• HAR SINAI TEMPLE BULLETIN FOUNDED 1857

Shevat/Adar 15760

WORSHIP SERVICES

Friday, March 3rd, at 8:00 PM HSTY SHABBAT SERVICE

Friday, March 10th, at 8:00 PM TORAH STUDY SHABBAT

SERVI CE "Death-Defying Feats With The Torah

Portion"

Saturday, March 11th, at 10:30 AM Bar Mitzvah Kyle Matthew Weiss

Son of Sharon and Joseph Weiss

Friday, March 17th, at 8:00 PM PRE-PURIM SHABBAT SERVI CE

"New Insights Into The Megillat Esther"

Saturday, March 18th, at 10:30 PM Bat Mitzvah

Kathryn Maura Kilberg Daughter of Jim and Lori Kilberg

Monday, March 20th, at 6:45 PM PURIM SERVICE WITH

MEGILLAH AND PURIMSHPIEL

Friday, March 24th, at 7:30 PM FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE

March Birthday Blessings

Saturday, March 25th, at 10:30 AM Bat Mitzvah Amy Ringel

Daughter of Stephen Ringel and Marilyn Weinstein

Friday, March 31st, at 8:00 PM SHABBAT A CROSS

AMERICA/SISTERHOOD SHABBAT SERVI CE

Saturday, April 1st, at 10:30 AM Bar Mitzvah Daniel Reiss

Son of Gail and Andrew Reiss

BABYSITTING AVAILABLE Babysitting is available for children,

aged 9 and under, during Shabbat services on Friday evenings, March

24th and 31st. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE and may be made by

. calling the Temple office at 609-392-7143.

CXLII No. 6 March 2000

RABBINIC REFLECTIONS

Purim is a fun, lighthearted holiday intended to bring out the children in all of us. The noisemakers, the carnivals, the costumes, and the hamentaschen all contribute to a less than serious view of Purim. But there is a dark and foreboding side to this seemingly benign holiday. After all, in the story of Purim, as related in the Biblical work of Esther, a maniacal vengeful bureaucrat by the name of Haman almost succeeded in destroying the Jewish population of Iran. None other than the King was an unwitting accomplice to this despicable act. Furthermore, the story of Purim contains contemporary themes as sex, violence, feminism, and governmental intrigue. It is no wonder that the rabbis of antiquity admonished the Jewish people to literally become inebriated when hearing such a story. For reading the scroll of Esther in the sobering light of reflection might result in an unwelcome disquieting feeling about the fate of humankind. COMmud Oil i_ri.

SUNDAY, MARCH 19TH and MONDAY, MARCH 20TH A PURIM FAMILY CELEBRATION

Sunday, March 19th at 10:15 AM ALL-SCHOOL PURIM PROGRAM AND CARNIVAL

Purim, one of the most joyous and fun-filled holidays of our Jewish year, will be celebrated at the Temple on Sunday, March 19th. The celebration will begin at 10:15 AM in the Sanctuary will our students will be performing Purim songs and skits with their classmates. Parents, siblings, grandparents, friends are invited to attend. At 11:00 AM, we will gather for our traditional Purim Carnival and

Costume Contest in the Social Hall.. .games (including activities for "older" kids .. .in 5th, 6th, & 7th grades), food, and prizes (like gold fish) will abound. Please remember, there is no Early or Late Session of Religious School on March 19th; all students should attend with their families for this

Monday, March 20th Students and families will gather in the Social Hall for Esther's Pizza Banquet from 6:15 to 6:45 PM. Reservations are required for dinner at $3.00 per adult and $1.00 for children, 3 years old or older. Children 2 and younger are free. At 6:45, following the light dinner, we will adjourn to the Sanctuary for the Purimshpiel, an original version of the Megillah written by Rabbi Pollack, entitled "Esther: Scream 4." This will be followed by our own students reading from the original Megillah.

The Megillah tells the story of the deliverance of the Jews of Persia from· the destruction planned against them by Haman, vizier of King Ahashuerus. This feat was accomplished by the monarch's Jewish wife, Esther, and her cousin, Mordecai.

The Purimshpiel version of this tale, "Esther: Scream 4," relates how, long, long ago, in the land of Persia, the mighty King Ahashuerus lived in ShushanAcres, the most beautiful spot in the world. He was a wise and wonderful ruler with a lovely wife, the fair Vashti, who had free use of her First Persian Credit Card until she disobeyed the king. All the knights and princes of the kingdom encouraged him to form a Search Committee to find a new wife, a Maidenform, a maiden who was fair of form (and deep of brain). And we all know that that was how Ahashuerus found the beautiful Esther and the rest is history as told in the Purimshpiel.

Well ... you get the point ... and you won't want to miss our annual, hilarious, funny, ridiculous, never serious, Purim Shpiel, featuring appearances by your favorite Har Sinai actors and comedians. Join us as we cheer on Esther and Mordecai, boo Haman, and laugh with everyone.

-------- PRESIDENTS REPORT --------

by Steve Cickay

ENJOY THE SUCCESSES!

On Friday night February 11, 2000, Har Sinai hosted the annual Reform Solidarity Shabbat. For those of you who came, you can agree with me that it was an unparalleled success. The Cantor and our choir were truly spectacular. There happened to be seven rabbis there that night. Sitting in our magnificent sanctuary listening to them all, I pretended to be back on the Rabbi Search Committee. There was one rabbi that I would have chosen above all others that evening : Rabbi Stuart Pollack. So I am happy to say that Har Sinai is truly in fine form. For those of you who chose not to join us, you missed something very special. But you will have a chance to redeem yourself: keep reading!

That beautiful service is just one example of a Har Sinai success; there are a variety of wonderful new things being born and reborn at Har Sinai these days. The rabbi initiated the rebirth of the Men's Club. A dozen very enthusiastic Har Sinai men came out on a winter Monday night to renew an organizational entity that hopefully will do great things for the temple while creating the opportunity for much fun along the way. Their first event, for men only, will be at Har Sinai. Sunday, April 2. Don't miss it.

The HSTY advisor re-created the Har Sinai HSTY ski trip

on February 11 and a wonderful time was had by HSTY on the slopes of Mountain Creek. Also, Har Sinai now has a softball team, led by Captain Ariel Schwartz, and will be playing its first game Sunday, April 30 in the Ewing JCC synagogue softball league.

Laurent Levy called me up and had a wonderful idea to find adult musicians in our Congregation to form a band to create a benefit concert later this year. Look for the information on this in this bulletin if you would like to participate in this new venture.

Many things are happening here at Har Sinai which you do not want to miss. I have just mentioned a few. If you can, please get involved in planning these projects already underway or better yet, start a new one! Things are definitely moving in the right direction.

If you were unlucky enough to miss the Solidarity Shabbat, don't make the same mistake twice. Ellin Hirsch and Muriel Rosenfeld are planning a fantastic evening with interesting guest speakers, top quality musical entertainment (Nashamah Carlbach), and delicious desserts for our wonderful rabbi's installation. I hope to see all of you there that Saturday night, May 20, 2000 as we all will be able to share in yet another Har Sinai success.

---- ADULT LEARNING FOR JEWISH LIVING

EA CH FRIDAY MORNING IN FEBRUARY SHABBAT SERVICES AT GREENWOOD HOUSE Join Rabbi and/or Cantor every Friday from 10:30 to 11:00 AM at Greenwood House for a Shabbat Service with the residents. This brief service is meaningful to the residents, many of whom are still members of our congregation . They enjoy even a brief visit with other members of our congregation.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1ST, AT 8:00 PM HOME STUDY GROUP This dedicated group has been meeting for several decades in a rabbinic ally led program of study. This year, the Home Study Group is pursuing the study of the Spanish Inquisition. It is not too late to join the group. The group will meet in March at the home of Charlotte and Herb Levin in Yardley. For directions and to RSVP, please call the Levins at 215-493-0544.

SIX TUESDAYS BEGINNING MARCH 7TH LUNCH 'N LEARN WITH THE RABBI ... On March 7th, Rabbi Pollack will begin his Spring Lunch and Learn Series .. .lively discussions over a delicious lunch beginning at noon at the Temple. The group will meet on March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and April 4th and 11th. The topic will be The Book of Ruth and it is never too late to jump right in. You can bring your own lunch or we will order a sandwich for you if you call the Temple office before 9:30 that Tuesday morning.

THURSDAY EVENING ADULT ED AT THE TEMPLE 7:00-8:30 PM "God and The Idea Of Evil," a 4-week Spring Mini Series, taught by Rabbi Pollack, will begin on Thursday, March 9th, with "Evil In the Bible." On March 16th, the topic will be "Evil In The Talmud," on March 23rd, "Evil In The Kabbalah and In Jewish Mysticism," and conclude on the 30th with

"Contemporary View of EviL" There will be no fee for this series.

SUNDAY MORNING PARALLEL RELIGIOUS SCHOOL: In March, Rabbi Pollack will continue his classes studying the works of some of the great Jewish mystics. This term the class will look at samples of the works of the great MOSES CORDOVERO of the 16th Century, the Hasidic Master SHNEUR ZALMAN of the 18th Century, and the extremely controversial HAYIM OF VOLOZHIN of the 19th Century. These great thinkers not only influenced the course of Jewish intellectual history but they also had a devastating influence upon Christianity. This is a rare opportunity to study portions of Judaism rarely approached in a liberal setting. Also, some sections of the Zohar will be studied. The classes are for all levels of understanding. Early Session Classes (9:30-10:30 AM) will be held on March 5th, and March 26th. Late Session Classes (12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM) will be held on March 12th, and April 2nd.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND, AT 7:15 PM "MUSLIMS AND JEWS IN AMERICA" Sponsored by the Central New Jersey Chapter American Jewish Committee Har Sinai Temple Social Hall Join us for an insider's briefing on the world of Islam by Dr. Khalid Duran, editor of Trans Islam Magazine, in the Har Sinai Social Hall. Come for coffee at 7:15; the program will begin at 7:45 PM. Dr. Duran, who writes for major European newspapers, is also a frequent commentator on Voice of America. Born in Berlin, he has taught at Temple University, American University, and the University of California at Irvine. He is the coauthor of "Muslim America" with Daniel Pipes who will lecture on Tuesday, April 4th, at the Princeton Jewish Center at the conclusion of this two-part series on

�JIGIe�

---- ADULT LEARNING FOR JEWISH LIVING Continued from PIf. 2

Muslims and Jews in America. The series is sponsored by the AJC and is free and open to the community. For additional information, please call 973-379-7844. To RSVP, please call the Temple office.

SUNDAY, APRIL 9TH, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM A COMMUNITY LISTENING POST Har Sinai Temple Social Hall If you could do one thing to strengthen our Jewish Community, what would it be? Would you expand social activities for teens, singles, seniors? Intensify Jewish educational efforts? Expand day care? Improve Jewish programming for youngsters and adults? Reach out to non-involved members of the community? If you have thoughts and opinions you would like to share, please join us on Sunday, April 9th, for just such a program, sponsored by our Federation and facilitated by Rose Movitch in the Social Hall. You can help set priorities in the development of a strategic plan. To RSVP, please call the Federation office at 609-219-0555. Sponsored by the United Jewish Federation

Save The Date SUNDAY; MAY 21, 2000 'THE LONG WAY HOME" 'The Long Way Home," a film which won the Academy Award for the best documentary feature of 1997, will be presented at the Rider University Center Theatre under the auspices of the Julius and Dorothy Koppelman HolocaustlGenocide Resource Center on Sunday evening, May 21st. Har Sinai Temple and other area synagogues will be co-sponsoring the screening of the film. 'The Long Way Home" was produced by The Simon Wiesenthal Center and covers the years 1945 to 1948, depicting the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps to the creation of the State of Israel. Mr. Robert Novak, Director of the Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, will introduce the film. There will be a $5.00 entry fee and refreshments will be served. The proceeds from the evening will be given to the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the HolocaustlGenocide Resource Center.

JUDAICIA SHOP

This Passover, we are planning a Passover Book Sale and Passover Wine Sale. We will be offering popular books and Passover Wines on a mail order basis. Books and wine will be ready for pick-up by April 16. For the past years we have had requests for children's Haggadahs. Here's your opportunity to purchase them. Our wine selection will include various wines i.e. chardonnay, white zinfindel, concord, cabernet - all kosher for Passover. They make great gifts if you're the guest or to serve your guests if you are hosting the Seder .. Please look for our fliers!!!!

If you are looking for seder plates, Elijiah Cups (we have a one of a kind crystal one in the shop, that is very special) , matzah plates and other Passover I hostess items, please visit the shop. We also have a selection of BarlBat Mitzvah gifts ....... 14K jewelry, Kiddush Cups, Tallit clips, Pointers (Yads), boxes, pens and picture frames. We will happy to special order Tallits by catalogue.

If you need a special gift for a lawyer or Doctor, we have a special blessing lithograph that is framed and ready to hang. We also have a special anniversary blessing lithograph to help celebrate your parents special day i.e. forty, fifty, sixty years. It also is framed and ready to present. They're not your every day presents ...... If you have a special wedding in the family, please ask to see our beautiful crystal kiddush cups for the Wedding Couple. They look like large Flutes, engraved with special blessings for this special day.

Our regular hours are every Sunday Morning 10:00 AM. to 1:00 P.M. some Friday evenings and during the weekday, Laura and Dorhty will be able to assist you.

Linda Geyer-Bolder (215) 321-3341 and Ina Katz (215) 493-0674

3

ATTENTION HAR SINAI MUSICIANS

We are looking for all adult musicians interested in performing in the first annual Benefit Concert. Any musicians who welcome the opportunity to perform in an acoustic marvel for a worthy cause,

and would like to help organize this event, please contact Laurent Levy at (215) 295-6060 or e-mail leleVY@bellatlantic.net.

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-- PTO IN THE NEWS --

by Lorell Levy and Ina Katz, Co-Chairpeople

The PTO is busy getting ready for the Purim Carnival

on Sunday, March 19th from 11-1 . We need a lot of help to

make this event a success. If you are interested in helping,

please call Lisa Wigatow Seidman at 215-369-4486 or

Madeline Gubernick at 609- 538 -8331. A very special thanks

to Nadine Stern and Laura Reiser for the wonderful job

they did on the Student Directory. If you haven't joined the

PTO yet, send in your $5 .00 (per family) and receive your

copy of this valuable resource. Thanks again Nadine and

Laura for a job well done! Our next PTO meeting will be on

April 2 at 10:30 am. Please join us as we plan our end of

the year activities.

4

--- SOCIAL ACTION --­

COMMITTEE by Mary Kirsch and Beth Brobst, Co-Chairpeople

The SUPERBOWL DINNER at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen on Sunday, January 30th, was an amazing success but it would have been a sheer impossibility without the help of every one of the following dozens and dozens of volunteers. We are greatly indebted to the generosity of spirit, time, and money shown by each of them:

.. . Sylvia Aronis; Sarah Baicker; Rick Barker; Hank, Natalie, Roxanne Bernstein; Anne, Lauren, and Marty Bloomenthal; Barry and Janice Blumberg; Gerry and Walter Bogart; Beth Brobst; Carol, Bob, Michael, and Stephanie Cohen; Kenneth Crimaldi; Mark Feffer; Alvin and Kathy Feldman; Ann and Butch Grossman; Becky Hutto and David and Leo Gottlieb; Adena, Erica, and Robin Kemper; Mary, Irwin, Sara, and Jacob Kirsch; Randi, Perri, JT and Scot Lawrie; Eunice Levie; Lorell Levy; Phyllis, Dennis and Jill Malinger; Debbie Mannella; Lynda Meshkov; Larry Miller; Laurie, Steve and

Nikki Miller; Judy and Mark Millner; the Partagas Players; Laura Reiser; Marilyn Weinstein and Amy and Steve Ringel; Adena and Ariel Schwartz; Lisa, Rob and Daniel Seidman; Karin, Dan and Louis Surkin; Laura Tach; Bernadette West, Rachael, Barry and Aaron Truchil; Rachel Williams; Carol and Herb Zemble; and Dorothy Zorn .

.. . each of the fabulously talented members of the jazz band "retroActive" which played at the benefit for the enjoyment of both the volunteers and the guests: Rachael Truchil, Gregg Mervine, Matt Clauhs, and Rory Haynes.

... our corporate and profession sponsors for their tremendous support: Delaware Valley Pediatrics, Dr. Richard Friedman, Giant Grocery Stores, Halo Farm, Hamilton Denistry, Dr. Steve Isaacson, Lawrenceville Girl Scout Council, McCaffrey's Supermarkets, McIntosh Inn of Langhorne (David Brouse, Manager), Dr. Donald Millner, Pathmark Grocery Stores, Proctor and Gamble (Alice Snyder), Rider University Store (Joe Judge), Sheraton Bucks County Hotel (pat Brogan), Shop 'n Save Grocery Stores, Dr. Richard Troll,

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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL REPORTS -----

by Susan Dorfman, Education Director

It is already the month of March, and the Hebrew month of Adar (technically, this year in the beginning of March, we are in the Hebrew month of Adar I, and on the evening of March 7th, we begin Adar II. Adar II is an entire "leap month" needed to straighten out the Hebrew calendar every few years so that we don't end up celebrating Rosh Ha Shanah in December!) Adar is a special month because Purim takes place on the 14 day of Adar (this year on the 14th day of Adar II). Purim is a great holiday. It has something for everyone. The story of Purim is filled with romance, suspense, and heroism. The holiday celebration is quintessentially Jewish in that we celebrate with intense joy, and then always take time out to remember our loved ones, and those less fortunate than ourselves. Since the time of Mordechai, we have been required to perform four specific Mitzvot,l) to celebrate with joy (ie, enjoying a Purim Se'udah [meal], making lots of noise, and wearing outrageous costumes), 2) to hear the reading of the Megillah (Purim Story),3) to give gifts to the poor(to remind us that we are connected to all people and that we should bring justice and prosperity to all people), and 4) to give gifts of food to each other (known as Shalach Manot; these gifts remind us that we are part of a community of Jews, and we should share our celebrations with our friends). At Har Sinai, we can make all of these Mitzvot very easy for you to perform. Since we're always giving Tzedakah, that's an easy Mitzvah for us to perform. On Sunday March 19th, please come to Har Sinai at 10:15 AM for a very special "Purim Production" with unique presentations by each grade. A Purim Carnival and Costume Contest will follow. Buy some Hamantaschen and share it with your friends. On Monday March 20th, join us for a family pizza dinner, Megillah Reading, and Purim Shpiel, written by Rabbi Pollack! There will be no Religious School classes Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, as we want all of you to celebrate with us on Monday evening the 20th. So, it's easy to see that if you come to the Sunday Purim Celebration and come on Monday night to hear the Megillah, you will fulfill all the Mitzvot, and have a great time doing it!

On a completely different subject, I would like to take a moment to remind all the parents that even though our main job at the Religious School is to educate our children Jewishly, we are concerned with the total well being of our children. Recently, much has been written about children's adventures into the world of the Internet (specifically in the "chat-rooms"). I would ask each of you to take the time to discuss with your child the dangers of talking to strangers on-line. This not only includes the danger of the children revealing personal facts about themselves, but also the danger of the children being exposed to unsavory language and information from unscrupulous strangers. The settings and controls on your computer can be customized to block unrestricted wandering on the Internet, while at the same time allowing for Instant Messaging, and a fine-tuned buddy-list. For more information on safe Internet surfing for children, see aol.com/infolonlinesafety.html.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES: March 4 March 12 March 11 March 12 March 19

March 20 March 21 March 24 March 26 April 1 April 2 April 9

April 14 April 16 April 19 April 23-25 April 30 April 30

Family Havdallah dinner and Israeli Martial Arts demonstration Fifth Grade PACT-"Purim-It's Not Just For Kids!" Torah and Tots Chai High Purim Production, Carnival and Costume Contest - Beginning at 10: 15 AM Confirmation· 10:15 AM to assist at Purim Celebration (no evening Confirmation) Family Dinner, Megillah Reading and Purim Shpiel (no Monday Religious Scho�l classes) Purim (no Tuesday Religious School classes) Second Grade Shabbat Service Third Grade Passover PACT Saturday evening Torah and Tots/Kindergarten/Second Grade "Shema Pajama Party" "Matzah Factory" and "Wine Making" during Religious School Fifth Grade attends community-wide Israel event at the JCC; Chai High Fourth Grade Shabbat Model Seders First Seder Night No Religious School- Passover Vacation School "Open House" for prospective members

Rita Siegel from Gratz College will speak to our Confirmation students at 6PM

5

LIBRARY NEWS by Rita Allen, Librarian

Over 20 years ago, Aaron Lansky, then a graduate student in Montreal, discovered an interest in Yiddish books. Realizing that these stories, prayerbooks and .. might disappear in attics and basements, Lansky began to travel around New England collecting them. The piles of books, at first stored in an unheated factory loft, outgrew these quarters, were transfered to larger quarters, then to a still-larger warehouse, and finally found a home on the campus of Amherst, Massachusetts' Hampshire College.

Most of the space at the National Yiddish Book Center is occupied by over 1.4 million books, filling shelf after shelf, but there are also exhibits on the development and spread of Yiddish, both in Europe and in the United States. The Center sponsors programs, lectures, a radio series, and publishes a magazine with articles on Jewish culture and history, but their primary focus is with Yiddish-language materials. Lansky, who has been the recipient of a grant from the MacArthur Foundation, has been able to send books on to more than 437 major libraries in 20 countries. A major project has been the digitizing of the entire collection, thanks to a grant from director Steven Spielberg.

The Center is still interested in acquiring Yiddish books with the help of "zamlers" (Yiddish for collectors). Believing that our congregants may still have these valuable pieces of our cultural history hiding in their homes, we invite you to bring them to Har Sinai so that we may ship them on to New England. If you can't easily deliver them yourself, plese call me at 215-295-0115. And, if you would like to help subsidize the cost of shipping them off, any donations will be gratefully accepted.

You can also become a member of the National Yiddish Book Center for $36, sending your tax-deductible check to them at 1021 West Street, Amherst, MA 0 1002-3375.

Thanks and appreciation to those congregants who have donated their books to our library: Lloyd and Joan Fredericks; Dorothy Zorn.

Friday, March 31st

SISTERHOOD NEWS AND VIEWS UPCOMING DATES TO SAVE

SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA/SISTERHOOD SHABBAT 6:30 pm: Dinner

Thursday, April 13th, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm BINGOIDESSERT NIGHT $5.00/person

8:00 pm: Service Co·Chairs: Edye Discount (215·493·9855)

Susan Sherman (215-321-6912) (flyer is in the mail)

Chair: Edye Discount (flyer will soon be in mail)

Wednesday, May 24th DINNER AND FASHION SHOW Co-Chairs: Edye Discount

2000 NOMINATING COMMITTEE In accordance with the Constitution of Sisterhood of Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation, President Hope Kadesh has asked Beth Brobst to chair the Nominating Committee, charged with preparing the list of proposed Sisterhood Officers for 2000-2002. The Nominating Committee will report the results of its efforts in the April Temple Bulletin and the election and installation will take place at the closing meeting, Dinner and Fashion Show on Wednesday, May 24th.

If you, or someone you know, would like to be considered for a position on the Sisterhood Board of Officers for 2000-2002, please submit this nomination in writing to Committee Chair at the Temple address as soon as possible. Sisterhood Board positions are as follows:

President Vice President of Fundraising

Vice President of Programming (same kind of events as fundraising except that the purpose is usually more

serious, more personally enriching, and there is no profit involved.) Vice President of Public Relations

(contact with new members, publicity, bulletin, phone chain) Vice President of Congregational Services

(Oneg Shabbat and Bimah Flowers Coordinator, birthday books, support of the Route #1 homeless feeding, kitchen maintenace and supplies)

Vice President In Charge of The Judaica Shop (An independent auxilliary of Sisterhood)

Vice President of Religious School (P.T.O .) (Also an independent auxilliary of Sisterhood)

Treasurer Recording Secretary

6

Bulletin Board

HAPPY MARCH BIRTHDAYS 2 - Daniel Robinson - 8 yrs 4 - Kathryn Kilberg - 13 yrs

Shaina Karlin - 4 yrs Jeremy Steinhouse - 7 yrs

6 - Daniel Reiss - 13 yrs Amy Ringel - 13 yrs

8 - Carl Bannwart - 8 yrs 9 - Rebecca Schnoor -5 yrs 10 - Rebecca Biros - 1 yr 11 - Sarah Levy - 8 yrs 12 - Jeffrey Straus - 6 yrs 13 - Caroline Friedman - 12 yrs 14 - Nicole (Nikki) Barker - 13 yrs 16 - Sara Steinhouse - 10 yrs

Julia Wexler - 4 yrs Mallory Haas-Drew - 11 yrs Jacqueline Litman - 12 yrs Juliah Wexler - 5 years

17 - Michael Donahue - 11 yrs 22 - Jaime Feldman - 10 yrs

Jack Ozaroff - 7 yrs 23 - Danielle Hochman - 12 yrs 25 - Adam Stinger - 10 yrs

Miles Hansen - 12 yrs David Brown - 13 yrs Benjamin Gabinet - 3 yrs Amanda Rigie - 7 yrs

27 - Julie Seiler - 13 yrs Phillip Foster - 12 yrs

28 - David Thomas - 11 yrs 31 - Jonathan Katz - 12 yrs

SPECIAL MARCH BIRTHDAYS 3 - Marjorie Hano 4 - Butch Grossman 12 - Helen Schwartz 14 - Lylan Wolff 15 - Anita Fineman 18 - Beatrice Goldmann 19 - Nettie Zeltt

Ruth Kline Sidney Grad

21 - Dorothy Kline 26 - Esther Aresty 27 - Arthur J. Gold 31 - Harold Orland

SPECIAL MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

28 - Marlene and Barry Troll - 35 yrs

Generations of service to the Jewish Community

� ORLAND'S EWING MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Services conducted in aU communities and cemeteries. At home consultation

JOEL E. ORLAND S�n;or Dirtctor 1534 PENNINGTON RD • TRENTON NJ 08618

PHONE 6098831400

HAR SINAI THANKS

___ Mary Kirsch and Beth Brobst, Social Action Committee Co­Chairpeople, for the Tour de Force job they did organizing and making happen the Superbowl Sunday Mid-day Dinner for over 250 people at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen ... thanks also to the many, many people who helped it to be the huge success it was. ... Bailey S aul and the Har Sinai Choir, composed of Ilene Pearl and Carl Bannwart, Hank Bernstein, Morris Cohen, Lindsay Dorland, Ann and Butch Grossman, Faith Hendel, Rene Hepburn, Don Millner, Rebecca Sharim, Mark Sobol (organist), Karin Surkin, and Robin Williams, for their part in making this year's Reform Solidarity Shabbat Service, held here at Har Sinai, an awe-inspIrmg event as 5 Congregations, 7 rabbis, 4 cantors, 5 choirs and 5 presidents gathered on our bimah for one beautiful service on Friday, February 11th. ... David Fine, for chairing and organizing HSTY's February 12th Ski

IN MEMORIAM

May we extend our deepest sympathy in remembering

Dr. Thaniel Berkman

Ida Klatzkin

Mother of Clive Klatzkin

Rose Buchsbaum

Mother of Peter Buchsbaum

PULPIT FLOWERS

February

Donated by Sisterhood

Since 1979 OwnerlPrincipal

RENEE GLICKMAN For Sophisticated Travel

609-586-8753 S77J/l1L. 888-326-6548 Tours & ft'avel

1

Trip to Mountain Creek. .. a great time was had by all. ... Maggie Mandell, chair, and Rabbi Pollack, guest speaker, for the Sisterhood's February 24th offering, a light supper, and a talk by Rabbi on "Sex and Judaism." ... special thanks to Marvin Novick, for his exemplary work for the Building and Grounds Committee getting completed a number of projects necessary for the maintenance and safety of the facility. ... our 5th Graders and their enthusiastic parents, teachers Staci Katz, Sheila Goldstein, and Wicole Hochman. and Songleader Susan Sacks, for a lively Family Shabbat Service on February 25th. ... the same appreciation goes to our 4th Graders and their supportive parents, along with teachers Tara Tengood, Marilyn Orland, and Songleader Susan Sacks, for a wonderful PACT Program on the 27th. ... Rita and Eli Allen, for hosting the December 8th meeting of the Home Study Group.

TREE OF LIFE

In Honor Of Our Daughter Rachel Emily Stinger

B ecoming A Bat Mitzvah Saturday, D ecember 11, 1999

With Much Lov e and Pri de Lisa and Ron Stinger

In Honor Of The Bat Mitzvah Of

Our Daughter Amy Ringel March 25, 2000

Marilyn Weinstein and Stephen _R

� .:;in

�ge

_l_ ........

dauoir FARE "Exceptional Catering"

Alan AEtner Chef de uisine

860 Queens Drive, Yardley Pa. 19067

215-321-8312

HAR SINAI TEMPLE YOUTH-------

by Lindsay Dorland

We have had an amazing year so far! Our last couple

events were great success. Many HSTY members and their

friends gathered at the Barnes & Noble Coffeehouse to hear

the musical talents of their peers. in February, HSTY also

went on a Ski TRip and assisted at the Trenton Soup

Kitchen. We have a lot to look fore ward to in March. On

Griday March 3rd, HSTY will be leading a creative service.

On Sunday March 19th, we will be working at a

PurimCarnival Booth. Later on that afternoon at 4:00pm,

we will be going to a Hockey Game to see the Trenton Titans

play the Roanoke Express. We have a month filled with

exciting events. We'd love to have you participate - hope to

see you there!!!

"Elizabeth Kimmelman and friends at the HSTY Talent Show at barnes & Nobel on January 22nd."

Sunday, March 26th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

WOMEN'S PASSOVER SEDER Home of Abbie Katz in Newtown

(15-20 minutes from '!renton)

Come join us for Har Sinai's first Women's Passover Seder. Celebrate the virtuous triumph of Miriam. We will be conducting our service from an age-old women's Haggadah from Miriam's perspective of the· exodus. Call Abbie Katz at 215-860-7488. R.S.v.p. by March 19th. Reservations will be limited to 20.

MAZEL TOVTO_

._Ruth and Elliot Epner, on the January 19th birth of their grandson, David Arthur Epner, son of Amy and Robert Epner.

._Gail and Richard Feinstein, on the engagement of their daughter, Randy, to Mr. Scott Kates. A summer 2001 wedding is planned.

_.sid Gourovitch, on the January 18th birth of his twin grandsons, Manachem G. and Jonas G. Drogin, the children of Dr. Monica Gourovitch and Jack Drogin.

... Janis Kind, on the February 16th Bat Mitzvah of her granddaughter, Marlee Kind Berman, daughter of

Har Sinai Temple Founded 1857 Affiliated with the Union of

American Hebrew Congregations

Har Sinai Temple Non-Profit Org.

President Steve Cickay

Vice Presidents Janis Kind

Jeffrey Fine Martin Bloomenthal

Jack Seelig Treasurer

Richard Kwasny Financial Secretary

Randi Lawrie Recording Secretary

Laurie Kruger-Azer Rabbi Stuart A. Pollack Cantor David S. Wisnia

Cantor Emeritus Dr. Marshall M. Glatzer

Religious School Director Susan Dorfman

Administrator: Laura Reiser Youth Advisor: Jaime Kimmel

491 Bellevue Avenue Trenton, NJ 08618-4598 (609) 392-7143 www.harsinai.org

HEBREW UNION COLLEGE JEWISH INSTITUTE OF REL 3101 CLIFTON AVE CINCINNATI OHIO 45220

U.S. Postage PAID

Permit No. 30 Morrisville, PA

RABBINIC REFLECTIONS (Continued from cover)

The book or Megillat (scroll) of Esther is shockingly the only work of the Bible that does not include the name of God. This fact alone should separate the story of Purim from so many others told in the Bible that anticipate God's intervention. No character in the Book of Esther invokes God's name. In the story of Purim the survival of the Jewish people is contingent upon the beauty of a woman-Esther rather than God's providence. Both Esther and her uncle Mordecai cleverly exploit her beauty to reveal the plot of the wicked Haman to the King who was desperately in love with Esther or at the least held her beauty in high esteem. But the frightening part of this legend is that the King would not have rescinded Haman's order to destroy the Jewish people had it not been for his love of Esther. The fate of so many lives hung upon something as subjective as beauty. Seen in perspective, the events preceding the triumph of the Jewish people in the story of Esther were fortuitous. This realization leaves us with an uncomfortable sense about this story.

The capriciousness of it all gives us pause to think about our own lives. Are our fates so insecure? Do our futures hang on a proverbial thin thread? The story of Purim certainly gives vent to these notions of the fragility of life itself.

There are also so many dichotomies in the story of Purim that add to its theme of the fragility of life. First we have a story that relates the sordid details of an impending genocide yet this tale begins with the joviality of a party. Then we have the contradictory behavior of the King. All other kings in the Bible are painted as somber and profoundly involved with their governments-- but not the king of Purim. Here we are presented with a King who inadvertently promotes the infamously cruel and incompetent Haman because he would rather seek the enjoyment of parties than attend seriously to the affairs of state. This King relishes the frolicking of party life rather than the gravity of running a Kingdom. This King leaves the burden of government to this nefarious Hamen who then seizes power to forward his own agenda of annihilating the Jewish people based on Mordecai's refusal to bow to him.

Haman's fickle hatred of Jews keeps in sync with the story's themes of the vicissitudes and paradoxes of life. His enmity towards Jews is personal. In fact in the book of Esther Haman defines his hatred for Jews with the eerily timely statement: "there is a certain people scattered among the peoples the provinces of his kingdom; and their laws differ from of every other people; and they do not keep the king's laws." As all sophisticated comedy, the story of Purim harbors painful truths about the human condition.

Haman, throughout Jewish history, is the archetype for anti-Semitism and evil. The great Holocaust philosopher Hannah Arendt would define the story of story Esther as a salient example of the "banality of evil" because of the pedestrian way Haman goes about planning the destruction of so many citizens of the kingdom. The day of the destruction of Jewry becomes a matter of chance in the casting of lots. Hence the time of death of so many is determined by something as trite as a roll of the dice.

This story is so imbued with happenstance that it is no wonder that God's name does not appear anywhere in the text. There are too many rolls of the dice. There are too many chance occurrences that precede the saving of the Jewish people. Had the king not dethroned Vasti for her insubordination then Esther would have not become queen. Had Esther not become queen and the King had not fallen in love with her then the catastrophe of the murder of the Jewish community would not have fazed the king. Had Mordecai not been in the vicinity of the palace gate to hear vital news then Esther would never have had the information she needed to approach the king in the first place.

It was chance events that saved the Jewish people. If any one of these incidents had not occurred then the ending of the book would have been disastrous instead of triumphant for the Jewish people. The rabbis of old understood the true import of this scroll of Esther and therefore wanted it not to be taken seriously, especially on the night of Purim. They wanted gaiety and fun to be associated with Purim rather than a profound feeling of dread that Our lives hang on a very thin balance.

Remember--no seer predicted the events of the book of Esther as the slavery in Egypt was predicted. God did not hear the cries of the residents of Shushan when Haman's terrible decree of death was issued as he heard the cries of the s.1aves in Egypt. Nor did God intervene when the Jewish community of Iran put on sackcloth and began to mourn their impending fate. The success of Purim was more coincidence rather then a formal ordering of the eternal cosmos.

And yet many believe just as the Jews of Iran were saved by chance events the Jews of Europe might have been saved by fate. Had the United States or any other country intervened on behalf of the Jewish community of Europe millions of Jews would have been saved. Had allied bombers destroyed even one death camp perhaps lives might have been saved. The fact remains that the holocaust was a chain of many unchallenged actions that worked to the total destruction of European Jewry. Sixty years ago there wasn't the possibility of an Esther or Mordecai to derail the reprehensible schemes of so many evil people.

That the destiny of the Jewish people and our lives rests on such celestial whimsy unnerves us when we ponder the meaning of the story of Esther. We would like to think a roll of the dice does not determine our lives. In the story of Esther itself there is a cognizance that probability played too large a role in the victory of the Jewish people. Therefore the last parts of the Megillah are devoted to specific orders and edicts that were issued to ensure the continued safety of the Jewish people. The future was not left open to chance but was written in legal terms.

The story of Esther needs to be read every year to make us both aware and appreciative of the serendipitous events that enter into our lives through the portals of our existence.

MARCH 2000 DONATIONS

TEMPLE MEMORIAL FUND

III Memory Of: DR. MEYER FRIEDMAN: Biff & Jerry Montana GLADYS GOLDBERG: Harriet & Shennan Gould SOPHIA ISRAEL: Gus Gellens ESTELLE KIMMEL: Eleanor Weinroth IDA KLATZKIN: Lois & Ira Keats BELOVED MOTHER, DORA PINERMAN: Minnie Pollak FANNIE POLLAK: Minnie Pollak

TEMPLE FUND

III Memory Of: MOTHER OF EVELYN BASS: Ruthellen & Marc Rubin EVELYN BELT: Lila & Mort Rosenthal NATHAN BELT: Lila & Mort Rosenthal TRINA BYER: Nonna & Fred Byer CLARA GREENFIELD: Gertrude & Morris Greenfield RUTH HOROWITZ: Susan & Ira Horowitz DEAR SISTER, JIMMY JOSEPHSON: Evelyn Rifkin

. ALBERT KAHN, JR.: Ellen & Michael Loll . IDA SMITH KATZKIN: Ruth &

Phil Smith HAROLD LIPMAN: Vivian & Sy Cohen LOWELL MILLER: Joanne & Joel Namm

ANNA ROSENTHAL: Lila &

Morton Rosenthal SAM ROSENTHAL: Lila & Mort Rosenthal FANNIE SKLUTE: Muriel Zeltmacher MOTHER, MOLLIE SOLOMON: Eva Adelberg IRVING SUSSMAN'S BROTHER, MAURY: Janis Kind

ELSA ZELTMACHER: Muriel Zeltmacher III HOllor Of: HELENE DEITZ'S SPECIAL BIRTHDAY: Harriet & Shennan Gould, Joanne & Joel Namm, Fay & Henry Schragger RACHEL LEVY'S MARRIAGE TO NEIL LESSER: Jane and Ben Thomas BIRTH OF SARAH NICOLE SCHULTZ: Joanne & Joel Namm

RABBI'S FUND

In Memory Of: MOTHER, NATALIE BERNSTEIN: Roxanne Jayne &

Hank Bernstein IN APPRECIATION: Barbara &

Herschel Cravitz ALBERT KAHN, JR: Elissa &

Steve Director DORIS LUBITZ: Jane & Marty Millner BERNARD MASTER: Susan Neuman In Honor Of: OUR GRANDDAUGHTER, STACEY PASTORELLA'S BAT MITZVAH: Dr. Mathew & Elaine Lapin

CANTOR'S FUND

In Memory Of: JACOB GARFUNKEL: Daisy Garfunkel MOTHER, ANNA GRAFF: Bea & Sam Frey FATHER, SAMUEL H. GRAFF: Bea & Sam Frey WILLIAM LAPPING: Nadine· Stem ARTHUR RANDELMAN: Jacqueline C. Randelman HUSBAND, JACK SILVERSTEIN: Doris Silverstein In Honor Of: CANTOR MARSHALL GLATZER'S SPEEDY &

COMPLETE RECOVERY: Jane & Marty Millner IN APPRECIATION: Partagas Players

PRAYERBOOK FUND

In Memory Of: ROBERT JAY AXELROD: Rose Movitch AARON EDELMAN: Marie &

Ronald Bennan MORT ERLICHMAN: Nora, Caren & Julia Erlichman YETTA GOUROVITCH: Sid Gourovitch & Family HELEN GUTMAN: Susan &

Richard Magilefsky, Myra &

Malcolm Segal IDA KLATZKIN: Inez & Mike Freedman, Marilyn & Harold ZeItt In Honor Of: HELENE DEITZ SPECIAL BIRTHDAY: Sylvia Aronis, Nancy Marcus, Ted and Gloria Vine

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE

FUND

In Memory Of: EVELYN GURNEY: Dr. & Mrs. Theodore Vine In Honor Of: MARLEE KIND BERMAN BECOMING A BAT MITZVAH: . Marlene & Howard Goldberg, Jean & Morton Goldstein HELENE DEITZ'S SPECIAL BIRTHDAY: Hon. Paul & Linda Levy ·MARLENE & HOWARD GOLDBERG'S GRAND­DAUGHTER ALISON BECOMING A BAT MITZVAH: Janis Kind DAVID LEVINE'S ENGAGEMENT TO DAWN PICCOLO: Jean & Morton Goldstein

MARCH 2000 DONATIONS

ADULT PROGRAM & lit Honor Of: In Honor Of: LEARNING FUND LOUIS LEVINE'S HELENE DEITZ SPECIAL III HOllor Of: ENGAGEMENT TO DAWN BIRTHDAY: Suzi & Richard CANTOR MARSHALL PICCOLO: Ruth & Barry Troll GLATZER'S SPEEDY & Edelman RANDI FEINSTEIN'S COMPLETE RECOVERY: ENGAGEMENT TO SCOTT Neila, Ted, & Andrew Cader, SOCIAL ACTION FUND KATES: JoAnn and Jimmy Sachs Harriet & Sherman Gould In Memory Of: BENJAMIN FROST'S

ROBERT JAY AXELROD: Irma MARRIAGE TO STACEY LIBRARY FUND Labbok BURKE: Myra & Milko Pesa In Memory Of: DAVID BLOOMENTHAL: Anne RACHEL LEVY'S MARRIAGE SYL VIA HIRSCH: Ellin & Stuart & Martin Bloomenthal TO NEIL LESSER: Ellin &

Hirsch IDA KLATZKIN: Nancy & Barry Stuart Hirsch, Myra & Milko Pesa MARJORIE REDNOR COHEN: Frost, Rose Movitch Beverly & Barry Rednor ROSE KOENIGSBERG: Irma ENDOWMENT FUND .

Labbok In Memory Of: MUSIC FUND LOWELL MILLER: Muriel & ALBERT KAHN, JR. : Alice &

In Memory Of: Fred Rosenfeld Howard Welt IDA KLATZKIN: Sandy & Dick LAWRENCE SMOOK: Judy & ROSE KOENIGSBERG: Dorothy Nitzberg Don Millner Zorn IDA P AKMAN: Marvin Pakman LOUIS D. TRUCHIL: Barry SAMUEL KOZLOFF: Lauren &

III Honor Of: Truchil & Bernadette West David Schor RUTH & ELLIOT EPNER'S lit Honor Of: HAROLD LIPMAN: Dorothy BIRTH OF GRANDSON, CANTOR MARSHALL Zorn DAVID ARTHUR EPNER: GLATZER'S SPEEDY AND HINDA PASSIS: Alice &

Roberta & Arthur Frank COMPLETE RECOVERY: Rose Howard Welt CANTOR MARSHALL Movitch GLATZER'S SPEEDY & GETTING #1 8 ON THE HAR SISTERHOOD

COMPLETE RECOVERY: Jean SINAI SOFTBALL TEAM: GRATEFULLY

& Morton Goldstein, Ellin & Barry Truchil & Bernadette West ACKNOWLEDGES:

Stuart Hirsch, Elaine & Dr. I. IRVING GROSS FUND

Mathew Lapin, Sandy & Dick STEPHANIE MANN In Memory Of: Nitzberg MEMORIAL FUND MORTON R. APPLEBAUM: OUR GRANDDAUGHTER In Memory Of: Ri ta E. Graziano STACEY PASTORELLA ROBERT JAY AXELROD: Betty DR. SIMON DRESKIN: BECOMING A BAT MITZVAH: Greenberg Frederica Dreskin Elaine & Dr. Mathew Lapin IZ CAPLAN: Marilyn & Harold ROSE ARONISS HEYMANN:

Zeltt Frederica Dreskin RELIGIOUS SCHOOL ETHEL GOLDBERG: Marilyn & DEAR MOTHER, BESSIE PROGRAM FUND Harold Zeltt KROTOSKY: Roslyn Kushner In Memory Of: IDA KLATZKIN: Maxene &

NANCY FINGERHUT: The Saul Feinberg SPECIAL NEEDS FUND

Blattner Family, The Kaplan SAM KOSLOFF: Renee & Saul In Memory Of: Family, The Miller Family, The Wolfson SYLVIA LEVIN: Lucille & Ed Price Family EDITH LICHTENSTEIN: Dr. Brody & Family ALBERT B. KAHN JR. : Marilyn Richard & Joanne Hochman & Joel Orland MARION SACHS: Ellin & Stuart

Hirsch