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RABBI’S MESSAGE - JUNE 2019
Congregation B’nai Harim Children of the Mountains
Congregation B’nai Harim, P.O. Box 757, Pocono Pines, PA 18350/ (570) 646-0100 http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org
NEWSLETTER JUNE 2019/ VOLUME 25, ISSUE 6
PAGE ONE/B’NAI HARIM
When I was a young girl our synagogue in Brooklyn had the custom of making a mi she-beirach only when someone was in extremis. One time the rabbi offered a name change for a be-loved member of the congregation and a shiver ran through everyone in the sanctuary. No one expected her to survive the weekend. For years I thought this prayer for healing was a Jewish way of announcing that someone was in the act of dying. Decades later I met a person for whom an entire seminary had prayed during the course of her illness. She had been hospitalized and was in a coma but fellow students prayed in shifts both at
the bedside and at home or during religious services at the school. The doctors didn’t hold out much hope, but she pulled through. When she was back among her classmates, she told of having had a dream or a feeling that she was being supported on outstretched hands. The difference between the two practices seems to me to be the active presence of the community in the sec-ond case and the withdrawal of the community in the first case. Back in Brooklyn, no one would call lest they disturb the person who was ill. Only family and maybe an extremely close friend might reach out. The mi shebeirach prayer isn’t a magical incantation to be intoned by a clergy person. Prayer is the first step that a person’s Jewish community takes to show support. We hear the names of our friends and make a mental note to call, visit, keep in touch. We add the names of others for whom we care and we receive strength from sympathetic friends who are also concerned about their friends. Perhaps we muster our strength to help those who are not well, feeling thankful that we have strength to muster. The prayer itself calls upon God who blessed our ancestors to bless those whom we name. When we say or sing the words of this prayer, we align ourselves with those who were helped in the past, who were spared by divine providence or aided by doctors or lifted up by the loving arms of friends. We don’t run away from those in need of healing; we run toward them with outstretched arms, with food, with visits or with practical help. In some ways, God blessed our ancestors by giving them worthy descendants: us. If you wish to be part of this chain of tradition, join in the good work of the Chesed Committee. There is nothing as salubrious as aid-ing those who need us.
Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum
CALLING ALL WHO LIKE TO SING OUR CHOIR NEEDS YOU!
You don't have to know the words or the music. All you have to know is that your voice is im-portant. We rehearse once a month and sing during the next service. Even if you don't want to sing in a group during services, come sing together at practice!
Choir Warm-Up: Sat. June 8th and June 22nd at 9:30 AM Choir Practice: Sat., June 15th at 10:30 AM
SAVE THE DATES
June 8 - Religious School 9:00 AM - Last Day Choir Warm-Up - 9:30 AM Services - 10:15 AM Kiddush June 9 - Shavuot Services with Yizkor June 14 - Shabbat - 6:30 PM June 15 - Choir Rehearsal - 10:30 AM Women’s Torah Study - 12:30 PM June 16 - Board Meeting - 9:30 AM June 21 - Meet & Greet - Scholar in Residence - 4 - 6 PM at Sally Grotta’s (see flier enclosed).
June 22 - Choir Rehearsal - 9:30 AM Services - 10:15 AM Kiddush followed by a Poetry Reading June 23 - Poetry Workshop June 30 - iEngage - 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM July 6 - Congregational Meeting - Service at 10:00AM July 28 - Summer Concert (See flier enclosed) Aug. 11 - Museum of Jewish Heritage Bus Trip (See flier enclosed) Aug. 20 - Golf Outing & Dinner (See flier enclosed) Aug. 25 - Annual Picnic - Tobyhanna State Park
2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - JUNE 2019 by Meredith Stempel
PAGE TWO/B’NAI HARIM
Calling on all hoarders. I am seriously considering starting a support group, Hoarders Not Anonymous. It’s difficult to be anonymous with this habit unless you are a hermit. I happened to flip through the book, Dr. Schulze’s 20 Powerful Steps To A Healthier Life, in which a chapter entitled, “Trashing”, caught my eye. Dr. Schulze recommended ridding oneself of “toxic”, “burdensome” possessions that instead of enhancing one’s life, added stress. As an example he referred to items you may look upon as precious relics, but you know deep down they are not. Regarding the odds and ends in your attic, garage, and basement that you think you may need one day, think again. Chances are slim to none that you will ever have use for them. Just throw them out. Dr. Schulze made the point that some day your kids will think bitterly towards you (he said it in stronger terms) if when you pass away they are bur-dened with trash you could not part with and they end up selling it at a garage sale for a paltry sum. I can re-late to Dr. Schulze’s message. There are places in my home, etc. that are clutter magnets. Immediately after I do a clean-out, stuff starts to accumulate again. My husband, Mikhail, and I happened to tune in to the show, “Conan”, several years ago. One of the skits entitled, ”Hoarders’ Hospital”, takes place in the operating room of a hospital. A patient is being wheeled in and there is no room on the operating room table to put him. One member of the staff picks up a bottle of medication and notes that that the expiration date was over ten years ago and he comments that everyone knows that expiration dates don’t mean anything. Actually, they do. Get rid of the excess baggage. You will feel lighter. If you cannot, join a support group. Social facilitation sometimes helps.
KIDDUSH HOSTS
Kiddushes are such a delightful part of socializing after a Saturday Morning service. We always welcome hosts for our Kiddushes. The cost of sponsoring is $65.00 and includes bagels, cream cheese, coffee, tea, orange juice, milk and all needed paper goods. Sponsors are welcome to supplement the Kiddush. To host a Kiddush, call Roberta Pineiro (570) 839-0107.
June 8th - From the Kiddush Fund June 9th - Beverly Novick - Bev will be reading from the Torah
TEMPLE JUDAICA SHOP by Norma Krasne-Levine
June is busting out all over the Poconos and our Judaica Shop is filled with a large variety of gifts for all occasions. Please check out the case the next time you are in Temple. If you need something special, I will be happy to get it for you. You can contact me at [email protected]. Thanks to everyone who has supplied the RSVP Merry Mat Makers with Plarn and plastic bags. Because of your efforts we have been able to complete and distribute 46 waterproof and
bugproof mats to members of the Pocono Homeless Community. Word has spread and many individuals have walked in the rain to our distribution locations waiting for mats. We have seen tears of appreciation and grati-tude for you and your efforts.
TIKKUN OLAM by Steven Levine
I want to thank all our Temple members who have given bags of clothing, coats and shoes. There is now a great need for summer clothing for children of all ages. This means: socks, un-derwear, tops and bottoms for boys and girls. FYI Tucker Carlson of FOX News has been do-ing a series entitled “The Homeless Crisis in America”. It shows how the decay of the great American cities has a spill over effect to surrounding communities. We here in the Poconos feel
that effect as a result of the homeless situations in New York, New Jersey and Philly.
PAGE THREE/B’NAI HARIM
BOOK CLUB NEWS - JUNE 2019 by Barbara Kapitansky
Our next book club meeting will be on July 6, 2019 after the Oneg. Our selection is the “Button Man” by Andrew Gross. The story takes place from 1905 to 1935, and traces the rise of a Jewish immigrant family living on the streets of New York’s Lower East Side. The story revolves around three brothers, two who work in the city’s bustling garment industry
taking every opportunity to learn the trade and build their own business. The third brother becomes in-volved with a gang of local friends who have turned to a life of crime. The rise of Jewish organized crime during the 1930’s often preyed on the garment industry and the brave few who stood up against them. This is a great read……..Come join us on Saturday, July 6, 2019 after the Oneg to discuss this riveting story. All congregants are welcome to attend.
Beyond Anne Frank My last trip to the Netherlands for a while. My children are returning to the United States. I had visited most tourist attractions in my many visits, so this time I decided to visit those sites that I might have missed. The Jewish Cultural Quarter https://jck.nl/en/page/locations offered a glimpse into Jewish history, religion and the Holocaust and I spent three
days going to the five locations and exploring the surrounding areas of the Jewish center of life in Amsterdam. With history dating back to the 1300’s, Amsterdam has been referred to as Jerusalem of the West. Wikipedia’s fascinating article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_the_Netherlands provides information on how Jews were classified by the number of Jewish grandparents they had and why the extermination of Jews in Amsterdam was so “successful.” During the Nazi occupation in 1941 the census shows that there were 154,887 Jews in the Netherlands. In 1947 the Dutch census shows only 14,346 Jews remained. An exhibit on Children in the Holocaust showed memorabilia, toys, and stories of children all of whom perished. Photos of couples wearing yellow stars as they married, par-tied, shopped and left on cattle cars to their deaths are haunting me. How could this happen? Why did-n’t more people resist? So, what do we do with this? An interesting private interactive exhibit showed horrifying photos and included video clips where various experts gave their opinion on whether these photos are appropriate to show to the public. You were then asked your opinion. Should the Holocaust exhibit include photos of naked men who are nothing but bones, children who have had medical experiments done to them? Photos where people may be identified? It is important to never forget. I was sad, angry and confused after my visit. You cannot help but wonder would you survive, or could you survive. It made me want to hear more about resistance and fighting back. So interestingly upon my return My Jewish Learning had an article about the Jewish mobsters who fought the Nazis. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/but-they-were-good-to-their-people/ Judge Nathan Perlman asks Meyer Lansky’s help with the Bund rallies, provided that Lansky’s henchmen stopped short of killing any Bundists. Although Lansky is disappointed that he has to use some restraint, he accepts
Perlman’s terms except for one: he would take no money for the work. Again, I start feeling conflicted but need to realize the need to fight back. I’m reminded of a story from my childhood. My brother is friends with a young boy whose parents immigrated from Poland. It is the early 1960s and they get into a fight and the boy calls my brother a “dirty Jew.” As they tumble around, my brother accidentally breaks the boy’s arm. Both the boy’s parents and mine were upset. The boy’s parents make him apol-ogize to my brother and my parents. All parents are embarrassed by this incident. My parents pay for Charlie’s cast. No one calls my brother a dirty Jew to his face ever again! Let’s not be silent when we hear hateful rhetoric. Let’s hear
more about how we fight back. Let’s honor the memory of those before us.
NETTING IT OUT by Honi Gruenberg
The little girl in white was the sole survivor
PAGE FOUR/B’NAI HARIM
“FROM KEVIN J. LEDDY’S BOOK MY BROOKLYN...YOUR BROOKLYN - shared by George Novick”
Growing up in my beloved Brooklyn I never knew the difference between all the Religions that shared the geographically small corner of the world that I inhabited. I am 10 years old so it is 1970 in the world’s largest ethnic melting pot we called home. I can't speak for other young men of other faiths so I can only relate to you what my views were and just how it af-fected my experience as I was coming of age in the greatest little city on this planet. My Dad was a New York City Fireman so that meant he got his paycheck every other week as was the law of New York State and all its employees, whether you be a Police Officer or Sanitation worker and or any other person who worked for the State. Now that being said I relate to you the chaos that that caused in my home when March gave way to April and the Easter Season was thrust upon us as a family. T o most Irish, Italian, Polish, English and every other nationality that fell under the umbrella of Christianity the Easter season was a major financial burden that was accepted as just "our way of life" and being paid every other week only added to the interruption of our lives You see in my beloved Brooklyn, and I am willing to bet on every corner of this planet where Chris-tians gathered, Easter Sunday for some reason became a day of pageantry and like every good Christian family we adhered to its tradition. This particular year Dad got paid on Good Friday and the stores were all closed by the time my Mom was able to hold in her hand the cashed check from the New York City Fire Dept. which meant we had to shop for our Easter Outfits on Saturday, the very day before Easter Sunday.. Now I don't know if you realize exactly what that meant to a woman who had five children that needed to be dressed for Easter Sunday but I will let you know it was far from easy. Saturday morning following Good Friday was the very first day of our Easter Vacation from school and we, as grade school children, welcomed the break and looked forward to the fun things that were to follow on "Our Block". Only for me and my brothers and sisters it was to be a day spent shopping for our Easters outfits due to the pay schedule of New York State. There was to be no fun until our outfits were selected and hanging in our closets or at the foot of our bunkbeds in my and my brothers Michael and Brian Leddy case. We the children of this mother with the determination of making sure her children were not to be viewed as vagabonds on Easter Sunday ceremoniously marched down East 55th Street to the bus stop on Ave N and stood there waiting for the ever present and reliable Flatbush Ave B-41 Bus to deliver us to downtown Brooklyn to A&S or Gimbels or Mays (whichever had the best sales) on Fulton Street. My Mom knew exactly where to shop for each one of her kids and knew which store harbored the best discounts, she was great at that. Now please keep in mind it was Friday that my Dad got paid and living from Paycheck to Paycheck we were shopping THE Saturday before Easter therefore sizes were not abundant and the selections were minimal and not to mention, whatever purchases were made ...there was no time for alterations!!! Mom was like a General as she commanded the troops (me and my brothers and sisters) from one Department store to the next department store. Knowing to herself that if she did not maximize her sav-ings on each one of us kids with what limited funds she had (and my baby sister Maryann Leddy was a constant effort because this year she was a ....6X... the hardest size on the planet to find yet Mom was up to the task and knew Korvettes was the place to find it) , there was a strong chance we would not have enough for the bus ride home after the subway and would be walking home from the Junction on Nostrand Ave and Flatbush Ave. Easter Sunday arrived the very next Morning and we all stood in the living room wearing our brand new Easter outfits ...my brothers and I in our bell bottomed slacks with patterned sport coats and my sisters in their dresses bonnets and pocketbooks with white Patent Leather shoes and awaited Mom’s inspection, We performed this ritual every Sunday, but this day was no ordi-nary Sunday, and we were all well aware of its magnitude. You see back in the days that I speak of there was not a lot for Moms to showcase what they accomplished on a daily basis. There were no awards for the cleanest home, or the whitest sheets, or the cleanest sidewalk or the shiniest dining room table, or the clearest windows, or the best crease in her children's ironed pair of pants or the taste of the magnificent meals she prepared 365 days a year. However on this day every other Mom looked over every child including her own and others and judged them just to see if she herself was up to par. This I believe at the time was the closest thing to "'The Mom Olympics" to be honest. I might be just a tad prejudiced but I always thought myself and my brothers and sisters to be the best dressed and best groomed of all my friends and classmates ....and for that Mommy ....Thank You. I always felt so proud standing in Church next to you during Easter Mass.
PAGE FIVE/B’NAI HARIM
DONATIONS
YAHRZEIT FUND (Cont’d) From: Sheryl Waxberg In memory of her Father, Harry Waxbertg. From: Marcia Joslin In memory of her Husband, Julius Joslin and her Father, Manuel Newman. From: Marjorie & Alan Seger In memory of Marjorie’s Mother, Charlotte Corinoff. From: Maddi Kane In memory of her Mother, Anne Auslander. From: Stan Kapitansky In memory of his Mother, Gertrude Kapitansky. From: Alan Wismer In memory of his Sister, Barbara Deschler.
YAHRZEIT FUND
.
NO ONE SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY TO YOU?
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY
Birthdays/Anniversaries/Yahrzeit Rememberances/Shabbat Dates
and Film Festival information - On page 6
From: Irene Stolzenberg In memory of her Sister, Selma Edelbaum. From: Sam Neulinger In memory of his Sister-in-Law, Marian Siegel. From: Honi Gruenberg & Skip Spady In memory of Honi’s Grandfather, Emmett - Grandpa you would be so happy to know that Emilia carries on your name and sense of humor! From: Dorothy Jablonka In memory of her Aunt, Minnie Konigsberg.
If you want good wishes and have not seen your name up in lights, please provide Honi Gruenberg with your birthday(s) and anniversary(s). She will update the list and make sure you get recognized on your special day. Please send to [email protected] or call (570) 620-9315.
From: Mel & Maddy Mogel For #AJR613 Blitz
Although B'nai Harim's eighth annual golf outing on August 20, 2019 seems a long way away, plans are already being made by the golf outing committee to make this our biggest fundraiser yet. We will be meeting on June 3 to get to work planning all the elements that go into making the outing very successful. We will be playing golf at the Pinecrest Lake Golf Club and enjoying a great dinner at the Lake Naomi Club with raffles, prizes and baskets for bidding. More details will be publicized as our planning continues. If you would like to join the committee, please call Lew
Stolzenberg at 347-672-6643 or Phyllis Miller at 570-355-5350.
B’NAI HARIM’S 8TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING AUGUST 20, 2019
GENERAL FUND
From: Judi, Richard & Sandy Pilatsky and Barbara Pilatsky Silverberg In memory of their cousin Rich Kelmans. We know how much the temple meant to him and how wonder-ful you have been to our cousin Rose. From: Sheila Gutsait Where needed. From: Ira L & Tina A Blankstein In memory of Richard Kelmans.
MEMORIAL BOARD
PAGE SIX/ B’NAI HARIM
If you take photos at any Temple func-tion, PLEASE send them to my e-mail [email protected] and identify the occa-sion and the faces. These photos make
our publicity more interesting to the community. Thanks, Lee Emerson
JUNE 4 Samuel Irwin Potter 1 SIVAN 7 Susan Blum
9 Saul Singman 6 SIVAN 10 David Kerdeman Minnie Konigsberg 7 SIVAN Minnie Scharf 7 SIVAN 11 Lillian Dockswell Abraham Wilder 8 SIVAN 13 Bessie Heller 16 Emmett Gruenberg 17 Jay Brown 18 Florita Cowan Thelma Isaacson 15 SIVAN Harry Kane Marvin Katz 19 Fayeann Gibbons 21 Meir Jablonka 18 SIVAN 23 Helen Jablonka 20 SIVAN 25 Blossom Heide 26 Esther Leah Fisch 23 SIVAN Enid Sue Potter 23 SIVAN 28 Gertrude Kapitansky 25 SIVAN
YAHRZEIT REMEMBRANCE
REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES BY ADDING THEIR NAMES TO OUR MEMORIAL BOARD— The cost for each plaque (one name per plaque) is $236. A minimum of $50 must accompany each request. The balance can be paid over one year for 1 or 2 plaques and/or two years for more than 2 plaques. For further information, please contact Stan Kapitansky, (718) 428-2140 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Copies of the order form will be available at the temple, or you may download a copy directly from the web site. Stan Kapitansky, Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson
CELEBRATIONS
IF YOU TAKE PHOTOS
TREE OF LIFE
Dear friends! Every leaf on our beauti-ful Tree of Life is filled with your good news and events. It’s time to order a new batch! I am ready to take your
orders. Each leaf costs just triple Chai ($54.00) and will be engraved to your specifications. Please call Julia Shaykevich at (570) 620-0104 or contact her by e-mail at [email protected] to place your order.
ANNIVERSARIES
Gail Green June 3 Rose Gelbard June 4 Leslie Stine June 13 Bonnie Bornstein Fertel June 14 Roberta Pineiro June 18
Larry Chimerine June 22 George Novick July 3 Barney Goldfinger July 30 Ruth Michel July 30
Sara & Joe Bedrick June 19
Maddy & Mel Mogel June 28
Barbara & Richard Feman June 30
Alla Leybinsky
& Mikhail Zazovskiy July 2
Karen & Richard Miller July 5
Irene & Lewis Stolzenberg July 7
Ruth & Philip Michel July 7
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the respective author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Congre-gation B’nai Harim or its members.
DISCLAIMER
PATRONIZE B’NAI HARIM’S ADVERTISERS YOUR PRINT PROJECTS ARE OUR PRIORITY
Let The UPS Store print your next project. No job too large or small - Newsletters, flyers, manuals
-A variety of finish options-
413 ROUTE 940, MT. POCONO, PA 18344 (570) 839-8010 (570) 839-8020
Store [email protected]
PAGE SEVEN/B’NAI HARIM
The Area’s Only Jewish Assisted Senior Living So Much Comfort So Close to Home
465 Venard Rd. Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Phone: 50-585-4400 Fax: 570-585-4500
Website: www.elangardens.org
JEWISH FAMILYSERVICES
Jewish Family Service is in need of Kosher food and toiletries marked with a recognized symbol. Please remember to bring a donation of at least one item when you visit the synagogue. All items
must be kosher, unopened and within the expiration date on the packaging. If each one of us brings one can or box of food each time we come to the Temple, it will make a real difference to the needy in our commu-nity. You can also write a check to “Jewish Family Service of Northeast Pennsylvania” and it will be delivered. It is also tax deductible. Thank you and keep up the great work. We hope you will continue to be generous throughout the year.
Jerry Goodstein
MISHEBEIRACH LIST
When putting a person onto the Mishebeirach List, it should be with person’s permission. Would the person like to be listed with their Eng-lish or Hebrew name? Please include a contact name and telephone number so that Rabbi Peg
may follow up with the person or with the member who placed the name on the list. Our policy now states that the list will be limited to members and their immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings and their spouses, children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses). Con-gregants are strongly encouraged to mention any person aloud at the appropriate time during the service, so we can pray for their improved health. REMEMBER TO HAVE THE PERSON’S NAME REMOVED, IF THE PERSON NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE ON THE LIST.
Our Yahrzeit list is open not only to those who have plaques, but to the entire congre-gation. This will allow you to remember your loved ones on their anniversary date.
The forms available at the Temple can be completed and returned directly to me. With this information, a reminder will be sent to you at the appropriate time, and the name of your loved one will be added to our kaddish list for that date. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected], 718-428-2140 or 570-646-4668.
Sincerely, Stan Kapitansky Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson
YAHRZEIT NOTIFICATION
In addition to the monthly newsletter, we publish a weekly online newsletter for all members with e-mail
addresses and Internet access. If you do not want to re-ceive email announcements or cannot access the Internet, please call Richard Feman 570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.
WEEKLY ONLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congregation B’nai Harim
PO Box 757 5349 Pocono Crest Road Pocono Pines, PA, 18350
http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org
PHONE: Message Center (570) 646-0100
E-Mail:
DIRECTIONS Driving East on Route 940, turn right at the Pocono Pines traffic light at Route 423, continue on Pocono Crest road (formerly Sullivan Road) about 1&1/2 miles. Synagogue on left (before reach-ing 940). Driving West on Route 940, turn left at intersection of Pocono Crest Road (formerly Sullivan Road), and the Syna-
gogue will be on the right.(approx. 1/10th of a mile).
Next Board Meeting date: Sunday, June 16th at 9:30 AM. To be put on the agenda, contact Meredith Stempel at (570) 242-6244 no later than five days prior to the meeting.
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
This is your newsletter, and we want your input. When
you have any news to share, please let us know so we
can publish it.
Deadline is the 20th of the month. News can be sent
(using WORD) to Paula Guenst at [email protected].
The newsletter is published each month. Newsletter
subscriptions are available for $18 per year to non-
members of Congregation B’nai Harim. Please contact
Barbara Feman.
In addition to the monthly newsletter, we distribute
weekly online announcements to all members with
e-mail addresses and Internet access. If you have not
been receiving this please contact Richard Feman at
570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.
CONGREGATION B’NAI HARIM PO Box 757
5349 Pocono Crest Road Pocono Pines, PA 18350
RECURRING SCHEDULES Services Sat. 10:15 AM Shabbat Dinner Fri. 6:30 PM Religious School Sat. 9:00AM
PAGE EIGHT/B’NAI HARIM
Rabbi: Peg Kershenbaum Pres.: Meredith Stempel VP: Al Wismer Sec.: Carol Yates Treas.: Steve Bram Editor: Honi Gruenberg Member of the URJ - Union For Reform Judaism
The members of B’nai Harim are a very caring, close group but sometimes a member needs a little extra help. If you know of someone who needs a phone call or a visit, please either encourage them to call the Rabbi directly or email her yourself to let her know one of her congregants needs help.
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FOR THE JULY NEWSLETTER IS JUNE 20TH.
NEED SOME CHICKEN SOUP
NEED A CALL FROM RABBI?
KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES?
If you have recently moved, please send your new information to Honi Gruenberg at [email protected]. She will update the Membership list and generate a new list.
NEW ADDRESS?
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
