RABBI’S MESSAGE - AUGUST 2018

Congregation B’nai Harim Children of the Mountains

Congregation B’nai Harim, P.O. Box 757, Pocono Pines, PA 18350/ (570) 646-0100 http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org

NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2018/ VOLUME 24, ISSUE 8

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With Tisha b’Av behind us and the month of Elul approaching, it is time to pause and think: how do we wish to go forward into the New Year? Tisha b’Av is a reminder of the terrible toll that is exacted by in-fighting, callousness and zealotry (as well as the arbitrary cruelty of governments over the centuries). Elul, on the other hand, is considered an acronym for “Ani L’dodi, V’dodi Li” I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine, an expression of love and mutuality either between people or between God and the Jewish people. How can we move away from the sense of frustra-tion, the malaise that comes with not knowing where to find security, the debilitation of anger that

cannot change situations we find intolerable? How can we find trust, hope and satisfaction again? So much of our well-being relies on being in a supportive community. In times of sadness, friends con-sole us. In times of joy, they rejoice with us. In times of insecurity, they reassure us. They listen when we speak and we listen when they speak, sharing our longings, our disappointments, even our disagreements. We struggle together and we accomplish more together than any of us can do alone. It is no secret that we don’t all agree on everything. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t hold some princi-ples in common and that we take them seriously even if we don’t express them in exactly the same way. And, it doesn’t mean that we can’t disagree and still be friends. It might mean that we gain important insights from one another even as we disagree! On Sunday morning, August 12 from 10-12, please join me for the first in an 8-session program in which we will learn about a subject that is close to all of us in different ways: Israel’s Milestones and their Mean-ings. This will be based on material created by The Shalom Hartman Institute and underwritten by the URJ. Please register for the program and attend as many meetings as you can. There is no charge for registration. If you wish to order the sourcebook rather than to download the individual materials, you may order it for $20 a copy. (I think you’ll actually save on paper and ink with this option.) Use the information found on the flyer enclosed and be sure to let me know that you intend to sign up. The first session will set the scene and will include information about the Balfour Declaration and its impact on the dream of a homeland for the Jewish people.

Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum

RABBI GERSHOM SIZOMU by Phyllis Miller Rabbi Gershom Sizomu will be speaking at Congregation B’nai Harim at 7 p.m. on August 22, 2018. He is the first native-born black rabbi in Sub-Saharan Africa, the chief Rabbi of Uganda and the first Jewish member of the Ugandan Parliament. He is the leader of the Abayudaya Jewish com-munity, a 100-year-old community of approximately 2,000 Jews who live among their Christian and Muslim neighbors in scattered villages in East-ern Uganda. He is a Senior Rabbinic associate at Be’chol Lashon, an American NGO, that partners with the Abayudaya to improve health and economic development. Improved healthcare and community development provided by the Abayudaya Jews to their Christian and Muslim neighbors fosters goodwill and helps combat anti-Semitism. A focus on interfaith coopera-tion paved the way for Rabbi Sizomu’s election to the Ugandan Parliament,

which contributed to official recognition of the Abayudaya by the Jewish Agency in Israel in Spring 2017. Please come and meet Rabbi Sizomu at Congregation B’nai Harim. There is no charge to attend this pro-gram and refreshments will be served. To let us know you will be joining us or to ask questions, please email Dr. David Abramowitz, the founder of the Dental Center and a Mobile Outreach Clinic in Nabugoye Village, at hillguy17@gmail.com.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - AUGUST 2018

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I am committing a crime by publishing this article and you are committing a crime by disseminat-ing it. Thankfully, the crime is under a despicable Polish law that has no enforcement here. This arti-cle is more of a testimony in response to that law. As you may have heard in the news, in February of this year, the Republic of Poland enacted a law that purports to rewrite Holocaust history by absolving or rewriting history concerning Polish involvement and complicity in the Holocaust. Under the law, as it has been reported, it is illegal to recount or publish statements fixing any responsibility for the death of over six million Jews on Poland or its citizens. As American Jews who enjoy freedom to tell the truth, we cannot allow lies by legislation to go uncorrected.

In the ensuing months, Poland attempted to down-play the seriousness of the law and even negotiated with the Israeli government concerning how to spin it. This week scholars from Y’ad Vashem exposed those efforts as political scams, which left the heart of the law in place. As it happens, two weeks ago my granddaughter travelled to Poland on a teen trip with the United Synagogue Youth, “USY”. She went there to witness first-hand the location of the atrocities which occurred at the concentra-tion camps including Auschwitz and Birkenau. I wrote her the following letter and testimony which she read aloud to her companions while in Poland. I am sharing it with you now.

My Dear Ella, · When you read this letter you will be in the homeland of your great, great, great grandparents. Poland

had been the home of Jews from the 1200’s.The Jews of Poland regarded themselves as true Poles. They had never lived any place else. The major difference between a Jewish Polish citizen and a Christian is that the Jews maintained their Jewish identity. In 1264, King Boleslav of Poland granted a charter inviting the Jews to come live in Poland. The charter was an amazing document, granting Jews unprecedented rights and privileges. Why were the Jews so necessary? First, they could read and write. Jews were al-ways highly educated as they had to be literate to read and obey the Torah, and general education came along as part of the parcel. Second, Jews were excellent bankers, accountants, and administrators who knew how to keep the economy healthy. The Jews lived a life filled with prosperity. However, the places where the Jews will do the best are almost always the places where the Jews will suffer the worst in the end.

· Can you believe that your ancestors were descendants from among those very first Jews? Your grand-parents were mountain ranchers. I always imagined them on a large Texas style ranch. Perhaps at one point in history they may have owned land but eventually a king came along and declared that Jews couldn’t own land. The story is always the same. The golden age for Jewish Poles ended.

· Your ancestors didn’t give up. They went into the mountains rounded up cattle and brought them to non-Jewish slaughterhouses. Of course they received far less money than the cattle raised on ranches. Your maternal great grandmother’s family were butchers going from shtetl to shtetl selling meats. Your great grandfather’s family were furriers catering to the aristocracy. They were privileged and traveled the world. They always returned to their schtel in Radylmissal Poland. Your great, great Grandma Esther for whom you were named was born on December 25th in Radylmissal. Her dad was frantic for nine months.

· Christmas day was a religious day for most of the non-Jews. The Cossack soldiers were away from their families and would often get drunk and on Christmas Eve ride into the village killing, raping and rampaging the Jewish homes. The story goes that your great, great grandpa convinced the entire village to black out everything causing the Cossacks to get disoriented and lost enroute to Radylmisal. Your Grand-ma Esther was born in a cold dark house. Many bad things happened to her in Poland. Most of her family was killed in the pogroms or later by the Germans. She escaped to Paris when she was sixteen. She got married and raised a family. At the outbreak of World War 2 your family fled to the United States. Your great,great grandmother never wanted to speak of Poland as her home and in later years denied having lived there. Her childhood memories of her mama and papa and many siblings were too painful . I am glad you are visiting Poland. I always wanted to go to Poland to pay my respects to our family. Your be-loved ancestors are buried in Poland along with their hopes and dreams. Ella take a moment, close your eyes and think of them. Try to imagine how they looked and acted. Try to imagine how proud they would be of you along with your friends as you stand together as Jews.

This Shabbat sing a little louder, and a little sweeter . Remember you are “one of their dreams” and because of you many more dreams will come to fruition.

Barbara Feman

August 10, 2018 - 6:30 PM

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

August 25, 2018 - 7:00 PM

UPCUPCOMING SHABBAT DINNNERS

BOOK CLUB - AUGUST 2018

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On Saturday, July 21, a wonderful discussion was held on the “Lioness: The Story of Golda Meir.

Our next book is “The Brigade” by Howard Blum. In Nov, 1944, the British gov’t finally agreed to send a brigade of 5,000 Jewish volunteers from Palestine to Europe to fight the Ger-

man Army. The central figures become involved in the underground campaign to smuggle out Jewish war refugees and camp survivors. This true story becomes more real after the war. Temple has a copy of the text in the library. We invite the men to read the book and join the book club discussion on Sat., Sept. 29, after the Oneg.

THE JEWS OF SICILY by George Novick

Sicily’s Jews were forced to leave or covert in 1492. Hmm, remember Columbus’s Voyage? Jews were in Palermo for 15 centuries in the Jewish quarter called Giudecca. Recently Palermo’s archbish-op, Corrado Lorefice has given the Jews of the city the use of an unused oratory, a small chapel usual-ly used for private prayer, called Santa Maria del Sabato, which will be turned into the city’s first syna-gogue in 5 centuries. The synagogue will be located in the area that once housed Palermo’s great syna-gogue. In 1492 there were approximately 35,000 Sicilian Jews. Some stayed and converted. Some of those who stayed, called Conversos, converted but secretly continued to practice Judaism. There has been interest recently by a group of people who are searching out their roots. While their numbers are small, the founders of this synagogue hope to increase their numbers with members of families that were forced to convert. The cost of renovating will mostly be picked up by the city but there is a long list of items needed such as an ark, Torah scrolls and a security system. Rabbi Pierpaolo Pinhas Punturello, who is an emissary from a Jewish organization in Israel helping those who wish to explore their roots, is the spiritual leader. The Synagogue is orthodox.

Barbara Feman calls the meeting to order. Steve Bram presents the financial information to the members

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

PAGE FOUR/B’NAI HARIM

NETTING IT OUT by Honi Gruenberg

You don't have to know the words or the music. All you have to know is that your voice is im-portant. We rehearse once a month and sing during the next service. Even if you don't want to sing in a group during services, come sing together at practice!

Choir Practice: August 11th at 10:30 AM - 12 Noon Choir Warm-Up: August 18th at 9:30 AM

We had so many wonderful speakers in the past month. Ed Eisen spoke of his 52-year career in journalism and public relations and shared so many stories. He was most proud of exposing deplorable conditions at the former state-run Pennhurst men-tal hospital and school in Chester County. A man from Philadelphia had a 19-year-

old daughter who was blind and mentally disabled who had been a patient at the facility since she was 3. Eisen investigated and found a place of horror. He wrote stories for many years exposing the abuse of children, decrepit buildings, leaking ceilings, animal droppings which enraged citizens who called for action to be taken. It took 19 years for the state to close Pennhurst. Today it is rented at Halloween as a house of horrors tour. Here is a link to the YouTube video by Ed Eisen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O0f2QfDG3I David Abramowitz talked about his dental missions to the Abayudaya Community in Uganda. At this website you can learn more https://www.dentalexplorations.org/. He con-structed a dental clinic in Nagugoye Village in memory of his father, Burton Abramowitz. As part of the Jewish community in Uganda, David runs missions in which Christians, Muslims and Jews all work together to improve schools, health and living conditions. Gershom Sizo-mu, the leader of the Jewish Abayudaya Community, was successful in his bid to be elected to the Uganda Parliament. There are currently 2001 members of the Abayudaya Jewish Commu-nity. Can you guess who the one is? Armando Lucas Correa spoke about his book “The German Girl”. It is the story of a young German/Jewish girl who leaves Germany with her family on the St. Louis for Cuba. Of the 937 passengers only 22 Jewish passengers were permitted to disembark in Cuba. The remain-ing passengers were rejected by the United States and Canada and returned to Europe where only the 287 taken in by Great Britain survived. The remainder were victims of the holocaust. Armando’s website, http://www.armandolucascorrea.com/, has many stories, photos and testi-monies about this story. He wrote so beautifully that the characters became real to us. At the lecture, people wanted to know more about what becomes of Anna. Perhaps another book will tell more. I think a lot about the children. The children of Pennhurst, the children of the holocaust, and the children of Abayudaya who, while living what we consider primitive lives, are getting care and seeing a brighter and healthier future. Sometimes it seems like there is nothing we can do, and we turn a blind eye. Often it seems like we need to do something but don’t know how. What would you do to save your child? What would you do to save your neighbor’s child? What ARE you doing to help our future generations?

CALLING ALL WHO LIKE TO SING OUR CHOIR NEEDS YOU!

The lazy hazy days of summer are finally here. As you visit with friends, think of the Temple Gift Shop when you look for that unique hostess gift. There are won-derful items that include jewelry, books, house gifts, and much more. I am here to serve your requests. Just ask.

JUDAICA SHOP by Norma Krasne-Levine

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DONATIONS

GENERAL FUND From: Jeff Dockswell In memory of his Mother, Lillian Dockswell. From: Jim & Peggie Hannan In memory of Jim’s Cousin, Florita K. Cowan. From: Al & Ellen Kagan In memory of Al’s Mother, Edna Kagan. From: Judy Ann Brown In memory of her Husband, Jay S. Brown. From: Ken & Ronnie Feder In memory of Ronnie’s Father, Sidney Blumenberg. From: Alan Wismer In memory of his Grandmother, Lena Zigerman. From: Stephen & Lorraine Schur & Family In memory of Stephen’s beloved Mother, Mary Schur. From: David Kane In memory of his Wife, Michelle Kane and Mother of Amy and Ethan. From: Bernice Krol In memory of her Husband, Walter Wolf Krol.

YAHRZEIT FUND

.

New Members

Allen & Phyllis Rubel

PROGRESSIVE DINNER

RABBI PEG’S ANNIVERSARY SERVICE

Birthdays/Anniversaries/Yahrzeit Rememberances - On page 6

From: Sam Neulinger A special thanks to Skip Spady for his technical skills and assistance in helping us present Ed Eisen’s Talk on Sunday, July 8th and all the oth-er times he has been there for B’nai Harim. From: Honi Gruenberg & Skip Spady To my big sister, Norma Levine, hugs and prayers.

In honor of Rabbi Peg’s

10th Anniversary.

Rabbi Dorit Edut

CONGRATULATING

DONATIONS

Marjorie Jacobs & Sheryl Ambrosio Shelly Wismer

Front row left to righst Andrew Green & Mikhail Levitin: Back row left to right: Ron Emerson & Sam Neulinger. In the Background: Joe Bedrick.

Front row: Rachel Shaykevich Middle row: Barbara Feman, Rabbi Peg, Phyllis Miller, Isabella Solt and

Vivien Solt Back row: Barbara Kapitanshy

MEMORIAL BOARD

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If you take photos at any Temple func-tion, PLEASE send them to my e-mail leeron@ptd.net and identify the occa-sion and the faces. These photos make

our publicity more interesting to the community. Thanks, Lee Emerson

AUGUST 3 Benjamin Glazier 5 Keith Green

6 Walter Orgel 25 AV 7 Mildred Hannan 9 Murray Herskowitz 13 Becky Horn 2 ELUL Irving Mogel Stuart Ray Pearl 2 ELUL 15 Leola Fraenkel 16 Harry Dockswell Harry Horowitz 19 Bernice Goodstein Ruth Gwirtzman Jay Philip Joslin Gloria Kaplan 8 ELUL Elliott Silfen 8 ELUL 21 Bob Hertz 24 Solomon Kershenbaum 13 ELUL 27 Israel Benzion Fisch 16 ELUL 30 Irving Yitzckok Mora Kurt Rubel Sheldon Tabak 31 Ethel Mustokoff

YAHRZEIT REMEMBRANCE

REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES BY ADDING THEIR NAMES TO OUR MEMORIAL BOARD— The cost for each plaque (one name per plaque) is $236. A minimum of $50 must accompany each request. The balance can be paid over one year for 1 or 2 plaques and/or two years for more than 2 plaques. For further information, please contact Stan Kapitansky, (718) 428-2140 or e-mail me at bspoco@verizon.net. Copies of the order form will be available at the temple, or you may download a copy directly from the web site. Stan Kapitansky, Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson

CELEBRATIONS

IF YOU TAKE PHOTOS

TREE OF LIFE

Dear friends! Every leaf on our beauti-ful Tree of Life is filled with your good news and events. It’s time to order a new batch! I am ready to take your

orders. Each leaf costs just triple Chai ($54.00) and will be engraved to your specifications. Please call Julia Shaykevich at (570) 620-0104 or contact her by e-mail at juliett72@yahoo.com to place your order.

ANNIVERSARIES

Last Name

First Name

Birthday Month

Birthday Day

Phyllis Rubel August 7

Eileen Chimerine August 29

Stanley Kapitanksy Sept. 3

Honi Gruenberg Sept. 11

Stacy Mitgang Sept. 11

Karen Miller Sept. 19

Steven Levine Sept. 29

Stanley & Barbara Kapitansky August 22 George & Beverly Novick August 22 Robert Spady & Honi Gruenberg Sept. 2 Andrew & Christine Rachlin Sept. 4

SAVE THE DATE

Sat., Aug. 4th - 10:15 AM - Services Sun., Aug. 5th - 11:00 AM - Lox Academy Fri., Aug. 10th - 6:30 PM - Shabbat Dinner Sat., Aug 18th - 10:15 AM - Services Sun., Aug 19th - 9:30 AM - Board Meeting Tues., Aug 21st - 11:00 AM - Breakfast - Noon Shotgun Start - Appetizers 5:00 PM - Cash Bar - Dinner at 6:00 PM. Wed., Aug. 22nd - 7:00 PM - Rabbi Gershon Sizomu Thurs., Aug. 23rd - Ladies Luncheon Sat., Aug. 25th - 7:00 PM - Film Festival Sun., Aug. 26th - 12:00 Noon - 4:00 PM - Temple Picnic Sat., Sept. 1st - 7:00 PM Dessert, Havdala 7:30 PM Selichot Service Sat., Sept. 8th - 7:00 PM - Jewish Film Festival Sun., Sept. 9th - 7:30 PM - Erev Rosh HaShanah Service

PATRONIZE B’NAI HARIM’S ADVERTISERS YOUR PRINT PROJECTS ARE OUR PRIORITY

Let The UPS Store print your next project. No job too large or small - Newsletters, flyers, manuals

-A variety of finish options-

413 ROUTE 940, MT. POCONO, PA 18344 (570) 839-8010 (570) 839-8020

Store 5501@theupsstore.com

PAGE SEVEN/B’NAI HARIM

The Area’s Only Jewish Assisted Senior Living So Much Comfort So Close to Home

465 Venard Rd. Clarks Summit, PA 18411

Phone: 50-585-4400 Fax: 570-585-4500

Website: www.elangardens.org

JEWISH FAMILYSERVICES

Jewish Family Service is in need of Kosher food and toiletries marked with a recognized symbol. Please remember to bring a donation of at least one item when you visit the synagogue. All items

must be kosher, unopened and within the expiration date on the packaging. If each one of us brings one can or box of food each time we come to the Temple, it will make a real difference to the needy in our commu-nity. You can also write a check to “Jewish Family Service of Northeast Pennsylvania” and it will be delivered. It is also tax deductible. Thank you and keep up the great work. We hope you will continue to be generous throughout the year.

Jerry Goodstein

MISHEBEIRACH LIST

When putting a person onto the Mishebeirach List, it should be with person’s permission. Would the person like to be listed with their Eng-lish or Hebrew name? Please include a contact name and telephone number so that Rabbi Peg

may follow up with the person or with the member who placed the name on the list. Our policy now states that the list will be limited to members and their immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings and their spouses, children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses). Con-gregants are strongly encouraged to mention any person aloud at the appropriate time during the service, so we can pray for their improved health. REMEMBER TO HAVE THE PERSON’S NAME REMOVED, IF THE PERSON NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE ON THE LIST.

Our Yahrzeit list is open not only to those who have plaques, but to the entire congre-gation. This will allow you to remember your loved ones on their anniversary date.

The forms available at the Temple can be completed and returned directly to me. With this information, a reminder will be sent to you at the appropriate time, and the name of your loved one will be added to our kaddish list for that date. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at bspoco@verizon.net, 718-428-2140 or 570-646-4668.

Sincerely, Stan Kapitansky Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson

YAHRZEIT NOTIFICATION

In addition to the monthly newsletter, we publish a weekly online newsletter for all members with e-mail

addresses and Internet access. If you do not want to re-ceive email announcements or cannot access the Internet, please call Richard Feman 570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.

WEEKLY ONLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congregation B’nai Harim

PO Box 757 5349 Pocono Crest Road Pocono Pines, PA, 18350

http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org

PHONE: Message Center (570) 646-0100

E-Mail:

rwbs@hotmail.com

DIRECTIONS Driving East on Route 940, turn right at the Pocono Pines traffic light at Route 423, continue on Pocono Crest road (formerly Sullivan Road) about 1&1/2 miles. Synagogue on left (before reach-ing 940). Driving West on Route 940, turn left at intersection of Pocono Crest Road (formerly Sullivan Road), and the Syna-

gogue will be on the right.(approx. 1/10th of a mile).

Next Board Meeting date: Sunday, August 19th at 9:30 AM. To be put on the agenda, contact Barbara Feman at femanbarbara@ yahoo.com no later than five days prior to the meeting.

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER

This is your newsletter, and we want your input. When

you have any news to share, please let us know so we

can publish it.

Deadline is the 20th of the month. News can be sent

(using WORD) to Paula Guenst at rwbs@hotmail.com.

The newsletter is published each month. Newsletter

subscriptions are available for $18 per year to non-

members of Congregation B’nai Harim. Please contact

Barbara Feman.

In addition to the monthly newsletter, we distribute

weekly online announcements to all members with

e-mail addresses and Internet access. If you have not

been receiving this please contact Richard Feman at

570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.

CONGREGATION B’NAI HARIM PO Box 757

5349 Pocono Crest Road Pocono Pines, PA 18350

RECURRING SCHEDULES Services Sat. 10:15 AM Shabbat Dinner Fri. 6:30 PM Religious School Sat. 9:00AM

PAGE EIGHT/B’NAI HARIM

Rabbi: Peg Kershenbaum Pres.: Barbara Feman VP: Meredith Stempel Sec.: Abbey Spector Treas.: Steve Bram Editor: Honi Gruenberg Member of the URJ - Union For Reform Judaism

The members of B’nai Harim are a very caring, close group but sometimes a member needs a little extra help. If you know of someone who needs a phone call or a visit, please either encourage them to call the Rabbi directly or email her yourself to let her know one of her congregants needs help.

DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FOR THE SEPT. NEWSLETTER IS AUG. 20TH.

NEED SOME CHICKEN SOUP

NEED A CALL FROM RABBI?

KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES?

If you have recently moved, please send your new information to Honi Gruenberg at Gruenberg.honi@gmail.com. She will update the Membership list and generate a new list.

NEW ADDRESS?

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED