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RABBI’S MESSAGE - DECEMBER 2019
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 DECEMBER 2019/ VOLUME 25, ISSUE 12
PAGE ONE/B’NAI HARIM
During the Academy for Jewish Religion’s Annual Retreat, one presenter showed two slides from his recent trip to the Jewish community in Cuba. The first showed a bar mitzvah in progress, a proud young man carrying the scroll, a rabbi and a gabbai, just as you might imagine. The rabbi is a colleague of mine who leads frequent mission trips to this Cuban synagogue because they are too poor and too small to afford a rabbi. But it was the second slide that provoked true disbelief. Outside the synagogue there is a sign that reads, “There is no antisemitism on Cuba. There are no antisemites. If you ask people about antisemitism, they
will not know what you are talking about. There is no such word and no such concept.” Your reaction is probably the same as that of the presenter when he saw the sign and that of the audience when we read the slide. “Oh, sure,” I can hear you thinking, “That’s government propaganda.” Or, maybe you’re thinking, “Oh, is Cuba now the Garden of Eden? And what about the Castro era? And the communists now?” And our reac-tions are understandable. We base our responses on our own knowledge and that of our friends and relatives. Some might say, “Wow! How amazing—I must go to see this with my own eyes.” Our speaker, Rabbi David Markus (who is also a NY State Supreme Court justice) also didn’t believe that this sign could be telling the truth. So, he started asking people from the Cuban synagogue. Then he asked those living near the synagogue and those in other places that he visited. Jewish or not, people all agreed with the sign. “Who am I to challenge their experiences?” asked Rabbi Markus. Cuba is an island where so many are desperately poor. They all live with rationing and you can imagine how hard it is to get kosher food with only 1 kosher butcher on the island, especially since that butcher isn’t allowed to sell his meat. He distributes it to the synagogues that provide food for the hungry. That butcher shop was granted permission to continue by Fidel Castro, despite Communism’s stance against religion. There was a time when being Jewish or Christian or any tradition cost people their membership in the party. So, Jews are not singled out. The synagogues, often in some disarray, are not defaced by graffiti or subjected to burglaries. (There’s almost nothing to steal anyhow!) The people are as poor as their neighbors; everyone lacks the same freedoms. But the remaining Jews are not despised or harassed. Why can’t we accept this, even after presented with evidence? Many of us carry the scars of personal or family trauma. And, as useless and insensitive as it is to tell a veteran suffering from PTSD to just get over it, it is that useless and insensitive to tell people who fear the resurgence of antisemitism and sense it every-where, that they’re wrong. It has been shown in recent medical research that trauma such as that inflicted in the Holocaust can genet-ically alter the DNA of the next generation. After thousands of years of oppression, baseless hatred, attacks and pogroms, we Jews may literally have a deep level of sensitivity that gives us the tendency to see antisem-itism everywhere. It isn’t everywhere. There are some actions that are antisemitic and some that are not. We pray that we never experience antisemitism first-hand, but let’s also pray that we can learn that antisemitism is not actually an inbred, inevitable, omnipresent reality. May we be on the lookout for such places and may we find them around us.
Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum
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 Warm-Up: Dec. 7th & Dec. 21st at 9:30 AM. Choir Rehearsal: Dec. 14th at 10:30 AM
CALLING ALL WHO LIKE TO SING OUR CHOIR NEEDS YOU
2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - DECEMBER 2019 by Meredith Stempel
PAGE TWO/B’NAI HARIM
A colleague gave me the book, Healing Through Humor, compiled by Charles and Frances Hunter. It begins with “Anatomy of a Laugh,” which describes the physiological and health benefits of laughter: 1. Stimulation of heart and lungs. 2. Temporary rise in blood pressure and heart rate. 3. Deeper breathing with increased oxygenation. 4. Release of the body’s own natural painkillers, i.e. endorphins, and increase in im-mune cells. 5. Burning of many times as many calories as in the resting state. 6. Jogging of internal or-gans. After laughter subsides muscles and arteries relax, blood pressure and pulse drop, which researchers be-lieve aid in digestion. The forward of the book is written by a surgical oncologist whose father, a physician, founded the Oasis of Hope Hospital in 1963. His father had a pen-pal and acquaintance, Dr. Patch Adams, with whom he met and communicated in the 1980’s. The aforementioned hospital and founder utilized a holistic approach to medicine that nurtured the patient’s emotional and physical needs, incorporating counseling, music and art therapy, prayer, hugs, and laughter, with nutrition, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and physical therapy. In looking into the benefits of laughter I came across a discipline I was unfamiliar with, Laughter Yoga. I
viewed this therapeutic technique where participants clap their hands, dance, stretch, deep breathe to music, laughing their stress away. I have to admit that I started to chuckle a little just watching the class. Laughter can be, if you pardon the expression, infectious, or viral.
Now I am on to another book, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar…(Thomas Cathcart & Daniel Klein).
TIKKUN OLAM by Steven Levine
Did you ever experience an act of kindness that made you feel good about yourself and the world around you? Rabbi Elazar believed that you can give charity and not be sure if it will have the desired effect; but when you perform an act of kindness, you can always be sure that your warmth, concern and caring will touch someone. The Sages tell us that an act of kindness is su-perior to any act of charity. On that note I wish to remind you that emptying your closets and pass-
ing on hand me downs may be an act of charity but is so very impersonal and does not allow for the needy in-dividuals in our community – Jew and non-Jew to really get to know us and feel trusting of our desire to sup-port them. The Talmud tells us that “such deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments.” Let us put into practice what we preach. Here are a few suggested opportunities that we can take as individuals whether we identify ourselves as members of B’nai Harim or not and still show that we are caring Jews. We see what the community churches do, and I believe that we as Jews have an obligation to show deeds of kindness also. These suggestions do not cost any money or extended commitments. 1. We can enclose a personal note showing that we care about the receiver when the items of clothing and food are delivered. I know, first hand, how much the personal touch is appreci- ated by these needy souls. 2. Once a month, on a Sunday afternoon, from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM The Stroudsburg Methodist Church holds a Community Meal (there was a front page story in the Pocono Record recently) where helpers are needed to help prepare, serve and socialize with needy families, seniors and homeless veterans. This personal contact brings feelings of hope knowing that someone cares. You can do this one time or as many times as you wish. 3. The Wesleyn Food Pantry needs volunteers on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from 1:30 PM –
3:30 PM. I believe that a few small steps such as these, can lead to a more positive interaction with the homeless and working poor of our community. Thank you for your help. I am available to talk with you and give you more information; you can call me at 570-595-9773.
PAGE THREE/B’NAI HARIM
BOOK CLUB NEWS - DECEMBER 2019 by Barbara
Although we were a small group, we all agreed that we enjoyed "The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit" by Lucette Lagnado (his daughter). We decided that it would be a good idea to read a biography that was light and hopefully funny.
We selected a book about Mel Brooks called "It's Good to be King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks" by James Robert Parish. The book traces the extraordinary life and career of Mel Brooks. It offers many insights into his crazy world as well as an inside view of his successful marriage to the beautiful Ann Bancroft. It is a delightfully engaging and entertaining biography. Please join us on Saturday, January 4, 2020 after the Oneg to discuss "It's Good to be King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks" by James Robert Parish.
It was December 2002 when Alice Leve Gruenberg’s grandchildren and great grandchil-dren visited Alice at the Easton home. The home was decorated in all the Christmas and Hanukah finery. My children were in their late teens while my cousin’s daughter was around 8 years old. My grandmother remarked that the photo on the wall was a photo of her father
who was a very wise man. I waited for 8-year-old Cynthia’s reaction as Grandma Alice pointed to the photo of Santa Claus. Cynthia did us all proud. She said, “he looks like a very handsome and kind man”. Cynthia is in her late twenties now and an actress we can all be proud of. Every Christmas season I see Santa I wonder if he indeed is a dead ringer (pun intended) for Paul Leve. Perhaps it’s the beard. This led me to do a little research on religious requirements for beards and mustaches. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/beards-sidelocks-peot-and-shaving/?utm_source=mjl_maropost&utm_campaign=MJL&utm_medium=email&mpweb=1161-14399-224404 Orthodox men do not shave based on Leviticus 19:27 “you shall not round off the corners on your head or destroy the corners of your beard. The prohibition on shaving has traditionally been understood as barring the complete removal of the hair with a razor. And because for centuries it was generally too difficult to achieve a close shave without a razor, observant Jewish men tended to be bearded. Accord-ing to the historian, Rabbi Berel Wein, beard norms began to change among some Orthodox men in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, when chemical depilatories became more common. Today elec-tric shavers make trimming much easier and so many shave or trim their beards except in times of mourning. Still many Hasidic men still do not shave or even trim their beards since they consider their beards holy. For Hasidic and some other Orthodox men, the practice of not shaving at all extends to the sidelocks, known in Hebrew as payot (often spelled and pronounced payos, or payes) — literally “corners.” The rabbis of the Talmud considered beards attractive — referring to them as hadrat panim, the splendor of one’s face. It has been said that the Talmudic sage Rabbi Yochanan was considered a beau-tiful man, yet he was not included on a list of rabbis whose beauty reflects that of the biblical patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). The reason, the Talmud offers, is that Rabbi Yochanan did not have a beard. Whether you have a beard like our patriarchs and Santa, or remain clean shaven like Rabbi Yochanan, here’s wishing you the wisdom and kindness of the season. Same goes for us ladies too, whether you shave or not.
NETTING IT OUT by Honi Gruenberg
NO ONE SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY TO YOU?
If you want good wishes and have not seen your name up in lights, please provide Honi Gruenberg with your birthday(s) and anniversary(s). She will update the list and make sure you get recognized on your special day. Please send to [email protected] or call (570) 620-9315.
CHANUKAH & “BURN THE B’NAI HARIM MORTGAGE” CELEBRATION
Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 12:00 PM.
PAGE FOUR/B’NAI HARIM
JEWS AND IMPEACHMENT by George Novick
I was always told by my parents that I could be whatever I aspire to. Now, in 2019, I have seen that come to fruition. Jews in the United States, have successfully assimilated into American society and government. We no longer have to hide that we are Jews nor do we need to hide our Jewish stars under our clothing so as not to face derision from those we came into contact with. To prove this point I will point to the number of people involved in the current impeachment proceedings who are Jewish. We have now reached the hallowed halls of government which were once the province of white Anglo Sax-on Protestants. To prove this point I will list their names and positions in alphabetical order. John Eisenberg - top lawyer national security council Eliot Engel- chairman house foreign relations committee Igor Fruman - associate of Rudy Giuliani Charles Kupperman - former deputy national security adviser Jared Kushner - senior presidential advisor Ivanka Kushner - senior presidential advisor Elaine Luria - congresswoman Lev Parnas - associate of Rudy Giuliani Jerry Nadler - chairman house judiciary committee Adam Schiff - chairman house intelligence committee Jay Sekulow - personal attorney to President Elaine Slotkin - congresswoman Gordon Sondland - US ambassador to European Union Lt Col Alexander Vindman - head of European affairs for national security council Voldomyr Zelensky - President of Ukraine Thank you to Jonathan Spinner for sending me this article from The Forward.
KIDDUSH HOSTS
Kiddushes are such a delightful part of socializing after a Saturday Morning service. We always welcome hosts for our Kiddushes. The cost of sponsoring is $65.00 and in-cludes bagels, cream cheese, coffee, tea, orange juice, milk and all needed paper goods. Sponsors are welcome to supplement the Kiddush. To host a Kiddush, call Roberta Pineiro (570) 839-0107.
From the Kiddush Fund
Chanukah is almost here, and the gift shop has Chanukah children’s story books,
menorahs, wrapping paper and other gift ideas. Chag Chanukah to all.
TEMPLE JUDAICA SHOP by Norma Krasne -Levine
SAVE THE DATES
Dec. 7 - 9:30 AM - Choir Warm Up - 10:15 AM - Services & Kiddush followed by Plarn Making Dec. 11 - 7:00 PM - The Discussion Group at Temple Dec. 12 - 7:00 PM - Game Night at Temple Dec. 13 - 6:30 PM - Shabbat Dinner at Temple Dec. 14- 10:30 PM - Choir Practice 12:30 PM - Women’s Torah Study at Temple Dec. 15 - 9:30 AM- Temple Board Meeting Dec. 19- 12:00 Noon - Women’s Luncheon at Piggy’s
Dec. 20 - 7:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat Service & Oneg Dec. 21 - 9:30 AM - Choir Warm Up 10:15 AM - Services & Kiddush followed by Write to Homeless Dec. 22 - 12:00 Noon - Burn the Mortgage Chanukah Luncheon at LNC Dec. 26 - 10:30 AM - Chanukah Story Time at Barrett Library Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve
PAGE FIVE/B’NAI HARIM
DONATIONS
From: Marjorie & Alan Seger In memory of Marjorie’s Step-Father Mark Corinoff. From: Ken & Ronnie Feder In memory of Ken’s Father, Fred Feder. From: David Kane In memory of Hannah Kane, Mother of David Kane and Grandmother of Amy & Ethan Kane. From: Joe Fisch In memory of his Uncle, Edward Konigsberg. From: Al Schips In memory of his Sister, Mae Schips Zarch. From: Al Schips In memory of his Father, Abraham Schips. From: Shirley Orgel In memory of her Mother, Anna Wilder. From: Honi Gruenberg & Skip Spady In memory of Honi’s Grandmother, Alice Gruenberg.
YAHRZEIT FUND
Birthdays/Anniversaries/Yahrzeit Remembrances - On page 6
FLORIDA LUNCHEON by Maddy Mogel
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
From: Mel & Maddy Mogel
The date is set for the Annual Florida Luncheon See details below
Restaurant - Latitudes In Delray Sands Hotel 2809 South Ocean Boulevard Highland Beach, Florida 33487 561-278-2008 Friday - January 31, 2020 at 12:30pm RSVP - Maddy Mogel 570-236-2277 By January 28,2020
The generous donors who gave raffle items, gave gift certificates and prizes for our live and silent auctions helped to make our golf outing a huge success. Please thank them personally when you patronize their businesses. During the outing we thanked them by putting their names on signs on the course and listing them in the program given to all the attendees at our dinner. We also sent them thank you letters and included a copy of the program in the envelope so they can see that we highlighted their support but a per-sonal thank you will be greatly appreciated. Our donors are:
GOLF SPONSORS by Phyllis Miller & Lew Stolzenberg
Alpina Ski Shop Jimmy’s Ice Cream Rootin’ Tootin’ Hot Dogs
Cartesio’s Precision Collision Kalahari Resort Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Casino Theatre Ken & Company Salon Shop Rite
Crescent Lodge Lake Naomi Club Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards
Gaglianos Pizza Mountaintop Lodge Sparkle Car Wash
Giant Supermarket Mount Airy Golf Club Stroudsburg Eye Specialists
Greg Wall Golf Shop Mountain View Vineyard Hideaway Hills Golf Course
Hanna’s Farm Market My Daughter’s Place Van Gilder’s Jubilee Restaurant
Harmony Yoga Nicholas P. Nicholas Weis Market
Hutton Metalcrafts, Inc. Peterson’s Ski and Cycle, Inc. Willowtree Inn
Jack Frost National Phoenix Athletica
Jack Frost Big Boulder Ski Area Pure Day Spa
MEMORIAL BOARD
PAGE SIX/ B’NAI HARIM
DECEMBER 1 Cecil Gelbart
3 Alvin Feldman 5 Rose Shapiro 6 Edward Konigsberg 8 KISLEV Frances Abraham Siegel 8 KISLEV 7 Ira Lauscher Harry Rachlin 8 Annette Feder Anita Miroff 10 KISLEV 9 Ray Horowitz Beatrice Kushner 10 Jerome Hoenig 12 KISLEV Janet Wile 13 Daniel Grotta 17 Mildred Heymann 18 Minnie Goldfinger 20 KISLEV Sylvia Stern 23 Joan Feldman 25 Edward Bedrick Rae Janet Mustokoff 27 Sidney Gwirtzman Ralph Kagan 28 Ray Goodstein 30 KISLEV Lillian May 29 Dolly Littman Gavin 1 TEVET 30 Beatrice Ehrenberg 2 TEVET 31 Morris Herskowitz
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 [email protected]. 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 beautiful 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 specifica-tions. Please call Julia Shaykevich at (570) 620-0104 or contact her by e-mail at [email protected] to place your order.
ANNIVERSARIES
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the respective author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Congre-gation B’nai Harim or its members.
Marcia Joslin December 3
Alla Leybinsky December 4
Al Schips December 5
Sara Bedrick December 14
Starr Witty December 24
Lewis Stolzenberg January 2
Maddy Mogel January 4
Melvin Mogel January 5
Alan Wismer January 5
Lee Emerson January 6
Barbara Feman January 17
Norma K. Levine January 25
Robert Spady January 28
Lee & Ron Emerson December 7
Rabbi Peg & Aaron Kershebaum January 25
Ellen & Alan Kagan January 28
If you take photos at any Temple function, PLEASE send them to my e-mail [email protected] and identify the occasion and the faces. These photos make our publicity more interesting to the community. Thanks, Leslie Stine DISCLAIMER
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 [email protected]
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 [email protected], 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:
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, Dec. 15th at 9:30 AM. To be put on the agenda, contact Meredith Stempel at (570) 242-6244 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 [email protected].
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 Monthly Shabbat Fri. Evening Service 7:30 PM Religious School Sat. 9:00AM
PAGE EIGHT/B’NAI HARIM
Rabbi: Peg Kershenbaum Pres.: Meredith Stempel VP: Stacy Mitgang Sec.: Carol Yates 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 DEC. NEWSLETTER IS NOV. 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 [email protected]. She will update the Membership list and generate a new list.
NEW ADDRESS?
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
