Dear Friends:

Do you recall the story of the Jewish father living in Florida who called his son in New York? “I hate to tell you this, but your mother and I are getting a divorce. That’s it. I’m telling you now so you and your sister shouldn’t go into shock when I move out.” The father hung up, the son immediately called his sister and told her the news. “I’ll handle it,” the sister said. She then called Florida, got her father on the phone and told him: “Pop, David and I will be there next Friday for Rosh Hashanah. Promise me you won’t do any-thing until we get there.” “All right, I’ll wait,” the father said and hung up. Afterward, he turned to his wife with a smile and said: “Stop worrying, they’re coming for Rosh Hashanah, but how are we going to get them here for the Seder?”

We laugh, but we know the underlying truth is not funny. The distances in space and spirit are often not result of the in-

tention to hurt. They are created not out of malice, more of benign neglect. There is too little time for being together, for sharing our lives. Because we are so busy, our careers so consuming, our schedules so tight, our emotional strength so depleted. We are not present enough, even when we are there.

How we need love! There is perhaps no time that we feel as alive as when we discover that somebody loves us. It is one

of those moments you never forget. The world changes, everything is brighter, more beautiful. Remember that classic movie sce-ne of Gene Kelly singing in the rain, not minding the puddles nor the storm because he is in love? Love truly validates our lives. Not just romantic love, but the love that links us to the many others whose lives we share.

Yet love is not easy. We rabbis listen as others share their pain. A couple with children is breaking up, the grandparents

sadly report. An adult child, who fled to another state to get away from family, continues to blame her parents whom she will not allow to visit because of her perception of their child-raising errors. Another congregant sadly comments, “I haven’t heard from my brother in years, we simply don’t talk about him.”

Do we expect love to perform its magic for us, to solve our problems, to resolve our differences, to make us happy? Love

is not a magic potion. Love is a verb. It is doing. It is a way of sharing, struggling, giving and receiving, weeping and laughing. The fulfillment of family life occurs when people are willing to make compromises, work out schedules, control emotions,

care enough to bring patience, unselfishness, understanding and forgiveness to each other. And it needs time, hugs and kisses time, listening time, sharing time.

Our relationships are not easy. They are full of contradictions, times of excessive generosity and petty selfishness, intense

joys and heart-wrenching sorrows, warm affection and bitter contention. And sometimes, the very feeling of closeness is lost, fro-zen beyond our reach. But like the sun on overcast days, love does not vanish, but is eclipsed by clouds of weariness, loss of self esteem, the tensions we bring into our homes. Yet if we believe in love, we can experience it again.

Let us in this new secular year try harder, to listen with caring hearts, to set aside old grievances, to speak softly after embit-

tered silences. Perhaps we might even find ourselves once again singing in the rain.

Yours sincerely, Stephen H. Pinsky

Tevet / Sh’vat 5771| January 2011

Rabbi’s Voice Rabbi Stephen H. Pinsky

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A publication of

Temple Beth Torah 900 Big Blue Trace

Wellington, Florida 33414

TEL.: 561-793-2700 FAX: 561-793-1072

E-MAIL: info@templebethtorah.net WEB SITE: templebethtorah.net

TEMPLE OFFICE HOURS:

Monday - Thursday: 9AM - 5PM Friday: 9AM - 4PM

RABBI

Stephen H. Pinsky rabbi@templebethtorah.net

CANTOR Carrie F. Barry

cantor@templebethtorah.net PRESIDENT Louise Marks

president@templebethtorah.net VICE PRESIDENTS

Richard Lebowitz Philip Levine

TREASURER Richard Samuels SECRETARY Marcia Weber

EDUCATION DIRECTOR Jodi Kaufman

educator@templebethtorah.net PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR

Sandy Wilensky psdirector@templebethtorah.net

YOUTH ADVISOR Jamie Sistino

youthdirector@templebethtorah.net BROTHERHOOD PRESI-

DENT Doug Barr

SISTERHOOD CO-PRESIDENTS

Jennifer Goldstein Darlene Lebowitz

sisterhood@templebethtorah.net SHALOM CREATIVE DESIGN

Philip Levine EDITOR

Phyllis Weinstein

From the Desk of the Temple Educator Jodi Kaufman

iJudaism Wondering what to do with that new iphone, ipod or ipad you got for Chanukah? How about some Jewish apps? I did some research over winter break to see what I could come up with to help reinforce what we are teaching here at Religious School while enticing our stu-dents to continue their Jewish learning beyond the classroom walls. Here are some apps that you might want to check out. I’ll be looking for some student researchers to download some apps (with your parents’ permission) and write up a review to publish in our upcoming newsletter. Try these out and let me know what you think. iShma - Learn and review the Shema with some fun activities iMahNishtana - Learn the four questions for Passover or just play them at your Seder The Amazing Jewish Fact a Day Calendar - learn some Jewish trivia to share Jewish Rock Radio - Listen to popular Jewish rock music from all over the world Hebrew for Kids - Learn some modern Hebrew vocabulary Hebrew Alphabet Study Buddy - Practice your Aleph Bet at home and on your way Verse Wise Bible JPS - Have an English translation of the Torah at your fingertips Kippa Game HD - Put the kippa on the kid’s head in this exciting game Passover Trucks Game HD - Learn which foods are kosher for Passover and sort them into the correct truck Kosher Fishing Game HD - Learn about keeping Kosher by catching the Kosher fish Chanukah Sliding Puzzle - Play this sliding puzzle game to remember the joy of Chanukah JAM Matching Game - Jewish and Me Matching game for younger students Shofar for iPhone - Hear the shofar blown all year long Mitzvah Flyer Game - Catch the flying mitzvot in this fast paced game based on Jewish val-ues Have fun! I hope to hear from you soon! Jodi Kaufman, RJE

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The Preschool Press Sandy Wilensky

TempleBeth Torah Leonie Arguetty Preschool

We celebrate the secular new year with our own new beginnings. We are delighted to welcome nine new families to our preschool community even as we welcome back our returning families. We look forward to this exciting opportunity to share the best of our preschool program with these new friends. The new calendar year also ushers in the savings period for early registration for the next school year. On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, Temple members along with current and alumni families will have the opportunity to register for the next school year at current preschool rates. Early registration opens to the community on Tuesday, January 18 and will continue through January 31, 2011. After that date, both returning and new registrants will be subject to the new preschool rates. Please note: Play & Learn registration, for children ages 15 months to 2 years, (our version of Mommy & Me) and Music Together for children birth to age 5 is ongoing.

The coming month will also bring exciting new areas of interest to stimulate curiosity and promote learning in all the classrooms. An ongoing focus in the school is Tikun Olam. One of the highlights of the Fall and Winter holidays in the Pre-school is the lessons of giving to others in repairing our world. The generosity of our preschool families helped to foster a very successful food drive in November, which continued throughout the Winter holidays. In addition, many children brought in gifts for the preschool toy drive for the Gladys Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Services and many also partici-pated in the most difficult task of all, saying goodbye to their gently used but treasured books and toys to share them with others at a Head Start school in West Palm Beach. We are proud to partner with the Meyer Academy for this very important annual toy and book drive and are grateful for the opportunity the lessons of Tzedakah we can pass on to the children.

The holiday of TuB’Shevat provides another opportunity to teach our children ways to take care of the world. For the holiday, all of the classes will explore the concepts of recycling and replanting. Creative energy abounds in the free form sculptures the children create in the classroom from recyclable materials. Please join us on Wednesday, January 19, in the playground for our annual ceremonial tree planting. Each year, the Volunteer Parent Organization (VPO) donates a tree that becomes part of the playground area, and each child has an opportunity to shovel dirt and take ownership of the newest tree. From sculptures to seedlings, the children will learn about the many ways to take care of our earth. Did you happen to see the stunning colors on the trees in the Temple parking lot last month? Our children certainly did! It was fall foliage in Wellington and the preschool children enjoyed the beautiful multicolored leaves showering the park-ing lot . Please enjoy a few pictures of the uniqueness of this experience for our children. Even the teachers were giddy with delight. What a great way to segway into the birthday of the trees this month!

A Healthy and Happy New Year to all of you,

Sandy Wilensky. Director

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Hunter Burke, son of Alan and Andrea Burke, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, January 15th, 2011. Hunter is currently a 7th grade honor roll student attending Wellington Landings Middle School. In his spare time, Hunter enjoys playing soccer, trumpet and spending time with his friends. Hunter will be celebrating his special day with his parents, brother Ethan, grandparents and extended family and friends.

B’nai Mitzvah Students at Temple Beth Torah January 2011

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2011 Mah Jong cards now available for pre-order in the Sisterhood Gift shop Standard cards are $7 Large print cards are $8

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Events at Temple Beth Torah

January 2011 Sat Jan 1, 2011 25th of Tevet, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jan 2, 2011 26th of Tevet, 5771 Mon Jan 3, 2011 27th of Tevet, 5771 12pm Lunch and Learn Tue Jan 4, 2011 28th of Tevet, 5771 3pm Religious School 7pm Confirmation Class Wed Jan 5, 2011 29th of Tevet, 5771 Thu Jan 6, 2011 1st of Sh'vat, 5771 Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat Fri Jan 7, 2011 2nd of Sh'vat, 5771 K/1 Family Service 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jan 8, 2011 3rd of Sh'vat, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jan 9, 2011 4th of Sh'vat, 5771 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Meeting 9am Religious School 9:15am Youth Committee 5pm 7th Grade 6pm Mitzvah Corps Mon Jan 10, 2011 5th of Sh'vat, 5771 Tue Jan 11, 2011 6th of Sh'vat, 5771 3pm Religious School Wed Jan 12, 2011 7th of Sh'vat, 5771

Thu Jan 13, 2011 8th of Sh'vat, 5771 Fri Jan 14, 2011 9th of Sh'vat, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jan 15, 2011 10th of Sh'vat, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jan 16, 2011 11th of Sh'vat, 5771 Mon Jan 17, 2011 12th of Sh'vat, 5771 No Preschool Tue Jan 18, 2011 13th of Sh'vat, 5771 3pm Religious School 7pm Confirmation Class Wed Jan 19, 2011 14th of Sh'vat, 5771 Preschool Tu B'Shevat Celebra-tion Thu Jan 20, 2011 15th of Sh'vat, 5771 Tu B'Shvat Fri Jan 21, 2011 16th of Sh'vat, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jan 22, 2011 17th of Sh'vat, 5771 6th Grade Learners' Service 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jan 23, 2011 18th of Sh'vat, 5771 5th Grade Family Education 9am Membership meeting 9am Religious School 1pm Grades 3+4 Event 5pm 7th Grade Mon Jan 24, 2011 19th of Sh'vat, 5771

Tue Jan 25, 2011 20th of Sh'vat, 5771 3pm Religious School 7:30pm Monthly Board Meeting Wed Jan 26, 2011 21st of Sh'vat, 5771 9:15am Preschool Parent Pro-gram 7pm Sisterhood Event Thu Jan 27, 2011 22nd of Sh'vat, 5771 Fri Jan 28, 2011 23rd of Sh'vat, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jan 29, 2011 24th of Sh'vat, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jan 30, 2011 25th of Sh'vat, 5771 9am Religious School 9:30am Caring Committee 4pm "Sundays at Four" Life Long Learning

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Welcome to our New Members

We welcome the following new members to our “Temple family” and look forward to their participation in our services and activities.

Sherrie Rosen, Membership Co-Chairperson

Nancy Freedman, Membership Co-Chairperson

Nori Skalka

Mazel Tov To: Our B’nai Mitzvah:

Hunter Arbit and his family Hunter Burke and his family

Rachel Gerardi and her family

Special Simchas: Jamie Sistino on her engagement to Dan Cahn

Margie and Larry Zauder on the birth of their new granddaughter in Jerusalem, Rinat Lily Zauder The marriage of Eileen Penta to Gerry Midman

Get Well To: Roselyn Ball, Dr. Helen Garson, Neil Garson, Jane Gartner, Harvey Harnick, and Linda Politzer

Deepest Sympathy To: Laurie Chaplin on the loss of her grandfather, Herbert Cohen Cheryl Cordes on the loss of her cousin, Eleanor Segalowitz

Arline and Noel Shevack on the loss of their brother in law, Calman Zauderer Elizabeth Thal on the loss of her grandmother, Adeline Dorson

Alvin Shapiro on the loss of his brother, Harold Shapiro

Shalom January 2011 - Page 11

] Gracious Donations ] RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND

In Honor Of The Thanksgiving

Holiday Anne Waggoner

Roz Ball’s speedy recovery

Gloria Zakon

My father’s recovery Linda & Robert Feld

The marriage of Eileen Penta

to Gerry Midman Melinda Schooley

The speedy recovery of Alan Marks

Jane & Dr. Fred Shuster

In Memory Of Stanley Levitt Stella Levitt

Gloria Newman

The LM Newman Foundation

Leo Williams Renita Reif

Herbert Cohen

Melissa & Scott Wortman

My father, Philip Nozik Lea Nozik

Nathan Schwartz Rose Schwartz

Calman Zauderer

The Shevack, Pasterczyk, & Gold Families

My dear wife Cyril Gold

Harold Shapiro

Jane & Dr. Fred Shuster

Adeline Dorson Jane & Dr. Fred Shuster

CANTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND In Honor Of

The birth of Eli James Barry Betty Breinin Zena Plous

Diane Marks Bea & Marty Kalikow

Dulcie Burns Phyllis & Marvin Weinstein

Elizabeth & Mitch Thal Sylvia & Albert

Shoengold

In Memory Of Leo Williams Renita Reif

RABBI STEPHEN PINSKY EDUCATION FUND

In Memory Of Stephanie Weiss

Lisa & Rabbi Stephen Pinsky

My dear husband, Carl Goodman Myra Goodman

CANTOR FENAKEL RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

In Honor Of The speedy recovery of Sherry Schneider

Phyllis & Marvin Weinstein

TZEDAKAH BOX FUND In Honor Of

The birth of Eli James Barry Marcia & Scott Weber

The engagement of Jamie Sistino to Dan

Cahn Marcia & Scott Weber

The marriage of Muriel Zuckerman’s

grandson, Andrew Roz & Karen Eismann

In Memory Of Leo Williams Renita Reif

BILL BENDER CARING FUND

In Memory Of Calman Zauderer

Sabina & Mel Dener

LIBRARY FUND In Memory Of

Jim Reed Doris & Karl Fishman

Litzi Epstein

Doris & Karl Fishman

TREE OF LIFE In Honor Of

Mary Cordes on her 85th birthday Cheryl, Ian, Ashley, Joshua,

Sara & Daniel Cordes

GENERAL TEMPLE FUND In Honor Of

The birth of Eli James Barry Ruth & David Bakerman

The speedy recovery of

Alan Marks Elizabeth & Mitch Thal

Saturday, January 1 at 9:45 a.m. SERVICE-IN-THE-ROUND

Torah Portion: Va’eira, Exodus 6:2-9:35

Friday, January 7 at 7:30 p.m. FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE

Members of our Kindergarten & First Grade will participate in the Service. January Birthday Blessings.

Saturday, January 8 at 9:45 a.m.

Bar Mitzvah of Hunter Arbit Son of Wendy and Michael Arbit

Torah Portion: Bo, Exodus 10:1-13:16

Friday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m. “ Running Statewide in Florida as a Jew”

former State Senator David Aronberg will share some thoughts on his experiences of running for the position of

Attorney General in this mostly non-Jewish state.

Saturday, January 15 at 9:45 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Hunter Burke

Son of Andrea and Alan Burke Torah Portion: B’shalach, Exodus 13:17-17:16

Friday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. TORAH STUDY SHABBAT

The congregation will share a Shabbat Service of prayer, music and Torah study including the reading of a

selection from this week’s Torah portion.

Saturday, January 22 at 9:45 a.m. SIXTH GRADE LEARNERS’ SHABBAT

Members of the congregation are invited to a Service shared with our Sixth Grade Service as we

explore our liturgy with Rabbi Pinsky, Cantor Barry and Jodi Kaufman.

Torah Portion: Yitro, Exodus 18:1-20:23

Friday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m. “ Remembering Miep Gies”

On the first anniversary of her death, we remember and honor the woman who tried to

save Anne Frank and her family.

Saturday, January 29 at 9:45 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Gerardi

Daughter of Lisa and Vincent Gerardi Torah Portion: Mishpatim, Exodus 21:1-24:18

January 2011 Service Calendar