October 2014 Voice of Chaim

Voice of ChaimCongregation Etz Chaim • 1190 Indian Hills Parkway • Marietta, GA 30068 • 770.973.0137

Creating Meaningful Jewish Experiences

OctOber 2014 / tishrei - cheshvan 5775 / vOlume 38, issue 9

In this Issue: From Our Rabbis page 2

From Our President page 3

From Our Youth Director page 3

Education News Page 4

Our Etz Chaim Community Page 7

Sisterhood Scoop page 10

Men’s Club Notes page 11

Religious Corner page 16

Yahrzeits page 20

Calendar page 21

High Holiday Information pages 27-29

Tzedakah page 33

Daily Minyan Times:

Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m.

Sunday, 9:15 a.m.

Sunday – Friday 6:30 p.m.

Shabbat Services:Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

www.etzchaim.net

$5.00 dinner for adults Kids eat FREE (18 and under)!

Dessert reception Free!

Y’all come now, ya hear!

RSVP by Monday, October 13Fill out reservation form on page 15 and send to Etz Chaim

or sign up online at www.etzchaim.net.

6:00 p.m. Dinner • 6:45 p.m. Parade

7:00 p.m. Simchat Torah Celebration

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The Voice of Chaim | October 2014

Of all the festivals on the Jewish calendar only one, Sukkot, is referred to as ‘zman simchateinu – the time of our rejoicing”. Why not Pesach or Shavuot or Purim? The sages offer an assortment of reasons for this unique identity attached only to Sukkot. We are grateful for having survived the judgment of the High Holy Days. This is the only time of the year when Jerusalem was illuminated by giant candelabras. The ingathering of the crops was always a time of great joy.

All of these explanations are fine but I’d like to suggest another. As we enter Autumn, there is a gloom associated with tumbling leaves and shorter days. Behind us is the splashy, carefree brightness of summer. We now enter a new season that is dark and somber. We are surrounded not by birth but by death. Beyond the dusky environment there is also an echo back to our desert wandering that Sukkot recalls. For decades, we were homeless, on an uncertain journey in a wilderness.

Put it all together and we are desperately in need of encouragement come the Fall. The clarion call of the shofar is a faint memory from a distant place. We are now gripped with uneasiness. And so Judaism in her magnificence senses the anxiety, comes to our emotional rescue and inflates our deflated spirits.

Judaism is a defiant faith that rejects the cheerless and the melancholy. From the moment of creation God’s triumphant words bellowed across the millennia – “Vayehi tov – and it was good”. From the very beginning, existence was described as a supremely positive enterprise. Nowhere in the Bible is there a book that ends on a negative note. Every text concludes with words of an improved future. It is no accident that after thousands of years of exile, when we returned home, our anthem became Hatikva – The Hope.

As a people we refuse to be broken by abusive history or by grim nature. Defiance is part of our essence. Instinct might depress us but our faith props us up with a call to be happy and that beauty is to be found even in the chill of nature’s decline. Perhaps it is death that pulls us down more than any other human experience. Loss is excruciating and exquisite in its irretrievable finality, yet what do we do to mark its occurrence? We banish the darkness of shiva and the darkness of yahrzeit with the lighting of candles. We illuminate and celebrate, we do not despair.

And so as the light fades and uncertainty surrounds, Sukkot comes along to remind us that despite it all, we are never to surrender to the darkness.

– Rabbi Shalom Lewis

Moments of Silence, Moments of Listening

When I was a teenager living in Hollywood, Florida, I often watched two Jewish television programs on Sunday morning. Some of us remember that on local network programming and on NBC and ABC in particular local stations would have non-profit religious programs on Sunday.

One program was “The Jewish Worship Hour”. A rabbi and a cantor from a Miami or Hollywood synagogue would lead a one-half hour service. The second program was called “The Still Small Voice.” It was a one-half hour discussion on Jewish issues of the day. I often watched these programs. “The Still Small Voice” began with a quote – I can still hear in the recesses of my memory the voice and the cadence of the announcer, and it was years later that I better understood where these words came from:

And lo, the Lord passed by. There was a great and mighty wind, splitting mountains and shattering rocks by the power of the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind – an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake – a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire – ‘kol dimamah dakah’ – a soft murmuring sound – or – as the King James version translates it (the words used by the announcer: “a still small voice.” The still small voice – the voiced silence of God’s presence – a sound that is both still (dimamah) and slightly audible (dakkah).

These words are from the First Book of Kings and come from the stories of one of our favorite prophets – Elijah – Eliyahu. And in another story in the same book of the Bible, God appears to King Solomon in a vision and offers him any gift he wishes for. King Solomon, known for his wisdom, asked for neither power nor wealth nor glory. He asked instead for ‘a listening heart’.

Two of the most important characteristics and abilities – really they are two of the greatest gifts of being human – is our capacity at times to be silent and always – though we are not good at it – our ability to listen. And if we are really good at listening, we are able to discern –even in the silence – what is not being said, or – in ‘the words between the lines’ – what is being felt and needed even though they have not been articulated verbally or audibly.

Did you know that in some states there is a special course in counseling being offered to some unlikely therapists. Who are they? Our hair stylist, a bartender, a beautician, a cab driver. In California, the director of one program explained: “The whole idea is to have people who are already hearing problems of the public better trained to more effectively handle them.”

One bartender, who had an apprentice, watched his associate work hard at being witty and humorous with his customers. The seasoned bartender called the young man aside and gave him the distilled wisdom of years of experience: “Listen, kid, listen. Don’t talk. These guys want to talk. If they wanted to listen, they would go home.”

That bartender knew a lot more than how to mix a drink. He was a keen student of human nature. He understood how desperate many of us are to find someone who will listen to us, someone to whom we can express our fears and our frustrations, our loneliness and our despair, our angers and our anxieties, our defeats and our disappointments; someone to whom we can regale our triumphs and accomplishments and revel in our victories and successes. One of the things that is in short supply in many of our lives is someone who wants to listen to us.

The reality we all understand is that listening is not easy. If I were to ask the psychologists and family therapists in the sanctuary today what one of the

From Rabbi Lewis From Rabbi Kerbel

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Thank you, Bernice, for your monthly reminder that our articles are due in a week. You had perfect timing this month as your email came across my desk Monday afternoon, just hours before our teen shofar lesson with Stan Fineman and Allan Levine but not long after the flurry of emails concerning our monthly Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh minyan service and who was reading which portion. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank all the regular minyanaires, mostly men, who have welcomed us into the chapel and given us the bimah to daven for Rosh Chodesh in solidarity with the Women of the Wall in Israel. Their acceptance and support means a great deal to all of us who choose an egalitarian synagogue and the opportunity it affords us to actively participate in our daily services. Wednesday morning we will gather to daven for Rosh Chodesh Elul.

On Tuesday, as I sit down to write, we are still 4 weeks away, but deep into preparation for the High Holy Days. Elul is a special month as we prepare for the holidays, and not just the paperwork, the tickets, the volunteers, the recipes and cooking, but the spiritual preparation of welcoming in a New Year. For a special few, like Stan and Allan, this means shofar blowing practice is on the agenda. For me, one of the most awe-inspiring parts of the High Holy Days is hearing the shofar blown. I remember being a little girl in shul and watching in awe as the men stood on the bimah, draped in a huge tallis, and made beautiful shrill sounds come out from that little ram’s horn. It was truly captivating.

But as I grew older so did these men and the task of blowing shofar started to become more difficult. My younger brother was a trumpet player and someone suggested he learn to blow shofar. It came easily to him but I could never get anything more than what sounded like spit to come out of his shofar. I watched in awe as my brother first shared and then took over the bimah, L’Dor V’Dor, and blew shofar for our congregation as the years passed. I trembled to hear the sharp blasts that he produced. He trembled as he blew, at least in my biased memory, the best tekiah gedolah I’ve ever heard. Then the next generation came along and Jessie, at two years old, was in awe of her uncle blowing shofar. Now he blew shofar differently, he held her in one arm and held the shofar with his other hand. I trembled more as I watched my brother and my daughter together under his tallis. And to be honest, I trembled a little extra watching her tremble in his arms while the shofar wailed. Now as a grown woman, she isn’t hearing the shofar from her uncle’s arms anymore. My siblings and I have moved to different cities; we have transitioned into the next phases of our lives.

By the time Amanda was two, we had moved away from near my childhood home in New Jersey. She never got to experience a shofar being blown the way Jessie had in her uncle’s arms. We now call Marietta, Georgia and Congregation Etz Chaim home. This will be our 14th year of High Holy Days at Etz Chaim and being privileged to hear Stan and Allan blow shofar. But just as in my childhood, transitions must occur, L’Dor V’Dor. Which brings us back to last night’s shofar lesson. Stan and Allan were gracious enough to teach a few of our teens the art of blowing a shofar in the hopes that they might be the next generation and could start by blowing shofar for our children’s services. Alex Flack, Joel Rittenberg and Amanda Miller sat with these two learned and talented men. They have all played instruments at school but this band had a whole new sound as the five of them blew shofar.

As a mom, what else can I say but WOW! What an awesome experience to watch these teens becoming adults, accepting and rising to the challenge of

From Our President From Our Youth Director Shalom Chaverim,

We have been having so much fun in our Youth Department so far! From movies to mitzvot, from socials to Sky Zone, it has been a blast!

We want to share the fun with all of our Etz Chaim family by introducing our referral program. The way it works is simple: for every new member you refer, you get $10 off an event. For every 5 members you refer, you get $100. For every 10 members you refer, you get $200 towards youth programming! Think of this as our way of giving back to you for being valued members of our youth department! All people have to do is write your name on our youth applications, which can be found at: http://www.etzchaim.net/youth_programs.

Membership has many perks, including a cool chapter t-shirt, member-only events, subsidized events, and a connection to our greater community. For more information on becoming a member, feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected].

October brings a ton of excitement, highlighted as follows:

October 4 – USY-Yom Kippur-9:30-11 a.m.

October 8 – USY-Sushi in the Sukkah-Sukkot

October 12 – Gesher Sukkot-Candy Sukkot/Relay Race

October 12 – Junior Kadima Iron Chef Sukkot

October 16 – Southern Style Simchat Torah Dinner

October 18 – USY-Corn Maze

October 24 – USY-Citywide Teen Shabbat

October 25 – Gesher Kids Night Out-Library

October 26 – Kadima-Sushi and Sumo Wrestling/ Candy Sushi

October 29 – USY/Chai Five Program

Finally, we have an exciting opportunity for our youth parents. On October 7 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the library, we are offering flu shots for $25, with $3 of the proceeds going directly to the Etz Chaim Youth Department. Stay healthy and support the Etz Chaim Youth Department, all at the same time!

We will be sending out more information regarding these events as they get closer. We hope that you save the dates, and we look forward to the wonderful year we have in store!

– Perry Birbrager [email protected] 770-833-3227

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most significant problems individuals and families face, they would answer ‘listening.’ Listening to another, really listening with our whole person requires, discipline, patience, and above all, lots of caring. It was Ernest Hemingway who advised: “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” Or as the famous business and leadership writer Steven R. Covey remarked, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” And the late business leader Bernard M. Baruch noted: “most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.”

One rabbi tells the following story: A man goes to his Rabbi with a marital problem. He and his wife really can’t seem to communicate! The Rabbi suggests: “Go home and listen to your wife, listen very carefully – more carefully than you have ever listened before.” The man goes home and comes back to the rabbi a week later. “Rabbi – things have not gotten any better, even though I listened to every word my wife said.” The rabbi responded – ok – now go home and listen to every word your wife didn’t say.” Learning to communicate means hearing what your loved ones and friends – your children – ‘didn’t say.’ It means reading the silence – between the sentences.

On this Yom Kippur, may we sharpen our ability to listen – to truly listen – to ourselves, our loved ones, our friends and co-workers and neighbors. Listening is not easy. Listening to another, really listening with our whole person, requires discipline, patience and above all, lots of caring. But imagine the rewards we receive by listening carefully. Through careful listening we exercise the magic that enables the person who is speaking to feel valued and so very important. We encourage channels of communication that enable us to touch and to be touched, to expand our abilities to care and reach out while we ourselves receive so much in return.

We have all experienced relationships with people who do not listen, sometimes we do not listen because we are pre-occupied with our own problems. Sometimes people will stop telling us their problems because they perceive that we are judgmental. Other times, people know we will over-react.

There is a story of a Hasidic rabbi who was visited by a man before Passover. He asked the rabbi if he could give him enough money to buy wine and matzah for Passover. The Rabbi gave him a far larger sum than he had asked for. When his wife questioned him, the Rabbi explained: “What the man was really saying was he did not have

enough money to buy any of the things he needed for Passover. He was too embarrassed to tell me; that’s why I gave him enough for all of his needs.”

Martin Buber, the great German/Israeli Jewish philosopher teaches us something very profound. He summed up his understanding of religion with these words: For me this is what I mean by religion: not removing yourself into another world, but responding to the call that comes into your everyday life. Above all, listening to both the silent and the spoken voices when one person speaks to another, so that together they can remove the barrier between two human beings.”

A young child returned home with a drawing she had made at school.

She was so excited. “Look, Mommy, look what I drew!” The mom did not look up. “Mom, you are not listening.” “Yes I am, darling.” “But Mother, you are not listening with your eyes.”

One of the greatest rabbis of all time was Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan, known as the Hafetz Chayim. Someone wrote of him, he was the greatest Jew of his generation with the keenest ear, the most feeling heart. He was the greatest Jew in that he listened with every heart beat.”

On this Rosh HaShanah we have many concerns; in our homes, in our work, in our Jewish world, and many of us are concerned about our country, our role in the world, and what we can and should do to solve the enormous problems we face on every level.

One way we can begin to turn things around is through improving our own ability to listen. The twentieth century psychoanalyst, Theodore Reik, discussed listening as a skill we develop by ‘listening with a third ear’. You have to ask yourself, he taught, “What is the person really saying?” “What is he trying to tell me?”

We can sharpen our ability by listening with our ears, our eyes and our hearts. We can strengthen our ability by listening with a total focus, by listening between the lines (what is this person really saying?). We can listen by responding to both the silent and spoken voices. We can listen with every heartbeat.

Here is to a new year of hope and blessing, of careful listening and wonderful relationships and friendships.

Shanah Tovah!

– Rabbi Paul David Kerbel

this new role. This time, watching my sixteen year old daughter blow shofar, I not only trembled, I flat out cried – and kvelled and swelled with pride. Our children, our future – we have a lot to look forward to. As we begin the New Year, ushered in by the blasts of the shofar – let us celebrate the past, the present and the future. L’Dor V’Dor, from generation to generation, may we go from strength to strength, hand in hand.

Wishing everyone an easy and meaningful fast. And may you always tremble with awe when you hear the shrill piercing blast of the shofar.

– Cheryl Cohen-Miller

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Save-the-Date:

Saturday, October 11 Pink Shabbat services at 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, October 14Men’s Club Steak and Scotch in the Sukkah at 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, October 16Simchat Torah Southern Style Dinner and Dessert at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 18First Decade Shabbat Servicehonoring congregants from 1975-1984 at 9:30 a.m.

Shabbat 9:30 a.m. Sunday, October 19Sisterhood Book Club at the home of Suzanne Rivchun at 9:30 a.m.

Monday, October 20 Sisterhood Zumba at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 26 Men’s Club Best Breakfast in TownTM at 9:30 a.m.

Mazal Tov to…Sandra and Jay Kohlenberg on the birth of their second grandchild, Adeline Pearl Sokol, born on August 9, 2014

Sandra and Jay Kohlenberg on the marriage of their daughter, Emma Leah, to Benjamin Cutler

Barbara and Wayne Suway and grandmother Sally Kaplan on the engagement of their son/grandson Jason Suway to Jennifer Silverman

Jan and Paul Wachter on the birth of their first grandchild Alana Maya Wachter on August 30, 2014, to Jeff and Amanda Wachter

Judy and Paul Schancupp on the engagement of their daughter Jessica to Hal Rochkind

Sandy and Alan Saltzman, on the engagement of their daughter Sarah to Marc Neeland

Ruth and Ken Lewis on becoming great-grandparents to identical twin girls, Tatum and Evan Klasky

Thank You to Our VolunteersHelen RosengartenLou RosengartenLinda Weinroth

Our Condolemces to...Steven Bodenstein, on the loss of his mother, Rebecca Bodenstein.

Welcome! We are pleased to introduce these new members…Allison and Michael Karp 4759 Sologne Court Marietta, GA 30067 H: 678-653-8709 [email protected] [email protected]

David and Leslie Hillebrand 5122 Hampton Lake Drive Marietta, GA 30068 David: [email protected] Cell: 770-363-4420 Leslie: [email protected] Cell: 229-456-0790

Faith and David Kart 4325 Revere Circle Marietta, GA 30062 770-619-5350 [email protected] [email protected]

New Emails…Howard Schemer [email protected]

Mark Spiegel [email protected]

Members on the Move…Edith and Irwin Feinberg 1806 Village Lane Roswell, GA 30075

Amy and Aaron Surasky 3214 Burnette Drive Roswell GA 30075

Amy and Dalan Cohen 4042 River Ridge Chase Marietta, GA 30067

Rita and Russ Breier 11720 Dancliff Trace Alpharetta, GA 30009 New phone: 470-268-4634

Ellen and Barney Epstein 2706 Village Lane Roswell, GA 30075

Jamie and Matthew Dranove 7475 Princeton Trace Atlanta, GA 30328 678-691-8552

Beth and Steve Mintz 18 Peppertree Court Marietta, GA 30068 Steve cell: 770-527-3296 Beth cell: 770-231-7416

Esther Jacobs 3755 Peachtree Road NE Apt. 1207 Atlanta, GA 30319

Our Etz Chaim Community

Stan Fineman and Allan Levine teaching teens Alex Flack, Joel Rittenberg and Amanda Miller the art of blowing the Shofar.

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Upcoming B’nai Mitzvah

The Voice of Chaim is featuring photos and biographical information on upcoming B’nai Mitzvah.

If your child has a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in the coming months, VOC would like to feature your child’s:

• Biographical information

• School information

• Photo

• D’var Torah Quote

To have your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah information included, please email the material and a photo (if available) to Bernice at [email protected].

All materials must be received no later than the 1st of the preceding month. We will gladly accept material earlier.

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The Sisterhood ScoopMinyan Makers – if you are available to help make minyan on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm, even if it is just once per year, please let us know. Contact Janice Levine for our schedule – [email protected].

Centerpiece Rental Consider using our beautiful new topiary centerpieces for your Friday night dinner, Kiddush luncheon or Saturday evening affair. For more information, contact the Gift Shop.

JNF Trees for Israel Honor someone special by purchasing a tree in the Etz Chaim Sisterhood grove. Contact the Judaica and Gift Shop, 770-973-0137 ext. 124 for more information.

For more information about Sisterhood please contact:

Erica Driver 678-643-1991 [email protected]

or

Linda Berch 678-357-1005 [email protected]

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook or at etzchaim.net

Wow! What a fabulous turnout for Kickoff - Cruizin’, Boozin’ & Schmoozin’ with Sisterhood. Thanks to all who volunteered to help, and a special thanks to Beth Levin and Lisa Buxbaum for planning such an amazing event! It was so nice to catch up with our “regulars” and meet so many new and potential members.

We hope you can join us for the next Sisterhood Book Club on October 19th at 9:30 a.m. It will be hosted by Suzanne Rivchun (3129 Greenfield Drive, Marietta, GA 30068). This month’s book is “Harvard Square: A Novel,” by Andre Aciman.

Back by popular demand, we’re turning up the Latin heat for our Zumba Class, Monday, October 20th, from 7-9 p.m. All levels – beginners to advanced – are welcome! This event is FREE to all Sisterhood members and $5 for guests. Please RSVP by October 13th to [email protected]. For more information contact Beth Weiss at 908-347-7641.

We are looking for someone to help Cindy Lewis & Cheryl Eppsteiner plan and execute our Rosh Chodesh minyanim. This person would coordinate the readers, pick up bagels (the day of) and set up the breakfast table. You will only be asked to help every third month, or in the event that our chairs are out of town. Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan is October 24th at 7:00 a.m., please come and show our solidarity with Women of the Wall.

Please keep our Judaica & Gifts Shop in mind for all your Bar/Bat Mitzvah and wedding gifts (many are already giftwrapped). You can even stop by and start a registry. The shop is now open during religious school hours, Tuesdays 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Sundays 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

We are always looking for volunteers to get involved in Sisterhood. If you are interested, please contact Erica Driver 678-643-1991, [email protected] or Linda Berch 678-357-1005, [email protected]. If you want to feel connected, get involved, have fun and meet people, this is for you. We are always looking for people to volunteer for minyan and in the gift shop.

Please be aware that the $36 Sisterhood membership dues for 2014-2015 should have already appeared on your synagogue bill. We sincerely hope that all of our adult female members will support Sisterhood. Also, keep in mind that if you have unaffiliated friends, they are welcome to join our Sisterhood without being members of the synagogue.

Wishing you an easy fast. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a sweet year.

Erica & Linda

Anyone wishing an Aliyah should contact Bob Frohlich at

[email protected] or 770-579-1752

ATTENTION ETZ CHAIM MEMBERSIf you are planning to be away for an extended amount of time, please inform the office.


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Shana Tova U’metukah – a sweet New Year to all our Etz Chaim Members!

We kicked off our 5775 programming year a bit ahead of time with our famous Men’s Club Chef Squad preparing a fantastic meal during the Etz Chaim Shabbat in the Park celebration on August 15. The weather cooperated (never a certainty this time of year) and a great time was had by everyone who attended.

On September 7 the Men’s Club hosted our annual “Back to Shul - Back to School” picnic at the Annex. We hope you had a chance to visit with us and enjoy the food, music and the kickball game in the soccer field next door.

We hope you’ll join us for the “Best Breakfast in Town™,” along with our numerous other events. Here’s what’s happening in the upcoming few months:• October 14 – Steak and Scotch in the Sukkah• October 26 – Best Breakfast in Town™ with Falcons/Lions Football in the Library afterwards• October 27 – Men’s Club Mar-Cheshvan Monday Morning Minyan• November 16 – Turkey Shoot (No actual turkeys will be harmed!)• December 14 – Best Breakfast in Town™, featuring a Jewish Film Festival Preview

Some of you have had the opportunity to visit the remodeled Holocaust Memorial Garden. It’s a beautiful place to sit and admire the flourishing plantings or to remember a loved one. Please consider purchasing a brick in memory of a loved one or a certificate to celebrate a simcha. Memorial bricks and certificates are available through the Men’s Club or online at etzchaim.net.

Your dues support our year-long activities, but what we really need is your participation. If you have an interest in running or participating in a committee or in joining the Men’s Club Board of Trustees, please contact Andy Becker or Steve Krodman.

Look for your Men’s Club events and activities in the monthly Voice of Chaim, the Friday e-Blast, and on our website at http://www.etzchaim.net/mens_club.aspx.

Best Wishes,

Andy Becker, Co-President Steve Krodman, Co-President [email protected] [email protected]

Come out and enjoy Your Men’s Club!

Men’s Club NotesMEN’S CLUB is a vital part of our congregation. Our ongoing programs include:

• Supporting the synagogue’s daily minyan

• Sponsoring the annual Lag B’Omer Picnic and the Labor Day cookout

• Laying tefillin for the World Wide Wrap with our Hebrew School kids

• Providing scholarships to Etz Chaim teens through the Bob Goldman Fund

• Men’s Club Shabbat

• Sponsoring the Anshei Darom weekend retreat for members at Camp Ramah

• Greater Atlanta Synagogue Softball League

• Set-up and usher for High Holiday Services

• Supports the Holocaust Memorial Garden

Our goals are to provide our members with opportunities to meet other members and make new and lasting friendships, support our community, and have some fun in the process.

JOIN MEN’S CLUB and make a difference in our Etz Chaim community!

GET ON THE LIST! Contact Andy Becker at [email protected] or Steve Krodman at [email protected] for information.

Family Member in HospitalOur Rabbis have asked that you notify the office in the event of a family member’s hospital stay or

serious illness.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR EVENING MINYAN –

Sunday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

In partnership with our friends from the Catholic Church of St. Ann, Etz Chaim is pleased to announce a new session of Walking God’s Paths. Join us for an unforgettable learning experience. We will have an introductory meeting on October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Kazer-Lipson library.

Walking God’s Paths is a program intended to stimulate candid conversation between Jewish and Christian congregations. Produced by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College on behalf and with the oversight of the National Council of Synagogues and the Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, it is available through special arrangement with the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations.

Designed for a small (12-20 person) group environment, the program consists of six monthly ninety-minute sessions, each of which includes a brief introductory video followed by a facilitated discussion.

Session topics include the past, present, and future of Christian-Jewish relations and the different perspectives Christians and Jews bring to the conversation; a look at the historical events of the late Second Temple Period that gave rise to both rabbinic Judaism and Christianity; and the way each tradition looks at the same writings through different interpretative lenses. Participants will experience each tradition’s understanding of how it walks God’s path and how the two faith communities can relate to one another in positive ways.

Walking God’s Paths sponsored by Men’s Club

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Bereavement Services Offered to Congregants

Etz Chaim’s Chesed Committee will offer to provide meals of consolation to members. This meal is traditionally a dairy meal eaten by mourners upon their return home from the funeral. It includes whole hard-boiled eggs, symbolizing the continuity of life. This service provided by the Chesed Committee allows the family and friends who normally provide the meal to attend the funeral themselves and give emotional support to the bereaved. Members attending out of town funerals, who sit shiva or hold a memorial service in Atlanta, will be offered a fruit tray.

In order to bring standardized, caring service to each member, Etz Chaim is modeling its procedures after those of Temple Sinai’s successful Kesher Committee. Contributions made to the Chesed Fund will help to fund these services. Teams are currently being formed for these purposes.

Anyone wanting more information, or wanting to assist in performing these mitzvot, please contact Cindy Lewis at 770-977-0240, Wendy Feinberg at 770-973-1217, or Julie Kleinman at 770-992-1231.

Your cooperation please!The disabled parking spots are reserved for the exclusive use of those with permits. These spaces are NOT to be used by ANYONE else at ANYTIME. There is NO parking under the Education Wing overhang. It is a fire code violation.

Family Member in HospitalOur rabbis have asked that you notify the office in the event of a family member’s hospital stay or serious illness.

October YahrzeitsMemorialize a loved one with a Brick in our Holocaust Garden or a Plaque on our Yahrzeit wall.

For information, please contact the synagogue office.

October 1 Benjamin Levy 7 Tishrei October 1 David Abel 7 Tishrei October 1 Charles Rosen 7 Tishrei October 1 Pearl Kolin 7 Tishrei*October 1 Robert Klein 7 Tishrei October 1 Henry Blumenstein 7 Tishrei October 1 Syliva Grossman 7 Tishrei October 2 Howard Bachrach 8 Tishrei*October 2 Albert Jacob Schein 8 Tishrei*October 3 Harry Deutch 9 Tishrei October 3 Joe Wilensky 9 Tishrei October 3 Eva Siskin 9 Tishrei October 4 Nina Dralyuk 10 Tishrei October 4 Miriam Pavlo 10 Tishrei October 4 David Testa 10 Tishrei October 4 Herbert Krasner 10 Tishrei October 5 Stanley Levine 11 Tishrei October 6 Manuel Bigel 12 Tishrei*October 6 Joseph Bercuson 12 Tishrei October 6 Sadie Scopp 12 Tishrei October 6 Gerald Brandt 12 Tishrei*October 7 Clara Schlenker 13 Tishrei*October 8 Norman Slater 14 Tishrei October 8 Harry Barman 14 Tishrei*October 8 Aaron Greif 14 Tishrei October 8 Philip Kenin 14 Tishrei*October 9 Nathan Rosenberg 15 Tishrei October 9 Cecelia Binder 15 Tishrei October 9 Doris Pattek 15 Tishrei October 9 Beverly Topiol 15 Tishrei October 10 Douglas Streetman 16 Tishrei*October 10 Rosebelle Roth 16 Tishrei October 10 Elizabeth Bernstein 16 Tishrei October 11 Mildred Turetzky 17 Tishrei October 11 Faye Shafferman 17 Tishrei*October 11 Dorothy Renyi 17 Tishrei October 11 Sophie Smith 17 Tishrei October 11 Max Naiman 17 Tishrei October 12 Claire Kay 18 Tishrei October 12 Anna Rill 18 Tishrei October 12 Kenneth Bassner 18 Tishrei October 12 Paul Silverman 18 Tishrei October 12 Lily Oling 18 Tishrei October 12 Abraham Schwerd 18 Tishrei October 13 Henry Kornick 19 Tishrei*October 13 Max Greif 19 Tishrei October 14 Felix Jafif 20 Tishrei October 14 Meyer Goodman 20 Tishrei October 14 Stanley Berke 20 Tishrei October 15 Dolly Brown 21 Tishrei October 15 Mac Keller 21 Tishrei October 15 Paul Berman 21 Tishrei October 15 William Jacobsohn 21 Tishrei October 16 Rose Feld 22 Tishrei October 16 Eva Petersile 22 Tishrei October 17 Rhoda Shapow 23 Tishrei

*October 17 Harry Gerstin 23 Tishrei*October 17 Liselotte Tritt 23 Tishrei October 17 Pat Geller 23 Tishrei*October 18 Rick Alpert 24 Tishrei October 18 Mary Chaleff 24 Tishrei October 19 Faye Bock 25 Tishrei October 19 Gerald Simpson 25 Tishrei October 19 Gloria Berke 25 Tishrei October 19 Murray Schneider 25 Tishrei October 19 Sally Chaifetz 25 Tishrei October 19 Victor Bart 25 Tishrei October 19 Leon Grusin 25 Tishrei*October 20 Irving Simon 26 Tishrei October 20 Siy Polekoff 26 Tishrei October 20 Bella Hertig 26 Tishrei October 20 Ruth Pollack 26 Tishrei October 20 William Wise 26 Tishrei*October 21 Julie Halpern 27 Tishrei October 21 Benjamin Glancz 27 Tishrei October 21 Clara Kirschenbaum 27 Tishrei October 22 Reuben Mozenter 28 Tishrei October 22 Leonard Ross 28 Tishrei October 23 Bertha Baron 29 Tishrei*October 23 Fay Mark 29 Tishrei October 23 Ben Stone 29 Tishrei October 24 Rena Lewis 30 Tishrei October 24 Judith Sandman 30 Tishrei October 25 Abe Grusin 1 Cheshvan October 25 Nellie Levy 1 Cheshvan October 25 James S. Meharg 1 Cheshvan October 25 Sidney Hartnig 1 Cheshvan October 25 Arlette Miller 1 Cheshvan October 25 Sara Effel 1 Cheshvan October 26 Herman Bachenheimer 2 Cheshvan October 26 Emanuel Flancer 2 Cheshvan October 27 Leonard Lipson 3 Cheshvan October 27 Barbara Shapiro 3 Cheshvan October 28 Seymour Solomon 4 Cheshvan October 29 Joyce Bernstein 5 Cheshvan October 29 Miriam Gutterman 5 Cheshvan October 29 Barbara Rubenstein 5 Cheshvan October 29 Daniel Douenias 5 Cheshvan October 29 Louise Carreiro 5 Cheshvan October 29 Libby Kornbluth 5 Cheshvan October 29 Deborah Goldstein 5 Cheshvan*October 29 Armand Zucker 5 Cheshvan October 30 Benjamin Corin 6 Cheshvan October 30 Susan Hassey 6 Cheshvan*October 30 Joseph Rand 6 Cheshvan October 30 Simon Cooper 6 Cheshvan October 30 Elinor Rosen 6 Cheshvan October 31 Betty Cohen 7 Cheshvan October 31 Jack Pearlman 7 Cheshvan October 31 Irving Weiss 7 Cheshvan October 31 Sydelle Kaye 7 Cheshvan

*Denotes a memorial plaque in our sanctuary to be lit on the day of the Yahrzeit and on all Yizkor holidays.


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Questions about purchasing a cemetery plot??? Call Bob Bachrach 770.973.0137

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We are here for you!Have a great idea? A question to ask? Your Board of Trustee liaison is available to point you in the right direction or answer your questions.

Feel free to call or email him/her with your suggestions and concerns! Not sure of the contact information? Call the office 770.973.0137 to find that out.

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Do you have a simcha you would like to share in the Atlanta Jewish Times? If so, here is the URL to go directly to the Tell & Kvell page:

http://atlantajewishtimes.com/submit-your-simcha-announcement/


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SAVE THESE DATES:

Saturday evening, November 22 Square Dancing and Snacks Hammer-Chottiner-Tritt Social Hall at Etz Chaim

Saturday evening, January 10, 2015 Bowling evening (will end early enough for a late meal at the Marietta Diner)

Sunday, March 15 Leo Frank Exhibit at The Breman Museum

Questions about Prime Timers: Roz Reiss [email protected] or call 770-685-1217

Get Prime Timers’ E-vites: Norman Marinoff [email protected] or call 770-401-4026.

Prime Timers – A USCJ Chapter of Hazak Something fun for everyone!

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GENERAL FUNDThis donation is to be used toward the Chapel renovation, in memory of Eli Krodman, beloved father of Steve Krodman. With love from your friends!

Friends of Steve Krodman In memory of our dad Julius Mintz

Alan and Roni MintzIn memory of Bertha Sabel

Alan SabelIn memory of our grandfather Harry Crystal

Craig and Susan AdairIn memory of Willie Berman

Irwin and Debbie BermanTo my dear friend Esther Bigel, thank you for all the prayers and best wishes for the recovery of my son Gary.

In honor of Gary Goldman. I am so very grateful for your recovery

Jeanne GoldmanIn honor of Sydelle and Irwin Silberman’s granddaughter on her becoming a Bat Mitzvah in Israel

In memory of Gerald’s mother, Anne Bernstein, on her yahrzeit

Jerry and Selma BernsteinIn memory of my mother Ethel Funk

Marsha ShragoIn memory of my father Oscar “Buddy” Reiner

Michael and Shelly ReinerIn memory of Marshall Jaffe

Rabbi Albert SlomovitzIn memory of Bruce Olens

Sam and Lisa OlensTo Ed Kanner, wishing you a speedy and complete recovery

Shahrokh and Safa Nooromid

RABBI LEWIS DISCRETIONARY FUNDIn honor of Rabbi Shalom and Cindy Lewis, thank you for an unforgettable trip to Israel. It was the experience of a lifetime. And then some.

Alan and Jo Ellen LevyIn memory of Evelyn Coltman, forever in my heart

Barney ColtmanIn memory of Clarence Feuer

Bruce and Raya FeuerIn appreciation of my recent honor

Jay BaileyIn memory of my wonderful mother, Florence Katz

Margie SonsheinIn memory of Michael S. Smith, we miss you!! Phyllis, Adam, Jenna, Ryan and all the grandkids

Phyllis SmithIn honor of Erica Driver. We are so appreciative of your kindness and assistance in making our grandson Ian’s selection of his Bar Mitzvah tallis a wonderful and meaningful experience for our entire family.

Steve and Jackie Pierce

RABBI KERBEL DISCRETIONARY FUNDIn memory of Evelyn Coltman, forever in my heart

Barney ColtmanIn memory of Clarence Feuer

Bruce and Raya FeuerIn memory of my mother, Lois Brussel

Donna BiermanIn loving memory of Jacob Rosenberg on his 40th yahrzeit and Sonia Rosenberg on her 10th yahrzeit

Fay SzeftelIn memory of Helen Waxman, my beloved mother who remains a shining example. May her memory be for a blessing.

Marsha ConnerTo Rabbi Kerbel, thank you so very much for such a beautifully wonderful wedding ceremony. Everything was absolutely lovely! We appreciate your kind words and helpfulness. Thanks again with love!

Shana and Josh Vexler

LINDA H. WEINROTH EDUCATION FUNDIn memory of Gerald Knauer on his yahrzeit

In memory of Morris Elka, on his yahrzeitJeff and Stephanie Knauer

In memory of Bernard HellerLouis Heller

In honor of our son Todd Surden on being named to the 40 Under 40 in the Atlanta Jewish Community

Nina and Michael SurdenIn memory of my father Sol Yonks

Sandy RothsteinIn memory of my father Earl Fairchild

Steve Fairchild

ROBERT KLEIN MEMORIAL CHESED FUNDIn memory of our beloved mother Pearl Levy

In memory of our dear brother Richard EpsteinBarney and Ellen Epstein

In loving memory of my dear sister Gittie GollishEsther Bigel

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUNDIn honor of Mayer Smith. A very happy – and very belated Mazal Tov on your 90th birthday. Ad me’ah v’esrim.

Judith Swartz

COLLEGE CONNECTION FUNDIn memory of Eva Phillips, beloved mother and “Bubie”

Elaine and Jay Schwartz and Family

PHILLIP MICHAEL SILVERMAN MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUNDTo Reid, Larisa, Zev and Avi Pearlman, Mazal Tov to your family on Avi’s magnificent Bar Mitzvah atop Masada. From shopping for Talit in Jaffa to losing Avi in the gift shop, we were honored to share every minute.

Alan and Jo Ellen LevyIn memory of Gladys Slutsky

Bernard and Faye Ellen SlutskyTo Bonnie and Alan Silverman, remembering our dear nephew and cousin, Phillip Silverman, on his birthday. Phillip, you are always in our hearts. May your memory always be a blessing. We love you and miss you so much.

Kathi and Rick Silverman and Family

CYNTHIA R. FREEMAN MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUNDIn appreciation of Malka Riesenberg’s efforts to ensure a wonderful Congregation Etz Chaim trip to Israel

Joe FreemanIn honor of my amazing recent trip to Israel, a place she will unfortunately never be able to visit in person

Sarah Freeman

MORRIS FRANK SACRED TExT FUNDWishing Cecile Bock a speedy recovery

Ron and Wendy Feinberg

KAZER-LIPSON LIBRARY FUNDIn memory of George Cohen

In memory of Pauline Cohn Beverly Cohen

In honor of Brian Sacks’ retirement. We wish you all the best with love.

Carol, Jared, and Emily Sacks

BUILDING ENHANCEMENT FUNDIn loving memory of my mom Ethel Cohen. You are always in my heart.

Myra SheftelTo Eileen Schlenker, Bubbe, in honor of your birthday. We love you!

Yaniv and Galit Baron

WILENSKY MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUNDHappy Birthday to Lynn Sustak

Happy Anniversary to Vivian and Allan Levine

Happy Birthday to Rosalind Taranto

Happy Birthday to Vivian Levine

Happy Birthday to Jake WilenskyFrank and Barbara Wilensky

Tzedakah | vesmContributions received from August 8 – September 8, 2014

Continues on page 34

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Tzedakah | vesmContributions received from August 8 – September 8, 2014


SOCIAL ACTION FUNDTo Linda and Irv Briks in memory of your mother, Barbara Briks

Frieda and Mike HodesTo Faye Ellen Slutsky in memory of your mom, Sylvia Cooper

Patty and Gus SmallIn memory of Emanuel Chartash with love

Randy and Debbi Chartash

KITCHEN FUNDIn memory of my mother, Ethel Funk, on her yahrzeit

Marsha ShragoIn memory of my father, Abram Bernstein, on his yahrzeit

Rick Bernstein

BOB GOLDMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDTo Irv Briks in memory of your mother Barbara Briks. Our thoughts are with you.

Patty and Gus SmallIn memory of Barbara Briks, mother of Irv and Linda Briks, grandmother of Jeff and Dan Briks. May your memories of her be all the sweetest ones.

Jan and Paul Wachter

SUKKOT AND SIMCHAT TORAH BOOKS AVAILABLE AT OUR LIBRARY

The Etz Chaim Library features numerous books for Sukkot and Simchat Torah. The list below highlights a few of them.

The Vanishing Gourds: A Sukkot Mystery by Susan Axe-Bronk. When Sara’s gourds – decorations for the family sukkah – start mysteriously disappearing, the hunt is on for the culprits. A well illustrated and entertaining book for ages 3 to 6.

Engineer Ari and the Sukkah Express by Deborah Bodin Cohen is for ages 3 to 6. As Engineer Ari drives his train to Jerusalem, he stops as friends along the way help him gather branches and fruit for his backyard sukkah. When the Sukkot holiday begins, he is sad that those friends aren’t with him to join the celebration. But what surprise do his pals Jessie and Nathaniel have waiting for him at the train station?

Sammy Spider’s First Simchat Torah by Sylvia Rouss is for ages 3 to 8. Sammy Spider and Josh both learn about the celebration

of Simchat Torah – complete with Israeli flags, stories, conversation, and a parade through the synagogue. An excellent book to teach young readers how Simchat Torah is celebrated.

The Etz Chaim Library offers a variety of Jewish cookbooks. One that is recommended for Sukkot is Fast & Festive Meals for the Jewish

Holidays: Complete Menus, Rituals, and Party-Planning Ideas for Every Holiday of the Year by Marlene Sorosky and James Beard. Each holiday chapter contains menus, game plans, table decorations and celebration ideas. For Sukkot, the book provides comprehensive menu planning and recipes titled “A Harvest Dinner in the Sukkah”.

You may self-check out books from the library at any time. Directions are on the library wall next to the book return basket. Someone is usually on duty in the library on Sunday mornings when there is Religious School to assist you in finding books and with book check out. The library has many books for your reading pleasure so stop by and browse at your leisure!

ETZ CHAIM LIBRARY NEWS


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Nobody Deserves to be AbusedA plaque on a tree at JF&CS reads “Shalom Bayit: October 1998 – In memory of women and children who lost their lives to domestic violence and honoring the courage of our survivors”. This beautiful tree flourishes with vibrant flowers every summer, an indicator of the strength and vitality of survivors and a testament to individuals working toward Peace in the Home.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. How can you help create a community free from abuse?

Abuse continues because we remain silent and victims hide in fear, from shame, a feeling of being alone and thinking nobody will believe them. We deny the reality that abuse — physical, sexual and emotional control — occurs in Jewish homes at the same rate as the community at large. The impact of living with abuse lasts a lifetime.

Everyone can make a difference. If you suspect someone may be abused, listen, believe her/him,

inquire about safety and resist blaming. Ask how you can help. Remain calm, and provide resources.

Your actions impact our entire community. Challenge violence, initiate discussions and begin educational programming within your congregation. Inquire about programs for youth on healthy relationships and preventing dating violence.

Shalom Bayit, a program of Counseling Services - Tools for Life, strives to mobilize the Jewish community to create the change needed to end domestic violence, providing counseling and programs for adults and abuse prevention for youth.

Nobody deserves to be abused. For information about Shalom Bayit counseling, education or opportunities to make a difference, contact [email protected].


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YOUR AD HERE!

For more information, please contact Bernice in the

synagogue office at 770-973-0137 or [email protected].

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Robert L. Bachrach Executive Director & COO

Debbie Deutsch Education Director

Perry Birbrager Youth Director

Aram Blankenship Facilities Manager

Su BerlandNewsletter Production

OfficersCheryl Cohen-Miller President

Todd Surden Executive VP

John Flagel Chief Financial Officer

Robin D. Brill Fundraising VP

Allison Saffran Religion Co-VP

David Wilson Religion Co-VP

Jamie Lyons Education Co-VP

David Levin Education Co-VP and Secretary

Stacy Efrat Engagement Co-VP

Joe Freeman Engagement Co-VP

Scott Rittenberg Immediate Past President and Parliamentarian

TrusteesNanci AronsteinSheldon BerchMarsha BernsteinLarry BrownAdam BuxbaumAmy CharlesJoe CohenMark DavisonLinda DiamondDarin DubovyRandy FigurSteven FlackHarris FogelStephanie FosterBarry GangNancy GardnerDenise GelernterMitchell GreyDavid LandauLauren LevetanLeslie LubellNorman MarinoffFrank MobilioDani OrenGary PragerRay SonsheinEllen SpandorferJosh VexlerBeth WeissTom Zack

Past PresidentsScott RittenbergStephen Friedman Irwin BermanBob BachrachJudy FinemanNorman RadowDebbie MilsteinSue RothsteinDavid WittKen SchlenkerGeorge PristachRichard SmithAllen ShulmanNoah LevineBarry Forrest z”lDavid TinkelmanEllis AbramsStephen King

OrganizationsErica Driver Linda Berch Sisterhood Co-Presidents

Andy Becker Steve Krodman Men’s Club Co-Presidents

Avi Lyons USY President

Congregation Etz Chaim1190 Indian Hills Parkway

Marietta, GA 30068 Phone 770.973.0137 • Fax 770.977.0829

Religious School 770.977.4148Preschool 770.977.3384

www.etzchaim.net

visit our website www.etzchaim.net for the e-mails of our professional staff and lay leaders

Shalom J. Lewis, RabbiPaul D. Kerbel, Rabbi

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #433Marietta, GA

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October 2014 Voice of Chaim