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Page TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOS Edition 606

Temple Israel of the Poconos Drawing by Marilyn Margolies

Inside this Issue

Rabbi’s Message 1 President’s Message 3 Norman Gelber 4 Hebrew School 5 Hoilday Page 6/7 Seder Reservations 8 Passover Schedule 9 Sell your Chametz 10 Ask the Rabbi 12 Donations 14 Chessed 15 Birthdays/ Anniversaries 16 Yahrzeit Lists 17/18 Calendar 19 Advertising 23

BOARD MEETING

WEDNESDAY

5:30 — 6:00

(before Purim celebration)

Edition 606 March 2015 Adar/Nisan 5775 A monthly publication of Temple Israel of the Poconos

On Chimerical Allures by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman

More dangerous than Islamism, the experts say, is hybridism- the melding of a criminal disposition with an Islamist ideology. Islamism by itself may be a dormant virus, but the individual's capacity for criminal mayhem is the necessary ingredient to act out the chimeri-cal allures of Islamist fantasy. Over 20,000 disaffected western youths have now joined ISIS. The adolescent mind, by definition, instinctively rebels against perceived hypocrisy, and so is readily drawn to a pure, unsullied UR-version of Islam, that makes no apolo-gies to Western mores and the compromises deemed necessary for life in a pluralistic, cosmopolitan society. In Islamism, the classic Freudian notions of id and superego become melded as one. Rather than keeping the id in check, the classic role played by a conscience-driven Judeo-Christian superego, in Islam-ism, the fulfillment of the id is actually encouraged. The lust for sex, violence and domination is encouraged. Islamist martyrdom is rewarded with the endless fulfillment of sexual fantasies, whereas Jewish and Christian notions of an angelic afterlife have sublimated base urges into a refined, even lofty spirituality. Speaking of chimeras, the human/animal hybrid made famous by the film, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Iran is the embodiment on a national scale of this Islamist hybridism. The drive for totalitarian global hegemony at all costs is symptomatic of the id made manifest. They will use the threat of nuclear terror to bend all to their will. There are no superego checks and balances. Indeed, their messianic eschato-logical vision is of a world redeemed through the very chaos which they would unleash upon the world. The Purim story represents these Freudian paradigms, albeit within a Persian purview. Haman represents the lustful, power hungry id run amok. Mordecai represents the superego which is challenged by the id, and Esther represents the ego negotiating between these two very powerful drives. Like any ego would, she vacillates, but Morde-cai, the superego, firms her resolve through both guilt and appeal to conscience. I fear that the nuclear rapprochement reached with Iran, rushed through for the sake of securing an agreement at any price, will prove illusory. Iran could then achieve in a mere six minutes what Nazi Germany nearly accomplished in the span of six years. Would that we had a modern day Esther and Mordecai to face down a mod-ern Haman who would similarly seek to eradicate both Israel and Jewry the world over.

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOS Edition 606

Temple office: (570) 421-8781 Rabbi Baruch Melman [email protected] (570) 730-4799 www.templeisraelofthepoconos.org [email protected]

711 WALLACE STREET, STROUDSBURG, PA 18360

3 yr Trustee: Art Glantz 424-7876 [email protected]

2 yr Trustee: Esther Graves Mark Entenberg Merle Turitz

426-7020 223-1131

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

1 yr Trustee: Ed Krawitz Mitchell Marcus

421-3139 588-0991

[email protected] [email protected]

Cemetery: 209/ Eliezer Gardens

Barry Tremper Charlie Cahn

588-6148 424-7955


Hebrew School Debbie Smith 610-751-7692 [email protected]

Ritual Bernie Driller Art Glantz

421-6103 424-7876


Finance Dave Rosenberg 894-4537 [email protected]

Membership Sandra Alfonsi 223-7062 [email protected]

Kitchen Lois LaBarca Sandra Alfonsi

421-6103 223-7062


House Herb Rosen Barry Tremper

424-1161 588-6148


Chesed & Wishograms Suzanne Tremper 588-6148 [email protected]

Newsletter Barbara Rosenberg 894-4537 [email protected]

Gift Shop Debbie Smith 610-751-7692 [email protected]

Programming Barry Tremper Barbara Rosenberg

588-6148 894-4537


Temple Publicity Hebrew School Publicity

Marci Rabinowitz Rebecca Bear


Rabbi Melman’s Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 10:30 — 12:00

Wednesday 6:00—7:00 By appointment ONLY

Please provide Barbara with any information that is missing for you in the above grid. Thank you.

President Sandra Alfonsi 223-7062 [email protected]

1st Vice President Bernie Driller 421-6103 [email protected]

2nd Vice President Lois LaBarca 421-6103 [email protected]

Secretary Barbara Rosenberg 894-4537 [email protected]

Treasurer Norman Rabinowitz [email protected]

Asst. Treasurer Herb Rosen 424-1161 [email protected]

Sitting Past President Suzanne Tremper 588-6148 [email protected]


A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT …… Dr. Sandra Alfonsi

As I sit before my computer I am lost in thought. I am overwhelmed by the surge in worldwide virulent anti-Semitism and by the barbarity of ISIS. I am dismayed by the inability of the US Administration to label this horrific terrorism Islamic terrorism. But perhaps what has completely overwhelmed me is the call for world Jewry to make Aliyah to Israel and to do it now. I have always believed that Jews can and should live wherever they wish – whether in the Diaspora or in Israel. I have always referred to myself as an American Jew – I am a Jew first and then an American because I was born here. Since my first trip to Israel I have always said that I am going home when I go to Israel and that I am going back when I return to the US at the end of each trip. Now I am urged by well-meaning and truly devoted Israeli friends to come home “before it is too late.” It is not in my character to run from anything but somehow this time I am torn by the reality of what I see everywhere and moved by the history of my people – a history which I know so very well. Do I belong in Israel? Probably. It has always been a part of my essence to make Aliyah. But now? I do not think so. Right now I spend every waking moment working for Israel, for my people and for Jewish life in America. This must have meaning or else why am I here and why do I devote myself to the good and welfare of Israel and of the Jewish people every-where? And why do I love and cherish Temple Israel if I were not meant to be here at this time?

In a few weeks we reach the month of Adar and prepare for Purim. What I remember most about Purim when I was growing up was standing next to my mother making Mishloach Manot baskets to deliver and learning how to make hamantaschen – some for the baskets and others for us. Purim for my parents and my family was all about going to synagogue to hear the Megillah reading and to commemorate a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. This is probably one of the few times when the story of Purim and the threat of Jewish extermination rush together and fill my mind and heart with trepidation.

For me Purim is always the beginning of the “countdown” to Pesach. If there is one holiday which I truly love it is Pesach – the frenzy of cleaning and shopping; the rush to cook and bake and the preparations for the Seders. And the reading of the Haggadah – the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and once again the mystery of Jewish survival. Two holidays marking Jewish survival – Purim and Pesach are coming this year at a terrible time in Jewish history. Is the Diaspora coming to an end? Is our Exile finally finishing? Questions which frighten me and to which I have no answers. So for now I will continue to believe that it is here that I belong for a reason unknown to me…a reason which drives me to work for Israel, my people and the right to live here in freedom and security.

Sandra


JEWISH MYSTICISM by Norman Gelber In the mosaic of Jewish history, there was an outpouring of hand-copied books on a variety of Judaic topics during the 12th and 13th centuries. One of these topics was Jewish mysticism, or the Kabbala, and one of the popular books on this topic was the “Sefer Hasidim” (Book of the Devout) by Judah the Pius. This book included stories about miracles, angels, spirits, devils, and wandering souls. In spite of its wide appeal, however, its unearthly subject matter made it controversial between intellectual Jews and gullible Jews.

Since most of us are probably unfamiliar with Jewish mysticism, I am approaching this opic as if the congregation asked me three questions: What is Jewish mysticism? What is its source? What role did it play in Jewish history?

Jewish mysticism may be defined as a spiritual movement originating in Europe during the medieval period and dealing with the creation of the world and with spiritual creatures such as angels, devils, and the soul after death. The Kabbalistic theory also held that G-d created the world by releasing Ten Seforim, or spiritual radiations, each with a specific function. The most popular of the Kabbalistic books was the Zohar (Brilliance) which appeared in Spain in 1250.

According to legend, it was dictated by angels to Simon ben Yohai, and it revealed the hidden meanings of the Torah. These books, together with many other religious works, inspired medieval Jews to regard themselves as a holy people who were devoted to sustaining their Jewish tradition in an antagonistic Christian Europe.

Although the Kabbala is part of the Jewish tradition, its content is regarded as dangerous for those who misunderstand its purpose, which is “Making the self into a better, more expanded individual, more transcendental, more attuned to the essence and roots of one’s soul.” In short, it is to entwine heaven and earth and to involve humankind in this spiritual journey.

Whether medieval Jews lived in villages or ghettos, they were never safe from Christian rivalry and hostility ever since the Council of Nicaea (325 C.E.), which officially separated Jews from Christians. This troubled situation led to outbreaks of physical and verbal anti-Semitism, which forced Jewish communities to defend themselves as best they could. They relied on Holy Scripture and on the Kabbala to maintain their stalwart faith in Judaism. They were bold enough to engage in public disputations with Christian clergymen to prove that Judaism was the superior religion. In an extraordinary example of religious fervor, a mystic Jew named Abraham Abulafia traveled to Rome in 1280 with the intention of converting the Pope to Judaism!

As we see, Jewish mysticism has its roots in the Torah, and appealed to intellectual Jews who were inquisi-tive about the nature of God and the spiritual creatures that inhabit heaven and earth. The story that three rabbis suffered death while studying the Kabbala served to caution Jews about the danger of pursu-ing this esoteric subject. Consequently, it is believed that only mature, learned Jews are qualified to study the mysteries of the Kabbala.

Did you know…. that the reason we rise when the Kiddush is chanted on Friday night is because we are giving testimo-ny! Witnesses in ancient Israel always stood before the judges when giving testimony. We are testify-ing that Hashem created the world in six "days" and rested on the seventh day and sanctified it, thus making it holy, as well as the fact that Hashem redeemed us from bondage in Egypt. Thus we are testifying that Shabbat is both a holy day as well as a day of freedom and spirituality and liberation from the weight of the material world with all its oppressiveness and drudgery!


HEBREW SCHOOL NEWS

Tuesday, March 10 5:00 — 7:00 p,m. Class

Tuesday, March 17 5:00 — 7:00 p.m. Class



Sunday, March 22 9:000 — 11:00 a.m. Chocolate Seder

Last month we celebrated Tu Bishvat with a beautiful Tu Bishvat seder! The children enjoyed eating many of the fruits of the Land of Israel, as well as enjoyed discussing all the many ways in which trees are important to the life of our planet and in adding beauty to our world. Purim begins Wednesday evening, March 4! MEGILLAH READING!!! This month we will be celebrating Purim together with the whole community. There will be no Hebrew school on Tuesday, March 3, in order that in turn we will have full attendance for Purim evening, Wednesday, March 4, when we read the Megillah from beginning to end. We encourage all ages to wear costumes, especially featuring those of Esther, Haman and Mordecai! We will have our annual Costume Contest and Purim celebration. We will also be featuring lots of tasty hamantaschen, baked by our very own Sandra, Barbara and Dave! Speaking of hamantaschen, Sandra graciously opened her kosher kitchen to the Hebrew school, while the Temple Israel kitchen is under renovations, and invited all our students to bake all manner of yummy hamantaschen! Lastly, our Hebrew High School of Jewish Studies for the balance of this year is now meeting on Monday evenings, from 6-7 PM. If you know any teens who may be interested, please contact Rabbi Melman. Mishenichnas Adar, Marbim beSimcha! When Adar arrives, our joy increases!!! Rabbi Baruch Melman, Principal Mrs. Debbie Smith, Administrative Director


PURIM AND EDEN by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman Purim has a secret to share. It is a Jewish holiday. But it's really about universal redemption and our shared humanity's struggle to remake itself in G*d's image and dwell in peace back in the garden. In many ways, Purim is the signpost and marker by which to guide humanity, as represented by Israel, back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were originally banished from the Garden -not because of sin and disobedience, but rather due to their inability to face and accept their responsibility for their actions. They weren't exiled for eating the "goodly fruit" per se. Rather, they were exiled for denying responsibil-ity. They were caught. But they played the victim. They couldn't own up to what they had done. Indeed, it is arguable that the idea of a return of mankind to the Garden is not only a boon from human-ity's point of view, but is Divinely desired as well. It is arguably G*d's deepest desire for mankind, G*d's children, to become independent, responsible adults. They would be worthy of enjoying the Garden of Delights, but not until they can prove capable of having rightfully earned the honor of returning. While Passover is clearly the epic narrative of G*d's redemption through intervention on an epic scale writ large, the Megillah, the Scroll of Esther, is quite oppositely indicative of the reverse transposition of mankind from being a humble receiver of salvation to an active initiator, whereby Divine intervention is noted only by its seeming absence. The Haggadah's Passover redemption narrative is replete with Divine credit even as the Megillah, the Purim narrative, pointedly celebrates the risks and cunning of Esther who heroically saves her people. In the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil beckons the curiosities of Eve. The snake, the haughty contender for ultimate authority in the Garden, arrogating to himself the rights of Divine suzerainty, is brought low and humbled, forever to crawl on his belly, much the same way that Haman met his comeuppance for attempting to usurp the royal prerogatives of palace and power. Upon discovery of the misdeed, the Man blames the Woman who blames the Snake who lives in the Tree (an echo of Chad Gadya), resulting in the expulsion. It therefore makes sense that an atonement and reversal of the judgment would necessarily entail a conscious retracing of the process. The flow in the chain of disavowal of responsibility went from the Man (Adam) to the Woman (Eve- who risked certain death, or so she feared, by "touching" the King's - i.e., G*d's, Tree) to the cunning Snake in his abode in the branches of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Similarly, atonement mandates a reversal of the process. Redemption in the Megillah of Esther follows a vector of newly assumed responsibility from the Man (Mordecai) who lectures the Woman (Esther) as to her responsibilities to her people (who then risks certain death *unless* touched by the golden scepter), who then points out to the King Haman's true responsibility for her people's imminent misfortune. Ham-an even falls upon the Queen and her couch, thus in the end making himself responsible for his own downfall. Finally, he himself is hanged upon the branches of "the tree (haEitz)," thus neatly completing the process and chain of responsibility. What demands our attention as to the text's ultimate universalism is the conscious echoing of the phra-seology and the similarity in language between the number of Sarah's years (127) and the number of lands under the Persian Empire(127). Incredibly, in each case it follows the unusual step of placing a conjunctive link ("and") between each of the numbers comprising the ultimate tally. It does not read as "one hundred twenty seven," but rather somewhat awkwardly as "one hundred years and twenty years and seven years (Gen23:1)."

HOLIDAY PAGE


(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12) But what is even more fascinating is the reversal in the *order* of the numbers. The Megillah reverses the order of the Genesis narrative, reading now as "seven and twenty and a hundred lands (Esther 1:1)," much as the sin order and blame/responsibility order are reversed (snake to Adam/Adam to snake). Sarai, upon her name change to Sarah, is told by G*d that she will be the mother of "entire na-tions" (Gen17:15,16). While she is particularly and immediately the mother of the *Hebrew* nation, she will ultimately be the mother of entire (read "many") nations (as Chava/Eve is the "mother of life" (Gen 3:20)). The birth of the Nation of Israel points to the ultimate redemption of humanity through the rediscovery of the ethical monotheistic imperative. The Purim narrative functions as a paradigm for mankind's struggle with evil. Ironically the story occurs in Persia, the seat of Zoroastrian faith, which teaches of the dualistic forces of light and darkness in the world. But the Jewish reading of history is a sense of the ultimate conquest of good over evil. Indeed, evil is ultimately subservient to good, as both are sourced in the Source of all goodness. Moreover, the Purim story is a blueprint not only for the Jews' redemption, but for all humanity who align themselves with goodness. Its message is one of responsibility for one's own salvation. Inaction in the face of evil is the guarantee for evil to flourish. Perish or flourish. The choice is ours. The Edenic paradigm for mankind's return and redemption must be seen as the backdrop by which to make sense of the Purim story as well as current events. As the masks fall off, G*d's hidden presence is revealed. Ideologies and belief systems which deny the notion of a G*d who demands personal responsibility take on an aura of untenability. From out of a sense of volition we learn to take responsibility in life to repair the earth and the hearts of its inhabitants. To wait for others or to postpone action is the recipe for continued exile or worse. Yet the opposite holds forth the promise of a renewed encounter with that other tree in the Garden- the Tree of Life. Good Purim! © 2015 by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman


Passover 5775 First Seder Friday, April 3, 2015

PAID IN FULL RESERVATIONS REQUIRED Celebrate Passover in the traditional manner with your friends and family.

DATE: Friday, April 3, 2015 TIME: Doors Open 5:30

Short Shabbat Service 6:00 — 6:30 Seder Begins 6:45

Reservations must be made and paid for by March 20, 2015.

Complete bottom portion and return with payment to:

Temple Israel of the Poconos, 711 Wallace Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Sandra Alfonsi at 570-223-7062 or by email at [email protected] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name ______________________________________________________ Phone Number ______________________________

Adult Members Attending ______________

Adult Non-Members Attending _________ SORRY, NO INVOICING

Children Attending ____________________

Total Enclosed: $____________________

COST: $35.00 for adult members $45.00 for adult non-members $10 for children under 13 yrs. old


Celebrate Pesach

with Temple Israel of the Poconos

Friday, April 3 First Seder 6 PM

$35 Members $45 Non-Members $10 Children 5 -13 Saturday, April 4 Shabbat Services 9:30 A.M.

Pesach Shabbat Luncheon

Sunday, April 5 Services 9:30 A.M. Pesach Kiddush

Wednesday, April 8 Pesach Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Melman 1 P.M. $10 donation

Friday, April 10 Shabbat Services 7 P.M. Pesach Oneg Shabbat

Shabbat, April 11 Shabbat Services 9:30 A.M. Yizkor approximately 11:00 Yizkor Luncheon

***Temple Israel of the Poconos is completely Kosher for Pesach.


Sell your chametz!

I hereby make Rabbi Melman, or his appointee, my agent to sell any and all Chametz in my possession.

Name__________________________________

Address________________________________

Please note that all regular chametz should be either eaten or burned prior to the onset of the holiday. Where one owns large stocks of liquor or storehouses of grain one should use this form to sell one's chametz. Failure to do so would render any such liquor or food stocks forbidden to be consumed under Jewish law and are rendered non-kosher, or unfit for consumption. Those who own restaurants, stores or bars should be especially scrupulous in this matter.

Amount enclosed for Tzedaka:

(any multiple of $18 would be appropriate).

Please make out checks to Temple Israel of the Poconos. In memo section: Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (RDF)

And mail to: Temple Israel of the Poconos

711 Wallace Street

Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Attn: Chametz


ADIR HU, AFIKOMON, BITTER HERB, CHAD GADYA, CHAMETZ, CHAROSET, EGYPT, ELIJAH, EXODUS, FREEDOM, HAGGADA, HALLEL, ISRAELITES, KARPAS, MATZA, MOTZI,

NISSAN, PESACH, RED SEA, ROASTED EGG, SEDER, SHANKBONE, UNLEAVENED BREAD, WINE

U P O C H A R O S E T E M R T

E N L V O E A Y D A G D A H C A R L B D C H C A S E P O X R

Z N A E S T A W U H N B J E A T I S R A E L I T E S R D M F

A S H O D V L N M I E S U H I M S F A I L E E O P E Z S A K

O A R S R I L N T A T H E J O T N E T H S D B E E G K N I M

Z D E E U P T U M D A L O L O I A D D G S H A N K B O N E N

T N O E R A H L E K A R P A S A X M G I C O R T P Y G E L F

E F T G B S U H A G G A D A M B R E H R E T T I B J L I T D

PASSOVER WORD SEARCH


ASK THE RABBI by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman Dear Rabbi Melman, I've always gotten a chuckle from the expression, "What the large print giveth, the small print taketh away." Does this have any analogue in Judaism? Just wondering!

Dear Just Wondering, Did you think it wouldn't? See, Judaism always answers a question with another question! I can think of a few examples that would fall into that category. First, there is the notion of the trienni-al Torah reading cycle. There was once a time when all congregations would chant the full Torah portion for each week. Then, in the interests of allowing for greater time for Torah discussion in services, as well as in an attempt to cut down on the length of the service itself, from a full three and one half hours to around two hours and change, we went from a full Torah reading to just one third of the reading. Now the concept of a weekly Torah reading itself is not derived from the Torah! It is not a mitzvah from the Torah (mitzvah d'orayta) . Rather it is a practice derived from the Sages of Israel (mitzvah de'rabbanan). According to the Torah itself, the only mitzvah we have is to read the entire Torah every seven years when all Israel is gathered together in a massive spiritual jamboree called Hak'hel, from the word kehillah, which means congregation, or the act of congregating. Over the course of three years, the entire Torah would be read. The first year includes reading the first two aliyahs each week. The second year we read the third, fourth and fifth aliyahs, and then finally the third year we chant the sixth and seventh aliyahs. Each week we divide the reading into seven aliyahs, each having a minimum of three verses. This notion of a triennial reading was actually based on an ancient Jerusalem custom, whereby over the course of three years, the entire Torah was read. But the difference between the ancient practice and our current practice is that in ancient days they did not skip any narrative. It was read seamlessly. In our day, however, we skip a full two thirds of the narrative each week, jumping headlong each Shabbat into the middle of a new narrative! The reason that we do skip some narrative each week instead of following the actual ancient Jerusalem triennial custom, is precisely so that we remain in sync with the traditional calendar, in an attempt to be on the same page, as it were, with the rest of the larger Jewish world. So, what is the "small print" in this discussion that "taketh away?" When the CJLS (Committee on Jewish Law and Standards) decided to allow individual congregations the option of adopting the shorter triennial cycle, they did so with a caveat! In view of the fact that the Sages decreed that the entire Torah must be read each year, the CJLS allowed a shorter Torah reading in public, with the proviso that individual congregants would study the whole parasha in its entirety each and every week! To that end we offer two sessions per week of Parsha Preview, which we encourage everyone to attend. If you cannot attend the class, then home study is certainly encouraged. To be continued.... © 2015 by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman


SAVE THE DATES

April 3, 2015 1st Seder

April 16, 2015 Yom HaShoah

April 18, 2015 Yom HaAtzma’ut

May 17, 2015

Yom Yerushalayim Entertainment/Program

May 24, 2015 Shavuot (dairy dinner)

June 26, 2015 Installation of Officers

August 9, 2015 “From Shtetl to Broadway to Israel

A Festival of Jewish Music” Concert at Stroudsburg High School

Watch future newsletters for more information.


THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS TO TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOS

GENERAL DONATIONS

John Sanocki Douglas Friedman

Aloysius Murgatroyd

YAHRZEIT DONATIONS Beatrice Allam in memory of Oscar Feld

Jack Bernbaum in memory of Rita Bernbaum Pearl Rothman in memory of parents Rose and Ben Hayden

ONEGS AND KIDDUSHES Charlie Cahn in honor of Lester Abeloff

Patrice Summa in memory of Lester Abeloff

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

Barry and Suzanne Tremper Leigh Stelzer Anonymous


HESSED FUND Hessed is a Hebrew word meaning kindness and a reaching out to other people.

It is the way you can express sympathy, warm wishes or celebrate simchas for any one within or outside the Jewish community. If you would like something included here:

Call Suzanne Tremper at 588-6148. Please leave all the information on the machine so Suzanne doesn’t need to call you back.

OR Better than telephone, is contacting Suzanne by e-mail at [email protected]. That's the best!

If you would like us to send a card to a person who is not a Temple Israel person, you must include the recipient’s address when giving Suzanne the information. Cards are usually sent within three days of the request.

To Bill Brown & Family

In memory of Hilda, loving Wife, Mother and Grandmother

From, Sandra Alfonsi

Charlie and Danny Cahn Irv and Eda Effross

Mark and Yafit Entenberg Art Glantz

Ed and Bobbie Krawitz Sam and Maryjane Newman

Herb and Sylvia Rosen Michelle and Dylan Star

Barry and Suzanne Tremper

To Ruth Popkin and Family

In memory of Howard, loving Husband, Father and Grandfather

From, Marilyn Hertz

To Joan Sommer and Family

In memory of Irving “Itch”, loving Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-grandfather

From, Charlie Cahn

Irv and Eda Effross Mark and Yafit Entenberg

Sam and Maryjane Newman Herb and Sylvia Rosen


If you are celebrating a milestone year, whether it be birthday or anniversary, please let me know so others may celebrate with you. Contact: Suzanne Tremper 588-6148 or [email protected]

March Anniversaries March 01 Jeff & Vered Thacker

Charles & Louise August Barry & Janet Cohen

March 26 Bernie & Lois Driller

March 27 Barry & Suzanne Tremper

March 29 Herb & Sylvia Rosen

March 31 Norman & Marcie Rabinowitz

March Birthdays March 01 Sandra Alfonsi

March 02 Jesse Ruben

March 13 Bailey Goldberg

March 15 Lois LaBarca

March 16 Lindsay Mann

March 18 Hannah Shevrin Bruce Stein

March 19 Jordan Blake

March 21 Judith Pichler

March 22 Shawn Smith Sam Newman

March 23 Jose Rodriguez

March 24 Aaron Herschlag Ruth Popkin

March 28 Charles Herman


March Yahrzeit List

March 1 Adar 10 Nathan Garfinkel Lisbeth Breslauer Pearl Yark Hannah Miller Ruth Rosenthal

March 2 Adar 11 Mae Block

March 3 Adar 12 Harry Kleinfeld

March 4 Adar 13 Frances Tremper Dora Chamrock

March 5 Adar 14 Rachel Solomon

March 6 Adar 15 Melisse Rosen Shifrin

March 7 Adar 16 Henry Reader Frances Isaac Alfred Berkhof Ida Rood

March 8 Adar 17 Harry Hymowitz Morris Friedman Frederick Berkowitz

March 9 Adar 18 Benjamin Gelber Marshall Feinsilber

March 12 Adar 21 Mordecai Levy Louis Beckenstein

March 13 Adar 22 Alexandra Starr Jill Schulman Elsie Greenberg

March 14 Adar 23 Jeffrey Greenfield Sidney Wolfe Louis Nadelman Isidore Diamond Max Effross Charles Steinberg

March 16 Adar 25 Jonathan Sandler Myriam Monsonego Aryeh Sandler Gavriel Sandler

March 17 Adar 26 Nettie Oloff

March 18 Adar 27 Isidore Kaufman Ceila Soloman Solomon Silverman

March 20 Adar 29 Erna Eisemann Charles Schuchman

March 21 Nisan 01 Joseph Cedar

March 24 Nisan 04 Benjamin Silverman

March 25 Nisan 05 Theodore Getz Wolfe Newman Edna Koshar Marvin Steinberg

March 26 Nisan 06 Rachel Waterman Samuel Feuerman Thelma Konowitz

March 27 Nisan 07 Stella Kaufman

March 28 Nisan 08 William Silverman

March 29 Nisan 09 Mitchel Postol Rachel Zdoresky Mollie Silverman

Yahrzeit candles are lit the night BEFORE the date listed above.

If the date falls on the Sabbath, be sure to light Yahrzeit candle BEFORE lighting Shabbos candles.


April Yahrzeit List

April 1 Nisan 12 Daniel Pehr Jean Schwartz

April 3 Nisan 14 Theodore Steinberg Alexander August Hilda Shulman Florence Parnes Samuel Balick

April 5 Nisan 16 Louis M. Block

April 6 Nisan 17 Rachel Bair

April 7 Nisan 18 Lillian Dorfman Sam Ehrlichman

April 8 Nisan 19 Leila May Parkhurst

April 9 Nisan 20 Marion Feinsilber Samuel Lax

April 10 Nisan 21 Nathan Rosen Blanche Bernstein

April 11 Nisan 22 Dr. Kurt Philippsberg

April 12 Nisan 23 Harriet Zdoresky Deborah Singman

April 14 Nisan 25 David Bernbaum Sarah Wimer

April 16 Nisan 27 Abraham Berkman Rose Burros Sarah Leiser

April 17 Nisan 28 William Odzer

April 18 Nisan 29 Herman Brown

April 19 Nisan 30 Maynard Abeloff Benjamin Sadagursky

April 22 Iyar 03 William Westheimer

April 24 Iyar 05 Barbara Gross Simon Goldberg Helen Driller Max Berman

April 25 Iyar 06 Neil Kevin Finkel Israel Malbin Caroline Rosenzweig

April 27 Iyar 08 Myron Ehrlich Anna Rabinowitz

April 28 Iyar 09 Annie Reader Harry Forster Jerry Sugarman

April 29 Iyar 10 Masha Trumpaitzky


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NOW IT’S EASIER THAN EVER BEFORE TO SPONSOR AN ONEG OR A KIDDUSH LUNCHEON

YOU CAN CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY, LIFE CYCLE EVENT OR JUST BECAUSE.....

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOS KOSHER KITCHEN ANNOUNCES

SHABBAT ONEG AND KIDDUSH LUNCHEONS

Friday Night Oneg: $75 Package includes cakes, cookies, fresh fruit in season, hot coffee, milk, sweeteners, seltzer and cold beverages. Shabbat Kiddush-Luncheon: $125 Package includes 4 different salads, veggie platter, fresh fruits of the season, assorted cakes and/or cookies, hot coffee, milk, sweeteners, seltzer/cold beverages.

Each package is priced for 25 people.

Other special request items (including lox) are available upon request and for an additional fee; please contact me to design your own special event. For scheduling, availability and more

information contact: Lois LaBarca at 421-6103


WE ALL HAVE SIMCHAS AND NACHES IN OUR LIFE CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING...

SEND WARM THOUGHTS Give Suzanne Tremper a call at 588-6148 or e-mail her at [email protected] and let

someone know you’re thinking of them. For a small contribution to the Hessed Fund, Suzanne will send a card wishing a Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Mazel Tov, Get Well or

Condolences. A notice will appear in this bulletin, as well. When you call, please leave all the information needed.

TREE OF LIFE AND MEMORIALS Add a leaf to the Tree of Life to celebrate births, birthdays, marriages, bar and bat mitzvahs, or

any other special event for a minimum contribution of $150. Remember loved ones with a Memorial Plaque at a minimum contribution of $600 for members, $850 for non-members.

Contact Suzanne Tremper at 588-6148.

ENDOWMENT FUND It’s always a great time to make a contribution. Make your check out to “Temple Israel.”

Another thought to consider, remember Temple Israel in your will. Call the Temple office at 570-421-8781 or [email protected]

Honor or Remember Someone Special with a Bookplate

A bookplate can be placed in a Siddur, the weekly prayer book we use every Friday evening and Shabbat morning, or in a machzor, the prayer book which is used on the High Holidays. Remember a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, bnei mitzvah or any other occasion you want to note for a relative or friend. You can also place a dedication in someone’s memory. A nameplate with the donor, recipient, and occasion will be inserted. The minimum donation is $50.

Contact Herb Rosen, 424-1161, or at [email protected].

Do you need a Mi Sheberach Recited?

When you can’t make services, but would like a prayer said on behalf of someone important to you, please don’t hesitate to call the synagogue and leave a message

on the Temple answering machine for Rabbi Melman so that your prayers will be included in our services.


FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE…..

we offer you a challenge!

We need everyone to help with this. Surely you know individuals and families who have no affiliation with a Synagogue.

Encourage them to become members of our Temple Israel Family!

If every family brings in one individual or family,

think of the possibilities!

At Temple events, be they regular Shabbat Services or a social occasion, introduce yourself to anyone you don’t recognize. You’ll make new friends

and assist us in enlarging our family.

YOU CAN BE PART OF OUR SUCCESS!!

For information please contact:

Dr. Sandra Alfonsi 223-7062

[email protected]

or Temple Israel 421-8781

Please leave a phone number so that we may return your call.


Please tell our advertisers you saw their ad here.

All submissions are subject to review by the editorial committee.

Please submit all articles for consideration to:

Barbara Rosenberg

570-894-4537 or [email protected]

PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF YOUR NEWSLETTER:

APRIL NEWSLETTER: MARCH 12

Temple Israel of the Poconos is located at 711 Wallace Street in Stroudsburg. Friday evening services begin at 7:00 p.m. and

Saturday Shabbat Services begin at 9:30 a.m. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Temple Israel Newsletter, Edition 606/March 2015 published monthly at Temple Israel of the Poconos, 711 Wallace Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. (570) 421-8781/[email protected]. For information concerning this publication contact Barbara Rosenberg, Editor, (570) 894-4537/[email protected]. Now on the web at: www.templeisraelofthepoconos.org

temple israel of the poconosassimediafinal.s3.amazonaws.com/site3653... · prove illusory. iran...

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