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MAY 2017
Volume 75, Issue 7
Eternal
Sunday, May 7th
12 noon
Stretch, but Not Too far!
Youth Shabbat &
Confirmation
Friday, May 5th
7pm
The Talmud recounts a famous story as a way of
explaining the multitude of opinions allowed in
interpreting Torah. Rabbi Eliezer is trying to
convince his colleagues of his certitude in a
matter of law regarding the kashrut of an oven,
and when they don’t agree with him, he calls out
to the heavens, “If the law is in accordance with me, let the carob
tree prove it!” So a nearby carob tree suddenly becomes uprooted.
The sages remain unconvinced. So he yells out again, “If the law is
in accordance with me, let the House of Study prove it!” So the
walls of the beit midrash begin to incline toward one another. Still,
the sages are not convinced. Finally, after a few more miracle tries,
a Heavenly Voice comes down and says, “Why don’t you follow
Rabbi Eliezer, the law is in accordance with him!” Brazenly, the
rabbis answer back, quoting the Torah itself, saying, “The Torah is
not in heaven! The Torah has already been given on Mt. Sinai, we
no longer listen to a heavenly voice.”
In his book, Open Minded Torah: Of Irony, Fundamentalism and
Love, Bar-Ilan professor William Kolbrener writes of this Talmudic
story, “Not only does truth, after the giving of the Torah, ‘sprout from the earth,’ as the midrash affirms, but truth is also plural, a
result of interpretation and disagreement.” As we approach
Shavuot, I am thinking about how we see Torah and how we
involve ourselves in interpreting it in the 21st century.
Kolbrener makes a point of reminding us that the Talmud instructs us that at Mt. Sinai, the tradition says the Torah was given “in 70 voices, or with 70 faces,” which has come to mean that there are many different interpretations of how to understand the revelation. We all heard it as we needed to hear it, the old heard it in their way, the young in theirs, men and women, all of us receiving Torah, which we celebrate on Shavuot, in our own way. Yet, Kolbrener writes, “There are 70 faces to the Torah is both inclusive and exclusive. Seventy may be many, but it is not an infinite number.” It is not “everything goes,” even as we have evolved, developed, expanded, contracted, added and subtracted; some moves can go too far and will not hold. We can stretch the models of prayer, we can stretch the boundaries of kashrut, we can experiment with
Mazel Tov
To everyone
graduating from
high school and
college this month!
Join us at Shabbat Morning Minyan
for
Jews, Shmooze
& Booze!
Saturdays at 10 am in the Gary J. Weill Youth Room
Rabbi Jordan Goldson
Stretch, but Not Too far! (continued from page 1)
(and a bissel pickled herring)
Shabbat observance, we can create new ways of reading Torah; yet, we must also remember that
there are limits, that there are some basic groundings upon which we still stand, that we must
compromise and be willing to participate in the paths of our tradition, sometimes not getting exactly
what we want. Rules can bend, but if bent too far, they will break and we won’t have the container
anymore with which to work. It is this kind of Judaism, one that seeks inclusivity within limits, that
we continually embrace by discussing, debating and even disagreeing when we get together as
Jews.
The holiday of Shavuot, when we celebrate the revelation of the Torah to our people at Sinai,
provides us with an opportunity to think about how we can be more creative in an effort to make
Judaism relevant, and at the same time to consider what the limits should be. This is a personal
and a communal task. I invite you to engage with us in this ongoing discussion at our board
meetings, in our classrooms and during our social gatherings. After all, we can’t leave it up to God
to decide what is the right way. It is up to us now.
Chag Sameach.
President’s Message
by Jay Jalenak
Scheduling some time to stop, take a breath and reflect.
Wow! April 2017 was a month to remember for Congregation B’nai Israel.
I know I will. We could not have packed the month with more noteworthy
events.
We had both a bar mitzvah and a bat mitzvah. Mazel tov to Michael Davis
Alton, Emily Berg and their proud families. On both occasions, I sat in awe
watching these two young adults speak to a filled sanctuary without any
trepidation or hesitation. They were polished, well-prepared, and enjoying the moment. I look
forward to observing their continuing participation in the Congregation through confirmation
and youth group.
We also had the Congregational Second Night Seder. Thank you to Bill and Cookie
Dubois for cooking such a fabulous feast. Elijah the Profit does not know what a great meal
he missed. Maybe he will show up next year.
We hosted the community Yom HaShoah Memorial Service and Program. Thank you to
the Jewish Federation for educating the children of Baton Rouge on the unimaginable horrors
of the Holocaust. We must continue to keep alive the memory of those who perished.
We concluded another successful year of our popular and engaging Religious School.
Thank you to Jessica Yellen, Julie Tepper, our teachers, parents and students. Religious
School is out for the summer, but please join us on May 5 for our Youth Shabbat and to
celebrate the confirmations of Hannah Bienvenu, Roby Judge, Briana Mullenix, Maggie
Mullenix, Steven Spivak, Spencer Spivak and Sierra Sager.
Finally, we had the entertaining and successful Art & Soul fundraiser. Thank you to
Louann Bombet for chairing the event. But, Louann would also want to give credit to our
generous sponsors and her energetic and relentless committee—who planned and executed an
incredible event. As a Congregation, we came together and enjoyed the entertainment, the
victuals and libations, and the wonderful auction items. We celebrated together, but also raised
needed funds to maintain our strong educational programing. I cannot thank you all enough.
As I finally stop to take a break and reflect, I look back at April and I see all that we
accomplished as a Congregation. It was a thrilling month.
Page 4 Iyar-Sivan
To send a Mazel Tov, email [email protected]. If you have a picture, attach
it to the email and we’ll include it if space allows. All entries will be
reviewed by Rabbi Jordan and must be received by the 20th of the month.
Mazel Tov to everyone who celebrates birthdays and anniversaries this month!
Mazel Tov to Lisa and Dore Binder fon the birth of their grandson,
Leon Isaac Marks
Mazel Tov to Edie and Ralph Bender on the birth of their grandsons,
Kaplan Lee and Gideon Brookner Anderson
Mazel Tov to
Savannah Newman
on her graduation from Lee High.
She will attend Baton Rouge Community College in the fall!
Mazel Tov to
Ian Sager
on his graduation from La. School for Math, Science & the Arts (LSMSA).
He will attend LSU Honors College in the fall!
Mazel Tov to
Nina Jalenak
on her graduation from Episcopal High.
She will attend LSU in the fall!
Mazel Tov to
Henry Kantrow
on his graduation from University Laboratory School
He will attend LSU Honors College in the fall!
Page 5 Iyar-Sivan
Come Celebrate Friday, May 5, 2017 at 7pm
ONEG TO FOLLOW (hosted by the Confirmation parents)
Confirmation Class Of 2017/5777
Hannah Bienvenu Daughter of Debra & Louis Bienvenu
Roby Judge Son of Joy Lewis
Briana Mullenix Daughter of Shelly & Matt Mullenix
Maggie Mullenix Daughter of Shelly & Matt Mullenix
Sierra Sager Daughter of Ana & Warren Sager
Spencer Spivak Son of David Spivak
Steven Spivak Son of David Spivak
Page 6
Calen
dar
Page 7
May
May 5
Youth Shabbat Service &
Confirmation 7pm
May 6
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
May 7
B’NAI ISRAEL
GOLF CLASSIC 12 noon
May 9
Board Meeting 6pm
May 12
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
May 13
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
May 19
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Union Prayer Book
May 20
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
May 26
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
May 27
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
May 29
MEMORIAL DAY
Office Closed
May 31
Sha- vuot
Israeli Folk Dancing at CBI Dancers, experienced or novice, singles, couples or families, young or
young- at-heart, are invited to attend free of charge. Or, if you prefer to, just
come and listen to the lovely music of Israel. Contact David Kirshner at 756-
5291 for more information. May 14 (future schedule pending)
June June 2
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
June 3
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
June 9
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Union Prayer Book
June 10
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
June 13
Board Meeting 6pm
June 16
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
June 17
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
June 23
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Union Prayer Book
June 24
Shabbat Minyan, 10am
June 30
Shabbat Service, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
Rel
igio
us
Sch
oo
l Page 8 Iyar-Sivan
2017-2018 RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL
REGISTRATION
REGISTER BY APRIL 30
and be entered into a drawing to win $50 off tuition!
(member must be in good standing)
http://bnaibr.org/Forms/Forms.asp?p1=125
Religious School ended the same way as it began…with lots of rain! We
were ready for a fun and meaningful last day of Religious School with
Yom Ha’atzma’ut and a Faculty Appreciation celebration when
inclement weather struck. The room is set for the festivities,
however, and we look forward to seeing everyone for the annual Youth
Shabbat and Confirmation Service THIS Friday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Page 9 Iyar-Sivan
Youth Shabbat & Confirmation Friday, may 5
7pm
Thank you to our sponsors!
Starring Role Sponsors
Playbill Sponsor
Show Stopper Sponsors
Raffle Sponsor Media Sponsor
Photography Sponsor Printing Sponsor
Art & Soul 2017 was a success
thanks to our sponsors and volunteers!
Thank you to our Starring Role Sponsors ($2,500), and Show Stopper Sponsors ($1,000)
We want to thank the following sponsors and volunteers as well!
Chorus Line Sponsors ($500)
Baton Rouge Physical Therapy-Lake Rabbi Jordan and Beth Goldson
Paula Hoffman Kean Miller LLP
Donna and Jak Kunstler Levy Family Dentistry, Dr. Robin Levy
The Nachman, Ritchey and Thigpen Families Cary Saurage
Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate LLC Lyn and Carl Schmulen
Star Service Inc. Josef Sternberg Memorial Fund
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Louann Bombet, Chairman Lisa Binder Barry Blumberg J’on Blumberg Leah Calleo Stacy Dampf Linda Dubois Cathy Duplechin Ann Edelman Adrian E. Hirsch Jay Jalenak Maia Jalenak Dany Kaplan Elise Kaufmann Donna Kunstler Bette Levine Joy Lewis Jessica Marks Diane Mayer Meghann Morin Jill Roby Pike Becky Roby Ratcliff Robbie Rubin Deborah Sternberg Lynn Weill
VOLUNTEERS
Patty Abraham Oliva Bennet Janet Black Allyson Bombet Lee Caplan Lois Elisar Nicole Buggs Hazey Jack Isaacs Sherry Mayer Carol Newman Ana Sager Warren Sager
Page 12 Iyar-Sivan
Art & Soul 2017
Cemetery Security at The Jewish Cemetery A Police Officer
is on site at the cemetery every
2nd Sunday of the month:
10:00am - 2:00pm.
Iyar-Sivan
You may donate to the Temple in
many ways. The designated Temple
funds are listed below with a brief
description of each. When making
your donations, please designate
your fund of choice.
Ellen & Chunky Folks Building Fund: for maintenance, repairs & improvements to the
building
Camp Scholarship Fund: for need-based
scholarships to a Jewish camp.
Carolyn & Bernard Schmulen Cemetery
Beautification Fund: To plant appropr iate shrubbery and trees, particularly in the new
part of the cemetery, to create a more beauti-
ful and peaceful setting.
Cemetery Maintenance Fund: Cemetery maintenance
Endowment Fund: to establish a perma-nent base of financial support for Congrega-
tion B’nai Israel.
Gary Weill Youth Room Fund: for
maintenance, upkeep and improvements of the Youth Room.
General Fund: for suppor t of general
operating expenses of the Temple.
Alvin & Janice Rubin Ner Tamid Break
Fast Fund: to provide continued suppor t
for the Annual Yom Kippur Break Fast.
Prayer Book Fund: to purchase new prayer books.
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund: used to sup-port worthy charitable organizations and to
assist members in need.
Sandy Sager Beautification and Garden
Fund: for outdoor Temple beautification.
Sylvia Steiner Religious School Fund: to
purchase needed items and provide scholar-ship assistance for Religious School.
Torah Repair Fund: for repair s to Torahs.
The following memorials or dedications
are also available:
Tree of Life Leaf: $250
Yahrzeit Memorial Plaque: $250
Tree of Life Stone: $1000
Sanctuary Pew (1/2 side): $1500
Page 13
DONATE ONLINE at www.bnaibr.org/donate
Pay by credit card online with an easy form
that allows you to choose a designated fund
or the general donation fund and the purpose of your gift.
Donations may also be mailed to
3354 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Contributions
General Fund
David Safer: in memory of Jerome Safer
Zevi Moses Gutfreund & Rosalyn Won
Jack Isaacs
Edie & Ralph Bender: in memory of Doris Kanter
Edie & Ralph Bender: in honor of Laurie Aronson’s 50th
birthday
Sylvia Steiner Religious School Scholarship Fund
Jo Ann & Marvin Bender: in honor of the 2nd grade class as
thanks for the beautiful handmade Passover card
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Mary Ann Sternberg: in honor the marriage of Jordan & Beth
David & Allan Spivak: in honor of Rabbi Jordan & Beth
Goldson—congratulations and mazel tov to Rabbi Jordan &
Beth on the occasion of your marriage
Camp Scholarship Fund
Kristina & Alfred Shapiro: in memory of David Bruce Shapiro
Yarz
hei
ts
Iyar-Sivan Page 14
MAY 5 Helen Leibovici Aunt of Dave Safer Carolyn Hirsch Sister-in-law of Rachelle Hirsch Doris Dreyfus Mother of Sidney Dreyfus Leon Siegel Uncle of Maureen Corcoran David Bruce Shapiro Son of Al and Kristina Shapiro Mabel Steiner Grandmother of Maureen Corcoran Caroline Bloomenstiel Schill Sister-in-law of Lillian Bloomenstiel
MAY 12 Peggy Levy Blumberg Wife of Robert Blumberg
Mother of Barry Blumberg Grandmother of Andy Blumberg
Michael Marvin Son of Shirley Marvin Anne Turchen Mother of Judy Fishbein William Michalove Grandfather of Ellen Folks
Great-grandfather of Heather Folks, Lauren Adams and Shawn Folks
Hyman Dudley Kapell Father of Mitzi Aronson Jerry Engelberg Father of Adrian Hirsch Celina Maas Mother of Charles B. Maas
Grandmother of Marilyn Mills and Janet Meyer
Alfred Kaufman Grandfather of Bette Levine Miriam Hirsch Posner Mother of Isabel Posner
Grandmother of Lisa Binder
MAY 19
Samuel Kaufman Father of Charles Kaufman Julia Benedict Cohn Marks Mother of Paul Marks Shelley Nadler Mother of Leah Calleo Leonard Pinkovitz Father of Doris Chesler David Berkowitz Grandfather of Holly Clegg Chaia Bardin-Shleyn Grandfather of Ilya Vekhter Earl “Buddy” Suffrin Husband of RoseAnne Suffrin
MAY 26 Byrde Berenson Haspel Mother of Susan Lipsey
Grandmother of Laurie Aronson & Wendy Lipsey
Ronnie Louis Chenevert Father of Debbie Brown Emilie Fraenkel Aunt of Albert Fraenkel Oscar Rosen Great uncle of Edie Bender Arthur Kaufman Uncle of Charles Kaufman Joseph Haspel Father of Susan Lipsey
Grandfather of Laurie Aronson and Wendy Lipsey
Dora Frank Freedman Grandmother of Jerry Freedman Frank Greuel Father of Rachel Greuel Sandra Schudmak Great-aunt Ann Keogh Karen Selene Coen Sister of Linda Weinstein Terry Berg Sister of Lee Berg Harvey Dennis Grandfather of Steve Beck JoAnne Rosner Clark Cousin of Lee Berg Aaron Stockner Father of James Stockner Willie P. Mabry Grandfather of Esther Sachse
Iyar-Sivan Page 15
You may add your yahrzeit dates online at www.bnaibr.org. Click on contact us
and Yahrzeit Reminder Form or call the office at 225-343-0111.
Yarzheits
Condolences to
Al, Edward and Steven Rotenberg Families on the recent death of their brother-in-law and uncle
Joe Kessler
Healing Mi Shebeirach, the prayer for physical and emotional healing, is recited at the Friday evening Shab-bat service. If you are ill and would like a Mi Shebeirach recited on your behalf, please call the Temple office at 343-0111 before noon on Thursdays, so the congregation may offer its prayers for you. If you know another person who needs the same, please ask the individual for permis-sion to read his/her name before calling the office.
Visiting Those Who Are Ill Congregation B’nai Israel wants to make sure we care for our members and their families. If you have a family member or know of someone in our congregation who is in the hospital, has been in an accident, or is ill and recuperating at home, please call the Temple office at 343-0111 so Rabbi Jordan can contact them and arrange for a visit.
Yarzheits Yarzheits are traditionally read during the Friday night service prior to the anniversary of a loved ones death unless other arrangements are made through the temple office.
REMINDERS: We will now send out reminders by email unless requested mailed.
By email, you will receive a reminder 30 days, 15 days & Monday prior to the Friday
before the Yahrzeit. If you do not receive a reminder, please contact the office by
email ([email protected]) or call 225-343-0111.
Condolences to
Al, Edward and Steven Rotenberg Families on the recent death of their sister and aunt
Phyliss Kessler
Condolences to
Bertha Kern on the recent death of her husband
Nathan Kern
Co
mm
un
ity
Page 16 Hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Passover
holiday. The story of our redemption from slavery
to freedom is filled with lessons for our life and for
the Hadassah experience. We are reminded each
year of our continued struggles and triumphs as a
people. Hadassah faces obstacles and continues to
lead and strive.
Locally, Hadassah Baton Rouge shared a delightful program at Brew-
Ha-Ha in Baton Rouge to celebrate our Woman of Year, Dr. Liz
Clubb. We had a lovely afternoon sipping tea and enjoying
sandwiches and cake balls. We got to honor a brilliant, artistic
woman who has done so much for our local unit. It was a joy for all
of us to pay tribute to Liz. I can also share the exciting news that Liz
will now be a Keeper of the Gate for our chapter joining Marla
Kameny, Susan Smolinsky, Ellen Bander, Karen Ceppos, Marilyn
Rosenstein, D’Anna Ernst, Judy Roheim and Marilyn Martell. Please
ask any of us to explain the joy of this form of giving.
Please mark your calendars with the following dates:
May 7, 2017- Book Review. We’re going to read “Miriam’s Kitchen”
by Elizabeth Ehrlich about a woman who reconnects with her Judaism
through her mother-in-law’s family stories and recipes. Everyone will
be asked to bring a special family favorite either from the book or
their own.
May 21, 2017- Annual Israel Independence Day Program. We’re
going to have a “camp experience” that should be fun and
educational. Please join us.
More details will follow for these events.
Thank you for all you do for Hadassah.
Ruth Katzen Co-President Hadassah Baton Rouge
Marilyn Martell Co-President Hadassah Baton Rouge
LOOKING FOR A VENUE FOR AN UPCOMING EVENT?
The newly renovated Social Hall and the Gary J. Weill Youth Room
are available for your next event at a reasonable cost.
For information, contact the office at 225-343-0111.
Page 17
MAH JONGG MONDAY MORNING OR THURSDAY NIGHT!
Do you want to learn how to play Mah Jongg?
Lessons are now being taught in the Gary Weill Youth Room
Thursday nights beginning at 6pm (play is until)
Monday mornings beginning at 10am (play is until 2pm).
Bring snacks to share (temple food restrictions apply).
If you are interested, please call:
Thursday night play: Jill Roby (225-921-9529)
Monday morning play: Linda Levy or Cathy Labens
NOTE: Please contact Jill Roby to check Thursday Schedule
Monday, May 29th—NO MONDAY MAH JONGG
Judaica Gift Shop SPRING SPECIALS IN THE JUDAICA SHOP
ALL PICTURE FRAMES ARE 50% OFF (These make great birthday, wedding, Bar and Bat Mitzvah gifts)
The gift shop is open
during temple office hours
Monday - Thursday: 9am -1pm
Friday: 9am -12pm)
or by appointment by calling
Cathy Labens - at 225.344.0581
Ad
vert
iser
s
ADVERTISE HERE Now accepting advertisers for 2017 for the
Eternal Light Newsletter
Call Cathy at the Temple office at 225-343-0111.
Address Service Requested
Congregation B’nai Israel 3354 Kleinert Avenue · Baton Rouge, LA 70806
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jay Jalenak, President Deborah Sternberg, Past President
Seth Kaplan, Vice President Warren Sager, Treasurer
Andy Blumberg, Secretary Ronnie Bombet Linda Dubois Shawn Folks Adrian Hirsch Mike Kantrow Donna Kunstler Robbie Rubin Norman Schwamberg Lynn Weill
Nathan Levy, Men’s Club President Paige Wormser, Women of CBI President
Ari Hoffman, BaRFTY President
STAFF
Jordan E. Goldson Rabbi
Barry Weinstein Rabbi Emeritus
Cathy Duplechin Office Administrator
Jessica Yellen Religious School Co-Director
Julie Tepper Religious School Co-Director
James Hickman Custodian
B’nai Israel Golf Classic
May 7, 2017
Shotgun Start at 12:00 noon
CALLING ALL GOLFERS!
REGISTER AT:
https://bnaibr.wufoo.com/forms/bnai-israel-golf-classic/
