Ha’ShofarVOLUME XI, ISSUE 3

CONGREGATION

BETH ISRAEL

March 2019

InsidePrayer Corner

..................... p. 2

Ongoing Events

..................... p. 3

Friday Noon

Study Group .......

......................p. 4

Gift Shop

................... p. 11

Donations .... p. 20

March

Calendar .... p. 22

I recently asked a student preparing to become

Bat Mitzvah which three Jewish holidays she

thought to be most well-known. Her answer:

Hanukkah, Passover, and Purim. Halavai! I wish

it were only so! Let alone non-Jews, even most

Jews do not seem to be familiar with the inner

workings of Purim. Most unknowingly think of

it, in our country, as the Jewish Halloween; it is

more about the costumes and parties than any-

thing else. And the truth is that while this is a fun

aspect of Purim, it really misses the mark of what

the holiday is all about.

Other than the costumes, the element which I be-

lieve most Jews are familiar with is the mitzvah

of reading Megillat Esther. We have developed

certain customs, such as: repeating different

verses, chanting particular sections in special

trope, and of course, the most well-known, of em-

ploying various methods of blotting out the name

of Haman. Our understanding is that all of these

practices evolved as a way of engaging children

in the experience. But the truth is that the story

itself, filled with sexual inuendo and violence, is

hardly appropriate for children! In his little guide-

book to the laws of Purim, Rabbi Eliezer

Melamed says this regarding children on Purim:

It is a mitzvah to educate children about the

mitzvot, so from the time when a son or

daughter reaches the age of comprehending

the megillah and they are able to listen to its

entire recitation according to halakhah, then

one needs to educate them appropriately. This

matter is not dependent on age, rather it is

based on the specific development of each

boy or girl. Since the recitation of the

megillah is long, many will not be able to

reach a maturity in which they can listen to

the entire megillah according to halakhah

until after age nine. But it is a good practice

to bring smaller children into the synagogue

to listen to the megillah, even as young as five

or six. Even though they are still not at the

age of educating them on the recitation of the

megillah, because they are not able to grasp

the details necessary to listen to all of it, in

any event once they understand the essence

of the story it is good to bring them. – Peninei

Halakhah: Purim 15:9

The question rises, for me, what is the story really

about? What is this essence to which R’ Melamed

refers? Is it about the characters and their actions?

Is it about the history of Jews in Persia? Or is

there something deeper going on? Now, consid-

ering the sexual and violent nature of the story, I

have a hard time believing that R’ Melamed is

implying that children as young as five or six

could grasp those details. The question emerges,

what is the purpose of the mitzvah to recite the

Megillah? The general global custom is to recite

the Megillah in Hebrew, and while this practice

may accustom a child to develop the sitzfleisch

necessary to sit through the whole reading, it does

not accustom them to understand the details of

the text. But here’s the actual law of reciting the

Megillah from Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher in his

14th century lawbook, the Arba’ah Turim:

The Megillah may be read in any language just

so long as one understands that language and

that it is written in that language. But if one does

The Essence of Purim By: Rabbi Justin Goldstein

Megillah Reading

and Purim Party

March 20th

A monthly tour through the Siddur:

the meaning, significance, customs, laws,

history and choreography of prayer

Avot, the first blessing of the Amidah (pg. 159 of Lev Shalem) – In its traditional form, the first blessing of the Amidah

contains 42 words. In the mystical tradition, the number 42 represents the power of creation. The adjectives employed in

this blessing – ha’el ha’gadol ha’gibor v’ha’nora – appear in full in Deuteronomy and Nehemiah, and in part in Jeremiah.

It also appears elsewhere in the liturgy, in all likelihood inspired by the Amidah. The phrase el eliyon is used in Genesis and

Daniel. The remainder of the images and metaphors do not have a scriptural foundation, but are replete throughout early

rabbinic literature. The first blessing of the Amidah is associated with Avraham. Accordingly, the closing phrase of the

blessing which references God as Magen Avraham – the shield Avraham – is a phrase which is used the first time Avraham

speaks with God. The essential driving force to this blessing is held in the notion that God is a source of love, that our

ancestors – namely Avraham – embodied that attribute of love, and that we experience God’s love through the merit of our

ancestors.

Next month … Gevurot – the second blessing of the Amidah

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 2

Refuah ShleimahTo Carol Deutsch, Ezra Landau, Neil McCollum

not understand the language in which it is being read or it

is in written in that language, one has not fulfilled their ob-

ligation. If it is in Hebrew, anyone has fulfilled their obliga-

tion even if they do not understand it. (Orah Hayyim 690:8).

There are four primary mitzvot associated with Purim which

help us to understand the essence to which R’ Melamed

refers: hearing Megillat Esther, having fun at a party, giving

food to friends, and giving gifts to the poor. Perhaps the rea-

son it is so important to hear the story and understand its

essence, is that the real essence of the Book of Esther is the

damage which hierarchy and misused power cause to indi-

viduals and communities. We listen to the story, which re-

minds of this phenomenon, and are required to

celebrate life’s blessing even among life’s challenges, and

that we do so by showing gratitude to the people in our lives

and seeking equity for those in our communities who are

vulnerable. A parent’s responsibility is not only to teach a

child about Mordechai and Esther, Achashverosh and

Haman, but also to rear our children to be sensitive to the

unequal distribution of power. The only way to adequately

educate our children about this reality is to continue to open

ourselves, in heart and mind, to increasing our awareness of

the inherent inequality in human society. Now if we don’t

develop to the stizfleisch to listen to the gantza megillah,

then how are we going to address systemic inequality?! So,

it’s not a solution, but perhaps meditating on the essence of

the Megillah in a language you actually understand is a good

start – come hear the Megillah chanted in English! More de-

tails inside.

The Essence of Purimcontinued from page 1

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 3

Social Action Volunteer Opportunities

Help serving dinner at the Western Carolina Rescue Mission on the third Tuesday of the month from 4:00 pm to

5:30 pm. The Rescue Mission is located at 225 Patton Avenue, Asheville. Contact Alan Escovitz aescovitz@charter.net

or Gail Gordon socialaction1@bethisraelnc.org.

Help with our involvement with Room In the Inn. Contact Jan Zollars warreallysucks@yahoo.com or Gail Gordon

socialaction1@bethisraelnc.org.

Ongoing CBI Events

Torah on Tap – A Lively Group Discussion

Led by Rabbi Goldstein

The last Sunday of the month 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. We will be meeting at Habitat Tavern & Commons,

174 Broadway, Asheville 28801. You are welcome to bring a snack or meal as Habitat does not serve

food. Dog-friendly with non-alcoholic options.

Meet the Midrash

Out of the texts of the Torah, the Rabbis created teachings bringing deeper meanings to the wisdom of the Jewish

people known as Midrash. Each week we will explore some of these teachings based on the weekly Torah portion.

We will gain not only an understanding of what the Rabbis were teaching, but how and why they were able to offer

these teachings. While there are many compilations of Midrash from different periods in Jewish history, we will

focus our studies on Midrash Rabbah. Wednesdays 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm

Hasidishe Kiddushled by Rabbi Goldstein

Fill your heart and soul with Torah (and schnapps...) and join together to learn Hasidic thought and wisdom on parashat

ha'shavu’a, the weekly Torah portion. Last Shabbat of each month at 12:30 pm.

Hazak

Hazak is a group of empty nesters who meet monthly for good food and conversation at local restaurants. The group

usually meets the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 pm, barring holiday conflicts. Anyone who is interested can

be added to the email list. Contact Sue Lerner.

Torah on Tap will not meet in February. We are seeking an

alternative venue to replace Habitat Tavern, which will be

closing. Our thanks to Habitat for their gracious

hospitality.We’ll announce a new venue as soon as we have

one.

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CBI’s Friday Noon Study Group will be exploring

Amos Oz’s

Dear Zealots: Letters from a Divided

Land

About two months ago, the world lost Amos Oz, one of Israel’s greatest writers and intellectuals. Starting on March 1, we will be reading and discussing his last work of non-fiction, a collection of three essays on 1) the universal nature of fanaticism and its possible cures, 2) the Jewish roots of humanism and the need for a secular pride in Israel, and 3) the geopolitical standing of Israel in the wider Middle East and internationally. Our informal discussion group meets every Friday from 12-1 in the CBI Library. All are welcome to join us, regardless of their level of expertise or attendance at previous noon study group discussions. Oz’s book is available on a variety of internet outlets. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

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In the last essay on the subject I indicated that the exact time

and place of origin of the synagogue can no longer be deter-

mined. The rabbinic sources do not offer us any clues on the

subject.

Nothing prevents us, however, from making educated

guesses. The suggestion that the term synagogue, designating

both a Jewish assembly and a specific locus of that assembly

in terms of a building, first originated in the Babylonian exile,

i.e., after 586 BCE, in response to the need of those deprived

of the Jerusalem Temple where they used to pray and teach,

makes most sense. After the exiled Jews' liberation and return

home from Babylon in 538 BCE and the restoration of the

Jerusalem Temple in 515 BCE, these Jewish folks retained

the by now established institution of the synagogue. The

residents of Jerusalem and visitors to the city were once again

able to attend the reading of Torah in the Temple while those

outside of Jerusalem attended Torah readings in their respec-

tive local synagogues. This arrangement was further consol-

idated in the Persian period, especially with the work of Ezra

in the 5th c. BCE. But there are, as can be expected, varia-

tions of this explanation.

Most excavated synagogues in Israel, the Palestinian territo-

ries and the Golan Heights, date from the Roman and Byzan-

tine periods from the 3rd to the 7th c. CE. Synagogues dated

to before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE are

at Gamla, Masada and Herodium.

What we know about the early synagogue, its congregational

functions which, in turn, determined its physical layout,

comes to us from Hellenistic Jewish writings (Philo and Jose-

phus), early rabbinical writings, archaeological and epigraph-

ical material and the New Testament.

From both Mishna and Tosephta we learn that there was a

synagogue within the precincts of the Temple itself. It was

located in the hall of hewn stones. Its purpose was seemingly

for the reading of Torah and it was adjoined by a house of

study. Both Jewish and New Testament sources attest the

existence of several synagogues outside the Jerusalem

Temple.

One of the most intriguing Greek inscriptions found in exca-

vations on the hill Ophel SW of Jerusalem reads as follows:

Theodotos, son of Vettenos, priest and archisynagogos [syn-

agogue leader], son of a archisynagogos and grandson of a

archisynagogos, built the synagogue for the reading of the

Torah and study of the commandments and the guest house

and the rooms and supplies of water as an inn for those in

need when coming from abroad, which his fathers and the

elders and Simonides founded.

Many synagogues dating to the Talmudic era and onwards

had annexes to the main structure, suggesting that they also

functioned as a type of hostel or community center.

This said, I want to point to the similarity of function between

those ancient ones and our synagogue.

The long ago established twin meaning of the term syna-

gogue as assembly of Jews and the physical locus of assem-

bly has been maintained to this day. The activity of the twice

weekly formal reading of Torah and that of Shabbat and

festival readings continues to be observed. The study of Torah

and other Jewish texts has been an ongoing activity ever since

the founding of the synagogue. And there is, of course, our

synagogue building, newly refurbished.

Given the deterioration of our country's political life these

two last years and our president's ongoing hate-mongering

against refugees from Central and Latin America fleeing to

save their lives, many synagogues and churches have

declared themselves places of refuge, sheltering these

women, men and children against forced deportation by our

Immigration and Customs Enforcement organism, better

known by its acronym I.C.E. I am proud of the many

churches and synagogues in our country, having annexes

similar to those described (above) in the ancient Theodotos

inscription, that follow the Hebrew Bible's admonition on the

establishment of Cities of Refuge (Hebrew: 'arey miklat) or

Sanctuary Cities where safety from unjustified pursuit is

offered to innocents even today.

I am pleased that Congregation Beth Israel, our synagogue,

supports the Sanctuary Movement.

Next time: ancient synagogue buildings, layout and interiors.

The Ancient Synagogue:A Mini-Introduction - Essay #2

By: Walter Ziffer

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AmiciMusic, Asheville's own award-winning chamber music

ensemble, returns to Congregation Beth Israel for another

exciting Jewish Jazz concert with all new music. Steve Loew,

clarinet, and Daniel Weiser, piano will perform this incredible

program of clarinet and piano music that highlight some im-

portant Klezmer influences on the jazz instrumentalists and

composers of this period, many of whom were Jewish. Dr.

Weiser will tell the fascinating story of the great fusion of mu-

sical styles from ragtime to blues to Klezmer that helped pro-

duce the new Jazz style in New York City in the first decades

of the 20th century as the wave of Jewish immigrants from

Eastern Europe met up with the Great Migration of African-

Americans from the South. This program features some more

wonderful Klezmer-inspired pieces by Lev Kogan and

Michele Magnani, as well as works by Benny Goodman,

George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, and more. Loew and

Weiser have performed in over 20 countries around the world

and put on a show that is second to none. You will not want

to miss this!

Our Madrichim Help You Create

Personal and Meaningful Programs at CBI

At its core, the CBI Madrichim initiative is designed to engage each and every member on a personal level; empower

each of us to create the Jewish experiences that are meaningful for us; and, in doing so, enhance our potential for

authentic Jewish expression. Success is when we realize that we benefit as much by supporting another’s personal

journey as we do from the program itself. What is your passion or interest: a class, a club, a social action program, a

fundraiser, a tikkun olam project, a social event? Think about it. Then contact one of the folks below and let us help

you make it happen!

CBI MadrichimAli Climo Sally Gooze

Caren Kessler Alan Silverman Mike Weizman

CBI Music on Murdock presents:

Amici Music Performing Jewish Jazz 3

229 Murdock Avenue

Sunday, May 5 at 2:00 pm

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Dinner and a Movie returns to CBI! Sun March 10th, don’t miss it! CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY ON RUSSIAN JEWS

The critically acclaimed documentary trilogy “Russian Jews” intimately portrays the stories of Russian Jewry throughout the 20th century. The first film of the trilogy will be screened at CBI along with a dairy/parve potluck dinner, all on Sunday March 10th starting at 5:00 PM.

After a record-breaking theatrical release across Russia, the film has enjoyed a premiere at Israel’s Knesset and sold-out screenings across the United States, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Latvia and Georgia. The trilogy has graced Jewish film festivals in Moscow, Manchester, Atlanta and Australia. “Russian Jews” was created by famous Russian journalist/TV host Leonid Parfenov, and provides much-needed context for our own Russian-Jewish heritage and history.

The first film of the trilogy, “Russian Jews. Film 1. Before the Revolution,” tells the story of the Jewish people across the Russian Empire, their traditional way of life and their assimilation into society at large, including famous bankers, scientists and artists who reshaped Russian Jews’ attitudes toward the rites of their ancestry. It is a story about the Beilis Affair, the pogroms and about the first wave of Jewish emigration from Russia. The film also chronicles the revolutionaries who shattered the Tsarist regime and changed the fate of the country in October 1917. Hebrew and English subtitles are provided throughout.

Please join together to nosh, schmooze and enjoy the first of this amazing film trilogy in CBI’s newly renovated social hall! Dairy/parve potluck (coffee/tea provided).

Sunday March 10, 5:00 – 7:30 or 8:00 PM

Congregation Beth Israel, 229 Murdock Ave., Asheville NC

This event sponsored by the Adult Education Committee of Congregation Beth Israel, Asheville NC

CBI Committee News

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 11

Our Gift ShopGift Shop Hours

Fridays 11:30 am to 3:00 pm

Sundays* 9:45 am to 12:15 pm *when Sunday School is in session

Please call Carol Samsky at (828) 676-0765 to arrange for opening the shop at other

times and for special orders.

The Gift Shop is in full swing. In anticipation of Passover, we have numerous items to decorate

and delight your table, as well as novelty items for the children to keep the seder lively and

meaningful.

Please visit us! You will find that our shelves contain works of Judaica from many local artists,

some of whom are juried members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and some of whom are

members of our own congregation. We will be featuring these artists in Ha Shofar in the coming

months, telling you a little about them and their work.

Leah Leitson

Leah Leitson grew up in Flint, Michigan. She along with her sister and other family members travelled to Vienna in 2016

where they placed a Stone of remembrance for the victims of the Shoah on her mother's family home. Her mother, Hanny,

had fled Vienna on a kinder transport in 1939; Hanny's brother Robert had escaped to Bolivia in 1938 at the age of 18; their

parents managed to sail to New York in 1940. Unfortunately, their father passed away before the family was reunited after

the war. Hanny is now 93 and lives in Chicago near her son.

Leah studied ceramics as an undergraduate at Alfred State College of Ceramics and completed her MFA in ceramics at

Louisiana State University. She is a full-time professor of Ceramics at Warren Wilson College. She also produces work in

her West Asheville studio. She is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Her work has been included in 500

Judaica published by Lark Books.

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 12

Have You Tried Out Our

Web Check Payment System?CBI’s Web Check Payment system is being used by quite a few congregants. Try it out, if you haven’t already. It’s an

easy-to-use, NO FEE way to make any of your payments to CBI – Dues, Bet Sefer, Ingles Gift Cards, or Donations. This

is a direct debit from your checking account. You just need your routing number and account number. There is also a

place for a memo entry so that you can indicate the purpose of your donation (in memory of, a particular fund, etc.).

Please make sure to fill in the memo box so that we can allocate your payment correctly.

We have contracted with a third party web check provider for this service. They have all of the necessary security issues

in place to handle sensitive account information data. Beth Israel Web Check Payments Online

Click on the donate button at the left to pay your dues,

make a contribution, pay your Annual Appeal Pledge or

pay for your Ingles cards. This simple Web Check system

is a direct debit to your checking account and allows you

to send a message to the CBI office along with your pay-

ment. No need to write checks or make special trips to the

office.

Ingles cards are a no-cost fundraiser for Beth Israel. Each month

CBI members and friends buy $8,000 worth of Ingles gift cards to

help raise $400 for Beth Israel – over $4,800 annually. Ingles gift

cards can be used at any Ingles store for groceries, pharmacy items

and gasoline. Sign up now to receive your Ingles cards automati-

cally each month. The office also keeps an inventory of Ingles

cards for immediate purchase. Contact the CBI office to get more

information and/or to participate at 252-8660 or admin@bethis-

raelnc.org.

For Information about Burial Plots

at Lou Pollock Memorial Park

Contact:

Josh Tager admin@bethisraelnc.org

or Fred Lashley

Current rates: $1,000 CBI members;

$1,250 non-members

Lou Pollock Memorial Park CleanupSunday, March 3rd 10:00 am to noon

The annual Lou Pollock Memorial Park grounds cleanup will take place on Sunday March 3, from 10:00 am to noon.

All are welcome to pick up branches, rake leaves, prune weeds, etc. Bring shovels, rakes, loppers, and if anyone has a

chainsaw that would be helpful. Contact Josh Tager at 828 285-9995, joshtager@gmail.com, for further information.

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 13

Carolina Jews for Justice By: Frank Goldmith

Tamika Mallory and Asheville’s Jewish Community

Controversy can create change. The decision of a university

committee to invite Tamika Mallory to give the keynote

address at UNC-Asheville’s event honoring Dr. Martin Luther

King, Jr., was undeniably controversial. Ms. Mallory, one of

the four co-leaders of the national Women’s March, has long

been associated with, and has praised, Louis Farrakhan of the

Nation of Islam, and Farrakhan is unquestionably an anti-

Semite. She has been critical of the ADL (but only as a

suitable racial equity training organization), and she was

accused of helping oust a Jewish woman from a leadership role

in the Women’s March (a charge she denies). As a result, some

of Asheville’s Jewish community loudly protested the decision

to invite her, concluding that these acts and associations were

sufficient to establish that Ms. Mallory is an anti-Semite. A

petition denouncing the invitation was circulated nationally by

a California organization, and the university administration

was inundated with an orchestrated e-mail and telephone

campaign demanding that the invitation be rescinded.

The reaction represented a rush to judgment. We in Carolina

Jews for Justice were not so easily convinced. We are as

committed as anyone to combatting anti-Semitism, realizing

its genuine dangers tragically evidenced all too often in our

history. But while we abhor prejudice, we resist the temptation

to prejudge. We examined Ms. Mallory’s own words, not

assumptions about her or statements taken out of context.

Tamika Mallory has written that she believes that as

historically oppressed people, Blacks, Jews, Muslims and all

people must stand together to fight racism, anti-Semitism and

Islamophobia. Her statement expresses our own approach as

Jews committed to the struggle for racial and religious justice.

The Women’s March explicitly includes Jewish women in its

Steering Committee and lists Jewish women among the

victimized categories listed in its Unity Principles. Its leaders

– who include Ms. Mallory – have stated that emphatically we

do not support or endorse statements made by Minister Louis

Farrakhan about women, Jewish and LGBTQ communities.

We welcome this clear statement. Moreover, in a recent

interview, Ms. Mallory personally said that she does not agree

with Farrakhan’s demeaning remarks.

Most importantly, we were provided with the opportunity to

meet personally with Ms. Mallory in a small group setting and

have a frank dialogue with her. She was candid, direct, and

reassuring in her appreciation of the need for all who suffer

discrimination, specifically including Jews, to join together in

opposing white supremacy and systems of oppression. Her

message was one of love and unity, not divisiveness. No one

who attended that meeting could have come away from it

believing that Tamika Mallory is an anti-Semite.

That evening, in her speech, she again sounded the theme that

Dr. King’s legacy requires unity in fighting oppression. She

again denounced anti-Semitism. There was nothing in her talk

that was objectionable to anyone concerned with social justice.

And yet sadly, a small group of protestors from Asheville’s

Jewish community stood in the cold outside Lipinsky Hall,

where the talk was held, holding signs condemning Tamika

Mallory and refusing the Chancellor’s warm invitation to come

inside and listen to what she had to say. Their minds were made

up based on what they had heard about her from others. We

have to wonder about the effect of this Jewish demonstration

on the people of color who filed past the protesters holding

their posters disparaging this strong woman of color, a national

leader committed to fighting for justice for all. It cannot have

helped Black-Jewish relations. We want to assure our African-

American colleagues that the protestors represented a small

fraction of Asheville’s Jewish community, and that they do not

speak for all of us.

And how do we reach our Jewish brothers and sisters who

share our opposition to anti-Semitism but who sometimes hurl

that serious accusation too quickly and without sufficient

basis? This controversy has created an opportunity for

education, for peacemaking, for engaging in reasoned dialogue

about what is real anti-Semitism and what is illusory. Tamika

Mallory candidly admitted to us that she has learned from the

controversy; we must help our Jewish community learn as

well.

********************************

As always, we encourage you to tell your friends about

Carolina Jews for Justice. Ask them to go to our website and

sign up for mailings at www.carolinajewsforjustice.org. If in

the WNC area, have them contact Judy Leavitt at

judleavitt76@gmail.com or Frank Goldsmith at

goldsmith.cf@gmail.com.

Follow us on Facebook: Carolina Jews for Justice/West

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 14

Become a CBI Café Israel Sponsor!

This Year Café Israel Returns to CBI.

Sunday, May 19th 2019, 11:00 am – 2:00pm

In celebration of Israel’s 71st birthday

In addition to participating in this fun, family-friendly event, all are invited to become a Café Israel sponsor to help

CBI raise funds for our youth education programming. Your $50 sponsorship gift will be acknowledged in our event

program, as well as in our April, May and June HaShofar.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this sponsorship opportunity, please send your check or credit card infor-

mation to the CBI office before May 10th to be included in the event program.

Your Amazon Purchases Can Help Support Beth Israel

Your Amazon purchases can help support Beth Israel. Amazon Smile donates 1% of your purchases to CBI at no cost

to you. Just visit https://smile.amazon.com and select Congregation Beth Israel, then shop as you regularly would. If

you are a regular Amazon shopper, you can bookmark this website so as to find it easily every time you shop.

April Ha’Shofar Deadline –

March 10thI welcome your newsletter contributions, but

please, please respect the deadline of the

10th of the month

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Summary Report on Physical Sanctuary at UUCA

By: Marlene JacobyMany CBI members are aware that in the late summer of

2017, the Social Action Committee recommended to Board

that CBI support the sanctuary efforts being explored by our

neighboring congregation, UUCA. Very early that same year,

a group of UUCA members accurately predicted that undoc-

umented immigrants in Asheville might need help to avoid

deportation and separation from their families. Those UUCA

members met for months undergoing a painstakingly careful

discernment process to make a decision about becoming a

physical sanctuary for a person or persons to have a place to

stay. It was clear UUCA could not do this alone so they

reached out to other faith communities for help. After the CBI

Board’s approval, we joined 16 other congregations to sup-

port UUCA. In October of 2017, the membership of UUCA

voted to become a physical sanctuary knowing they had other

faith communities’ assistance.

After the April, 2018 ICE raids in Asheville area, UUCA was

contacted by CIMA (Companeros Immigrantes de las Mon-

tanas en Accion). There was a woman who needed to come

into sanctuary. She named herself La Mariposa (Butterfly) to

protect her identity. Mariposa moved into one of the houses

that UUCA owns on Edwin Avenue. A room had been pre-

pared, and countless other arrangements were made, includ-

ing obtaining a bed, a washer and dryer, a recliner for

volunteer companions and many other necessary items. A

volunteer corps of over 200 people agreed to stay with Mari-

posa 24/7. Recruiting, training and coordinating those volun-

teers was a monumental job, which was done, with

remarkable grace and good spirit, by Congregation Beth

HaTephila members Jackie Itzcovitz and Ellen Fisher. Many

members of CBI served as 24/7 companions and had the

opportunity to get to know Mariposa. She received medical

care and spiritual support. She began sewing tote bags, some

with Jewish themed fabrics. She especially enjoyed convers-

ing with Spanish speaking volunteer companions. Anyone

who spent time with her was touched by her appreciation and

impressed by her fortitude under very trying circumstances.

In December of 2018 it was determined that Mariposa could

go back to her own home while her immigration appeal is

being processed. Thank you to those of you who participated

in this worthwhile effort. We hope that Mariposa will not

have to return to sanctuary nor that another person will

require sanctuary, but if that happens, we trust that CBI mem-

bers will volunteer again.

(adapted from the Final Report on Physical Sanctuary at

UUCA, prepared by Venny Zachritz)

Working Wheels WNCBy: Bob Elkin

We recently donated our used car to Working Wheels WNC,

a local non-profit organization. Its mission is to recycle and

repair donated cars, transforming them into working wheels

for low-income working families. Donated cars are inspected

to verify their working condition and the organization will

make reasonable repairs to make sure families receive cars

that are in good working order. Recipients are referred to

Working Wheels by its partner agencies including ABBCM,

YWCA, Homeward Bound, Habitat for Humanity and

Helpmate.

It was extremely fulfilling to us to see that our old car was

put to good use and a local family received a safe and reliable

car. We even were sent a picture of the family that received

the car.

What makes Working Wheels different from other car dona-

tion programs advertised by non-profits, is that if Working

Wheels places your car with a family, you can deduct the fair

market value of the vehicle as a tax deduction. The others

will sell your car at an auction and you can only deduct the

proceeds from that auction sale.

You can find more information about Working Wheels WNC

at its website www.WorkingWheelsWNC.org or call

(828) 633-6888.

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 17

Our portable stage has arrived at CBI! The total stage surface is 8 x 16 feet, but given that it is made of 4 - 4 x 8 foot panels, it can be configured in several ways.

The stage comes with skirting around the edges and two sets of stairs.

As seen in these photos, when not in use, the stage stores neatly in our storage shed on a movable cart.

The stage will first be in use at the April 7th Ribbon Cutting & Building Rededication Ceremony. Our new stage will

allow CBI to expand the functionality of our remodeled social hall, and we look forward to many years of use.

Many thanks to the Wellish family for underwriting the purchase of the stage as part of our Capital Campaign.

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 18

Boray Perie HagafenBy: Ira Naiman

There’s nothing a cupcake and coffee can’t solve. – Marie Williams

Johnstone

If at first you don’t succeed, eat a cupcake.- Unknown author

Cupcakes have a special place in people’s hearts. They are a simple

and fun indulgence. Value Man always noticed the simple, but cute

label of Cupcake Vineyards, and in the distant past remembered

tasting one or two varietals. Well, it’s time for Value Man to get out

his wine glass and do some serious research. It’s hard work, but

someone has to do it.

Cupcake Vineyards is located in Livermore, California. They make

many types of wine from a multitude of grapes they source from

all over California, as well as from New Zealand (think Sauvignon

Blanc) and Argentina (Malbec is king there). The main wine maker

is a young female who just exudes joy. She obviously has a grape

job (sorry, Value Man had to slip that one in).

With his intrepid CBI Ingles card in hand, Value Man headed to his

local Ingles to see what Cupcake Vineyards could do for him.

First up is Cupcake Angel Food. This is a white grape blend with a

nice light yellow color. The label does not indicate which grapes

are used, but there is no doubt, at least Chardonnay and Sauvignon

Blanc are present. It has strong citrus and Granny Smith Apple

flavors, with a hint of vanilla. It’s a very pleasant white blend that

can hold its own with chicken, fish or pasta dishes. Wife really liked

this one, as she’s a fan of citrus, slightly tart flavors. At less than

$9 on sale at Ingles, Cupcake Angel Food is a keeper.

Next we have Cupcake Chardonnay. Their grapes come from

Monterey, California. It shows a nice yellow color, nice nose, and

flavors of apple, light lemon, vanilla and butter. Cupcake produced

a very good traditional, crisp, creamy Chardonnay. Value Man’s

taste leans a little more toward this one. Wife liked it, but gives

Angel Food the edge. Again, less than $9 on sale at Ingles, it pays

to try both.

We now turn to some reds. First we look at Cupcake Malbec. It has

a nice deep red color and a nice dark fruit nose. The label mentions

raspberry and plum, and the website adds vanilla and spice notes.

Unfortunately, Value man and Wife were underwhelmed by this

wine. The first sip seemed like it was starting out strong, but then

little happened. It presented as a light, even weak, red.

This Malbec’s grapes come from Argentina, but they didn’t quite

make it.

Next up is Cupcake Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a nice purple color,

decent nose, decent mouth feel, and the grapes come from Califor-

nia. The wine had a subdued cherry flavor with not much else. Wife

felt it was ok, however, it did not taste like a Cab, but might make

a passable table red. Value Man did not see this one as a contender.

Last, Wife and Value Man tried another red, the Cupcake Petite

Sirah. Again, the grapes are sourced from California. This wine

showed some respectable berry, cherry flavor and had a pleasant

tannin (think pucker) mouthfeel. Of the reds, Wife and Value Man

thought this one was the best, but it was not award winning. Bogle

makes a superior Petite Sirah at about the same price point of

around $9.

The verdict seems to be, the Cupcake whites are very good, but in

Wife’s and Value Man’s opinions, there are better choices for the

reds. That’s why one does research and tries new things.

Until next time.

PAGE 19HA’SHOFAR

Support Your Shul and Its Congregants!

Active Donor Directed FundsFor those members of

CBI who would like to

direct their financial

support toward a spe-

cific area within CBI,

these are the active

donor directed funds.

You are encouraged to

support the General

Fund with your dona-

tions, allowing the Board of Directors the

discretion to direct this support toward

areas of the most need.

** These funds are very active and in the

most need of regular contributions.

� ** Spiritual Life Fund – Support of

spiritual life programs and needs

� **Social Action Fund – Funds CBI’s

social action projects

� ** Chesed/Tzedakah Fund –

Supports the Bereavement Committee

and other Chesed related activities

� ** Ted Liebowitz Children’s Fund –

Provides scholarships for Bet Sefer

students and supports Bet Sefer

expenses

� ** Toby Cohen Minyan Katan and

Junior Congregation Fund

� ** Family Education Fund –

Supports family education program-

ming

� Shorashim Teen Program Fund –

Supports CBI teen programs

� **Adult Ed Fund

� Website/Computer/Tech Fund

� Cemetery Committee Fund –

Supports maintenance of CBI’s

Lou Pollock Cemetery

� Chevra Kadisha Fund – Supports

efforts toward preparing the body of

the departed for Jewish burial.

� **Rabbi Discretionary Fund –

Supports needs or causes the Rabbi

chooses to support

General Fund

Eva Blinder & Beth Israel Blinder:

in memory of Lauren Malinoff’s

stepmother, Carole M. Malinoff

Charles Griggs

Lee Avishai: in memory of Lauren

Malinoff’s stepmother, Carole M.

Malinoff

The Hill Family Fund

Bob & Eileen Elkin: in memory of

Lauren Malinoff’s father, Allen

Malinoff

Lee Avishai: wishing happy birth-

day to Shirley Kayne

Eva Blinder & Beth Israel Blinder:

in memory of Lauren Malinoff’s

father, Allen Malinoff

Lee Avishai: in memory of Lauren

Malinoff’s father Allen Malinoff

Yahrzeit Fund

Norma Schulman: in memory of

her brother, Leonard J. Yospin

Norm Winkelman: in memory of his

father, Frank Winkelman

Neal & Beth Appel: in memory of

Neal’s brother, Clifford Appel

Norm Winkelman: in memory of his

brother, Milton Winkelman

Brad & Shelley Fisher: in memory

of Brad’s father, Irving Fisher

Bob & Eileen Elkin: in memory of

Eileen’s grandmother, Bessie

Greenspoon

Darnell & Steve Rogers: in

memory of Darnell’s father, John

Blankinship

Sharon & David Boas: in memory

of Sharon’s mother, Fanny

Ehrlich

Eleanore Fisher: in memory of her

mother, Rose Goodman

Irvin & Vivien Saron: in memory of

Irvin’s father, Benjamin Saron

Building Fund

Mike Weizman & Della Simon

Adult Education Fund

Jay & Marlene Jacoby: refuah

shleimah to Carol Deutsch

Tom & Connie Muse: in honor of

Bernard Coleman

Capital Campaign Fund

Eva Blinder & Beth Israel Blinder

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

Tom & Connie Muse: in honor of

Jan Zollars

Amy Mandel and Katina Rodis

Fund

January to February

Mazel Tov !March Birthdays01 Leslie Goldstein

02 Goldie Weizman

Paul Kirschenfeld

04 Janet Brown

05 Walter Ziffer

07 Ron Neimkin

Jo Golson

Claire Mager-Jaffee

09 Robert Marcus

13 Cindy Garroway

14 Doug Miller

Beth Kulick

15 Shelley Fisher

16 Janice Brock

17 Henry Teich

18 Caren Kessler

20 Sheldon Neuringer

22 Cathy Kayne

Alison Gilreath

Adrian Boyd

23 Alan Baumgarten

24 Yamin Millsaps

26 Michael Heller

Fred Lashley

Lara Hume

27 Deborah Reed

Jesse Caro

29 Benjamin Kulick

30 Marlene Jacoby

March Anniversaries07 Frank & Alison Gilreath

09 Robert & Karen Marcus

17 Marc Penansky & Judy Gross

18 Della Simon &

Michael Weizman

20 Hank & Kim Teich

Jeffrey & Carolyn Goldstein

22 Alan & Suzanne Escovitz

25 Brett & Puah Millsaps

26 Sheldon & Janet Harnash

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 21

Our Sympathy

To Lauren Malinoff on the passing of her father, Allen Malinoff.

A Local Jewish Dialogue Group –Would You Like to Join Us?

We are a small, diverse group of local Jews who have been meeting informally once a month for the last several months

to discuss issues of concern to us as Jews. We come from different backgrounds, experiences, and have different views

on a wide range of topics from Jewish identity to Israel. We are committed to creating a safe environment to express

our own views and listen respectfully to each others’ views. Our goal is to widen our perspectives while respecting our

differences.

If you are interested in finding out more about our group, please call one of our founding members:

Carol (828) 255-7700; Chuck (828) 242-5527; Florence (828) 675-0974

The group meets the second Tuesday of the month at 1:00 pm at Congregation Beth HaTephila

1

12:00 pm

Noon Study Group

6:07 pm Candles

2

9:30 am Shabbat

morning services

Kiddush sponsored

by Lee Berkwits &

Barb Hall

6:56 pm Havdalah

310:00 am CBI

Beit Midrash

10:00 am Lou

Pollock

Cleanup

4 5

5:00 pm Exec-

utive Commit-

tee Meeting

6

No Meet the

Midrash

7 8

12:00 pm

Noon Study Group

6:00 pm Kabbalat

Shabbat6:14 pm Candles

9

9:30 am Shabbat

morning services

7:03 pm Havdalah

10

5:00 pm Dinner

and a Movie:

Jews of Russia

11 12 13

No Meet the

Midrash

14

6:30 pm Board

Meeting

1512:00 pm

Noon Study Group

7:20 pm Candles

169:30 am Bat Mitvah

Talia Weizman- Shab-

bat morning services

10:00 am Milk and

Honey Hour

10:45 am Youth Shab-

bat

8:09 pm Havdalah

17

10:00 am CBI

Beit Midrash

1:00 pm Jewish

Meditation

18 19 20

12:00 pm Meet

the Midrash

8:00 pm

Megillah Read-

ing and Purim

Party

21

9:30 am Sha-

harit and

Megillah Read-

ing

22

12:00 pm

Noon Study Group

6:00 pm Kabbalat

Shabbat

7:25 pm Candles

23

9:30 am

Shabbat morning

services

8:14 pm

Havdalah

2410:00 am CBI

Beit Midrash

10:00 am YEP

Multi Genera-

tional Program

314:00 pm Torah

on Tap

25 26 27

12:00 pm Meet

the Midrash

28 29

12:00 pm

Noon Study Group

7:31 pm Candles

30

9:30 am

Shabbat morning

services

12:30 pm

Hasidishe Kiddush

8:20 pm

Havdalah

HA’SHOFAR PAGE 22

March 2019SUN FRI SATTHUWEDTUEMON

HA’SHOFAR

March Yahrzeits

PAGE 23

Announced during services on:

February 22 & 23

01 (24 Adar) Caren Kessler for her aunt, Miriam Friedenberg

01 (24 Adar I) William Lewin for his father, George Lewin

March 2

02 (25 Adar I) Rick Sanders for his mother, Ann Sanders

02 (25 Adar I) Arnold Wengrow for his father, Sam Wengrow

03 (26 Adar) Hanan Weizman for his father, Michael Weizman

05 (28 Adar) Patti Frankel for her grandmother, Marie Beech

06 (29 Adar) Rick Chess for his grandmother, Jean Chess

06 (29 Adar) Shirley Sandler for her mother, Monica Benjamin

08 (01 Adar II) Rochelle Reich for her cousin, Dee Dee Segel

08 (01 Adar II) Alan & Richard Laibson for their father, Irving Laibson

March 8 & 9

11 (04 Adar II) Marilyn Silberstein for her mother, Sara Apelbaum

11 (04 Adar II) Sheila Naiman for her mother, Beatrice Rosnel

12 (05 Adar II) Barbara Hall for her mother, Helen Hall

March 16

21 (14 Adar II) Sharon Boas for her father, Jerome Ehrlich

March 22 & 23

24 (17 Adar II) Judy Baumgarten for her father, Louis Hoffman

29 (22 Adar II) Vivien Saron for her mother, Estelle Lew

March 30

30 (23 Adar II) Eileen Elkin for her friend, Cecelia Greenstein

31 (24 Adar II) Sheila Naiman for her father, Walter Rosnel

May their memories be for a blessing.

To Brad Fisher, Josh Tager, Frank Gilreath and Mike Weizman for unloading and testing out the

new portable stage.

To Lael Gray for designing a logo for CBI's new music series, Music on Murdock.

To Charles Griggs for all of his generous volunteer help in improving our building.

Thank You and Yasher Koah!

Beth Israel Synagogue

Rabbi Justin Goldstein

Congregation Beth Israel

229 Murdock Avenue

Asheville, NC  28804

Office Phone (828) 252-8660

Rabbi’s Phone (828) 252-9024

Fax (828) 252-8431

email: admin@bethisraelnc.org

Synagogue Office Hours:

Monday to Friday

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

For updated information visit our website at

www.bethisraelnc.org

March

Candle-lighting & Havdalah

Friday 3/1/2019 6:07 pm

Saturday 3/2/2019 6:56 pm

Friday 3/8/2019 6:14 pm

Saturday 3/9/2019 7:03 pm

Friday 3/15/2019 7:20 pm

Saturday 3/16/2019 8:09 pm

Friday 3/22/2019 7:25 pm

Saturday 3/23/2019 8:14 pm

Friday 3/29/2019 7:31 pm

Saturday 3/30/2019 8:20 pm

RabbiRabbi Justin Goldstein rabbi@bethisraelnc.org

Office AdministratorLee Avishai admin@bethisraelnc.org

Executive CommitteeAli Climo, President president@bethisraelnc.org

Danielle Tocaben, Vice Pres. vicepresident@bethisraelnc.org

Julie Sherman, Secretary boardsecretary@bethisraelnc.org

Norman Katzwer, Treasurer cbitreasurer@bethisraelnc.org

Della Simon, Past President pastpresident@bethisraelnc.org

Board Committee Chairs/Members

Alan Silverman, Membership membership@bethisraelnc.org

Mike Weizman, Development development@bethisraelnc.org

Eva Blinder, Spiritual/Ritual ritual@bethisraelnc.org

Gail Gordon, Social Action socialaction1@bethisraelnc.org

Elie Aharon, Adult Education adulted1@bethisraelnc.org

Board Members-at-LargeHannah Limov mal1@bethisraelnc.org

Kevin Boyd mal2@bethisraelnc.org

Ellen Sanders mal3@bethisraelnc.org

Alan Escovitz mal4@bethisraelnc.org

Patti Frankel mal5@bethisraelnc.org

Non-Board Committee ChairsMike Weizman, Capital Campaign capitalcampaign@bethisraelnc.org

Caren Kessler, Chesed chesed@bethisraelnc.org

Bruce Brown, HaShofar hashofar@bethisraelnc.org

Ken Vallario, Youth Education yepadmin@bethisraelnc.org

Kitchen kitchen@bethisraelnc.org

For everything else, contact admin@bethisraelnc.org

Chesed: CBI’s Support NetworkIn the last 18 months, Chesed has assisted approximately 42 different individuals

and families in a variety of ways. Sometimes it’s as simple as making a call or

writing a card. Sometimes it’s preparing a meal, making a visit or a providing a

ride. Sometimes it’s helping with a life cycle event: a Bat or Bar Mitzvah, the birth

of a baby, the loss of a loved one. Chesed is a caring team of CBI members who

are here to help out the CBI community during both challenging as well as joyous

times.

We need YOUR help to continue our work effectively. We can’t offer to do any-

thing unless we know who needs and wants some support. If we can help you with

something or if you are aware of someone who needs assistance, please tell Lee or

the Rabbi. They will pass along that information to the Chesed committee. Many

people at CBI are happy to help out.

We need YOUR help to respond to the requests. If you want to be involved, please

tell Lee or the Rabbi. You can also contact the Chesed committee directly at

chesed@bethisraelnc.org. Let us know what you would like to do. We’re grateful

to have you volunteer to do one or all of the following (it’s really up to you):

• Visit those who are sick

• Check in with those who are homebound

• Be part of a minyan for shiva

• Prepare meals

• Provide transportation

• Run errands

• Assist with set up for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah party

Jewish communities have a rich history of taking care of each other. The Babylon-

ian Talmud teaches us that All Jews are responsible one for another (Shevuot 39a).

The Chesed Committee invites you to be a part of that meaningful tradition.