dec 2012 newsletter v2std

7/30/2019 Dec 2012 Newsletter v2std

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2/13

SoupKitchenCornerNext

Soup

Kitchen:

Wednesday,Dec.12that

11:00a.m.

WehosttheSoupKitchen

the2ndWednesdayof

everymonth

Whynotshareapartofyourself

with someone in need by

donang something from our

wish listorhelp serveor clean

up?

Contact:ShirleySt.Peterat

[email protected]

Thursday,November29,2012 KislevTevet5773Dec.2012

and celebrate.

One of the beauful things about Judaism is its pracce of reading of

spiritual meaning in all sorts of everyday and ritual objects. From Shab

bat candles to the lowly matzah, rich meaning has been found in vari

ous symbols in our tradion and the dreidel is no different.

Here are just a few of the secrets buried in our dreidel and its leers:

The Hebrew leers wrien on the dreidel Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin whenlooked at through the lens ofGematria (a system that assigns numeri

cal value to a word or phrase, with the idea that words or phrases with

idencal numerical values bear some relaonship to each other) have

the numerical value of 358 which is the same as the numerical value of

MashiachorMessiah giving our dreidel the power to point to the me

of the world made perfect.

Another and very different way to read the leers is that they repre

sent four kingdoms that tried to destroy the Jews and failed. This read

ing says that Nun is for Nebuchadnezzar Babylon, Hey is for Haman

Ancient Persia, Gimel is for Gog (understood as Greece) and Sin for

Seir (understood to be Rome.)

Finally here is an interpretaon from Rabbi Goldie Milgram, a

modern mysc who brings out yet another reading of the leers

and the rules for playing dreidel:

Shin ( ) Shafal humility. When the dreidel lands with "shin" fac

ing up, a player must put a coin/raisin/candy (or whatever is being

played for in the dreidel game) back into the pot. Once an ego is

shrunk to proper size the call to contribute to the pot of life is an

swered with enthusiasm.

Gimel ( ) Galgal wheel Happy is the dreidel player who lands on


3/13

TorahStudy

Torah study is held the third Saturday of each month.We start at 9:30 A.M. with an informal get together

and socializing. Then, aer a short while, we say the

blessing and get down to studying the week's poron

(in English, no preparaon needed.) The Rabbi leads

the discussion, bringing her insight and wit to the

text. Your insight will be a smulang addion to the

discussion.The poron for Saturday, December 22, is Parashah

Vayigash.

ParashahOverview(Vayigash,Genesis 44:1847:27)

Judah pleads with Joseph to free Benjamin and

offers himself as a replacement. (44:1834)

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and for

gives them for selling him into slavery. (45:115)

Although the famine sll rages, Pharaoh invites

Joseph's family to "live offthe fat of the land." (45:16

24)

Jacob learns that Joseph is sll alive and, with

God's blessing, goes to Egypt. (45:2546:33)

Pharaoh permits Joseph's family to sele in Go

shen. Pharaoh then meets with Jacob. (47:112)

With the famine increasing, Joseph designs a plan forthe Egypans to trade their livestock and land for

food. The Israelites thrive in Egypt. (47:1327)

Note: We send an announcement by email usually

each week and regularly before each Saturday on

which we have Torah Study. The announcement in

cludes a short summary and commentary on that

week's parashah. If you wish to be on the list to receive these announcements, please advise Shirley at

the Beth El office. Many members have already ex

pressed interest in receiving the announcements. Of

course, you may add your name in the future or have

it deleted, should you change your mind.

helps disnguish between that which is holy and that

which is not.

Hey ( ) Hiuli formlessness. When a Hey faces

up, the spinner receives half the pot. Regarding one's

fortune as half the pot is to be a cocreator in the fu

ture.1

There are many, many more meaning we can find in

our dreidel but however you understand the

dreidels meaning, may you and your family have a

warm and upliing Chanukah as you play and sing by

the light of the Chanukiyah eang latkes and sufgani

yot.

hp://www.mazornet.com/holidays/Chanukah/

dreidelmodern.htm

TorahReadings

December 1

Parashat Vayishlach

Genesis 32:4 36:43

Obadiah 1:1 1:21

December 8

Parashat Vayeshev

Genesis 37:1 40:23

Amos 2:6 3:8

December 15Parashat Miketz

Genesis 41:1 44:17

Zech. 4:17

December 22



4/13

HolidayTips

31.Worshipwith others. A study in theAmerica

JournalofPsychiatryconcludedthatobservingones

faith inasocialsengwas linkedtoa lowerriskof

illness,especiallydepression

32. Toastthosewhoarentthere. Special remem

brances [yiskor] and displays of photos can smulate

aff

ec

onate talk about people you miss, turning sad

ness into special moments.

33. Bemerrywithyourmate. Couples who parci

pate in holiday rituals together, such as decorang

their home or lighng candles [Hanukah], can

strengthen their marriages, according to Syracuse

University researches.

Consumer Reports, onHealth, December 2012

NEWSLETTERNAMINGCONTEST

The Beth El board of trustees is holding a contest for

renaming the Newsleer and to adopt a suitable

moo. The rules are simple.

In an email addressed to Riva Berleant, Assistant

Editor at [email protected], idenfy

your proposed new name or moo. (If you

do not have access to email, you may submit

your entry in a sealed envelope mailed to the

Beth El office, Aenon Riva Berleant, Associate Editor.)

You may submit mulple entries, but each new

name or moo has to be on its own email.

Include your name and contact informaon.


ning entries, the one with the earliest sub

mial date will be the prize winner.

The winner of the new name selected and of the win

ning moo, each, will receive a $18.00 gi cerficate

to the Beth El gi shop. The Newsleer editorial

team, Mike Cohen and Riva Berleant will judge en

tries. We will announce winning entries in the Febru

ary issue of the renamed Newsleer.

Brian Richardson, President

WeNeedYOU!

The Beth El board invites you to become more in

volved in your Beth El community. We are offering

you the opportunity to perform mitzvot, to give back

to your community and, in so doing, derive sasfac

on in the knowledge that you are an important con

tributor to Beth El and help make a difference to all of

us who depend on it.

Our board members are graduang into the categoryof 'temple elders,' and it is me to share our joy of

serving with the next generaon of temple leaders.

Many of us began serving at Beth El at or shortly aer

its formaon or when our children were in Hebrew

School. We found it rewarding to take part in deci

sions and its direcon as Beth El grew and became

the vital and welcoming community it is today.

We would love to have you, your spouse, and your

friends discuss the possibilies of learning what we

do, find something that interests you individually or

as a group, and become a member of a commiee, or


5/13

you are commied to Jewish life and your Temple.

By seng the example, you increase the likelihood

they will follow in your footsteps and live an engaged

commied Jewish life

The joy and opportunity of helping our small Maine

community is a chance to effecvely parcipate in

kkun olam and insure that our own sacred commu

nity thrives.

Please contact Shirley in the office at 9454578, and

she will direct your call to the right person.

Board of Trustees

Calendar

ReligiousSchool

Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m., December 4, 11, 18

Sundays, 10:00 a.m., December 2, 9, 16

NoReligiousSchool

Sunday, December 23, 30

Tuesday, December 25 Jan 1

Thanks

To the following for their donaons in memory of Sid

Block's mother, Cyril Block Mogol Segall:

Terry LaCombeStevens and Michael Serota

for their donaon to the Rabbi Discreonary Fund

Diane Drexler Lile and Max Lile for their

donaon to the Building Fund


To Marcia Teichner for her High Holy Days Donaon

To Deborah Winograd for her donaon in memory of

her father, Philip Winograd

To Surah Whelan for her donaon to Beth El

To Janet and Robert Schultheis for their donaon in

honor of their grandson, Jacob Steinhoff's recent Bar

Mitzvah.

To Rick and Suzi Gordon for their donaon to Beth El

To Mike and Elizabeth Saxl for their donaon to Beth

El

To Ralph and Arlyn Benjamin for their donaon to

Beth El

LibraryThanks

To David and Rebekah Frankel and Kathy Lyons

To Barry Gass

MAZELTOV

Maine Trial Lawyers Associaon (MTLA) honored our

own Jus

ce Warren M. Silver on October 18

th

. Jus

ceSilver was honored for his ongoing contribuons to

the Maine Legal Community and Civil Jusce.

The Commission for the Deaf Hard of Hearing and


6/13


DecemberLunchnLearn

On Sunday, 9 December, at noon, our monthly Lunch

n Learn at the synagogue will address the topic Can

Judaism be taught standing on one leg? OR is eth

ics all there is? Don Lewis will introduce this popu

lar idea to create a discussion about Leo Baecks

short essay Mystery and Commandment.

Leo Baeck was a primary founder of modern Ameri

can Reform and Conservave Judaism. He came to

America aer serving as chief rabbi of Berlin and

then surviving the death camps. He connued to

serve the Jewish community in Berlin during the rise

of Nazism, and later as an inmate in the death

camps, despite opportunies to leave Germany and

the camps before the end of the war. In Europe and

later in America, his wrings sought to reconcile the

growing gap between scienfic raonalism and tradi

onal belief. He founded many American Jewish in

stuons that sll bear his name.

Although his wrings are not popularly read today,

they may help many contemporary jews who are

emoonally aached to Judaism yet find their ra

onal ideas disconnected from tradional pracce

and worship.

If you intend to come to the session and wish to

read the essay beforehand, email Don at

[email protected] and he will email back

some easy to understand excerpts. Baeck was a

FeedourTeens

There are many ways to volunteer at Beth El.

One way is to help out with our Religious School

Tuesday Night Supper Club.Beth Els 7th

12th

grade

students.

Wearelookingforpeoplewillingtoprovideameal

ononeTuesdaynightfor18studentandteachers. Thiscouldbeapastadish,sandwichfixings

or???.

Studentssupperclubbeginsat5:30p.m.

Pleasecall,oremailShirleyintheBethElofficeto

volunteerandfordetails.

9454578

[email protected]

Please accept our sincere gratude for your help with

this mitzvah and thank you again to last year's volun

teers!!

BETHELHOLIDAYSHOPOPEN

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE this year's Holiday Shop


7/13


Specialforthefirst me,

wehavetwoBethElarsanswhowillalsodisplay

theirwaresonSundays. 20%oftheirsaleswillbedonatedtoBethEl.

Comeandseewhatlovelythingstheyhavetooffer.

TheHolidayShopisafundraiserforBethEl. So

pleaseShopearlyandShopoen!

HappyChanukah!

ChanukahVarietyShow

Saturday,December8,3:00p.m.

HavdalahServiceandChanukah

Candlelighngfollowingtheshow

***Deliciouslatkeswillbeservedas

soonasthecandlesarelit.***

ActsSignuptoDate:

EllaCappella, the Womens A Capella

group that includes Beth El member

Todd Miller will lead the Beth El Variety

Show Klezmer Band (those interested in

playing, contact Todd, email above)

SllSeekingChanukahStorytellers,Cha

nukahJugglers,andChanukahJokers

toperform!

(Contact Laurie Osher to reserve your spot onthe program.)

[email protected]

9446743

VolunteersneededtohelpCookLatkes!

We would appreciate it if people bring dona

ons of apple sauce and sour cream to share.

If people can't get to Beth El to help make lat

kes, latkes made at home are very welcome!

(Contact Laurie Osher or Lois Latour9455781

to volunteer for the latke making fun.)


8/13


Join members ofCongregaonBethEl in a person to

person Hurricane Sandy relief effort. We will be

supporng Monmouth Reform Temples (MRT) Save

the Jersey Shore.

MRTs Save the Jersey Shore: OneTownAtaTime

HolidayGi CardDrive will benefit members of

MRTs congregaon who have sustained great loss in

the storm. We will also be focusing on helping the

residents of a single devastated town, SeaBright,

NJ.

Weareaskingyoutohelpussupportthembydo

nanggicardsfromTarget,Kmart,HomeDepot,

andLowes(retailerseasilyaccessedinourarea)in

incrementsof$25(i.e..25,50,75,100etc)fordistri

buon. By focusing our efforts on the needs of the

residents of Sea Bright, NJ our efforts will have the

maximum impact.

In distribung the donaons, leaders of MRT will

work directly with Sea Bright's mayor, Dina Long, and

the Sea Bright Borough Council to reach those most

in need.

JoinustohelpmakesureourCARDWORKPAYS

OFF!

4 Ways to Parcipate:

Purchase Cards yourself:

Please label the amount clearly on the cards

and send to:

Monmouth Reform Temple,332 Hance Avenue

Tinton Falls, NJ 07724.

Order cards online and send electronically to

[email protected]

3 Donate by check to Monmouth Reform Temple

The drive will run from now unl January 1. For more

informaon about Sea Bright and our progress,

please visit our facebook page Card Work Pays Off.

Emeril'sSpecial

Latkes

Ingredients 2 1/2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled

1 medium onion, julienned

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons matzoh or allpurpose flour

Salt

Freshly ground white pepper Vegetable oil, forfrying

1 cup applesauce

1cupsourcream

Using a hand grater or food processor, grate

the potatoes. Wring dry in a dish towel. Put

into a mixing bowl, and toss with onion, eggs,

baking powder, and flour. Mix well. Seasonwith salt and pepper.

In a large skillet, over mediumhigh heat, cov

er the boom with 1/2inch of oil. When the

oil is hot, spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling

into individual cakes. Using the back of the

spoon,fl

a

en each pancake. Panfry un

lgolden brown on each side, about 2 to 3

minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on

paper towels. Fry the cakes in batches and do

not over crowd the pan.


9/13

WelcometoBethElServicesareheldat:

183FrenchStreet,Bangor

We welcome everyone interfaith couples, people ex

ploring their Jewish roots, those considering conversion

to Judaism, visitors, and nonmembers, to all services

and special events.

A playroom for children and babysing services are pro

vided at many services. We aempt to arrange rides,

carpools, or overnight hospitality for those traveling long

distances. The Sanctuary is accessible. For informaon,

call the office at

9454578.

Member: JewishCommunityCouncil

Email:congrega

[email protected]

AccessibilityNoce

Therampatthebackofthebuildingisavailabletopeo

plewithlimitedmobility.Parkinthedrivewaytoeasily

access the ramp. Please let us know if you sll have

difficulty entering the building.

MissionSummaryCongregaonBethEl isaReform JewishCongregaon

whichstrivestocreateawelcoming,spiritually,social

ly,andgeographicallydiversecommunitywheremem

bers can explore and express Jewish religious beliefs

and/ortheirownrelaonshiptoGod;seeksocial,fami

ly, and cultural es; and/or parcipate in social

acvism.

NewsleerSubmissions

The deadline for newsleer arcles or comments is

the 15th

of every month. Please email your submis

sion to:


CongregaonBethEl

BoardofDirectors

Rabbi

Darah R. Lerner 9454578

President

Brian Richardson 7356970

VicePresident

Drew Matlins 9422451

Treasurer

Laurie Sleight

Secretary

Roz Gold

Educaon

Roger Sher

Finance

Dr. Michael Pancoe 9421919

House

Dr. Laurie Osher 8667008

Membership

Linda Smith

Newsleer

Michael Cohen 6310652

Program

Dara Perfit 8626475

Ritual

Dr. Sidney Block 3380085

Social

SocialAconLibrary

Dr. Riva Berleant

Volunteer

Todd Miller 9929114


10/13

YAHRZEITMEMORIALLIST


Date Observed Yahrzeit Jewish Date Date of Service

Nov12 Kislev 5773

29 Bruce Granville 15 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

Harmon Saul Shufro Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

30 Henry Greenberg 16 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

Nathan Levenson Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

Dec12

1 Ed Blum 17 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

Robert Weinstein Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

2 Staa Nesin 18 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

3 Anne Davis 19 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

Joel Linn Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

4 Irving Raskin 20 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

5 Anna Pollack 21 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

7 Richard Hollof 23 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

8 John Berry 24 Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

Jack Gra Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

Joyce Walpert Kellner Fri. Dec 7, 7:30 p.m.

9 Roby Rosenberg Baum 25 Fri. Dec 14, 7:30 p.m.

10 Dr. Morris Viteles 26 Fri. Dec 14, 7:30 p.m.

Tevet 5773

14 Bey Johnson 1 Fri. Dec 14, 7:30 p.m.

Abraham Pollack Fri. Dec 14, 7:30 p.m.

Carl O. Richardson, Jr. Fri. Dec 14, 7:30 p.m.

15 Ruth Schwat 2 Fri. Dec 14, 7:30 p.m.

16 Mary Mogol 3 Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.

17 Yea Greenspan 4 Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.

18 Beatrice Greenspan 5 Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.

Sam Lourie Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.Helen Weinstein Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.

19 Germaine Bourque 6 Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.

Bernard Greenspan Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.

20 Alfred Feld 7 Fri. Dec 21, 7:30 p.m.

Willi Z f F i D 21 7 30

ZichronamLivracha Maytheirmemoriesbeforablessing


11/13

PLACE

STAMP

HERE

Congregaon Beth El

French St

Bangor, ME 04401


12/13

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Parashat Vayishlach

2

10:00 a.m. - Reli-

gious School

3

OFFICE CLOSED

4

4:30 p.m. - Religious

School


School

5 6

7:00 p.m. - Board

Meeting

7

7:30 p.m. - Worship

Service

8

3:00

Channuka celebration

Parashat Vayeshev

9

10:00 a.m. - Reli-

gious School + Guid-

ed Playgroup

Lunch and Learn

Chanukah: 2 Candles

10

OFFICE CLOSED

Chanukah: 3 Candles

11


School


School

Chanukah: 4 Candles

12

11:00 a.m. - Salva-

tion Army Soup Kitch-

en

Chanukah: 5 Candles

13

7:00 p.m. - Book

Group

Chanukah: 6 Candles

14

7:30 p.m. - Worship

Service

Rosh Chodesh Tevet

Chanukah: 7 Candles

15

Parashat Miketz

Chanukah: 8 Candles

16

10:00 a.m. - Reli-

gious School

Rosh Hodesh Group

Chanukah: 8th Day

17

OFFICE CLOSED

18


School


School

19 20 21

7:30 p.m. - Chavu-

rah Service

22

9:30 a.m. - Torah

Study

Parashat Vayigash

23No Religious School

___Asara B'Tevet

30

No Religious School

24OFFICE CLOSED

________________

31

OFFICE CLOSED

25

No Religious School

26 27 28 2910:00 a.m. - Torah

Service/Kiddush

Luncheon

Parashat Vayechi

Calendar of Events

December 2012

Kislev Tevet 5773


13/13

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

No Religious School

New Years Day

2 3

7:00 pm - Board

Meeting

4

7:30 pm - Worship

Service

5

Parashat Shemot

6

10:00 am - Religious

School

7

OFFICE CLOSED

8

4:30 pm - Religious

School

5:30 pm - Religious

School

9

11:00 am - Salvation

Army Soup Kitchen

10

7:00 pm - Book

Group

11

7:30 pm - Worship

Service

12

Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat

Parashat Vaera

13


School + Guided Play-

group

Rosh Hodesh Group

14

OFFICE CLOSED

15

4:30 pm - Religious

School

5:30 pm - Religious

School

16 17 18

7:30 pm - Chavurah

Service

19

9:30 am - Torah

Study

Parashat Bo

20

No Religious School

21

OFFICE CLOSED

Martin Luther King

Day

22

4:30 pm - Religious

School

5:30 pm - Religious

School

23 24 25

LTaken DC Trip

26 Tu BiShvat

10:00 am - Torah

Service

LTaken DC Trip

Parashat Beshalach

27


School

LTaken DC Trip

28

OFFICE CLOSED

LTaken DC Trip

29

4:30 pm - Religious

School

5:30 pm - Religious

School

30 31

Calendar of Events

January 2013

dec 2012 newsletter v2std

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