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March April 2014 Adar I Adar II Nisan 5774 The Star
Highlights:
Book Group March 4
Torah Study March 8
Purimshpiel March 16
Israeli Pot Luck May 2
Raise the Roof Gala
May 10
Blackledge Music
May 18
Newsletter of Temple Beth Torah Wethersfield, CT Vol. 17 No. 4
PURIM!!!!!! We are now at the end of Adar I, to be followed by Adar II because, during this Jewish leap year, Adar is a double month so as to let time catch up with itself—the solar calendar with the lunar. Adar being an invitation to really let one’s hair (or what’s left of it) down and be unabashedly silly (mi she nihnas adar marbim besimhah / “Those who enter Adar increase joy”), two months of Adar in a row is like a double shot of espresso (or whisky), if espresso (or whisky) were giggle juice. Have you ever been uncontrollably, unstoppably happy? My current spiritual discipline is to watch every episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” in order on Netflix. I am doing this because I need the laughs. Carl Reiner, a nice Jewish boy, created that show. He had written for Sid Caesar (the late and the great), another Jewish “King of Comedy. As I watch those classic episodes, along with the melancholy sensation I experience in thinking about that priceless bygone golden comedic era come a huge number of side-splitting belly laughs, something I don’t experience much in today’s more intellectually parsed, ironically bracketed and bitterly cynical entertainment climate. When was the last time you had a pie thrown at you? Or just experienced goofiness?
Message from Rabbi Riemer
Here’s my theory of moshiah-zeit—the vision of Messianic Days: the Messiah is a comedian. (We know that God is a practical joker—could this absurd world be possible otherwise?) They used to say “the son of David [i.e., the Messiah] will come only in a generation that is either altogether righteous or altogether wicked” (Rabbi Yohanan, in Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a). I think that has got to be wrong; it’s time to give such grandiose moralistic rhetoric the hook and, to the tune of catcalls and rotten tomatoes, unceremoniously yank it offstage. Instead, the Messiah will come only in a generation that has lost its sense of humor and needs to rediscover that healing divine trait—without which we are not truly made in God’s image and not capable of fulfilling the Holy Blessed One’s plan for us. Such rediscovery will occur precisely (with perfect split-second comic timing) when The Greatest Comedian in the World stumbles (we can hope, on a banana peel) onto the stage of human history and into public consciousness and gives our laughter back to us. Our Purim celebration, complete with Megilah reading and Purimshpiel, will be on Sunday, March 16. Admission is free as long as you remember to bring your funny-bone! Hag Same’ah! Happy Purim! Rabbi Seth
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Message from the Co-Presidents Hello All, We have had a very snowy start to 2014 but it did not deter us from enjoying several fun-filled events at TBT. Our TBT Tu B’shvat Seder (Jewish Arbor Day gathering) was held right after Shabbat Services on Friday, January 17th. We had a wonderful turnout! Debbie Ehrlich, Susan James, Stan and Gloria Zwirn, Rita and Harold Nevins, Nancy Stillman and her son, Ian, Ruth Brainin, Moshe, Jacob, and Samantha Sondik, Karen Klein, Cecile and Barry Bronfin, Susan and Jonathan Reuben, Carol Gershenson, myself and of course, Rabbi Seth, all shared in a wonderful and fun-filled evening. Thank you all for participating in another successful TBT Tu B’Shvat Seder!
Book Club and Torah Study continue to be enjoyed by all. Thanks to several new folks who attended the February Torah Study, we had an excellent turnout. I think the addition of Brunch after Torah Study has enticed many people to come and share in the interesting and informative morning led by our own Rabbi Seth! Lots of excitement and activity is in store for us in the coming months. Please mark your calendars for these special events: The next meeting of the TBT book group will be on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:30 PM. The book "My Promised Land: the Triumph and Tragedy of Israel" by Ari Shavit, will be discussed. Bert and Jeanne
Kvell Corner of Pride
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GOLDEN BOOK In Memory of JOAN BERG By Shelley & Michael Barker By Cecile & Barry Bronfin By Barbara & Neale Dobkin By Ivan Finkle By Judy & Marty Gold By Andie & Barry Goldberg By Deb Ellenberg Gray & John Gray By Pauline & Dennis Kuklis By Ina & Frank London By Rhoda & Fred London By David Israel, Paul Blumberg & Adam Goldman By Karen & Neil Moss By Clare & Sandy Mozes & Cousin Carol Soller
By Diane & Michael McGrath By Madelyn & William Nawrocki By Rita and Harold Nevins By Ruth & Harold Ossher By Sheldon Richman By Mira & Barry Schlein By Marcia & Herbert Slotnick By Lisa Tagliaferri and Family By Selma Rudnick Waters By Elayne Cantor & Paul Bayer By Ellen M. Linger HELPING HANDS FUND In Memory of JOAN BERG By Kathi & Eliot Mag By AZ & Evelyn Soforenko By Debra & Joe Hammer
Woodcock will host Book Club. Their address is 36 Valley Brook Road, Rocky Hill, CT. Please RSVP to them at 860-529-7575. Our Purimshpiel and Megilah reading (silly skit and Purim story) will take place on Sunday, March 16th at 11:00 am right after Religious School. Please bring your family and friends and join us in a raucous and fun-loving celebration! If you would like to participate, please contact Susan Reuben. Our Israeli emissaries, Shaked and Aviya, will be visiting at Religious School, Sunday, March 23rd. Anyone interested in visiting with them is welcome to attend! Our Israeli Pot Luck Supper will be held on Friday, May 2nd, immediately following Shabbat services which will begin at 6:30pm. Our Israeli emissaries, Shaked and Aviya, will be
our guests. They will be sharing with us their experiences growing up in Israel. Please check your TBT email blasts for the menu choices and contact person. Helene Rosenblatt’s musical group Blackledge, Inc. will be having a concert at TBT on Sunday, May 18th at 2:00pm. A reception will follow. The finalized date for our “Raise the Roof” Gala is set for Saturday, May 10, 2014! So pull out your hats, scarves, boots, and mittens to brave the winter weather and join us at TBT. The friendliness and camaraderie of our TBT family will warm your hearts and souls! Think warm. Spring arrives on Thursday, March 20th! Sallyanne and Barry
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Raise the Roof fundraiser Dear TBT Community,
We are planning our Raise the Roof Gala for Saturday, May 10, 2014. All who have participated at the Bronze level and above will be invited. Your donation will be celebrated in these categories: $5,000-‐$10,000 Platinum AZ and Evelyn Soforenko $1,000-‐$4,999 Gold Cecile and Barry Bronfin
Judy and Marty Gold Harriet and Leo Rosen
$500-‐$999 Silver Kathi and Eliot Mag Ellen Sue Moses and Mark Gould Helene Rosenblatt James Tauber, MD
$250-‐$499 Bronze Carol Ann Gershenson Marlene and Lou Grower Maureen and Ralph Horowitz Karen and Bob Klein Rhoda and Fred London Susan and Jonathan Reuben Sallyanne and Barry Scott Karen and Gerald Waltman
$1 -‐$249 Contributor Joan and Jerry Berg Ruth Brainin Alice Burstein Dorothy L. Daley Sherley B. Dobkin Mara S. Dresner Marlene Ellenberg Sara and Matthew Forrest Ed Guzy Debra and Joe Hammer Irene and Richard Lagan Steve Leon Marcus Insurance Paula L. Polivy Darcy and Fred Searle Craig T. Smith
It is not too late to attend as our fundraising is ongoing. Please search your piggy banks, empty your pockets, check under the couch cushions, and send whatever you can to TBT as soon as possible. The generosity of our contributors has been overwhelming. We thank you again for your continued generosity and support of Temple Beth Torah. Shalom, Sallyanne and Barry Scott Co-‐Presidents Temple Beth Torah
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Temple Beth Torah 130 Main St.
Wethersfield, CT 06109 (860) 529-2410
Rabbi Seth Riemer (860) 665-8014
Co-Presidents: Sallyanne and Barry Scott
Co-Vice Presidents: Kathi and Eliot Mag
Treasurer: Alice Burstein
Recording Secretary: Carol Gershenson
Corresponding Secretary: Rhoda London
Trustees Nancy Stillman, Diana Heymann
Committees: Memorial Park
Harold Nevins, Karen Klein Building
Harold Nevin, Scott Guay, John Hinze, Ernie Ferrebee,
Bert Woodcock, Michael Suconick Publicity
Neil Gordon, Debra Ehrlich TBTeens
Jan Wahnon & Torah Ferrebee
Education Cecile Bronfin, Bert and
Jeanne Woodcock Membership Karen Klein Star Editor
Susan Sackler Reuben Website
Deb Hammer Ways and Means
Judy Gold, Andie Goldberg, Neil Gordon, Mira Schlein, Rhoda
London, Phil Lohman High Holidays
Cecile Bronfin, Barry Schlein, Mira Schlein, Kathi Mag, Carol
Gershenson, Sallyanne and Barry Scott, Eliot Mag
Grounds Kathi Mag
Nominations Cecile Bronfin
TempleBethTorahWethersfield.org
School Calendar and Challah Schedule March 2 Evans 9 Lev 16 Poland Purim 23 Guay Israel Emissaries 30 Latorra April 6 Sondik 27 Evans May 4 Lev 11 Poland 18 Guay June 1 Latorra 8 Sondik 15 Evans
Oneg Schedule All of the members will be given an assigned date to sponsor the Oneg following Friday night services. Check our website www.templebethtorahwethersfield.org to see when your date is. If the date conflicts with your schedule, you can swap dates with someone else. Thank you, everyone, for your cooperation.
Board Meetings The board meetings are scheduled for Mondays, March 10, April 7, and May 12. The annual meeting is on June 9. The meetings are all at 7:30 pm and are open to Temple members in good standing. Israeli Emissary Visits They will be visiting our School on Sunday, March 23, 9-11 am. They will return for our Israeli Pot Luck, on Friday, May 2, 6:30 pm
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TEMPLE BETH TORAH 130 Main Street
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Got Shopping cards? Do you shop at Stop and Shop or Big Y? We will be ordering shopping cards soon. If you would like some, send a check payable to the Temple to Susan Sackler Reuben along with a note saying what you would like. You pay the face value and the Temple gets some needed funds. Send your request along with your check, payable to the Temple, to Susan Sackler Reuben