Bulletin March 1, 2020

5 Adar – 6 Nisan 5780 “The Community Synagogue in Southern Saratoga County”

Founded in 1974 688 Clifton Park Center Road Clifton Park, NY 518-371-0608

SHARING THOUGHTS WITH OUR RABBI

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

The Megillat Esther we will read here at CBS on Purim night, Monday, March 9th at 7:00PM is a very strange book indeed. For example, do you know that the Megillat Esther is the one and only book in the entire Bible where the name of God is not mentioned even once? That’s right! Not even once! Perhaps this omission is indicative of the very strange story of Purim itself! After all, God appears in history in many different ways. Yet, there are times when God’s actions are not very clear. For example, a sea splits open and people cross over on dry land, the sun stands still while a fierce battle rages on while plagues rain down on the heads of tyrants. Those who see these miraculous revelations cannot doubt that God exists and actively participates in the affairs of men and women. Yet, there are other times when the Shechena, the Presence and Actions of God, are hidden from the eyes of all humanity. One might even question God’s existence in the seemingly senseless tides of time. Yet, as Jews, we can relate to these hidden ways of God, or can we?

For example, when we will once again read the familiar story of Purim, it might seem to be no more than an interesting folktale. One can even argue that Purim is devoid of religious significance, that God had no part in the deliverance of the Jews from the evil designs of Haman. Is it possible that the entire story of Esther could be a series of endless coincidences? After all, the name of God is not mentioned even once in the entire Megillah! Yet, the message of Purim contains the true explanation of this matter. The lesson is that God often masks and disguises the Almighty’s miracles and wonders. Perhaps it is true that God works in hidden ways we have yet to comprehend. The timeless message of Purim and the Megillat Esther tells us that behind the mysterious clouds of infinity, the Almighty continues to guide the fortunes and destinies of all humanity. For this is the true message of Purim, not only for us, but more importantly, for the generations of the Jewish people yet to come. Shalom U'vracha, Rav Chanan

From the Oval Office

Dear Friends,

Did you know that our local bishop, Bishop Scharfenberger, was appointed by the Vatican to work with interfaith relationships between the Catholics and the Jews?

Please come to an Interfaith Lunch and Learn at Congregation Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Rd, Albany, on March 18, 2020 at noon, when the bishop will speak about his experiences in his new role.

Please bring a sandwich for yourself. Congregation Beth Emeth will provide beverages and dessert.

All the Best,

BJ

THE ST. PETER'S HOSPITAL OF ALBANY, NEW YORK

The Spiritual Department of St. Peter’s Hospital of Albany, in conjunction with The Jewish Federation of Northeast New York, The Catholic Arch Diocese of the Capital District, and Absalom Mosque, invites you to an evening of study and sharing entitled: Sacred Texts through the Eyes of the Abrahamic Religions

St. John’s Bible – Tanach (Torah) – Koran

“Meaning and Message”

Presenters:

Bishop Edward Bernard Scharffenberger, Arch Diocese of Albany Rabbi Dr. Chanan Markowitz President of the Capital District Board of Rabbis Congregation Beth Shalom, Clifton Park, Imam Dr. Abdulkadr Elmi As-Salam Mosque of Albany

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 6:30-8:30 pm

Mercy Auditorium

310 South Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208

From the desk of Morah Tziporah.....

Please mark your calendar for Shabbat, March 7th-10:00 AM

HADASSAH SHABBAT ****************************

Happy Purim! ******************

Remember: tzedakah never ends

Bring your clean, empty soda bottles, cans, and water bottles to the bottle return shop on

Vischer Ferry Road. Tell them it’s for Congregation Beth Shalom.

They cut us a check when our donation reaches $100.00. The money received goes into the Torah Repair Fund.

*********************************************** B’Shalom, Flo Miller

Cantorial assistant Ritual chair

PLEASE DON’T FORGET Scrip, Hannaford, and Venezia gift cards are still available

SCRIP The list includes hundreds of businesses nationwide—retail stores, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, rental cars, pharmacies, movie theaters, i-tunes, Amazon… to name just a few.

VENEZIA’S Enjoy great pizza, salad, eggplant, and other delicious food – dine-in or take-out.

HANNAFORD Purchase gift cards through the synagogue Sisterhood and use when you grocery shop. Congregation Beth Shalom receives a percentage of the gross value of your scrip, Venezia’s, and Hannaford purchases and you get to spend the full face value!! Shop for your own everyday needs and give as gifts. This is a painless way for you to support our fundraising efforts!!! Please contact Jackie for additional information or to place an order. 518-371-0608 or cbshalom@nycap.rr.com If you would like a gift certificate for VENEZIA’S or a gift card for Hannaford all you need to do is call me. I have these in the office. No waiting time, just come in to the office and purchase one.

PLEASE BE SURE TO ATTEND

MONDAY, MARCH 9

At 6:30 p.m.

WHY, YOU ASK?

THAT IS THE DATE FOR OUR

MEGILLAH READING

Please try to attend this fun-filled event.

Let us BOO and HISS at Haman as a whole, and show our support to Rabbi Markowitz as he gives us his version of the MEGILLAH READING, as only he can.

______________________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE Rabbi’s message President’s message Sisterhood news Men’s Club news Knitting Club news Cantorial Assistant’s news Birthdays Anniversaries Donations Yahrzeits Happenings around the community Be sure to check out our bulletin sponsors’ ads There is always something happening at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Knitting Group News Hi Ladies, Our knitting date for March is yet to be determined. Please check out the weekly announcements for the date, time, and place. For those of you who can’t knit, and have always wanted to learn, here is your chance. We have experienced knitters who would love to teach you. All are welcome! Questions? Directions? Feel free to contact Marcie at mfranzone@aol.com. My email is: mfranzone@aol.com.

EXECUTIVE BOARD 2018- 2019

President…………….…BJ Rosenfeld 518-371-2677 VP Administration…….Linda Russell 518-371-3641 VP Membership……… Colleen Silverman 518-371-0555 Treasurer……………….Miriam Cooperman 518-383-0066 Recording Secretary….. Denise Smith 518-348-0569

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mark Cury 2020 Sheila Alfasso 2021 Barbara Lazarow 2020 Anne Friedman 2021 Richard Jacobs 2020 David Clayman 2021 Fern Hayden 2021 Wendy Pyle 2022

BOARD OF ADVISORS Appointed Board members

Men’s Club……………………….…Les Miller Cemetery……….………………..….Anne & Larry Friedman Barbara Lazarow & Colleen Silverman House……………………..…….…...David Clayman Israeli Affairs……...…………..….....BJ Rosenfeld Publicity……………………………..Wendy Pyle Reyut………..………………..……. Carol Davis & Sandy Rybaltowski Ritual………………………………...Flo Miller Sisterhood ……………….…..…… Sandy Rubin and Sheila Alfasso Gift Shop………………………….…Sisterhood (Jackie) Social Action………………..…….…Michael Weitzman Web ………………..………………..Steve Hayden COEJL……………………....….……Lew Morrison Listserv………………………………Jackie Betters Bulletin………………………………Jackie Betters Linda Russell & Betsy Knorr The deadline for all articles for the bulletin is the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please email your articles to cbsbulletin@hotmail.com or you can drop them off at the synagogue office.

Rabbi Markowitz’s office hours: Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Friday 6:00 to 7:30 PM You can also reach him by calling his cell phone at 518-878-6299 or by sending him an e-mail at rav_chanan@yahoo.com

NEWS FROM SISTERHOOD

Greetings from Sisterhood, Happy almost spring, everyone. Purim is fast approaching. The Megillah reading is March 9th. Let’s all get together and take part in the Rabbi’s telling the story of Esther and Mordecai. We can all become kids again as we boo and hiss the wicked Haman. After the reading is finished, we all get to eat delicious hamentaschen, courtesy of Linda Russell and her helpers. It will be a fun night. Bring your families and join us. As for the rest of the year, Sheila and I have some more ideas that we’re working on and hopefully they will be finalized soon. SHALOM Sandy and Sheila

Sandy and Sheila

If you know of a congregant who would like a home or hospital visit from Rabbi Markowitz, please contact Jackie in the office (518) 371-0608 or email her at congregationbethshalomcp@gmail.com

Congregation Beth Shalom wishes to thank the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York for all that they do in the Jewish community

Men’s Club Report Men’s Club will be holding the following programs in April and June. These programs should be of interest to all members of our synagogue. We will be happy to include all residents of Clifton Park, if interested.

April: Phil Barrett

Sunday April 5, 2020 10:00 AM

Two years ago this April, Phil visited Congregation Beth Shalom and gave a wonderful presentation on the subject, “The Future of Clifton Park” as he saw it. Two years later, it’s time to expand on that and review what has taken place and see what the future holds. It’s time to expand on that presentation as improvements continue to take place yearly.

This event is being sponsored by Sisterhood and Men’s Club of Congregation Beth Shalom. Refreshments will be served.

June:

Barry Hamerling Sunday June 28, 2020

10:00 AM

Membership – The new year is upon us and the Men’s Club dues request has been sent out. Please, send in your dues so we can continue to provide future programs for all. $30.00 is a small amount for membership in your active Men’s Club. All programs are provided by both your Sisterhood and Men’s Club. Men’s Club wants to continue putting on programs that will provide enjoyment, both social and cultural, for the members of our congregation. To be able to do this, we need the help of our congregation members. We are always looking for new ideas and volunteers to assist in our programs. Any suggestions from our members will be appreciated. I can be contacted at (518) 371-4946, or email me at lmiller102@nycap.rr.com. We need our members to volunteer in order to achieve Sisterhood/Men’s Club future programs.

OUR NEXT MEN’S CLUB MEETING IS ON MARCH 15, 2020 AT 9:30AM PLEASE ATTEND

Les Miller

YAHRZEITS Date Member Deceased Relationship Mar. 3 Adar 7 Michelle Birbaum Edward Birbaum brother 4 8 Michael Weitzman Jean Weitzman mother 5 9 Linda Gellman Marcia Blumenthal mother 5 9 Brenda Sugarman Samuel Eichen father 8 12 David Clayman Rita Clayman mother 8 12 Mark Silverman Rabbi Diane Leibovitz friend 8 12 Sheila Alfasso Rabbi Diane Leibovitz friend 11 15 Harriette Weitzman Rose Burkhoff grandmother 12 16 Laurence Shapiro Asher Hurwitz uncle 13 17 Arlene Simkins Morton Kaiser father 13 17 Michael Kupferman Eva Kupferman mother 13 17 Carol Wolk Augusta Leinwohl mother 15 19 Alvin Brown Melvin Schulman brother-in-law 16 20 Mark Silverman Elsie Silverman mother 16 20 Larry Sugarman Bernard Sugarman brother 17 21 Robert Lowenberg Rena Lowenberg mother 17 21 Donald Rubin Rosalind Rubin sister-in-law 17 21 Beverly Engel Jacqueline Tamkin sister 18 22 Roberta Moses Malka Moses infant daughter 20 24 Denise Smith Stanley Burmil father 22 26 Marilyn Shapiro Frances Cohen mother 22 26 David Knorr Catherine Knorr mother 22 26 Larry Sugarman Hyman Sugarman father 23 27 Paul Michel Florence Michel grandmother 24 28 Nancy Ostrov Albert Berkowitz father 26 Nissan 1 Herbert Alfasso Lena Alfasso mother 27 2 Betsy Knorr Theodore Buslovitz father 27 2 Cindy Barnett Freida Oshinsky grandmother 28 3 Richard Bergman Nettie Bergman mother 29 4 Cindy Barnett Bobbi Oshins mother 30 5 Barbara Bergman Stanley Brill brother 30 5 Joyce Toub Melvin Toub husband 31 6 Gloria Kupferman Miriam Beerman mother What better way to remember loved ones than to have a plaque placed on our memorial wall in their memory? For more information on purchasing a plaque you can call the synagogue office 371-0608 and speak with Jackie. The cost for each plaque is $250.00 Remember that special date with either a leaf or an acorn or even a stone on our Tree of Life. Congregants and interested public may celebrate a mitzvah (happy occasion) or commemorate a memory by purchasing one or more of the following:

Stones - $1500 Leaf $180 Acorns $500 For further information regarding purchasing a leaf, acorn or stone for the Tree of Life, please contact Jackie at 371-0608 or e-mail her at cbshalom@nycap.rr.com

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM GRACEOUSLY ACCEPTS THESE DONATIONS

In memory of Stephen Sedlik by Roberta Boss (Reyut)

In memory of Esther Scher by Toby & Arnie Elman (Endowment)

In memory of Abraham Elman by Toby & Arnie Elman (Endowment)

In memory of Sanford Ross by Debi & Dan Huber & Anne Ross (General)

In memory of William Ackerman by Phyllis & Lewis Morrison (General)

In memory of Jeanette Morrison by Phyllis & Lewis Morrison (General)

In memory of Sanford Roth by Flo & Les Miller (Torah fund)

In memory of Chaim Bruskin by Eve Kaufman (General)

In memory of Anna Bruskin by Eve Kaufman (Cemetery Perpetual)

In memory of Edith Kohan by Carol Kohan (Endowment)

In memory of Solomon Shapiro by the Kupferman family (General)

In memory of Leona & Matthew Salkind by Fern & Steve Hayden (General)

In memory of Rose & Ben Hayden by Fern & Steve Hayden (General)

In memory of Henrietta & Bernard Weisenfreund by Fern & Steve Hayden (General)

In memory of Edith Kohan by Colleen Kohan Silverman & Bob Silverman (Reyut)

In memory of Rita Rosen by Raylene & Rick Jacobs (Reyut)

In memory of Robert Burrick by Harriet Brown (Rabbi’s Disc.)

Mah Jongg News

Do you want to make your Wednesday afternoons more fun? The Beth Shalom Mah Jongg group is looking for "experienced" players to join us on Wednesday afternoons from 12:30-3:30 or so. We play for $5.00. If you lose it all, you play for nothing. Please contact Barbara Lazarow 518-877-5468 blazarow@aol.com

CLIFTON PARK PODIATRY

Richard C. Berkowitz, DPM, FACFAS

Medical and Surgical Care of

the Foot 1673 Route 9

Halfmoon, NY 518-383-3338

HALFMOON MOBIL Courteous, Quick and Clean

Route 9 and Sitterly Road

(across from Hewitt’s)

Clifton Park, NY

Locally Owned and Operated

THE RUBINGER TEAM Ferdinando Bruno Deanna & Howard Rubinger Licensed Associate Real Estate Brokers Cells: (F) 518.225.3538

(D)518.428.3093 (H) 518.428.5112

Office:518.533.3360

Remember that special date with either a leaf or an acorn or even a stone on our Tree of Life. Congregants and interested public may celebrate a mitzvah (happy occasion) or commemorate a memory by purchasing one or more of the following:

Leaves - $180 Acorns - $500 Stones - $1500

For further information regarding purchasing a leaf, acorn or stone for the Tree of Life, please contact Jackie at 371-0608

PREMIERE

TRANSPORTATION GROUP David J. Brown, President

456 North Pearl Street

Albany, NY 12204 518-459-6123

Professionally Chauffeur-driven

Sedans, Limousines, Vans, and Coaches

Is there something you would like to see published in the Beth Shalom bulletin? All you need to do is e-mail your article or news to cbsbulletin@hotmail.com by the 15th of the month prior to the month of publication. We are always open to new ideas to spark the interest of our readers. We do ask that you keep your article short and to the point. Please be advised that all articles are printed at the discretion of the bulletin editor.

BULLETIN

Finally, it looks like spring is on its way. As I am sitting here thinking about the warm weather, it crosses my mind that in just 9 days I will be in San Antonio, Texas. Of course you read that right. My youngest grandson is graduating from the USAF at Lackland AFB. I won’t be going alone on this venture. Zachary’s mom, Elke, and his sister, Rachel Rivers, will be with me. This will be Rachel’s first time flying. I don’t think I have to say any more on that subject. Thankfully, Rachel took the lead on this trip, by getting our airline tickets, hotel, and car rental. Not only did she take lead, she also paid for me so that I could go with them. I have such great grandchildren. Last month I met my latest great granddaughter for the first time. What a cutie. She has these big blue eyes that are so alert. She doesn’t want to miss anything. Speaking of babies, Linda Russell’s grandson, Elliot, has done away with his feeding tube. Talk about a beautiful baby boy, he is one. I’m already trying to hook him up with my great granddaughter. Heck if he is half as nice as his parents and grandparents she will hit the jackpot. I just need to figure out how I can do this with him here and her in Oklahoma. Heck, I have plenty of time to worry about that. Speaking of Linda Russell, she, Sandy Rubin, and I made our famous hamentaschen cookies after the February board meeting. Linda made the dough, Sandy and I rolled and filled, then Linda made the little hats. Of course we had to test them, quality control is very important when it comes to cookies. As always, thank you to my Beth Shalom family for letting me take part in their traditions. Each day I learn something new. Believe me, I will be ready this year if one of our security guards asks me a question about the Jewish faith. Jackie

MARCH BIRTHDAYS Mar 1 Barry Forman 2 Colleen Kohan Silverman 2 Robert Silverman 5 Deanna Rubinger 12 Barry Hamerling 13 Annie Friedman 13 Jeffrey Snyder 30 Arnold Elman 30 Martin Seaman

MAZEL TOV Mar. 3 Linda & Stephen Gellman 26 Susan Zelezniak &

Gary Eichenbaum 28 Colleen Kohan-Silverman & Robert Silverman

Always there, helping the Jewish Community

Do you have a special event coming up that you would like to share with your family, friends, and synagogue family? Why not sponsor an Oneg or Kiddush? Sponsoring a Kiddush is honoring, celebrating, memorializing, and congratulating any individual/s or event. A Kiddush is a wonderful way to bring people together and begin to celebrate the Sabbath too. For more information you can call the synagogue office and speak to Jackie at (518) 371-0608 or call Linda Russell at (518) 371-3641

Hadassah Shabbat

Date: Saturday, March 7th

Time: 10 AM

Hosted at: Congregation Beth Shalom 688 Clifton Park Center Road

Clifton Park

Hadassah Members and Associates from the Capital District will be participating in the Service

Kathy Kerstein, President of Northern New England Region will be guest speaker

Light lunch following Services

Hadassah Book Review

Date: Monday, March 9th

Time: 1-3 PM

Book: The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Hosted at: Congregation Beth Shalom 688 Clifton Park Center Road

Clifton Park

Please RSVP: Elaine at 518-383-1044