5315 OLD CANTON ROAD • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39211 • PHONE 601-956-6215 • FAX 601-952-0895 • www.bETHISRAELMS.ORg Founded 1860 — A member of the Union for Reform Judaism, Serving Reform Congregations in North America

ig LIGHTSP u b l i s h e d M o n t h l y n o . 6 J u n e 2 0 1 2

Judaism is a religion of questions. Not only do we acknowledge that

we do not know the answers, but we revel in struggling with questions. The journey we make as we examine our faith, our texts, our beliefs, and ourselves leads to religious growth and self-discovery.

Rabbi Chaim Stern writes this about mystery, “Two ways of unknowing: To know one does not know, and not to know one does not know. Two mysteries: One may know that one walks among mysteries, and one may not know this. We seek only when we know we do not know; we are filled with awe only when we know how profound is the mystery of our being.”

Our inclination is to be afraid of answering a question with “I don’t know.” Rabbi Stern teaches that in fact this is a great answer. Not knowing opens us up to unlimited possibilities; not knowing challenges us to seek out answers; not knowing widens the boundaries of our spaces; not knowing lifts the veil that separates us from the Divine Unknowable God.

As we head into the summer months, now is a good time for seeking. Find an interesting question that right now you would respond, “I don’t know.” Email me, and I can suggest a good book or two for summer reading (rabbi@bethisraelms.org). Or ask a friend, start a conversation, and bring Shechina, the Divine Presence, into your midst. ♦

Divrei Harav: WorDs from rabbi CoHen

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Shabbat Service Schedule

Fridays, 6:15 pmSaturdays, 9:00 am

Torah StudySaturdays, 10:15 am

Unless otherwise noted

Students from Philadelphia, PA will be in Jackson Thursday, July 12 through Saturday, July 14. They will join us for services, dinner, and discussion on Friday night. The topic for discussion: “Building Allies”

We really need your help & support this year! We need volunteers to open your home to host some of the 16 students and 3 chaperones. Contributions are also needed for the dinner after services.

Please contact Dana Larkin for more details:dlarkin@parents4publicschools.org(601) 291-7335

Operation Understanding(OU)

2 B E T h I S R A E l C O N G R E G AT I O N

A Day Camp Program for Children Ages 4 - 6

Co-sponsored by Beth Israel Preschool and the URJ henry S. Jacobs Camp

2012 Dates: Monday, June 18 - Friday, June 22, 2012

Fee: Just $200

Visit our website to learn more and complete an application:

Camp K’Tanim combines the creative & innovative programming

of Jacobs Camp’s overnight program with a day camp setting.

jacobs.urjcamps.org/about/daycamp

Beth Israel Preschool will host 5 camps in July. Please reserve your spots today!

All camps are from 8:30 am-11:30 am • Open to ages 3-6 years old (except Theatre)• Theater Camp is for children ages 4-6•

4-Day Camps - $125 • 5-Day Camps - $150Registration is a one time fee of $35.00. Make

checks to Beth Israel Preschool. For more information, please call 601-956-6216

or visit our website: www.BethIsraelPreschool.com.

Bet h Israe l Preschoo l

Summer Camp

July 2-6 (no camp on the 4th): Ocean Explorers & Stay-n-Play Tennis

July 9-13: Theater Kids - Bugs & Butterflies

in my Back YardJuly 16-19:

ComputerTots - Summer OlympicsJuly 23-26:

Ballet Mississippi - Leaps and BoundsJuly 23-26:

ComputerTots - Get a Clue Camp

biTY & religious sCHool

Mazel Tov to the 2012-2013

BITY Executive Board!Dana Dobel

President

Katie FijmanProgramming VP

Ashley RubinskySocial Action VP

Alex GoldsteinReligious & Cultural VP

Mikaela PhillipsMembership VP

Nina HumphreyFinancial &

Communications VP

Save the Date!BITY is hosting NFTY Southern Fall Conclave

here in Jackson, November 16th-18th. Over 120 teens from will join us for a

weekend of programming and activities planned and run by BITY!

We need your help! Be a host family for a few teens that weekend! An official request

will be made in August. If you have any questions, please let Traci

know! Traci@bethisraelms.org

W W W. B E T h I S R A E l M S . O R G 3

a message from our PresiDenT

This is one of my favorite Jewish quotes. While it reminds me that I am expected to volunteer, it allows me to not feel bad when I can’t “do it all.” We are lucky to have so many involved congregants, and I appreciate every one of you that gives of your time and effort. But, as lucky as we are, we need more participation from our congregants to do the good works that we do. I thought that I could remind everyone of the opportunities for volunteering within our congregation.

So, listed below are the various committees of the Temple, Sisterhood and Brotherhood along with other opportunities there are for stepping up to the plate as a volunteer. If you’re interested in a particular committee, call that chair. If you are interested in a committee that currently has no chair, call me at (601) 212-0870. Hint to new members: volunteering is a great way to get to know other members of the congregation and for them to get to know you as well.

Committee Chair / committee status

Billy Brumfield House Stuart Rockoff

Building and Grounds Ted Orkin

Caring Committee Gail Dellar and Marcia Walsh

Cemetery Joe Harris and Roger Rosenfield

Campus Beautification (grounds) Michael Steiner

Committee to investigate Financial Commitment Structure change Arty Finkelberg

Film Festival Michael Steiner and James Bowley

Financial Commitment Committee Peter Sharp

Holiday Observances (Sisterhood) Second Seder, Simchat Torah, Pot luck, and Sukkot Pizza in the hut

Holocaust Memorial Garden Michael Steiner

Holocaust Remembrance Service We need you for 2012!

House Sisterhood needs a chair - how about YOU?

Meals on Wheels Charna Schlakman

Tikkun Olam Dana larkin

Mitzvah Committee Donna Orkin

Membership Ira Rubin and Charna Schlakman

Office Meg and Rabbi

Programming help develop new programming - always appreciated!

Shabbat Service honors Volunteer for something that is an honor! Call the Temple to volunteer to light candles, say Kiddush or recite Torah Blessings

Stew Pot/Food Pantry Beth Orlansky

Social We need more activities at the Temple - YOU can make this happen!

Youth help plan Religious School, BITY and JYG youth activities.

PIRKEI AVOT 2:16 It is not incumbent upon you to finish the work, neither are you free to exempt yourself from it.

4 B E T h I S R A E l C O N G R E G AT I O N

fuTure seleCTions: JulY - The TenTh Song (Ragen) • august - The Red TenT (DiamanT)

The June Sisterhood Book Club meeting will be held at the Temple on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Please join us, even if you have not attended previously. Everyone is welcome.

Edited overview from Barnes & Noble: The Girl from Foreign is one woman’s search for ancient family secrets that leads to an adventure in far-off lands. Sadia Shepard, the daughter of a white Protestant from Colorado and a Muslim from Pakistan, was shocked to discover that her grandmother was a descendant of the Bene Israel, a tiny Jewish community, shipwrecked in India two thousand years ago. After traveling to India to put the pieces of her family’s past together, her quest for identity unlocks a myriad of profound religious and cultural revelations that Shepard weaves into this touching, eye-opening memoir.

2012 Father’s Day TributesThere is nothing more precious than the bond between a father and his child. With unconditional love and infinite patience, he helps us achieve our dreams. Fathers – whether biological or adoptive, foster, stepfather or Godfather - are the cornerstones of our families.We gladly honor this very special man (Father, grandfather, father-in-law, uncle, brother, son, caregiver, etc.) who has touched my life in a way that only a father could.

In Honor Of With Love

Jonathan Cohen Valerie Cohen

Allen Stessmann Emily Kamber

Jim Neidorf Laurie Neidorf

Benjy Rose Laurie Neidorf

Craig Neidorf Laurie Neidorf

Jonathan Larkin Dana Larkin

Irv Feldman Schipper Family

Ken Schipper Schipper Family

Leon Schipper Schipper Family

In Memory Of With Love

Bernard Finkelberg Amy & Arty Finkelberg

Peter Brannan Gavin Brannan

Eric Stessmann Emily Kamber

Jon Blumenthal Janice & Buddy Blumenthal

Jack Davidson Janice & Buddy Blumenthal

Sol Blumenthal Janice & Buddy Blumenthal

Shepherd Tucker Laurie Neidorf

Samuel Neidorf Laurie Neidorf

Alan Rosenberg Laurie Neidorf

Chester Kossman Carol Kossman

Ed Kossman Carol Kossman

B. Lewis Garshman Arna Miller

Harry Draft Rebecca Laskin

Barry Draft Rebecca Laskin

Harry Draft Luise Draft

Barry Draft Luise Draft

W W W. B E T h I S R A E l M S . O R G 5

THe sisTerHooD sPoTligHT

a message from THe sisTerHooD PresiDenTDear Beth Israel Congregation,

Thank you for the honor of allowing me to be your next Sisterhood President. I would like to introduce myself for those of you who don’t know me. I hail from Philadelphia, PA. I then lived in South Florida, and I now live in Madison County. I currently work part time as a pharmacist. My oldest son, Brandon, is now on his way to University of Florida as a freshman. My youngest son, Justin, will be starting 10th grade at Madison Central. My husband, Bruce, is the one who brought us to Mississippi to continue his career as a radiologist at UMC.

During my term, I hope to welcome our older and new members to join this wonderful group of dedicated

women. Beth Israel Sisterhood is the backbone of our temple and without everyone’s participation, we cannot move forward. We have a lot of fun and exciting events planned, and we would love to see everyone join in.

On my last note, as I begin this journey as your Sisterhood President, I encourage you to share any of your ideas and suggestions with me. I look forward to a great year ahead.

Sincerely,

Charna E. SchlakmanPresident, Beth Israel Sisterhood

HelP suPPorT our TrooPs!Recently our Temple president, Rebecca laskin, was contacted by a member of Temple Beth El in Minneapolis.

Temple Beth El is collecting donations for a Minnesota National Guard Unit in Afghanistan. The Temple in Minneapolis became aware that the unit providing security for their Minnesota National Guard soldiers was a National Guard unit from Mississippi. Temple Beth El asked if we would partner with them in sending care packages to the unit from Mississippi. Rebecca responded with an enthusiastic yes.

We feel that it is truly an honor for us to adopt this National Guard Unit stationed in Afghanistan. We would like to collect the items listed in the box below, either new or gently used:

We have also arranged to have the kids from both the religious school and preschool send cards and/or draw pictures for the soldiers. Cards or brief notes from adults addressed to” Dear Soldier of Ours” would be most welcome.

We will supply bins outside of the Temple office labeled MS National Guard for these items. You can drop these items off when the office is open during the week (please call first) or during the times that the Temple is open for Friday Shabbat services or on Saturday morning when Shabbat services and Torah class are held.

Beth Israel is well known for kindness and generosity. This is a wonderful chance to say Thank You to these brave soldiers from Mississippi.

Thank you,Don Sawyer

MagazinesDVDs and CDs

Paperback booksGame books such as crossword

puzzles, number games, etc.Wii games

New white athletic socksToiletries in limited quantities

for men & women

Treats such as hard candies, beef jerky, Crystal Lite, granola bars, tuna

packets, instant soup, gum, etc.

6 B E T h I S R A E l C O N G R E G AT I O N

announCemenTs | birTHDaYs & anniversaries

from THe offiCe

Contributions• processed after June 10th will be included in the August issue of Chailights. To protect your privacy and ensure checks are • handled in a timely manner, please put all checks in the black lock box by the BIC Office door. The box is conveniently located on the wall to the left of the door. Please don’t leave checks anywhere else. Thank you!Reports and articles for the July issue of • ChaiLights are due Monday, June 11th. Submissions can be e-mailed* to support@bethisraelms.org. Submissions received after the 11th will be included on a space-available basis. *Please note in the subject line “(July 2012) ChaiLights submission.”

announCemenTs | birTHDaYs & anniversaries

June 4 Meals on WheelsJune 6 Billy Brumfield House MealJune 8 Meals on WheelsJune 17 Executive Committee Meeting, 10:00 amJune 21 Monthly Board Meeting, 6:00 pmJune 24 Book Club, 11:00 am

HaPPY birTHDaY To...6/2 Jacob Shute6/4 Robert briggs6/6 Mark Johnson6/6 Art Salomon6/6 Aaron Trubman6/8 Erica Abeles6/8 Malcolm barham6/9 Howard Roffwarg6/9 Elizabeth Springer6/10 Michelle blumenthal

6/10 Kelly Haber6/10 Casey Smith6/15 Jim goodman6/15 Caroline Norris6/16 Roger Rosenfield6/19 Nelle Cohen6/19 Paul Dampf6/19 Piper Jaffee6/20 Claire Newman6/21 David grishman

6/21 Sarah Printz6/21 Lynne Rosenfield6/22 Isaac burr6/22 Michael Jacobs6/22 Ian Paul6/23 Jo Ann gordon6/29 Leo Mermelstein

DaTes To remember

HaPPY anniversarY To...6/7 Mark and helene Johnson6/10 Steve and Bernice Silberman6/11 Robert and Carey Emmich6/11 louis and Melanie Newman6/12 Julie and Ian Paul6/12 Gilbert and Beth Sollek6/13 James and Suzanne Freedman6/15 Ralph Daniel, III and Melissa Daniel6/17 Philip and Kay Pollack6/18 Jennifer and Clifton Tucker6/19 Joshua and Judy Wiener6/20 Bob and Gail Dellar6/21 howard and Cheryl Katz6/21 Marcelo and Cookie Ruvinsky6/22 Erik hearon and Marla harbor6/24 Clay and Deborah Crystal6/25 Mindi and Eric Phillips6/26 Shawn and Ellen Alexander6/29 George and Sherrie Glass6/30 Donald and Anne Sawyer

Mazel Tov!Beth and Steve Orlansky are proud to announce the birth of their grandson,

Samuel Isaac Orlansky, born Sunday, May 13, 2012 to proud parents

hannah and Abram OrlanskyProud Great-Grandparents:Shirley and David Orlansky

W W W. B E T h I S R A E l M S . O R G 7

Thank You

In Memory of Walter LipsichBy Helen Leighton to the Rabbi’s

Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Betty & Toby RubinskyBy Debra, Joel, Seth, Michael, & Becci Jacobs

to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

To the Saturday Morning FundBy Dr. Aaron Trubman

In Honor of Gilda HesdorfferBy Amy and Arty Finkelberg to the Shirim Choir Fund

In Honor of the birth of Lyla Irene Schwartz

By Peggy and Larry Goldstein to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

To the Tikkun Olam FundBy Marcia Barron

By Kathryn Wiener

In Honor of Eleanor BransonBy Jerry Branson to the General Fund

In Honor of Carol Thompson’s ConversionBy Michael Steiner to the Beautification Fund

In Honor of Asher Katz’s High School Graduation

By Michael Steiner to the Beautification Fund

In Honor of the Souls Who Have Found Their Way Back to Judaism

By Gavin Brannan to the General Fund

In Memory of Michael WolpinBy Amy and Arty Finkelberg

to the General FundBy Rebecca Laskin to the Capitol

Improvement Fund

To the Rabbi’s Discretionary FundBy GiGi and Richard Bays

In Memory of Norma BowleyBy Rebecca Laskin to the Capitol

Improvement Fund

In Memory of Suzanne GoodwinBy Dr. Aaron Trubman to the General Fund

In Memory of Suzanne Goodwin for a Memorial Plaque

By Gavin BrannanBy Lynne and Roger Rosenfield

By Bette ShornickBy Bea Gotthelf

By Amy and Arty FinkelbergBy Rebecca Laskin

By Jan and David DocterBy Larry Fisher

By Joyce and Arthur Salomon

In Memory of Alfred RosenbaumBy Rebecca Laskin to the Capitol

Improvement Fund

For Recovery of Gavin BrannanBy Rebecca Laskin to the Capitol

Improvement Fund

For Recovery of Arna MillerBy Rebecca Laskin to the Capitol

Improvement Fund

For Recovery of Beth SollekBy Rebecca Laskin to the Capitol

Improvement Fund

In Honor of Lou Shornick’s BirthdayBy Luise Draft to the General Fund

In Honor of Ashley Rubinsky’s BirthdayBy Luise Draft to the General Fund

In Honor of Allen Weiss’ BirthdayBy Luise Draft to the General Fund

In Honor of Lily Katz’s BirthdayBy Luise Draft to the General Fund

In Honor of Shirley & David Orlansky’s Anniversary

By Luise Draft to the General Fund

In Honor of Dana & Jonathan Larkin’s Anniversary

By Luise Draft to the General Fund

5315 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211

Phone: 601.956.6215 Fax: 601.952.0895

June 1-2Jonathan Blumenthal*Morris ErlichWilliam EttingerDavid SalomonTony SharpMark Benjamin hesdorffer*Margaret labodalee RossJimmie R. JacobsJerel PriceWilliam Jerome Rabin*Sandra ZalowitzJennie Botnick Carp*Friedel NashMae RobbinsElizabeth O. TaffetJuliet KossmanD .h. Orkin*

June 8-9 harry l. AdesCharles hendrixFannie K. Wilenzick*harry Praver

Jack AvinsAlan Fields*Michael laskySamuel RoffwargRaymond Maurice Oppenheim*Bruce Sutton*Florence WienerSarah BeckermanBernard Finkelberg*herbert Julius Grief Rosalie RotweinBernard Weiss* Joe GoldsteinDavid Gordon*Mitchell PollackRuth SchwartzMelvin Stein*Goldie KwellerMichael leBlanc Myer A. Segal*Minnie Wolff

June 15-16Julia hart*Ida Muskin*

William Rosenblatt hillel Sloan leo SonnabendPeter ZimanPaul SilbermanIsaac Simon Ascher*T. Stanley Orkin*Gertrude SchwartzCharlotte Crystal*Joseph ElfassyElsie Neveleff MesirowCharles MillerNathaniel BloomS. E. KossmanBill KrockMorris NeveleffSteve Braver

June 22-23homer BensonRhea hubalMayer RobbinsIrving RosenEarl SolomonEsther Frayda DraftMinnie hart Dreyfus

helen laskyDena EisenbergChalom Charles ElfassyNatalie GoldbergEldora Earlycutt JudlinElla GoodmanRose Rosenberg lovitt*Bessie Balkin

June 29-30George Bloomlena Kahn Anita MittlemanIsadore BeckermanWalter Berman*lona Freedman Cohen*Shirley KreismanEdwin Ascher*Tillie FriedmanDavera GoldsteinRalph KatzGussie Roffwarg

Yahrzeits for June 2012

*Denotes Memorial Plaque

We Remember