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News and Happening of Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
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Number 608 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770
First Seder, March 29 — Communal Seder, March 30
next month, Rabbi Jonathan Slater: April 9-10
We are delighted to welcome Rabbi David
Forman of Jerusalem to El Paso on Sunday,
March 14. From Sunday to Wednesday, he
will teach at Temple and around town.
David‟s presence is sponsored by the El Paso
Jewish Federation‟s CLAL initiative and by
Rabbi Bach‟s Discretionary Fund.
Rabbi Forman is the
founder of Rabbis
for Human Rights.
He served as RHR‟s
chairperson
between 1988 and
1992 and between
2002 and 2003. He
has held a number
of key leadership
positions during his rabbinic career,
including Director of the Israel Office of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
where he led the struggle for religious
pluralism in Israel. Prior to that, Rabbi
Forman was the chairperson of Interns for
Peace (1984-1986), Founding Chairperson of
both the Jerusalem Council for Soviet Jewry
(1973) and the Cincinnati Council for Soviet
Jewry (1970); Vice-Chairperson of
Seminarians for Peace, and a member of
Clergy and Laity against the War in Vietnam
(1968-1972). He was also a “Freedom Rider”
in the summer of 1964.
Rabbi Forman will speak several times
during his visit to El Paso, including the
following public talks:
At 3 pm on Sunday, March 14, he will
speak in Zielonka Hall on “Jewish
Schizophrenia in the Land of Israel.”
On Monday at 7:30 pm, he will speak at
the El Paso Catholic Diocese‟s Pastoral
Center (499 St. Matthew‟s Street, in the
Mission Valley) on “Jerusalem: Holy City
to Three Faiths.”
Rabbi Forman will be our guest teacher at
Lunch and Learn on Tuesday at 11:45 am,
speaking on the topic, “Can a Jewish
State be a Democratic State?”
Finally, on Wednesday at 7:30 pm in
Zielonka Hall, he will speak to his thirty
years of living in the Land of Israel: “A
Retrospective.”
All of these talks are free and open to the
public; those who wish to purchase a lunch
for the Tuesday session may do so for $10.
RSVP‟s are very helpful (particularly for
Tuesday) and can be made by calling Buddy
at the Temple office or by sending a note to
Rabbi David Forman, Scholar-in-Residence March 14-17, 2010
Page 2 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Worship Schedule
March 5-6 Parashat Ki Tisa Friday, March 12
Candlelighting, 5:49 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family & Hadassah Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 5 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
March 12-13 Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei
Friday, March 13 Candlelighting, 5:54 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 13 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
March 19-20 Parashat Vayikra Friday, March 19
Candlelighting, 6:58 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 20 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
March 26-27 Parashat Tzav
Friday, March 26 Candlelighting, 7:03 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 27 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
April 2-3 Pesach
Friday, April 2 Candlelighting, 7:08 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, April 3 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
April 9-10 Parashat Shmini Friday, April 9
Candlelighting, 7:13pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, April 10 Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
Page 3 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
What a gift the folks at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center have given us Jews,
scheduling their annual Celebrity Waiters Spaghetti Dinner for Saturday, March 27. Just two
days before the first Seder, we can take a break from our Pesach preparations and enjoy a hearty
meal of soon-to-be-forbidden pasta!
But seriously, folks…the coincidence of Las Americas‟ spring fundraiser and our festival of
freedom is about more than a last bit of leaven. In truth, the timing is perfect because Las
Americas is an organization dedicated to principles that are at the heart of Passover, and at the
heart of what it means to be Jewish. “You shall know the heart of the stranger…for you were
strangers in the land of Egypt.” “Stranger,” or ger in Hebrew, is a word that marks those who
are marginalized in a society. It often appears alongside two other words, yatom and almanah,
“orphan” and “widow,” forming a trio of the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable.
By providing free and reduced-cost legal aid to people such as immigrant women seeking
protection from abusive spouses, unaccompanied minors caught up (through no fault of their
own) in our nation‟s immigration court system, and people seeking asylum from political
persecution all over the world, Las Americas embodies timeless Jewish values.
My first encounter with Las Americas was several years ago, when I provided an affidavit for a
young Jewish man seeking relief from political and racial persecution in the Former Soviet
Union. I‟ve been an admirer of the organization ever since, and last year was invited to serve
on its Board of Directors. With that honor comes (of course) the responsibility of selling tickets
to the spaghetti dinner…and with that task comes this bulletin article.
I invite you to learn a bit more about Las Americas when intern Karen Vortbedt shares some
stories at our Friday evening service on March 19. I invite you to consider directing some of
your tzedakah dollars to this very worthy cause. And most of all, I invite you to join Alanna and
me at the spaghetti dinner on Saturday, March 27. It begins at 7 pm, at St. Pius X Catholic
Church. Tickets are $30 each, and are available directly from me, or in the Temple office.
Shalom,
Rabbi Bach
From the Rabbi’s Study…
Editor’s Note... With this issue, Tara and I are assuming the duties to edit and see to a timely publication of „Messages from the Mountain‟. It is our hope to expand the bulletin to include more about the happenings of the members of our congregation. We invite all to submit articles and information to be reviewed for inclu-sion in future editions. Additionally, we are always open to suggestions and comments that will make what you receive in these pages more useful and informative. You can email me at [email protected]. Thank you . Mark Schrier
Page 4 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
January Birthdays
January Anniversaries
January 1 Carla Levin Del Raney *
January 3 Marilyn Rotwein James Holderman Nathan Wiener *
January 5 Simon Karch Miriam Yarber
January 6 Judah Horn Garrett Levin
January 7 Beth McCoy * Sydney Reiter * Tania Schwartz Alison Westermann
January 8 Nicholas Munch
January 9 Josiah Meyer
January 10 Eddie Knipp Juan Valdez
January 11 Sally Strelitz
January 12 Jaime Arbona Ruth Stolaroff
January 15 Rita Burman Stuart Kahn
January 16 Benjamin Hirsch Alexandra Holderman Madison Holderman
January 17 Abraham Ettinger Shirley Washer
January 18 Mimi Lait Jerome Levy Jennifer Litt David Schecter David Schonberg *
January 19 Glenda Bromberg
January 20 Leah Pearlman Ann Rothstein
January 22 Lane Frank
January 23 Sofia Escobar Susan Feldblum Marlene Golden Jaime Papa
January 24 Sarah Ames * Paul Lazovick Tina Wolfe *
January 25 Madison Nadler
January 27 Robyn Purvin
January 28 Levi Eisenberg Eugene Finke Anna Sofia Uni Loeb Lola May Elaine Prensky Danielle Scher
January 29 Ofek Belkin Ellen Gulbas * Ruth Katz * Maureen Ley *
January 30 Jane Rosen *
January 31 Robert Duran Stephen Valdes *
January 2 Dick & Robin Krasne
January 4 Damon & Janice Crossland
January 5 Dick & Marlene Fass
January 6 Andrew & Peggy Feinberg
January 7 Rick & Leslie Otis
January 8 Allan & Amy Goldfarb
January 11 Scott & Tania Schwartz
January 12 Jerry & Julie Kallman
January 15 Merton & Laura Goldman *
January 16 Peter & Tova Herman
January 17 Frank & Susan Kamoroff *
January 22 Bob & Sara Shiloff
Janaury 23 Irvin & Alicia Nadler *
January 24 John & Gloria Lavis
January 26 Ben & Ruth Taber
January 29 Meyer & Mindy Marcus
Page 5 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
February Birthdays
February Anniversaries
February 1 Miriam Kotkowski
February 2 Nirit Belkin Mitchell Puschett Carl Ryan
February 3 Marcus Appel Mollie Kern Mila Marcus * Stanley Marcus David Metrikin
February 4 Joyce Jaffee Justin Mendeloff Gary Nadler
February 5 Amanda Marcus
February 6 Sandra Meehan
February 7 Susan Novick
February 8 Elizabeth Goodman-Levy
February 9 Dori Fenenbock Dara Leffman * Miriam Pittle
February 10 Jacob Colvard Skip Litt
February 11 James Daross Elizabeth de Vos * Gershon Ettinger Shirley Nussbaum Alan Pittle
February 12 Aaron Bodor * Robert Snow
February 13 Christopher Burton * Jerry Kallman Samuel Schwartz Kristine Shecter *
February 14 Mimi Gladstein Laura Knipp * Thelma Krugman Bernard Lauterbach Valentina Restrepo
February 15 Jacqueline Babenco Zachary Gopin
February 16 Valerie Barnett * Clarissa Colvard Hannah Gopin Harry Nagler
February 17 Renaye Feldt Elizabeth Schydlower
February 19 Jan Frame Paul Gulbas Karen Ivey
February 20 Judy Amstater William E. Carvajal Marian Daross Frank Kamoroff Suzanne Nagler Olga Rosen
February 21 Louis Alpern Hilda Reedman * Susan Schwartz Jacquelyn Spier
February 23 Alicia Nadler * James Scherr
February 24 William Carvajal
February 25 Jerry Appel Paige Chapman
Anne (Billy) Spier *
February 26 Cindy Graff Cohen Margaret Negrete *
February 27 Jennifer Ehrlich Melanie Shapiro *
February 29 Charles Kovan *
February 1 Tony & Robin Furman *
February 2 Ralph & Rosa Garcia
February 4 Lou & Marie Robbins
February 5 Daniel & Michelle
Blumenfeld
February 17 John & Kristine Shecter
February 18 Mark & Jackie Heins *
February 19 Jeff & Wendy Siegel
February 21 Ken & Barbara Given
February 22 Gershon & Barbara
Ettinger *
February 24 Bill & Jessica Carvajal David & Susie Novick
February 25 Jim & Marian Daross
February 26 Scott Stein & Margaret
Negrete
February 27 Bill Belford & Vicki Smith
Page 6 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
March Birthdays
March Anniversaries
March 1 Ross Dahman Lauryn Rosen Karen Spivack *
March 2 Helaine Bach Bruce Gordon * Sarah Heins Tess Mansfield *
March 3 Jaiden Kimmelman Susan Krupp *
March 4 Esther Bach Carmela Levitt March 5 Ellyce Kimmelman
March 6 Ethan Blumenfeld Brittain Chapman * Alexander Jaffee Jeffrey Katz * Irene Zimmerman
March 7 Harrell Rice Stephen Riter *
March 8 Randee Mansfield Samantha Pittle-Briseno
March 9 Judy Bargman Nina Baskind Julian Borschow Benjamin Loeb Joshua Shecter
March 10 Rachelle Nedow Gary Weiser
March 11 Joyce Davidoff Lydia Duran
March 12 Lyla Bass Burton Cohen Chad Fruithandler Leonard Heller * Evee Marcus Patricia Marcus E.E. Ponsford Noel Rosenbaum Gene Tucker
March 13 Ethan Katz * Iris Sauermilch
March 14 Abe Goldberg Rachel Horn Jim Levy Frances Niethamer Jane Snow
March 15 Simon Bir Carly Robalin
March 16 Mark Heins
March 17 Michelle Blumenfeld Monica Escobar * William Freundlich Anthony Mullen Ben Taber
March 18 Jonathon Gopin Jimmie Parker
March 19 Thomas Dula
March 20 Dora Goldstein Barry Mann *
March 21 Brandon Gulbas * Theodore Krapin
March 22 William Bass *
March 23 James McCarthy Stanley Nankin
March 24 Bertha Blackburn * Martin Colton * Catherine Glen-Puschett Michele Nadler Jonathan Purvin
March 26 Alan Ames * Sylvan Landau *
March 27 Melinda Marcus
March 28 Soheil Nazarian * Frankie Post Tibor Schaechner March 29 Zachary Wilson
March 30 Holli Berry Bonnie Colton Tony Furman * Fifi Heller-Kaim David Mansfield *
March 31 Janet Keeton Louise Rice
March 3 Dan & Leba Hirsch *
March 4 Lowell & Shirley Nussbaum
March 9 Ben Loeb & Quyen Nguyen
March 14 John & Bita Mobbs
March 15 Mark & Tara Schrier
March 16 Larry Lesser & Laurie Davis
March 18 Gary & Lisa Nadler * Carl Ryan & Suzi Davidoff
March 19 Bryan & Joani Schonberg
March 20 Jerry & Haidi Appel
March 21 Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
March 24 Adam & Dana Frank
March 25 Brion & Elisa Gluck * Sid & Fay Kligman Richard & Marilyn Rotwein
March 26 Alan & Honey Phelps
March 29 David & Tita Kaplan
Page 7 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Hamakom Y’nachem—May God Bring Comfort...
to daughters Edi Brannon and Lee Schwartz, siblings Frances Blumenthal and Albert Schwartz, and wife
Moraima Schwartz, on the death of Herbert Schwartz
to Rose Falcon on the death of her aunt, Hope Garcia
to Mimi Lait, Sue Bendalin & Joan Cherno on the death of their brother Albert Feinberg
to Amissa Burton on the death of her Aunt, Shannon McQueary
to Curtis, Jimmy & Billy Spier on the death of their Cousin, Cheryl Spier
to Alan Karp on the death of his father, Murray Karp
to Boris Kaim on the death of his Aunt, Grazia Boram
to Friends & Family on the death of Terry Liebman
Mazel Tov! Congratulations...
to parents Ashley & Michael Mansfield, grandparents Randee & Lyndon Mansfield, and great-
grandmother Sara Mansfield on the birth of Avery Katherine Mansfield on December 15, 2009.
to Becky & Keith Myers on the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer, to Christian Giese, son of Libby
Perez & Jim Giese.
to Leni Berry on the birth of her twin grandsons, Sammy & Mikey, born December 4, 2009. Parents are
Michael & Ilana Hernandez.
to Scott and Angela Feldt, parents, and Leon and Judy Feldt, grandparents, on the Bar Mitzvah of
Edward, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on January 16.
to Charles and Carmen Yates, whose daughter Carmen was admitted to the California Bar.
to Bruce and Shelly Gopin, parents, and Sheldon and Carolyn Gopin, grandparents, on the Bar
Mitzvah of Zachary, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on February 13.
to Rabbi Larry and Alanna Bach, parents, and Sue Feldblum, grandmother, on the Bat Mitzvah of
Helaine, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on February 27.
to the Schwartz and Shecter Families, and particularly grandmother Nancy Schwartz and great-
grandfather Albert Schwartz, on the birth of Eden Adele Peled to Jerami Shecter and Nir Peled.
We welcome David Rothbardt, Michael Slayton, and Stuart and Dannah Meyers to membership at Temple!
We are also delighted to welcome the Lesser family to membership at Temple, and to turn this month‟s spot-
light on them. Larry Lesser, a UTEP mathematics education professor, has had several of his original songs
(e.g., "Healing Song") performed at Temple and elsewhere. His b'shert Laurie Davis, a neuroscience re-
searcher and manual/massage therapist, has a passion for making traditional Judaism welcoming and acces-
sible. Their son Judah, a 4th grader at the El Paso Jewish Academy, loves building/inventing, nature, science,
math, and music.
New Members
Page 8 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Save the Date: March 7th
All are invited to join us for the TMS
Religious School Cultural Celebration on
March 7th, from 11:00 to 12:30, at Temple
Mount Sinai, in Schwartz Hall.
During this event, our first through sixth
grade students are given an opportunity to
present a cultural aspect of Judaism at the
Cultural Celebration. Being Jewish is a part
of our whole life, as expressed through
reading, sports, music, art, comedy, movies
and food. Our students are researching,
preparing, and creating displays for us to
learn from and appreciate during the
Cultural Celebration.
Join us as Religious School first grade
students express their Jewish identity
through Art. The second grade students
will present Jewish Folk Dance. Have a
taste of Jewish foods prepared by third
grade students and our Madrichim. Fourth
grade students will bring to light some of
our Jewish authors. Learn about some
Jewish artists and admire fifth grade
students‟ art work. And the sixth grade
students will explain and highlight
accomplishments of Jews in America.
The Tzedakah project during this event is
“A Package From Home.” We will adopt
the Elite Combat Unit consisting of thirty-
four soldiers who help protect Israel. Each
package contains a letter offering thanks
and encouragement to the soldiers. The
packages are filled with socks, warm hats
and gloves, t-shirts or two-piece long
underwear sets, candy and snacks,
toiletries, batteries…etc.
We need to raise $1,000 for thirty-four
“Packages From Home.” On November 8th,
during our Religious School Mitzvah Day
and Taco Lunch Fundraiser we raised $400,
to go toward this Special Tzedakah Project.
Also, our students will donate their
Tzedakah money collected from February
1st through March 7thth. Additionally, on
March 7th at noon we will sell tacos
(including vegetarian tacos), dessert, drinks
and Mrs. B‟s salsa.
Plan to join us on March 7th from 11:00 a.m.
to 12:30, for the Cultural Celebration and
stay and enjoy a taco lunch while visiting
with each other in Schwartz Hall. If you
would like to place a special order for salsa
or tacos, please send Grace Bir an e-mail
To learn more about our “Package From
Home” Tzedakah Project, please visit
apackagefromhome.org
Religious School Cultural Celebration
Page 9 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Do you know that you can honor or remember a loved one with a leaf or a stone on the Tree of Life? This beautiful work of art is displayed on the wall in the foyer at Temple just outside the Sanctuary.
For a minimum donation of $300 for a leaf or $3,000 for a stone, the brass will be engraved according to your instructions and will remain on the Tree of Life forever. Your donation becomes part of the Foundation Trust and benefits Temple Mount Sinai in perpetuity.
For more information, contact Sally Parke at the Temple office at 532-5959.
Leaves and Stones on the Temple’s Tree of Life
At the request of a builder, El Paso City
Council has been in discussion to revise the
city ordinance on accessible housing. The
revision would reduce construction of Type A
apartments (units with walk in showers) from
5% to 2%. Three months ago, persons with
disabilities and advocates persuaded the City
Council to extend the requirement of 5% for 6
months. Builders and members of the disabled
community were asked to set up a database for
accessible apartments. Action by City Council
is expected in the coming weeks.
Because we are an aging population with
physical limitations, increasing the need for
walkers, canes and wheelchairs, we believe
there is an increase in the demand for
accessible apartments. Please write or call your
City Council Representative and let them
know how you feel.
From the Social Action Committee
Please remember to use your key tag each time you shop for groceries at Albertsons.
All you need to do is have the card scanned when you check out. Temple will earn 1% of your shopping total each time you scan the card. If you have a card from another
organization, you may scan more than one card and thereby benefit both organizations.
If you need an additional key tag, contact the Temple office.
Page 10 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Sandra Troyer Kern Memorial Endowment Fund
At the recent Friday night service commemorating the first yahrtzeit of Sandi‟s death, I
announced the creation of the Sandra Troyer Kern Memorial Endowment Fund at
Temple. I‟d like to thank my father Martin and my sister Suzan for helping me provide
the initial funding to create this Endowment in Sandi‟s memory. Sandi‟s Fund will
now serve, in perpetuity, to help pay for activities and programs at Temple‟s Religious
School which Sandi loved and where she taught for nearly 15 years.
Earnings from Sandi‟s Fund will initially cover costs of the “It‟s A Girl‟s Thing” (IAGT)
program for 7th and 8th grade girls at Temple. IAGT is a wonderful program Sandi
loved very much and which has meant a lot to our daughter Mollie and her friends at
Temple. Sandi‟s Fund also will be renovating and refurnishing the IAGT lounge and
resource room to make that a really special and warm place for the girls to gather. That
room will be dedicated to Sandi‟s memory with a plaque on its door and pictures and
other memorabilia of Sandi inside the room. For as long as there is a Temple Mount
Sinai, this room will serve to lovingly honor Sandi.
Over time, as Sandi‟s Fund grows through reinvestment of some of its profits and
through additional donations, the Fund‟s earnings will help Temple pay for many of
the programs and activities of the Religious School. Thereby, Sandi‟s name and mem-
ory will live on and benefit, both today and in future generations, the Religious School
and children of Temple she cared so deeply about.
If any of you are so moved, you can help us grow Sandi‟s Fund by giving a gift to
Temple in Sandi‟s memory. To do so, simply write a check payable to Temple Mount
Sinai, designate the “Sandi Kern Fund” on the memo line and send it to Temple Mount
Sinai, 4408 North Stanton, El Paso, Texas 79902. By contributing to Sandi‟s Fund, you
will join us in honoring Sandi‟s memory by supporting the programs and activities at
Temple which she loved so much. Thank you!
David
Page 11 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
On the First Anniversary of Sandi’s Death
It‟s hard to believe we‟ve been once around the sun since Sandi‟s physical presence left us and her spirit went on her way Much of that year has been an involuntary journey on a relentless roller coaster ride through time, watching as surreal questions form in mist and fall like rain on parched earth: How is it possible she is gone? Are we really still here without her? From that roller coaster, I‟ve watched this first yahrtzeit approaching like an unknown object coming from the distant desert on a long, straight road kicking up dust, gathering momentum, creating anticipation and dread What was at first a dot on the horizon became recognizable as something more, the features gradually coming into focus then arriving, suddenly, like an unwanted visitor at the doorstep An emissary from death carrying contradictions in its hands: the icy pain of missing her, with the warm memories of her love the sorrow of her passing, with hoped-for comfort from the passing of time And in that doorway within, which the dull blade of sorrow has carved with a persistent and unyielding hand, I find a heart yet beating that knows much more of love than it ever knew before In those moments of knowing, the roller coaster stops and questions crystallize in air, no longer needing answers as love surrounds everything that was, is and will ever be And my thoughts circle back to a gratitude which holds no contradictions: for blessings of time shared, ways our lives transformed and became better and for the love, most of all, that still fills my mind and heart In these moments, the mind recalls what the heart always knows our journey here is brief, our passage just an instant in God‟s eyes but love, once found, stays with us for all of time David Kern February 1, 2010
In loving memory of Sandra Troyer Kern
7/5/52 – 2/1/09
Page 12 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Movie and Mitzvah Night
What could be more fun than playing games with
your friends, enjoying dinner, doing a mitzvah,
and watching a good movie?! On Saturday,
December 5, eighteen Noar students gathered at
Temple Mount Sinai to do just that. Noar is a
Jewish youth group for third, fourth, and fifth
graders run by Temple Mount Sinai. The goal of
Noar is to bring Jewish children from across the
community together for fun and good deeds.
The Noar students who attended the Movie and
Mitzvah Night played dreidel (to get ready for
Hanukkah), celebrated Havdalah with Rabbi Bach,
and enjoyed a yummy pizza dinner. After dinner
the students participated in a mitzvah project,
writing letters of support to Israeli soldiers. These
letters have been sent to Israel to be included in
the care packages that “A Package from Home”
puts together.
Following the letter writing we played a couple of
fun games to get to know each other better and
then it was time for hot chocolate, popcorn, and
the movie “Up”. The students had a fabulous
time and wanted to know when we were getting
together again.
UTEP Miners Basketball Trip
Saturday, February 6, was a good night for the
UTEP Miners! Thirty-five adults and students
from the Jewish community cheered the UTEP
basketball team on to victory over Tulsa. The
group included children from ages six through
fourteen and some of their parents. The children
came from the Noar and Mini-MSTY youth
groups, which together cover third through eighth
grades.
Before the game we gathered at Temple Mount
Sinai for snacks, mixer activities, and
Havdalah. Following Havdalah we drove to the
home of Rabbi Larry and Alanna Bach and then
walked down to the Haskins Center. The next two
hours were full of cheering, smiles, snack sharing,
and friendly conversation. The evening was
enjoyable and we all look forward to next year's
basketball outing. Go Miners!
If you are interested in having your third through
fifth grader involved in a Jewish youth group
please contact Alanna Bach at 532-5959 or
[email protected]. If you are
interested in having your sixth through eighth
grader involved in a Jewish youth group, please
contact Alison Westermann at
[email protected] or 532-5959.
Noar News and Reviews
Page 13 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Gesher (bridge in Hebrew) is a hands-on
Jewish learning program run by Temple Mt.
Sinai for children from birth through four
years and their parents. Throughout the year
children and parents explore Jewish holidays
and common preschool themes with a Jewish
twist (like “What‟s Jewish about Frogs and
Toads?” and “What‟s Jewish about Colors?”)
Our rich curriculum, designed by Alanna
Bach, includes playtime with thematic toys,
singing, movement, stories, craft projects, and
thematic snacks. Gesher meets at Temple Mt.
Sinai in Schwartz Hall from 10 to 11 am
approximately twice a month. If you are
joining us for the first time in January, there is
a $40 per family registration fee for this
program.
In February, Gesher met twice - once to
explore “What‟s Jewish about Butterflies” and
once to learn about Purim. We laughed, ate
celery and peanut butter butterflies,
decorated groggers, listened to stories, and
played with our friends. If this sounds like
fun, you‟re welcome to come join us in March.
The March Gesher class will meet on
Sunday, March 7, to learn about Passover,
the holiday of Jewish freedom.
During our Passover class we will hear the
story of our escape from slavery, read a
couple of Passover books, create a Passover
craft, sing and dance, and enjoy a snack of
matzah and cream cheese.
We hope your family will join us for Jewish
fun and learning. Please contact Alanna Bach
at [email protected] or 532-5959
for complete registration information. We
hope your family will join us for Jewish fun
and learning. Gesher is funded in part by the
Jewish Federation of El Paso and all families
are welcome to attend.
Gesher Refresher
Page 14 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Tributes — November 20-December 21
Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund:
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Skip & Teresa
Schwartz, Fifi Heller-Kaim & Boris Kaim, Michael Tomor,
Bettye Kohlhagen, Mildred Marcus, and Wendy Axelrod
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds‟ Special Birthday by Bernie
& Judy Lauterbach
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special Anniversary
by Bud & Charlotte Ramenofsky
in honor of Phil Alpern‟s Special Birthday by Sara
Mansfield
in memory of Harry Miller, Werner Kohlhagen, Phyllis
Fruithandler by Bettye Kohlhagen
speedy recovery to Martin Kern by Bill & Miriam
Goldfarb
Lothar Blumenthal Fund:
in memory of David Crohn, Michael David Crohn &
Adrianne Crohn by Gloria Crohn
Campership Fund:
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Andy Saucedo
in memory of Beatrice Pollack by Jeralyn F. Scher &
Michael Sarnoff
Caring Community Fund:
in memory of Adele Gordon by Edward & Evelyn
Schwartz
Cemetery Fund:
in memory of Evelyn Axelrod by Harrell & Louise Rice
Syd Dictor Memorial Music Fund:
in honor of Mike Abrams' Special Birthday by Rona
Dictor
in memory of Dodie Redler by Rona Dictor
Falk Religious School Endowment Fund
in honor of Harvy Falk's Special Birthday by Bob & Sara
Shiloff
Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund:
in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Ron & Judy
Blumenfeld
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld‟s Special
Anniversary by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
in memory of Edward Sochat by Ron & Judy Blumenfeld
General Donations Fund:
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Douglas
Waters, Bruce & Kristen Applebaum
in honor of Albert Schwartz's Special Birthday by Tibor &
Ann Schaechner
in honor of Channukah by Allen & Marlene Levine
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special Anniversary
by Carolyn Feinberg, Irene Oppenheimer, Mimi Lait,
Tibor & Ann Schaechner
in honor of Leni Berry's twin grandsons by Nat & Nanci
Maddux
in honor of Martin Kern's Special Birthday by Bob & Sara
Shiloff
in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Tibor &
Ann Schaechner
in memory of Anita Mark by Bud & Charlotte
Ramenofsky
in memory of Bruce Litt by Ann Louise Leeds
in memory of David Stolaroff by Sharon Cotter
in memory of Edward Sochat by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
in memory of Leah Brody by Rosilyn Rivkin
in memory of Martha Goldberg by Ann Louise Leeds
in memory of Our Loved Ones by Bob & Sara Shiloff
in memory of Evelyn Axelrod by Ann & Tibor
Schaechner
speedy recovery to Julian Borschow by Abe & Annette
Goldberg
speedy recovery to Mimi Lait by Ann Louise Leeds
speedy recovery to Susie Novick by Bud & Charlotte
Ramenofsky,Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
Page 15 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Jon L. Heller High Holiday Flower Fund:
in memory of Frank Ruiz by Fifi Heller-Kaim
Kahn Endowment Fund:
in memory of Joshua N. Kahn by Alan & Jean Kahn
Ruth Kahn and Andrew Kahn Rose Gardens:
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by Bill &
Miriam Goldfarb, Gershon & Barbara Ettinger
Krasne Discretionary Fund:
in appreciation of Elaine & Bob Krasne by Marlene &
Allen Levine
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by Ruth
Braun
in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Ruth Braun
Landscaping Fund:
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Dick & Toni Harris, Valerie Barnett
in honor of Lillian Silberman's Special Birthday by Dick
& Jean Scherotter
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger:
in honor of Albert Schwartz's Special Birthday by
Edward & Evelyn Schwartz
Oppenheimer Flower Fund:
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Jeanne Moye
in memory of Anna F. Rosenberg by Ruth Braun
in memory of Corrine Alice Coleman by Steve Rosenberg
in memory of Dina Davidoff by Joyce Davidoff
in memory of Eleanor Mayer by Sister Blumenthal
in memory of Jack Marcus by Mildred Marcus
in memory of Leona Goldfarb by Bob & Shirley Goldfarb
in memory of Marla Stein by Scott Stein Family
in memory of Oscar David Leeser by Arthur & Rhoberta
Leeser
in memory of Robert H.Given by Barbara Given Behne
Novick MSTY Campership Fund:
in memory of Goldie Schleicher Lerner by Henry &
Harriet Geller
Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center:
in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Barry Solomon's 50th Wedding
Anniversary by Phil & Judy Bargman
in honor of Ron & Judy Blumenfeld's Special Wedding
Anniversary by Phil & Judy Bargman
Special Oneg or Kiddush:
in memory of Elayne Bernat by Julian Bernat
in memory of Henry Silverman by John & Rita Silverman
in memory of Jon Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim
in memory of Joseph Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim
in memory of Leo Rosen by Sig & Olga Rosen
in memory of Rose Bilsky by Estelle Goldman
in memory of Anne Elizabeth Hawkinson by Lietzie
Belford
Tree Of Life
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by
Louann Pranses, Sydney Goltz, Eddie & Laurie Knipp
Rabbi Ken & Sue Weiss URJ Youth Travel Fund:
in appreciation of Greta Duran & Lori Gaman by Alison
Westermann and Stacy Berry
in honor of the Marriage of Amy Weiss & Scott
Levingston by Bill & Anne Spier
Zork Memorial Library Fund:
in honor of Paquita‟s Litt's Special Birthday by Bill &
Miriam Goldfarb, Lillian Silberman, Phil & Judy
Bargman
in memory of Jerry Harris by Ruth Braun
Tributes — November 20-December 21
Page 16 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Tributes — December 22-January 29
Alfred Blumenthal Video History Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bruce & Erline
Gordon
Campership Fund
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by D. F. Tavana
Caring Community Fund
in honor of Sue & Frank Kamofoff's Special
Anniversary by Bob & Elaine Krasne, Bob & Sara
Shiloff, Marty & Bonnie Colton
Cemetery Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Dorothy Borschow
Choir Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bill & Anne Spier,
Donna Munch
Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund
in honor of Ruth Katz's Special Birthday by Stuart &
Frances Kahn
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Jay & Mary Heins,
Ruth Oppenheim
Friedman/Bloom/Rothstein Outdoor Chapel
in honor of Fanny Laufer Special Birthday by Karl
Friedman
in memory of Fae Tyroler by Phil & Ann Rothstein
General Donations Fund
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Douglas
Waters
in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Nat &
Nanci Maddux
General Donations Fund
in honor of Jane Rosen's Special Birthday by Bill &
Marcia Dahlberg, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Dick & Jean
Scherotter, Norma Levenson, Sara Mansfield, Steve &
Marlene Golden
in honor of Lola May's Special Birthday by Anne
Hollander
in honor of Robert & Naida Lipson's Special
Anniversary by Sara Mansfield
in honor of Sam Ellowitz's Special Birthday by Bud &
Charlotte Ramenofsky
in memory of A. Lee Crawford by Pat Crawford
in memory of Alma Curry by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
in memory of Eddie Sochat by Jim & Anne Spier
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bill & Miriam
Goldfarb, Bob & Jane Snow, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Bud &
Charlotte Ramenofsky, Buddy Schwartz, Curtis &
Jacquelyn Spier, Dick & Jean Scherotter, Dick &
Marlene Fass, Bill & Marcia Dahlberg..
Dick & Toni Harris, Don & Margie Henderson, Doris
Pryzant, Edward & Evelyn Schwartz, Eleanor
Goodman, Irma Oppenheim, Jim & Anne Spier, Joyce
Davidoff, Ken & Barbara Given, Lillian Silberman,
Marty & Bonnie Colton, Nat & Nanci Maddux, Norma
Levenson,
Schmid, Broaddus, Nugent & Gano Accountants,
Stephen & Heather Caine, Stuart & Shari Schwartz,
Sally, Joseph,& Marlyn Strelitz, Barbara & Gershon
Ettinger
in memory of Leah Brody by Rosilyn Rivkin
in memory of Ivan Chavez by Olivia Chavez
in memory of Joe Siegel by Alan & Mimi Pittle
in memory of Laura Sommer by Jon & Arlene Sonnen,
Sylvia Gershowitz
in memory of Murray Karp by Stuart & Shari Schwartz
Jon Heller High Holiday Fund Donation
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Fifi Heller-Kaim &
Boris Kaim
Page 17 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Isadore Kahn Memorial Fund
in honor of Keith & Becky Myers' daughter, Jennifer‟s
engagement by Stuart & Frances Kahn
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by
Buddy & Ellen Dorfman
in honor of Stuart Kahn's Birthday by Buddy & Ellen
Dorfman
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Stuart & Frances
Kahn
Amelia G. Krohn Basic Judaism Collection
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Jim & Patricia
Krohn
Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center
in memory of Ed Sochat by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer
speedy recovery to David Rothbardt by Bud &
Charlotte Ramenofsky
Krasne Discretionary Fund
in honor of Bob & Naida Lipson's Special Anniversary
by Marty & Bonnie Colton
in honor of Jane Rosen's Special Birthday by Bill &
Anne Spier, Bob & Elaine Krasne, Marty & Bonnie
Colton
in memory of Alma Curry by Bob & Elaine Krasne
in memory of Audry Given by Marty & Bonnie Colton
in memory of Eddie Sochat by Marty & Bonnie Colton,
Bill & Anne Spier
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bob & Elaine
Krasne, Ruth Braun
Landscape Special Projects Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Audrey & Eitan
Lavi, Suzie & Lillian Schaechner
MAZON Fund
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer
Special Oneg or Kiddush
in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Leon &
Judy Feldt, Scott & Angela Feldt
in memory of Josefina Holguin by Fifi Heller-Kaim &
Boris Kaim
E Oppenheimer Flower Fund
in honor of the baby naming of Cara Sala by Valerie
Frost
in honor of Edward Feldt‟s Bar Mitzvah by Angela &
Scott Feldt
in memory of David Dichter & Dorothy Solomon by
Edward & Helene Solomon
in memory of Effie Parker & Herman Klee by Jim &
Carol Parker
in memory of Florence Adler Jacob by Terren & Maria
Klein
in memory of Hedwig Grunebaum by Jim & Carol
Parker
in memory of Hilde Mason & Bertha Juda by Jim &
Carol Parker
in memory of Jacques Belbel by Roger & Trish Belbel
in memory of Jean Feinberg by Steve Feinberg & Susan
Foote
in memory of Phyllis Fruithandler by Ross & Linda
Fruithandler
in memory of Sara Krasne & Harold Novak by Bob &
Elaine Krasne
Prayer Book Fund
in memory of Lucy Bleiberg by Al Bleiberg
Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Estelle
Goldman
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Julian Bernat
(Continued on page 18)
Tributes — December 22-January 29
Page 18 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund (continued)
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Ron & Judy
Blumenfeld
in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Sara
Mansfield
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Ross & Linda Fruithandler
in honor of Stella Couch's naming by Charles & Carry
Couch
in memory of Bing Borschow by Molly Rosen
in memory of Eddie Sochat by Judy Leonard
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Judy Leonard, Molly
Rosen
in memory of Murray Karp by Ross & Linda
Fruithandler
in memory of Regina F. Eisner by David Eisner
SKIP Fund
in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Donna
Munch
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Tony & Lindsay Gronich
in honor of Sam Ellowitz's Special Birthday by Larry &
Joyce Anenberg
in honor of Sue & Frank Kamoroff's Special Anniversary
by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Tony & Lindsay
Gronich
in memory of Cheri Spier by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
A & S Stolaroff Fund
in memory of Beulah Schuadig by William Loventhal III
& Rita Loventhal
Youth Fund
in memory of Murray Herschel Karp by Dennis & Anat
Reiter
Zork Library Fund
in memory of Bruce Litt by Jim & Patricia Krohn
Tributes — December 22-January 29
Religious School Toner Cartridge Fund You‟ve heard the saying “One Man‟s
Trash is Another Man‟s Treasure”. As part of a Religious School Fundraiser, may we be the recipient of your used (empty) toner and ink cartridges? They can be any brand or size of toner/ink cartridge available.
Staples Office Supply will give us a $3.00 credit (to buy supplies for our Religious School) for each toner or ink cartridge we bring in.
We will collect the toners/ink car-tridges at Temple and periodically make trips
to Las Cruces to redeem them for credit at the Staples Office Supply Store.
I will make arrangements to pick-up your used toner and ink cartridges. Thank you for your support. Please contact me at [email protected] or 532-5959, ext. 27. Thank you,
Page 19 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
YAMS is the newest chavurah--affinity group at
Temple! These young adults range in age from
22-39 and are passionate about their Judaism.
The group meets monthly and would love for
you to join them. Each month features Jewish
learning and community building.
Along with their monthly events YAMS are
actively engaged with the Center Against
Family Violence. Danielle Scher, organizer of
YAMS states, “Think globally, act locally! As
members of YAMS we are committed to the
Jewish teaching of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the
world.” As YAMS we are rooted into our local
community and can only begin to repair the
world by helping those around us. Therefore,
YAMS is collecting all of those little toiletries
(shampoo, conditioner, soap ,lotion) that you
pick up at hotels. These will all be donated to
the Center Against Family Violence in El Paso
(http://www.cafv.org). There will be a box at
Temple for anyone who wants to make a
donation.”
In February, the group met at Crawdaddy‟s to
learn how to make mixed drinks (Tequila and
Tefilah) . Rabbi Bach led a discussion on how to
make prayer a part of today‟s busy lives.
For the month of March they plan to have a movie night (date pending) and would love to see more congregants participating. Again, bring your toiletries! If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact Danielle Scher ([email protected]) or Hedy Uecker ([email protected]) and they will be more than happy to assist you.
Young Adults of Mount Sinai (YAMS)
Community Passover Seder at TMS Tuesday March 30th at 6:00
The Temple will be hosting a community Passover seder. Adults: $18 Children (5-12): $9 Children
Under 4 are free. Please RSVP by March 23 by calling 532-5959 or email:
[email protected]. “Let all who are hungry come and eat”
Upcoming Community Events Passover Family Event at TMS Sunday March 28th from 9:30—12:00
El Paso families are invited to Temple for a morning of Passover games, crafts and a model seder.
Please RSVP to Alanna Bach at [email protected] by Wednesday March 24.
Second Annual Jewish Women’s Retreat May 14-16, 2010
Join Temple Mt. Sinai for our second annual Jewish Women‟s Retreat in the beautiful Sacramento Mountains. Take this opportunity to remove yourself from the pressures of everyday life in El Paso and focus on friendship, Judaism, and personal growth. The weekend programming will be a mixture of prayer, adventure, and relationship building. We will stay in hotel-style accommodations at the Sacramento Methodist Assembly Retreat Center. This year‟s programming promises to be as fabulous as last year‟s – this is an event you won‟t want to miss! For more information or to RSVP for the retreat, please contact Alanna Bach at [email protected] or 532-5959.
Page 20 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Do you have children in first grade or
younger? Do they like to sing and dance? Do
they like to sit in a circle and listen to stories?
If you answered yes to any of these questions,
please bring your children and join us to
welcome Shabbat at our special B‟nai Shabbat
services once a month. B‟nai Shabbat is an
experiential Shabbat service conducted on the
bimah in the main sanctuary at Temple. At the
service there will be candle lighting, singing
with Rabbi Bach, and joyful praying.
B‟nai Shabbat participants are invited to join
the rest of the congregation at 5:45 pm for a
delicious oneg prepared by Simon Bir.
Following the oneg, childcare will be available
the children. Parents are invited to enjoy an
adult service beginning at 6:15 pm.
Please join us for the B‟nai Shabbat Service on
Friday, March 12, at 5:15 pm in Temple‟s
main sanctuary. To RSVP for the service or
for more information please contact Alanna
Bach at 532-5959 or
B’nai Shabbat
Take the opportunity to learn with friends as our Lunch and Learn series continues on March
16. We‟ll begin at 11:45 am as a delicious lunch is served.
Rabbi Bach will take a break from teaching and be a student this month, as our guest teacher,
Rabbi David Forman, explores the topic, “Can a Jewish State be a Democratic State?” Learn
more about Rabbi Forman on the front page of this bulletin.
Future lunch and learn dates are April 6 and May 4.
Lunches are $10 each. Please send in your check if you want to prepay or call Buddy Schwartz
at 532-5959 or email him at [email protected]
Lunch and Learn, March 16 at 11:45 am
Page 21 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
The Torah places great stress on the fact that Passover occurs in the spring. In biblical times, the month in which the holiday fell was called Aviv (spring). During the first exile in Babylon, the months were given Babylonian names. Passover's month was renamed Nisan. Although the name shifted, the Hebrews upheld the Torah's insistence on the link of spring and Passover.
Critical scholars believe that the date connects spring festivals (the Feast of Unleavened Bread from pastoral roots and the Paschal lamb from shepherd traditions) that were absorbed into the Passover holiday. In this view, the earlier ritual elements were incorporated and reinterpreted as historical reminders of redemption. Many traditional scholars have objected to any attempt to place the Torah in a cultural context. Some, such as Maimonides, have seen no religious objection to having the Sinaitic revelation transform earlier elements into the Torah's theological/historical pattern, as long as its divinity is upheld.
The Torah stresses both the agricultural and the historical aspects of Passover. There is a strong but subtle relationship of nature and history in the Bible's teachings. The human being is a body/soul fusion. Somatic states affect the mind just as strong emotions--jealousy, anger, lust--
rack the body. Because the spiritual and the biological are intertwined, shifts in one dimension translate into shifts in the other. The reward of righteousness is long life; living in harmony with the divine blessing yields prosperity and fertility. Moral evil pollutes the land; cruelty to other humans drives away the Divine. The fullest spiritual development will take place when the peo-ple feel secure and rooted in the land. In the messianic age, when humans will "know" God, peo-ple will dwell under their own trees and vines in peace and harmony.
Thus, in the Bible, human and natural phenomena are read at two levels simultaneously. The Hebrew Scriptures are this-worldly. Nature is true substance; the world of biological phenomena is not illusion. Yet, while these phenomena are real, they also reflect the divine realm, which transcends nature. The people of Israel are at once a human family with self-interests, sibling ri-
valries, and daily cares, and also witnesses of Divine Presence in the world. The land of Israel is at once a land of milk and honey, of rain and mountain springs, and the land on which God keeps a divine eye from year's beginning to year's end.
Biblical language and symbol point to spring as the proper season for deliverance. The rebirth of earth after winter is nature's indication that life overcomes death: spring is nature's analogue to redemption. Life blossoming, breaking winter's death grip, gives great credence to the human yearning for liberation.
A correct reading of the spring season would hear its message of breaking out and life reborn at the biological level simultaneously with an Exodus message of good overcoming evil, of love overpowering death, of freedom and redemption. The Bible envisions a world in which moral and physical states coincide, when nature and history, in harmony, confirm the triumph of life. The Exodus paradigm suggests that the outcome of history will be an eternal spring. Read with a historical/theological hermeneutic, spring is Exodus.
Why is Passover in the Spring?
Page 22 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
The following is a reflection prepared for a program
I’m currently enrolled in, the Institute for Jewish
Spirituality’s Rabbinical Leadership Program. I
share it here, and hope it prompts some theologizing
on your part.
In seminary, the arch-rationalist Professor of
Philosophy, Alvin Reines (z”l), was on a
mission to break his students of their theism. I
don‟t believe I was much of a traditional theist
to begin with, but I wasn‟t hostile to the
concept or its adherents, and so I pushed back
against his teaching, hard. One moment from
class has stuck with me, and even now is the
framework in which I place my own
theological reflection.
Reines was on a tear that day, railing against
religious supernaturalism. “We know that
Euclid was all wrong about space! Einstein
proved it! Parallel lines meet! Space bends! To
insist that it doesn‟t in the face of scientific
evidence makes as much sense as maintaining
the existence of an invisible „Person‟ who
creates and guides the universe! Traditional
Jewish theology is to reality as Euclid is to
Einstein!” (It made an impression, and I think
that‟s more or less verbatim, including the
exclamation points).
My response (not verbalized; there was no
point in arguing with Dr. Reines): “Yeah, but
I‟d rather have Euclid measure my floors for
tile.” If I want to know the space of a room,
Euclidian geometry is indispensible and
quantum mechanics rather useless.
This “Euclid-Einstein tension” metaphor stuck
with me, and has helped me to navigate my
world. So much of my life takes place in
measurable spaces: hospital rooms, the living
room at a shivah minyan, and even the Chapel. I
find the notion of a personal, providential
deity often brings tremendous comfort in those
places, and I am quite comfortable reflecting
back others‟ affirmations of that God. I don‟t
feel the need to convince anyone that their
belief system is wrong, even if it isn‟t one that I
necessarily share. If “God wanted…” offers
someone a measure of relief from pain, then
who am I to argue? On the other hand, I also
know that many people are wrestling as I am
with the idea of God-as-Process, and they are
often delighted to find that their rabbi shares
their more inwardly-oriented, mystical
theology.
I am increasingly at home with non-theistic,
process theology. To return to the metaphor, I
find that non-Euclidian geometry is the best
way for me to measure the area of my yoga
mat, or that of my desk, covered with
commentaries of the early Hasidic masters and
latter-day teachers like Art Green. I feel best
when I‟m aware of divine shefa and chiut
animating me (and everything), all at once. I
am less moved, personally, when I talk to God,
the transcendent Other.
Ultimately, I believe that both of these ways of
relating to Divine Reality are metaphors, more
or less useful to different people in different
moments, and I‟m grateful to have an
elementary grasp of both of them and the
flexibility to speak through each.
As always, I’d be delighted to know your thoughts.
Shalom,
Rabbi Bach
more from the Rabbi’s Study…
Page 23 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Messages from the Mountain
Temple Mount Sinai and Congregation B‟nai
Zion came together on Sunday, December 13,
for a community Hanukkah family event. The
morning was full of laughter, fun, learning, and
creating. It all began at 9:15 am with
registration, dropping off mitzvah gifts, and a
Hanukkah quiz. Once everyone had arrived we
proceeded into the chapel for a Hanukkah sing-
down with Rabbi Bach, Ray Sias, and Bill
Radcliff. Then the answers to the quiz were
revealed with prizes to those who answered
correctly.
Next eight “characters” from the Hanukkah
story came up in full costume to introduce
themselves to the group. A little taste … the
Hanukkiah told us, “Count my branches, there
are nine. One for each day, a candle will shine.
Using the shamash we light from left to right.
Lighting one more candle each night”.
The next part of the morning included learning
activities by ages: The 0-4 year olds had a
special play and craft room. The 5-11 years olds
separated into classrooms for age appropriate
lessons. The middle schoolers joined Rabbis
Rosenthal, Bach, and Leon for a mixer, story,
and a discussion. Parents accompanied their
children in these special activities.
To conclude the morning everyone came
together in the social hall for the EPJA Drama
Club‟s production of “The Chanukah Candle
Caper”. During the morning Temple Mt.
Sinai‟s Men of Reform Judaism prepared five
different types of latkes. After the play the
middle schoolers judged the latkes for the Lip
Licking Latke Contest. The winning latkes were
prepared by Scott Feldt - the family special
latkes!
This was a fabulous community celebration
enjoyed by over 200 people!
Community Hanukkah Celebration
Staff
Rabbi ..................................................................... Larry Bach
Rabbi Emeritus ......................................................Ken Weiss
Administrator.......................................................Sally Parke
Administrative Assistant ............................Buddy Schwartz
Religious School Director .......................................Grace Bir
Outreach Director .............................................. Susan Jaffee
Family Educator ................................................ Alanna Bach
Youth Advisors .......... Stacy Berry and Alison Westermann
Bulletin Editors ................................. Mark and Tara Schrier
Building Manager ..................................... Frank Hernandez
House Keeping ............................................ Ramona Pinales
Accompanist.................................................. Linda McClain
Officers
David Kern ............................................................. President
Shari Schwartz .............................................. President-Elect
Marian Daross ................................................ Vice President
Greta Duran ................................................... Vice President
Ellen Goodman .............................................. Vice President
Jon Sonnen...................................................... Vice President
Tommy Goldfarb ........................................... Vice President
Stephanie Calvo ...................................................... Secretary
Marcia Dahlberg ..........................Immediate Past President
Trustees
Rick Amstater, Olivia Chavez, Joyce Davidoff,
Scott Feldt, Lori Gaman, Susie Goldman,
Jack Heydemann, David Leffman,
David Mansfield, Hal Marcus, David Novick
Debby Robalin, Phil Rothstein
Temple Mount Sinai 4408 North Stanton Street El Paso, TX 79902 Phone: 915-532-5959 Fax: 915-533-0092 www.templemountsinai.com
Temple Mount Sinai is the Reform
Jewish congregation serving El
Paso, Texas.
We are a congregation of
supportive, caring and diverse
people with a rich history.
Temple is a place for prayer, ritual,
spirituality, education, wholeness
and healing, social action and
celebration.
Join us as we explore, through these
elements of sacred living, the
richness of Jewish faith and
tradition.
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ORGANIZATION
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