TempleBeth Shalom April, 2011/5771 Newsletter
Come pray, worship, and study with Congregation Temple Beth Shalom and Rabbi Morton Kaplan (), 704-543-5588.
Fri. April 8Pizza dinner 6:00PM (if you plan to
attend email Julie Owens: julie.owens @embarqmail.com)
Tot Shabbat 7:00PM
Evening Service 7:30PM
Sat. April 9Morning service 10:00 A.M.
Lunch following service
Hosts:Tiffany Hull, Susan Rieder,
Aaron/Marylee Tosky
SAVE THE DATES (Upcoming Events)
March 31“A night to Honor Israel : BroyhillCenter 7:00 PM
April 8Deadline for Seder registration – form on last page
April 11Sisterhood meeting Santorini’s
April 16Bowling at Colonial Lanes
April 19Community Seder 6:00 PM
May10:00 AM Annual meeting at temple
October 1Blankenship/Owens Fall Party
A Caring Community: If something is happening in your life, or the life of one of our members, that would benefit from support from TempleBeth Shalom, please contact Lin Gentry, President of our Sisterhood (828-325-5838). Our community is here to offer prayer, nourishment, transportation, companionship, and to fulfill other needs in time of illness, mourning, or any other moments where a helping hand and open heart can make a difference.
You are invited to visit the Temple website Hickoryjewishcenter.com. Future rabbi weekends and Temple bulletin deadlines are listed on the last page.
Commentary by Rabbi Morton Kaplan
THE MEANING OF PASSOVER
We Jews have been commemorating the Exodus of our people from enslavement in Egypt for a very long time. Early on this miraculous story became part of the historical memory of the Jewish people. The great prophets of Israel referred to these events and already 27 centuries ago we were admonished to treat the stranger and the weak in a compassionate and just manner because we remember what it was like to be a stranger in a strange and unwelcoming land.
Having said that; it has always struck me as peculiar that a people should take a condition of slavery as the foundation of its identity; for there is no doubt that it was in the crucible of slavery and the struggle for liberty that the people of Israel was formed. We do not look back on military heroes or stories of great conquests to give legitimacy to what and who we are. Our origins as a people are a group of slaves; the lowest of the low; people who spent their lives in servitude to the powerful; building their palaces and temples and storehouses; constantly at the beck and call of Pharaoh and his henchman. And as the Bible so eloquently and poignantly notes: “They embittered their lives with hard labor and bricks....so they cried unto the Lord and He heard their cry and God rescued our ancestors from the hands of the Egyptians.
The story as recorded in the Bible is very much an ethnic-national celebration. However the Haggadah which we read at the Seder (as created by rabbinic leaders shortly before the year 100) makes several subtle changes in emphasis as we relate the story. First it reemphasizes that the rescue of our ancestors is our rescue as well; not those people in the past alone but we as well were enslaved and redeemed as well. The celebration of Passover does more than recount a story; it asks us to feel that we personally took part in those events. Second, the Rabbis of the late first century were concerned to shore up Jewish legitimacy at a time when it was being challenged by emergent Christianity which could and did claim that the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 was punishment for having rejected Jesus as the true savior and that Christians were the “true Israel”. Third, they wanted to reassure the many converts to Judaism that they were truly part of the People of Israel; that Judaism was not merely the religion of an ethnic or national group but was a universal religion open to all. So it is no accident then that the term “Jew” does not appear in the Haggadah (or in the traditional liturgy for that matter); but rather only the term “People of Israel” is used - a term with more religious overtones. Indeed the name of the holiday itself changes; what had been “Chag Ha-matzot” - the holiday of the eating of matzot becomes “Pesach” - Passover - when God redeemed the People of Israel.
It is apparent therefore, that in addition to celebrating physical freedom, Passover is also a holiday of spiritual freedom: freedom to worship as we see fit; to think and say what we will; freedom from constraints both spiritual and physical imposed by others; freedom to grow and to change; freedom to be ourselves; above all, freedom to choose our own individual paths to a meaningful life.
In freedom may each of you have a joyous Passover.
President’s Corner:
Spring! What an amazing time of year! As I watch nature re-awaken from its winter sleep, I am in awe of the intricacies of God’s creation. With every new scientific discovery, I am even more amazed at how miraculous every aspect of creation is, from the largest of heavenly bodies to the smallest subatomic particle. I consider it a privilege to be part of a faith tradition that not only gives honor to the Creator, but which, through its laws, also seeks to preserve and even perfect God’s creation.
It is a blessing that during this beautiful spring season, we have four opportunities to get together to pray, worship, and fellowship. Rabbi Kaplan will be with us for services April 8th and 9th. We will gather at Colonial Lanes to make fun of my bowling skills, or lack thereof, on Saturday, April 16. Sisterhood is sponsoring our Passover Community Seder on Tuesday, April 19th. (Don’t forget to make your reservations before the April 8th deadline!!) And, Rabbi Ettin will lead services for us on April 29th and 30th.
I thank God often that I am surrounded by so many generous and talented people at Temple Beth Shalom. In particular, I want to express appreciation for the members of Sisterhood for their handling of the Passover Seder. That involves more details than most people even realize. Also, what about our bulletin editor, Barb Laufer!! Month after month she keeps us connected with a bulletin that is as interesting as it is informative. Barb, this congregation is blessed to have you!
I don’t want to close without offering up a personal prayer for our friends in Japan who are suffering so much from the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami. I know that you join me in concern, and will be reaching out to the people of Japan in support as your heart leads. I look forward to seeing you soon. And, I sign off, as always, proud to be your president…. Dennis
Board Meeting:
President: Dennis Jones,Past President: Sandy Guttler, Vice President: Tiffany Hull, Secretary: Sam Shames, Treasurer: Mark Faruque, Members at large: Liz Correll, Marsue Davidson, Ron DuBow, Debra Engelmann, Lin Gentry, Pam Jones, Robin Klaiber, Lisa Klein and Barbara Laufer. Temple Board Meetings are open to all members of the Temple. The next meeting is Tuesday, April 5, at 7:00 P.M.
SAVE THE DATE FOR PASSOVER SEDER ON APRIL 19:
Market on Main will again be providing catering and we promise that the matzo balls will be improved! Please see the attached reservation flyer. The deadline date is April 8. We were blessed with an exceptional attendance last year and invite you to be part of our blessing.
Donations:
In view of having to replace the roof, HVAC system, and water heater during the past year the temple can not move forward with the architect’s plan for renovation. The Temple welcomes donations (P.O. Box 9142, Hickory, NC28603) to underwrite the following projects:
-Whisper Wall (improves acoustics)$7,150
-Painting$7,150
-Decorative wood trim$3,450
-Wiring behind wood trim for sconces$3,500
-Wall Sconces (improves lightening) 8@$300$2,400
-Chandeliers 3@$1300$3,900
-Stained-glass @$500/foot
-Replacement temple doors (to be determined
Announcements:
Please welcome Keith Starnes and approximately ten of his students from his Hebrew Bible and Southern Culture classes at services this month.
Special thanks to Kathy Jones for the donation of the beautiful challah cover from Israel.
Please welcome new member Shelley Shafer to our congregation.
Congratulations to Matt Parkhurst for the hard work involved in his conversion process.
Congratulations to Sara, Robert, Charlotte on having a new addition to their family, the lovely Jocelyn.
For all who are interested the Christians United for Israel are hosting “A night to Honor Israel” on Thursday March 31 at 7:00 P.M. All are invited to this free event will be held at the BroyhillCivicCenter in Lenoir with guest speaker Gary Bauer (Reagan White House and author). There will be a special showing at 6:00 P.M. from the Holocaust Memorial.
Center for Jewish Studies at UNC Ashville:
Presentations from the Ashville Jewish Film Festival at the Fine Arts Theatre (36 Biltmore Avenue-828-232-1536- include the following films:
March 29 (Tuesday)-Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray
March 30 (Wednesday)- A Matter of Size
March 31 (Thursday)-Howl
April 1(Friday)-The Last Survivor
All of the above are $8.00
April 1 (Friday)-The Last Survivor is $18.00 –film and reception
TempleBeth Shalom Bowling:
What many people don’t know, and I’m sure Rabbi Mort can research the accuracy of this statement, is that the exodus of the Jews from Egypt caused many to leave their prized possessions behind. Therefore, much of our history in certain areas has been hidden from scholars. One item left behind was their bowling balls, a common sport for many Jews in Egypt at that time. So, in recognition of this lost Jewish tradition and the celebration of Passover, I invite all of you to renew your commitment to our ancient Jewish sport of BOWLING!
Admittedly, Colonial Lanes is not the Land of Milk and Honey, but you can get a good beer and burger (it’s okay, Passover starts Monday night) and there is plenty of parking for your camel and lots of food after bowling. Join us at 5:00 P.M. on April 16 at Colonial Lanes in Hickory (across from the Valley Hills Mall) which is smoke free. We are pleased that new people continue to join us, especially children, as we bowl, talk and eat.
Sisterhood News:
Sisterhood is very thankful for the participation at the wine tasting in March. We had great wines, great food, and lots of fun revisiting the wines to taste. We raised $400+ toward the outdoor lighting/security. A huge thank yougoes to Alice Guy for coordinating everything and teaching us so much.
We also had lots of fun baking hamentaschen for the college students and our mature members of the congregation. It's always great to laugh, have some wine, and bake--and usually Mark and Tyler don't mind eating the leftover ones. Thank you to Laura, Mary Lee, Marion, Adrienne, Madeleine, Tiffany, Alice, and Pam. Elaine popped in to take our pictures, too. (I hope I didn't leave anyone out-if I did, I'm sorry).
Our next meeting will be Monday, April 11th at 6:30pm at Santorini's (on 4th St.). Please join us as we finalize plans for the seder, and enjoy a night out with the 'sisters'.
TBS Life Cycle Events: May
We need your help to update Temple records of important dates in your family so we may recognize them. Please send Life Cycle Events (birthdays, anniversaries and Yahrzeits) to Dennis Jones (), thank you.
BirthdaysAnniversariesYahrzeits
Grayson Cohn 5/2 Aaron/Mary Lee Tosky 5/4Ruth Laufer 5/15
Eric Richards 5/4Cohn 5/6Sam Griffin 5/17
Eileen Cangemi 5/6Bud/Connie Tosky 5/26
David Engelmann 5/7Axler 5/26
Dennis Cangemi 5/7
Linda Guttler 5/8
Michael Sullivan 5/15
Charlotte Riggsby
Ross Guttler 5/18
Ariel Cohn 5/19
Terri Sullivan 5/20
Nancy Morewitz 5/21
Damian Blankenship 5/21
Amanda Garrick 5/24
Kevin Huitt 5/26
Al Garrick 5/27
Mark Sobotkin 5/30
Bulletin Information:
Please send information you want included in future bulletins no later than two weeks before a scheduled Friday evening service. Information may be sent to or I can be reached at 396-3742. I look forward to working with all of you.
Bulletin
Rabbi WeekendDeadlineHosts*
April 19 (Community Seder – Tuesday evening)Sisterhood
April 29-30Rabbi EttinJulie/Scott Owens,
Linda/Sandy Guttler
May 20-22May 6Tiffany Hull
June 17-19June 3Barb/Larry Laufer
November 12Oct 28Debbie/Rich Engelmann
(Rachel’s Bat Mitzvah)
*Please volunteer to join our hosts as they would welcome your assistance, thank you. To volunteer please contact Tiffany Hull ()
Thoughts for the Month:
- One of life’s greatest mysteries is how the boy who wasn’t good enough to marry your daughter can be the father of the smartest grandchild in the world – Jewish proverb
- SARCHASM: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and
the person who doesn’t get it.
Sisterhood of Temple Beth Shalominvites you to attend the April 19, 5771 Seder at 6:00 P.M.
This event will be catered and served by Market on Main.
All RSVPs and checks need to be in by deadline of April 8, 2011 or a late fee of $5 will be assessed. We can’t provide refunds and may not be able to accommodate walk-ins.
Prices are as follows for Temple Beth Shalom Members and their families:
- All children under age 5 free!
- Aged 6-12 will be $10.00
- Aged 13 and up $25.00
Guests (non-members of TBS) $30.00
Please, cut on the line below and remit with check made out to TempleBeth Shalom to:
Barbara Laufer
5231 Peninsula Drive
Granite Falls, NC28630
Name:______
Please indicate number of attendees below
5 and under free_____
6 and up $10.00 _____
13 and up $25.00 _____
Guests to TBS $30.00 _____
Please indicate if you have any “table-mate” preferences as there will be assigned seating