lot to say about sibling rivalry! I want to thank Lea again for the energy and imagination that she brings to Dramatic Midrash. It is a brilliant way to engage the kids in the study of the Torah. The Third/Fourth Grade reviewed the terms b’rit (covenant) and tshuvah (repentance) as they discussed the story of Joseph and his brothers. They drew pictures of the Jacobs’ children on their way to Egypt and discussed the story. Were Joseph’s brothers happy? Scared? Should Joseph have forgiven them? With Passover just around the corner, the students are wrapping up Genesis and turning to Exodus. Looking back on their pictures of the Children of Israel entering Egypt. They will compare the hopes and fears of the Children of Israel leaving Egypt to the attitudes with which they entered Egypt. But first, they will learn more about Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, and the plagues. The Fifth Grade was immersed in the Roman occupation of Judea. They spent a day learning about Herod and his building projects, especially the expansion of the Second Temple, Caesarea, and Masada. Their teacher, who is majoring in archeology, showed them pictures of the digs he has done in Israel. He talked about how we know what happened so long ago. The kids seem fascinated. The Sixth Grade explored Jewish immigration to America. After learning about the pogroms, WWI, and the Russian Revolution (push factors), they discussed the draw of jobs and freedom in American (pull factors). This is an important history for American Jews, so their teacher wanted to make it personal. The kids wrote their own highly imaginative stories about what it was like to leave Russia for America. They spent two days on this project. The Eighth Grade is learning to understand various Jewish perspectives on death, dying, afterlife, and resurrection. They will be learning from a variety of guest speakers over the course of the semester. Prof. Cargill, from the Religious Studies Department at the University, started them off with a history of split between Judaism and Christianity. He emphasized the flexibility of Judaism around these issues. Then our own Rabbi Jeff Portman introduced the Reform perspective on the messiah and the afterlife. In March they will get a different perspective from the rabbi at Chabad. Purim Play The Eighth Grade is practicing a short and silly Purim play, which they will perform for the school on March 1st. It is really important for the entire Eighth Grade to be there. Otherwise, we may have to drag actors in off the street. The play must go on!

HEBREW & SUNDAY SCHOOL— Sonja Spear

Hebrew School We’ve been making some changes! The kids lead a brief Shabbat service at the end of every day. To prepare the students to lead the Musical Shabbat on February 27th, we added Lecha Dodi, V’Shamru, Oseh Shalom, and Hineh Ma Tov to this service. We invited the students to sign up in advance to lead certain prayers so that everyone gets a chance to stand on the bimah. Some of the kids were nervous at first, but after a couple of weeks even the shyest student gained confidence. We will continue to add less familiar prayers throughout the semester. By the end of the year, students should have gained the confidence to participate in any service. We added the Kiddush for Friday night to the prayers after snack. This is a fairly long prayer with some very difficult words. But the kids are beginning to feel comfortable with it. Chloe’s Class has been working hard on learning to read and write in cursive. We are introducing cursive because it is the most common way Hebrew is written. Just as importantly, cursive is easier to write and to read than block print. But, of course, the kids continue to practice reading block print when they read the siddur. They have been practicing Shalom Aleichem and the blessings over the bread, candles, and wine, which they will lead during the Musical Shabbat on February 27th. Alex’s Class visits Chloe’s class once a week to help the younger students learn to read. In addition, they have been focusing on the prayers Mi Khamokha and Ahavat Olam. Most recently, the students took flash cards with all the words to Mi Khamokha and figured out how to put them in the correct order. They have been working hard on reading more fluently and more loudly. David and Al’s Class has been learning the nuts and bolts of Hebrew grammar, including the simple present and adjective-noun agreement. The students have been translating English sentences into Hebrew, relying largely on

vocabulary in the prayer book. (Ask them how to say, “I want peace in the world.”) They have also worked on reading and understanding the Amidah, connecting the prayer to the biblical story of the patriarchs and matriarchs. During the month of March, the Hebrew School will focus on getting ready for Passover! We will read the Haggadah, discuss its structure, and learn some of it by heart, including the Four Questions and Halakhma Anya (“This is the bread of affliction”). In honor of the season, we will learn some of the psalms recited for Hallel, starting with B’Tzet Yisrael (Psalm 114). We will also learn Shir Hama’alot (Psalm 126), which we will practice in the short service at the end of the day. Anyone is welcome to drop in for this service, which usually starts at 5:40.

PASSOVER

Passover begins Friday evening April 3. There will be no Friday night services. Shabbat and the first day of Passover is on Saturday, April 4 and there will be services. A full list of services is listed below. Agudas Achim will be hosting a second seder on Saturday, April 4. There is a registration form below.

Hillel will be holding seders for both nights as well as lunch and dinner during Passover. Call Hillel at 338-0778 for more information.

Sellling Chametz A person who owns a quantity of chametz (leaven) which he or she is reluctant to dispose of, because doing so may cause him or her considerable financial loss, may sell their chametz to a non-Jew. Then one can leave the chametz in his/her home without transgressing the prohibitions of not seeing or having chametz, since the chametz no longer belongs to him or her.

Those who wish to sell their chametz can call the office and ask that their name(s) be placed on the list. Please call the office by April 2 or email the rabbi (jrportman@agudasachimic) if you would like to sell your chametz. There is no charge for this.

Where to get Passover Items The Co-op (yes, the Co-op) has agreed to bring in kosher for Passover items. This is the result of a letter written by Esther Retish, Jerry Sorokin and I several months ago. Also HyVee met with Jerry and I and showed us what they are bringing in. We hope that between the two grocery stores we will all be able to find what we want.

Maot Hitim The synagogue is again collecting funds to be used locally and nationally to help people participate in a Seder and buy

matzah products. Checks may be made out to the Rabbis Discretionary Fund and sent to the synagogue. Please note Maot Hitim in the memo.

Taanit Bekhorim (Fast of the first born) A first born male observes this fast on the eve of Passover commemorating the saving of the firstborn of Israel who

were saved, while the first born Egyptians died in the tenth plague. A siyyum (completion of study of a tractate of rabbinic literature) removes that obligation as all who participate in the siyyum are invited to a seudat mitzvah (a festive meal celebrating the performance of a mitzvah, in this case the siyyum). We will hold a siyyum on Friday, April 3 at Hillel at 8:30 am. This is open to males and females, firstborn or not. Schedule of Services on Passover Saturday, April 4 (Shabbat and the first day of Passover) 9:30 am Sunday, April 5 (Second day of Passover) 9:30 am Friday, April 10 (Seventh Day of Passover) 9:30 am Saturday, April 11 (Eighth Day of Passoverver and Yizkor) 9:30 am

House of David Softball

Will be meeting on Sunday, March 15th

at 12:30 pm.

Anyone interested in playing

Please come to the meeting!

FEBRUARY YAHRZEITS

Edith London

Erna Luwisch

Evelyn Madison

Anna Markovitz

Dinah Leah Markovitz

Andrew Marks

Marcella Mekies

William Melton

Amanda Miller

Bess Millstein

Lucille Myers

Elijah “Zeke” Palnick

Dorothy Pliner

Lucile Potter

Louis Elliot Price

Herman Robin

Louis Rosenbaum

Mark Rosenthal

Sanford G. Rossen

Marcia Williams Toston

Mark Rothstein

Joseph Rubenstein

Jeanette D. Russ

Osher Saltzman

Rev. Noah Saltzman

Gary Sanders

Gertrude Sandler

Jay Sandler

Reuben Savin

Leo Schapira

Hy Schumeister

Jessica Schwartz

Sari Sprince

Sara Strauss

Warren Stroh

Eileen Wallace

Stanley Weinberg

Ralph Wingo

Daniel Wolf

Rebecca Ziskind

Sarah Makiesky Abrams

Celia Balch

Asher Bar-Lev

Max Berkowitz

Eleanor Blauner

David Braverman

Joseph Braverman

Corrine Chapman

Nellie Cohen

Morris Dicker

Hyman Dubin

Andrea Kirshnitz Einhorn

Donna Farber

Jennie Fischer

Sadie Friedman

Miriam Glassman

Abraham Goldberg

Sarah Goldberg

Samuel Goldman

Bertha Graber

Harriet Blaeslee Hall

Thelma Hartgrove

William Herman

Benjamin B. Hertz

Ida B. Horshman

Dora Joseph

George Kalnitsky

Marcia Lee Kapenstein

Shirley Kaplan

Gerald Klein

Ida Kleinman

Dorothy W. Krain

Betty Krantz

Sadie Krivel

Donia Kuperman

Joseph Landweber

Mae Landweber

Mauricio Lasnasky

Jean Lieberman Lennertt

Rae Lieberman

Benjamin London

DONATIONS

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Sue Blackwell: In memory of Ethel Rothstein Tom & Becky Gelman: In memory of Web Gelman Joy Ann Keener Ruscha Sam & Marj Kuperman: In memory of Arnie Breggin Peter Landweber: In memory of Louis & Mar Landweber Nathan Eugene Savin & Susan Enzle: In memory of Lucille Potter & Reuben Savin David Skorton & Robin Davisson: In memory of Bessie Millstein Janet Whitebook: In memory of Moe Whitebook GENERAL GIFTS Jody & Janie Braverman: In memory of LaVerene Siebuhr Richard & Ellen Caplan: For Oneg Fund Michael & Joanne Margolin: In memory of Arthur Margolin Dorothy Paul SISTERHOOD MITZVAH & MEMORIAL FUND Micki Soldofsky: In memory of Thelma Hartgrove BUILDING FUND David & Martha Lubaroff: In memory of Albert Lubaroff

CEMETERY FUND Lorraine Dorfman: In memory of Sara Dorfman Jack L. Snider: In memory of Betty Snider LIBRARY FUND Arthur & Miriam Canter: In memory of Louis Rosenbaum Richard & Ellen Caplan: In memory of Sidney Kripke David & Tamara Schoenbaum: In memory of Leah Hertz Schoenbaum Stan & Jane Zukin: In memory of Lama Shetzer FINE ARTS FUND Richard & Nancee Blum: In memory of David Blum & Joseph Rose Tom & Becky Gelman: For Ketubah frame TALMUD TORAH FUND Jeff & Sara Braverman: In memory of David Braverman TIKUN OLAM FUND Doug & Beverly Jones: In memory of Goldie Solganick SIM & SARA STRAUSS FUND Richard Strauss & Ellen Herman: In memory of Samuel Markovitz Stephen & Susan Strauss: In memory of Samuel Markovitz, Anna Markovitz, Sara Strauss & Dinah L. Markovitz

Donations to Our Campaign to Honor Rabbi Jeff will be announced in subsequent bulletins

“As tiny scales join to form a strong coat of armor, so little donations combine

to form a large total of good.” From the Talmud

Should you desire to make a contribution, may we suggest any of the following synagogue funds: ____ Braverman Talmud Torah ____ Marcus Scholarship Fund ____ PJ Library ____ Building Fund ____ Prayer Book Fund ____ Cemetery Fund ____ Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund ____ Fine Arts Fund ____ School Fund ____ Garden & Landscaping Fund ____ Sim & Sara Strauss Memorial Fund ____ General Fund ____ Sisterhood Mitzvah & Memorial fund ____ High Holiday/Cantor Fund ____ Synagogue Assistance Fund ____ Lauren Reece Flaum Terrace Fund ____ Tikun Olam Fund ____ Library Fund ____ Torah Enhancement Fund ____ Louis Ginsberg Youth Fund Contribution in memory of__________________________________________

Contribution in honor of____________________________________________

Jeffrey R. Portman Rabbi Nina Weinstein Administrator Sonja Spear Principal Chloe Goodman Youth Director Sarah Frank Children’s Program Director Em Petersen Office Secretary Amos Kiche Custodian Board of Trustees Vickie Ginsberg President Michael Flaum President Elect Carrie Z. Norton Vice-President Tom Gelman Treasurer Sara Braverman Secretary Teresa Weiner School David Lubaroff Ritual Karen Charney Membership Kathy Jacobs Adult Education Michelle Stalkfleet Tikun Olam Karen Lipman Youth Teresa Weiner Past President Kineret Zabner Social Jorie Slodki Sisterhood Renee Zukin Trustee Jody Braverman Trustee