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www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 1
שלנו May 2019 - Vol. 69-Issue 9 THE NEWSLETTER OF REFORM JUDAISM IN NEW YORK'S SOUTHERN TIER 26 Nisan - 26 Iyar 5779
Just a few weeks ago at our Passover Seders we recalled the hardships we faced and the tri-
umph of redemption in the Haggadah. Our Seder concluded with us saying or singing “L’Shanah
Habah B’Yerushalayim -Next Year in Jerusalem,” Israel will be 71 years old on May 9th so we
celebrate Israel’s achievements and struggle with her weaknesses; an ongoing challenge.
Following the recent elections, many of us are troubled by the direction that Israel’s new coalition government may
be taking. We need to understand that Israelis went to free and fair elections and elected the party and its leader that
spoke to them. I leave it to political scientists and Israel experts to analyze the election and party system. Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu was elected to a fourth consecutive term, and fifth overall, based on a campaign which troubled
many of us.
When we as Diaspora Jews are upset about the right-leaning government in Israel, and the way it was elected, that’s
good because it means we care, and we feel some emotional connection to Israel. We are fighting the battle against ap-athy, and we can take solace in all the Diaspora Jews who care and care deeply. Now, that passion is becoming harder
and harder to maintain the more we sit back and watch the exacerbation of current trends, as Rabbi Yoffie explains:
Israel’s Declaration of Independence states, the establishment of Israel “is the natural right of the Jewish people to
be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State.’ The challenge of Modern Israel is to
embrace peoplehood without relinquishing our aspirations and mission, our moral and spiritual aspirations as a people;
to continually aspire to become, in the midst of uncertainty and danger. The Declaration goes on to state that “the Jewish
State will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens without distinction of race, creed, or sex.”
I marvel at the accomplishments of Israel in so many areas. I have been proud of Israel being the only democracy in the
Middle East, of the flourishing of Jewish culture and religious life. But I also struggle with the forces battling within the
country over its character and the high price in so many ways of the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians.
We need to hold on to the dream of so many Zionist thinkers — the dream of a state that will be a laboratory for Jewish
values — and keep it alive. I want this kind of Israel. I hope that you do, too. Now is the time to support those organiza-
tions in Israel which share our vision and values.
Make donations to:
The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism - Build progressive Jewish institutions in Israel.
The Israel Religion Action Center - Israel’s leading civil and human rights organization, addressing issues of religion and
state in Israel.”
ARZA – The Association of Reform Zionists of America The New Israel Fund which funds important organizations and causes
Hiddush for Religious Freedom and Equality – an advocacy organization
We also can start thinking about how to mobilize our movement to make a tremendous impact in the upcoming World
Zionist Congress elections by voting for the Reform slate from January 21 – March 11, 2020. That is the only opportunity
for Diaspora Jews to democratically influence Israeli society through our voice in Israel’s National Institutions. We
registered and voted in the past and have reaped the benefits in the World Zionist Organization and in Israel.
Let’s recognize the greatness (Gadlut) of the dream that is Israel, and all that it will take to achieve its potential by doing
our part.
Please join me Friday, May 17th to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut at Shabbat Services and continue reaching for our vision
of Israel.
“A Zionist believes in a Jewish and democratic state. Bibi does not. A Zionist, seeing Israel as the state of the Jewish people, welcomes Diaspora thinking and considers it carefully and with respect. Bibi does not. A Zionist approaches the Jewish state with reverence and honors its institutions and symbols - the judiciary, the press, and the Declaration of Independence. Bibi, as we have seen in the recent election, is erratic at best.”
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 2
TEMPLE CONCORD OFFICE HOURS
Monday—OFFICE CLOSED Tuesday—Friday 10:00am to 2:00pm
Hours may vary, please call the office for confirmation of times.
TOPIC PAGE
Rabbi’s Reflections 1
Temple Directory 2
From the President’s Desk 3
Ensemble Concord Spring Concert 4
Brit Olam Congregation 5
Yom Hashoah 5
Yom Haatzmaut 5
Lifelong Learning 5
Religious School Calendar 6
Mansion Porch Project Update 6
Blaze Pizza Religious School Fundraiser 7
Sisterhood News 8
Sisterhood Shabbat 9
Jewish Film Fest 10
Temple Concord Funds 11
Todah Rabah 12
May Mazel Tovs 13
Yahrzeits 14
May Calendar 15
Service Schedule 16
Rabbi ...................................................Barbara Goldman-Wartell
President .................................................................. Rachel Coker
1st Vice-President ................................................... Lisa Blackwell
2nd Vice-President ....................................................... Jon Krasno
3rd Vice-President……………………………….………… Liz Smithmeyer
Treasurer …............................................................. Shalom Shoer
Financial Secretary ...........................................Dr. Edward Major
Recording Secretary …...............................................Eve Berman
Accessibility Committee…....................................... Barb Thomas
Adult Education .............................Dr. Allen Alt and Eve Berman
Brotherhood Chair ........................................ Jonathan Burgman
Caring Community ............ Sondra Foreman & Suzanne Holwitt
CHOW ........................................................................Sandi Green
Garden Chair .....................................................Dr. Edward Major
Fund-Raising ............................................ Janet & Mark Hayman
and Lisa Blackwell
House Committee .....................................................Neisen Luks
Library .......................................................................Lauren Fitch
Membership ............................................................... …...Roz Antoun
Outreach .............................................................Charles Bischoff
Religious School Director ............................................Orly Shoer
Religious School Liaisons .................................Claudia Stallman
& Christine Coveney
Ritual ...................................................................Suzanne Holwitt
Social Action .....................Phyllis Kellenberger & Deb Saltzman
Sisterhood President .…….……………………………… Helene Philips
Temple Concord Webmaster ................................ Jeff Strosberg
STAFF
Administrative Assistant ...................................... Jenny Nestrick
Bookkeeper…………………………………….…………………. Julie Piaker
Building Support …………Scott Shelanskey, Cathy Shelanskey &
Gina Donahue
TEMPLE CONCORD OFFICE EMAIL ADDRESSES
Temple Concord …….…....……. [email protected]
Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell …... [email protected]
Jenny .…………………….........….…………… [email protected]
Bookkeeper ..............…..…...…….……… [email protected]
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DIRECTORY
2019-2020 (5779-5780)
TEMPLE CONCORD
9 Riverside Drive ● Binghamton, NY 13905
Phone (607) 723-7355 Fax (607) 723-0785
www.TempleConcord.com
Affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism
SHELANU “Our Synagogue”, the Bulletin of Temple Concord, is published monthly except for July.
Submissions for the June/July 2019 edition are due no later than May 15th.
Items received later than May 15th will not be included until the August 2019 Shelanu.
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 3
Reform synagogues all over face a series of existential challenges right now.
That’s one of the messages I heard last month, when I attended a program for synagogue presidents and presidents-elect from all over North America. The Union for Reform Judaism organizes the Scheidt Seminar to give lay leaders the tools we need to manage our synagogues as effectively as possible. There were workshops and lectures on topics such as fundraising, social justice and managing change.
The seminar, which also included Shabbat services and Torah study, offered inspiration but also a sort of wake-up call. The problems we see at Temple Concord — including an aging membership, facilities in need of repair and shrinking religious school enrollment — are hardly unique to Greater Binghamton. I met pres-idents who are preparing for mergers with other synagogues as well as leaders of congregations that can’t afford to have a full-time rabbi.
There are five (some say six) generations of Jewish Americans alive right now, each with distinct needs and, in some cases, competing ideas about what synagogue life should look like.
Nationally, there are huge numbers of Jews who have not chosen to be members of any congregation. Rab-bi Rick Jacobs, president of the Reform movement, encouraged synagogue presidents at the seminar to consider these Jews “uninspired” rather than “unaffiliated,” and he asked us to think about what we can do to extend a warmer, more meaningful invitation to them.
Part of being a Reform Jew is being open to change and responding to the world as it is today. I’m confi-dent Temple Concord can do that. Our relatively recent transition to a pledge system rather than a dues model is just one example of how we’re evolving. The months and years ahead are sure to bring others. Let’s try to face those changes with open minds. There are thriving congregations that we can learn from and lots of sound advice to be had if we tap into the experts who work for the URJ.
Temple President
Charlie Edwards’ Mitzvah Fundraiser Project
I am raising money for Project Fit America.
They are a national agency who for the past 20 years has supplied schools
with new opportunities for kids to be active, fit, and healthy.
The wristbands are $2 each and are available at temple.
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 5
Saturday Morning Torah Study Group
Exploring the Weekly Torah Portion
Torah study meets on Saturday mornings from 9:15-10:30. We are studying the weekly Torah
portion, and will meet May 4, 11 and 18. . Bring your favorite Torah commentary book or use
the books we provide to explore the weekly Exodus Torah portions this winter.
Yom Haatzmaut – Israel Independence Day, May 9th
We will celebrate Israel’s 71st birthday on Friday evening, May 17th
at Shabbat Services.
Temple Concord is now a
Brit Olam Congregation Upon the recommendation of our Social Action
committee, the Board of Trustees voted for Temple
Concord to join hundreds of other Reform congre-
gations in becoming a Brit Olam congregation, for a world of compassion, justice and whole-
ness. This is a Brit Olam - a Covenant with our World, because we seek the world we want,
not the world as it is. We have pledged to foster a culture of sacred and civil dialogue in our
congregation where all opinions are heard, to building relationships across lines of difference
in our local community, to participate in state-specific social justice work with our RAC NY
state affiliate and to mobilize around issues that resonate with our community.
Yom Hashoah- Holocaust Remembrance Day - May 1-2
Light your Yellow Candle in your home on the evening of May 1st to remember the Shoah.
Yom Hashoah Community Commemoration Program at BU in the Old Union
Wednesday, May 1st from 6:30-8:00pm
Binghamton University Hillel Third Generation Survivors group is planning the Yom Hashoah
Commemoration again this year for the entire Jewish community to honor the memories
of those who were killed during the Holocaust, those who survived and the heroism of many
during that terrible time.
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 6
TEMPLE CONCORD RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CALENDAR 2018-2019
May 4 Saturday Last Day of School
May 25 Saturday Charles Edwards Bar Mitzvah
May 27 Monday Laura Klotzkin Bat Mitzvah
October 12 Saturday Georgia Blackwell Bat Mitzvah
October 26 Saturday Aiden Levine Bar Mitzvah
Last Day of Religious School is Saturday, May 4th at
9am with Potluck End of Year Breakfast
Final Family Shabbat Service of the School Year
Honoring Teachers at 10:35am
*
* Pajamas Optional
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 8
Sisterhood Board Meeting
A Sisterhood board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, in the
library. Board members are encouraged to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to socialize
and snack prior to the meeting.
Sisterhood will sponsor a rummage sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, in the basement at Temple Concord, 9 Riverside Drive, Binghamton. Shoppers should use the Oak Street entrance.
Buy any item and get one free.
TEMPLE CONCORD SISTERHOOD NEWS
Winner of the 2013 Or Ami “Light of My People” Award for Social Justice, Community Service and Educational Programming from WRJ
Thank You for Women's Seder
Sisterhood thanks Sandy Foreman, Rachel Coker and Carol Herz for organizing the women's Seder March 24. Also appreciation to Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell and Rabbi Rachel Es-serman for leading the new, inspirational Seder. All the women who attended enjoyed partici-pating in the Seder and the delicious meal.
Sisterhood thanks Deb Daniels for organizing Donor on March 31, for fabulous cooking and for arranging the enjoyable program. Her committee who helped set up the brunch also was appreciated. Tim Gleason, the artistic director of KNOW Theatre in Binghamton, talked about the history of the theater and then entertained more than two dozen attendees with two theatrical monologues. Again thanks Deb Daniels and Tim Gleason.
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 12
TODAH RABAH
CONGREGATION FUND
IN APPRECIATION:
TO THE HEILVEIL FAMILY FOR THEIR
HOSPITALITY
Jean and Lewis Hecht
IN MEMORY OF:
MOTHER, DOROTHY BARUCH
Rosanne and Lamont Pinker
FATHER, MORRIS HECHT
Jean and Lewis Hecht
JOAN GROEN, SISTER OF LEWIS HECHT
AND AUNT OF SARA GRILLS
Carol Bernstein and Richard
Canavan
Phyllis and Robert Kellenberger
Babs Putzel-Bischoff and
Charles Bischoff
Shari and Robert Neuberger
Eileen and Richard Orringer
Barbara and Glen Thomas
Elsie Doetsch
STANLEY BLUMM
Richard Blumm
SISTER-IN-LAW, TRUDY WEISSMAN
Ruth Dorfman
WISHING A CONTINUED
RECOVERY TO:
CHARLES BISCHOFF
Jean and Lewis Hecht
WISHING A SPEEDY RECOVERY TO:
LUCY MEHL
Jean and Lewis Hecht
JON BURGMAN
Jean and Lewis Hecht
Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Babs Putzel-Bischoff and
Charles Bischoff
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN APPRECIATION:
TO RABBI BARBARA GOLDMAN-
WARTELL, SYLVIA DIAMOND, AND JEFF
STROSBERG FOR BRINGING PURIM TO
THE HEARTH AT CASTLE GARDENS
Karen Hammer
HERBERT AND EVE MATTIES
SANCTUARY MUSIC FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
FATHER, SAMUEL J. FISCHER
Joan Smith
MOTHER, EDITH THORNER
Eileen Krigstein
MOTHER, LOLLIE LUKS
Marsha and Neisen Luks
MOTHER, LENA LICHTENSTEIN
Marsha and Neisen Luks
MORRIS SMITH
Joan Smith
ANNA MOSTKOV
Joan Smith
HARRIET AND RICHARD FRANKEL
SHABBAT AND
HOLIDAY MUSIC FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
MOTHER, MARILYN BERKOWITZ
Barry Berkowitz
SOCIAL ACTION
HELPING HAND FUND
IN APPRECIATION:
FOR THE GOLDENGRAM IN HONOR OF
MY 90TH BIRTHDAY
Ruth Dorfman
IN HONOR OF:
FERN STERNBERG’S 85TH BIRTHDAY
Marcia Shuman
IN MEMORY OF:
MOTHER, ETHEL CHERNIN KATZIN
Davi-Linda and David Friedman
FATHER, LEIB WEISSLENDER
Linda and James VonEsch
CHOW FUND
IN HONOR OF:
PAUL VANSAVAGE’S 80TH BIRTHDAY
Jean and Lewis Hecht
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
LEONARD SCHNEIDER, TWIN BROTHER
OF LUCY MEHL AND COUSIN OF ALICE
ZAPPERT BONIS
Jean and Lewis Hecht
ROBERTA KING, MOTHER OF
JEFFREY KING
Jean and Lewis Hecht
SISTERHOOD FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
MARILYN GOLDSMITH, MOTHER OF
MARK GOLDSMITH AND DENIS GOLD-
SMITH
Eileen Krigstein
KILMER MANSION
REPAIR FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, ELINOR
STERN PUTZEL
Babs and Tracy Putzel-Bischoff
FATHER, FRANK SUSKIND
Linda and William Green
HANUKKAH HOUSE FUND
IN HONOR OF:
JEFFREY HERZ’S 50TH BIRTHDAY
Jean and Lewis Hecht
PRAYERBOOK FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
LEONARD SCHNEIDER, TWIN BROTHER
OF LUCY MEHL AND COUSIN OF ALICE
ZAPPERT BONIS
Elsie Doetsch
DR. EDMUND GOLDENBERG
HOLOCAUST EDUCATION FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
KURT SALM, HUSBAND OF HELEN SALM
Fern Sternberg and Family
THE YELLOW CANDLE PROJECT
Help support our annual drive to raise funds for Confirmation Class projects while also remembering those killed in the Holocaust. Your name can be here next month if you send
in your donation. ___________________________________________________________
Jodi Sampey - Fern Sternberg - Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Jean and Lewis Hecht - Ani and Jeffrey Loew
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 13
Mazel tovs are 75¢ each. To order, contact Jean Hecht as follows: Call 798-7518, E-Mail to [email protected], or send to 2612
Lynnhurst Drive, Vestal, NY 13850. When ordering, please make sure you indicate your name and circle which numbers you want.
We will be happy to bill you. The deadline for ordering from this list is August 24, 2018.
NAME___________________________________________________________
HUNGER KNOWS NO SEASON Your non-perishable items can be dropped off in the
Temple Concord Lobby. Thank you for your help!
HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND POST-COLLEGE GRADUATIONS ARE COMING UP IN MAY AND JUNE
PLEASE SEND ALL INFORMATION TO JEAN HECHT BY MAY 15 ([email protected])
SO THAT IT CAN BE LISTED IN THE JUNE SHELANU.
IF NOT RECEIVED BY MAY 15, LISTINGS WILL BE IN THE AUGUST SHELANU.
1) Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell on the mar-
riage of her daughter, MiRit to Justin Samuels.
The wedding took place in Florida. MiRit is also
the daughter of Cantor Kevin Wartell.
2) Charles Edwards, son of Sara Edwards, on his
becoming a bar mitzvah.
3) Laura Klotzkin, daughter of Shari and David
Klotzkin, on her becoming a bat mitzvah.
4) Fern Sternberg on her 85th
birthday.
5) Merri Pell-Preus and Tony Preus on their 35th
wedding anniversary.
MAY 2019 MAZEL TOVS
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 14
YAHRZEITS - MAY 2019
T he M e mo ry of the Righ teo us is fo r Bl essin g
Those names with an asterisk (*) have a Memorial Plaque in the sanctuary. Please consider purchasing a plaque
so that your loved one will be remembered after you are gone. The proceeds of these purchases go into the
Temple Concord Foundation. The temple office can be contacted for all the information you need.
THE CONGREGATION WISHES
TO EXTEND ITS DEEPEST
SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY
AND FRIENDS OF:
LEONARD SCHNEIDER
Twin Brother of Lucy Mehl and
Cousin of Alice Zappert Bonis
JOAN GROEN
Sister of Lewis Hecht and
Aunt of Sara Grills and
Amy Tucker
LIBBY GLUCK
Sister of Adele Freedman
__________________________________
MAY 4—MAY 10
29 NISSAN—5 IYAR
(Read May 3)
Meyer S. Bloom *
Sarah J. Bloom *
George Crystal *
Ruth Lieblich Davis *
Morris Disenhouse *
Max Engel *
Dorothy Goldberg
Morris Goldberg *
Bonnie Lori Hayman
Samuel Kasper
Rose Lenner *
Adam F. Stallman
Janet Tanenhaus
Aaron Tarsches *
Pauline Weiss *
Adolph Zinner
MAY 11—MAY 17
6 IYAR—12 IYAR
(Read on May 10)
Dorothy Alexander
Rose Major Beer *
Louis Berk *
Anna Rosa Dirico
Doris Engel *
Edith Epstein
Arthur Fischel
Samuel S. Freedman
Dr. Joseph S. Friedman *
Ben Goldberg
Benjamin Goldberg
Marshall Goldman
David Greenberg
Zalman Lesser
Catherine Lewis
Edward Lisman
Barbara Goldblum Starke
MAY 18—MAY 24
13 IYAR—19 IYAR
(Read on May 17)
Gertrude Adler *
Stanley H. Bruckheim *
Solomon I. Kuper *
Rubine Levine
Lena Lichtenstein
Dorothea McDougall
Drew Putzel
Edward Rapaport
Bess Riger
Maurice Sall *
Ida Schlepp
Henrietta Winter
Leo Winter
MAY 25—MAY 31
20 IYAR—26 IYAR
(Read on May 24)
Martin Benstock
Louis Botnick *
Nettie G. Cohen *
Rita Cohn Feldstein
Pearle Epstein *
Hilde Goldstrom
Tillie I. Gordon
Robert Jay Grover Jr.
Samuel Hayman
Morris Hecht
Jerome Hollander
Ethel Jaker
Miriam Schneider *
Yaakov Shoer
Lorraine Suskind Gootenberg
Evalea Weiss
Rimma Yekhilevich, MD *
JUNE 1—JUNE 7
27 IYAR—4 SIVAN
(Read on May 31)
Philip D. Baker *
Michael Barney
Ronne Brimberg-Clark *
Johanna Gitlin DePuyt *
Lewis J. Doetsch
Louis Freeman
Hinda Rifka Golkin *
Hyman Goodman
Irving Herzog
Louise May Hirshfield *
Elaine Hollander
Harry Koffman *
Jesse Levy
Evelyn Niman
Karla Schleisner
Lillian Verbit *
Phillip Zable
www.TempleConcord.com MAY 2019 16
Temple Concord Nine Riverside Drive Binghamton, New York 13905
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Friday, May 3
8:00pm Shabbat Evening Service remembering Yom
Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day led by Rabbi
Barbara Goldman-Wartell.
Oneg sponsored by Sisterhood.
Saturday, May 4
9:00am Last Day of Religious School with Potluck
Breakfast - Pajamas Optional
9:15am Torah Study
10:35am Final Family Shabbat Service of the school
year honoring teachers.
Friday, May 10
8:00pm Sisterhood Shabbat Services and Installation
led by the women of Temple Concord Sisterhood. Rab-
bi Barbara Goldman-Wartell will lead the installation.
Oneg hosted by the Sisterhood Hospitality Committee.
Saturday, May 11
9:15am Torah Study
Friday, May 17
8:00pm Shabbat Service celebrating Israel’s 71st
Birthday led by Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell, Laura
Klotzkin and Family.
Oneg hosted by the parents of Laura Klotzkin in honor of
her bat mitzvah.
Saturday, May 18
9:15am Torah Study
Friday, May 24
8:00pm Shabbat Evening Service led by Rabbi Barbara
Goldman-Wartell, Charlie Edwards and Family.
Oneg hosted by Sara Edwards in honor of her son,
Charlie, becoming a Bar Mitzvah.
Saturday, May 25
10:30am Shabbat Morning Service celebrating Charlie
Edwards becoming a Bar Mitzvah.
Monday, May 27
10:30am Weekday Morning Service celebrating Laura
Klotzkin becoming a Bat Mitzvah.
Friday, May 31
8:00pm Shabbat Evening Service
Saturday, June 1
9:15am Torah Study
