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A H A V A T N U ? A Monthly Publication of Ahavat Torah Synagogue Issue #16, March 2000/5760 (702) 242-2 111; Fax: (702) 242-3979 P.O. Box 370373, Las Vegas, NV 89137 Craigaudrey@worldnet.att.net E X T R A O R D I N A R I L Y O R D I N A R Y From the Desk of: Rabbi Craig Rosenstein, J.D. I attended a gathering some time ago where I met a woman from another congre-gation in another state. I was telling her about the make-up of Ahavat Torah, about our services and the Siddur we use. She proudly told mc that she belonged to a con gregation that wrote its own Siddur because she and her fellow congregants didn't like the prayers that mention our patriarchs and matriarchs. Because I expressed some surprise at that statement, she explained that our ancestors were not very nice people and so their prayers left them out. 1 will resist for this article the tempta-tion to take her to task on the subject of how her Juda-ism is constructed when it completely leaves out all lessons that involve the founding forces of our faith. I'll talk about this at a later date. 1 do however, want to take her to task for the com-ment that our patriarchs and matriarchs arc not very nice people. So what! Can we only lcam from perfect people? (If you can find a pcrfcct person.) What do we lcam from a history that is white-washed squeaky-dean? In fact. Why bother wanting to learn at all? If pcrfcction is the bench-mark, where do we go from that point? I would submit that the woman 1 spoke to, and her congregation, do not get the point of all those stories and "heroes" they don't like. She, and many others like her, are comparing themselves to the Biblical people. That is wrong. She should be comparing herself to God. Those Biblical heroes did not make us. God made us. Those Biblical heroes did not compare themselves to the people that came before them. Abraham does not speak of Noah, and Noah does not speak of Adam and Eve. The Biblical heroes did, however, use those that came before them as the benchmarks to see how far they had come in the intervening vears. But the focal point was always how they matched up to God. We are part of a sacred story, a story that is still being written, and most likely will not end for quite a long tune to come. That sacred story was written in the heavens, or wherever God resides. Her disdain of our Biblical ancestors is a waste of time, because that is not who we should be concerned with as (continued on page 2) FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT Jack Kaufman TO MOVE OR NOT TO MOVE! The need for a home of our own is coming closer to a reality. At the February Congrega-tional meeting, the Capital Fund Raising Campaign began in earnest. This campaign will raise money to be used solely for a home of our own. The campaign is targeted at raising an average of $1000 per temple family. This will allow us to lease one of several facilities that we have been considering. Once we have adequate funds in the bank, or the commitments for such funds, we will proceed with signing a lease. (Continued on page 3) CALENDAR OF EVENTS First Friday of Every Month a Family Service from 6:00?6:30pm. Shabbat services at 7:30 pm See Calendar inside for this month's events Shabbat Candle Lighting Times: March 3 5:33 p.m March 10 5:39 p.m March 17 5:44 p.m March 24 5:49 p.m March 31 5:55 p.m Rose Levcnson blessing on Shah-bat If you plan to observe Havdalah any of the follow-ing Saturday eve-nings. use the same candle light-ing times and then add any where from 12 minutes to 72 minutes afterwards to be sure of observing proper sun-down times. Rabbi's Message (Continued from page one) a measure of our greatness. We need only be concerned with how we measure up to God. If we are concerned with how we measure up to our Biblical heroes, then we are not growing intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Like Renaissance explorers and adventurers, our Bib-lical heroes went into uncharted spiritual terri-tory and staked an ethical and moral beach-head that has governed the world's thought process ever since But they exist in the past and the world has changed much since then. If we are terribly concerned with what they did, then we are no better than they were. God must be ter-ribly disappointed. Instead, it is important to know who are Biblical ancestors were, and to understand where they had been, where they went to, and why! But it is even more important to know who we are, that we are the products of our ancestors; and, most important of all, that because they established the relationship with God that we so cherish today, we are on the path to understanding what we may become. Hamlet tells us, "We know what we are, but we know not what we may be." By aspiring to God, we will begin to understand that like our Biblical ancestors, our lives, and theirs, are sacred. Then, no one may dare set a limit on what we may become. P U R IM CELEBRATION Ahavat Torah's Religious School spent February getting ready for its Purim celebration in March, Pass-over in April and Yom Ha-Shoah & Yom Ha-Atz-ma-ut in May. The class spent much of the month learn-ing its lines for their Purim play that they will per-form at Shabbat services on Friday evening, March 17. The play is produced by Religious School direc-tor Lisa Lloyd and is a play she wrote while teaching Religious School in New York. The students also made home-made groggers which they will use at the reading of the Megillah, Monday night, March 20 at Rabbi Craig's and Audrey's home. The students will make Mishloah Manot, baskets of goodies and cheer that they will then distribute to our friends at St. Elizabeth's and a friend of their choosing. pnS-vCO vy my> jn>? ~ T " 0 0 n PRAYER O F INSPIRATION THOUGHT FOR THE VKV Wherefore they called these days Purim, a&ter the name oi pur. Therefore, became oI all the words this letter, and that which they had seen conceA.ru.ng this matt ex, and that which had come unto them, the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, to as it should not &ail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing thereoand ac-cording to the appointed time thereof every year, and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every iamiJLy, every province and every city; and that these days Purim should not ?ail friom among the Jews, nor the memorial o& them perish piom their seed. (Megillcut Esther [9:26-28]) Batuch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, yotzer ohr oo-vo-tay ho-shek, o-say shalom oo-vo-ray et ha-koL.-Blessed are You God, Our God, King of the Universe, who creates light and shaped darkness, makes peace and creates all things. Page 2 GALA UPDATE We are entering the home stretch of the Carousel of Love Gala preparations. A Todah Rabbah G'dolah (Big thank you) t o all those who were at the Rabbi's and Audrey's house on February 20 to stuff over 600 envelopes full of information and forms for ads for the Journal and names for invita-tions Those that came were: Cheryl, Mark and Andrew Rosenzweig, Elaine and Jack Kaufman, Mindi and Julia Herskovic,- Lynn and Mindi Fletcher and Mindi's friend; Lisa Lloyd, Jacquie Harrington; Lee Verbofsky, Barbaara Kenig, Barbara Berg and T o m Pea. There are still over 500 packets to be sent out. The stuffers en-joyed bagels, cream cheese and quite a bit of jokes, laughter and fun. The Gala is scheduled for May 7. ^ ^ ^ ^ A Todah Rabbah G'dolah: Also goes to How- ^ ^ ^ ard & Barbara Kenig who have given a great deal ? of time and effort to print all of our new sta-tionary and material for the Gala as well as many of the letters that have gone to those in-terested in sponsoring our Gala. Todah Rabbah G'dolah to: Lee Verbofsky for all her help with our Honorary Citizens Committee Fran Shofel for her beautifully designed "thank You Certifi-cates that were sent to all people and businesses who have do-nated gifts for our auction Carolyn and Arlene, Ray Berman's daughter and grand-daughter who have spent innumerable hours typing the list of over 1,000 names that will receive invitations and materials for the Gala Sally Eskenazi and her sister Debca for putting us in contact with Blue Man, the group that will provide entertainment for the Gala. FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (com from pg d Many of you have already made your * pledges or made payments to the Facili- ? j f ties Account, and we thank you for those pledges and payments. For those of you I I who have not committed as yet, you will be contacted by members of the Facilities Commit-tee soon. We ask that you please welcome these people and make the commitment required by all members of ATS to reach our goal. Please note that this request will replace the $200 Facilities request that was established approxi-mately one year ago, that these funds are being held in a special Facilities Fund, are not being used for the general operating expenses of ATS, and will be returned if we fail to go through with the project. We are attempting to have these funds and com-mitments in place no later than May 15th. This tim-ing is important to allow us to have the facility pre-pared to our requirements and ready for occupancy well before the beginning of the fall school year and High Holidays. Please remember that the poten-tially new families start to shop for a synagogue in June and July, and we want to be able to put our best foot forward at that time. NOW IS THE TIME FOR ATS TO MAKE IT'S MOVE. MAY WE COUNT ON 100% SUPPORT FROM ALL MEMBERS OF ATS? B-Shalom. Jack Kaufman Some synagogue members gather for a picture at Child Ha-ven. Cookie Bruski, Sherm Kerner, Robert Goldstein, Bar-bara Berg and Stan Farber. BOARD MEETING CHANGE The Board Meetings scheduled for the 1 st Thursday in March to June are hereby re-scheduled to the second Tuesday of each of these months, and will be held at the home of Elaine and Jack Kaufman. All members of ATS are invited to these meetings. Call 363-0289 for directions if you need them. B'Shalom, Jack Kaufman Y T T T T T T T T T T T T f T ' T f T f T f l AHAVAT'S NU7 Page 3 GET WELL AND SYMPATHY CARDS available from Ray Her-man? Call him at 233-0474. MARCH YAHRZEITS Pearl Goflstein March 1 Mother of Leon GofTstein Rose Chapnek March 6 Mother of Herb Chapnek Meyer Bard March 8 Father of Norman Bard David Davis March 8 Grandfather of the Kenig family Edward Stadtmauer March 13 Brother of Lew Stadtmauer Mandie Rosenberg March 18 Father of Lee Verbofsky Charles Slaw March 22 Father of Betty Margolis Joseph Stadtmauer March 31 Father of Lew Stadtmauer h a p p y BIRTHDAY Sherrie Caplan March 6 Brianna Lynn Conklin March 6 Lenny Rudnick March 9 Rachael Kelman March 16 Bennett CudLsh March 18 Iz Verbofsky March 23 Bernie Baskin March 28 A N N I V 5 R 3 A R - Y Mark and Cheryl - ^ ' S S P ' Rosenzweig March 17 (26 years) IN MEMORY NED TWINING The entire congregational family ex-presses its deepest sympathies to Nancy and lrv and the entire Weinberger and Twining families. DONATIONS HONORING NED TWINING Jerry and Louise Appenzeller Mort and Barbara Berg Dick and Sally Dick Eskenazi Alan and Lisa Lloyd Jacobs Jack and Elaine Kaufman Howard and Barbara Kenig Rabbi Craig and Audrey Rosenstein Mark and Cheryl Rosenzweig <? (h (h b & fat? s <? s SISTERHOOD Qt THE NEXT MEETING OF SISTERHOOD WILL BE A CANDY-MAKING (NO, NOT CANDY CORN) SO- <W) CIAL ON MARCH 9TH{M> (LOCATION TO BE ADVISED). PLEASE <Mj RSVP TO LYNN FLETCHER, 242- 1306. 9 1 <3 <3 <3 9 b b b A b b& (h Do you have news? An engagement? A trip to an ex-otic location'' New baby'' New house? The Ahavat's Nu would like to pnnt your announcement. Send an e-mail to: Leker@aol .com. fax: 648-6392 or just call me. Editor: Lenore Kemer. 648-6392 ou J^ Prayer of Healing: Modeh ani U'fawnecha, melech hai v'kaiyam. She-he-che-zartaw bee neesh-maw-ti b'chem-law rabaw eh-moo-naw-techha... l give thanks unto You, 0 God, that in mercy, You have re-stored my soul within me. Endless is Your compassion; great is Your faithfulness BORED? NOTHING T O DO? Well. Sisterhood is looking for n ew members. Come j o i n us. We are a great bunch of ladies, and you will have a lot o f fun. Call Audrey Rosenstein, 242-2111 to sign up. Rag* 4 SISTERHOOD Sisterhood held their yearly elec-tion on February 17th. The fal-lowing is their new slate of offi-cers : Fran Schofel?President Kim Wilks?Vice President Faith Stadtmauer?Treasurer Lynn Fletcher?Secretary Audrey Rosenstein?Membership Honor your special occasion as the 2tadtmauer's did for their wedding anni-versary. ?[>oneor an Oneg Shabbat for only $50.00. Cookie Bwski, One? Chairperson 255-9475 PURIM PARTY ANNOUNCEMENT! Come join all our would-be Mordechai's and Esther's at the reading of the Meggilah Esther and Purim Spiel on Monday Evening, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Rabbi Craig's & Audrey's home. Come in costume and be prepared to cheer for Mordechai, drown out Haman's name and play a practicle joke on the Rabbi. Please call the Synagogue, 242-2111 to let Rabbi and Rebbetzen know you're attending. To Aha vat Torah: We cannot find the words to say, Todah Rabbah (Thank You!) for the beautiful kiddush celebration and the observa-tion of four significant birthdays. There are precious few words to express our sincere thanks for all the caring, sharing, dedication and love at Ahavat To-rah, for "Love of Torah" and love of our congregational fam-ily. We received so many gifts and greetings that it is almost impossible to say thanks to each and everyone. May the Almighty (Hashem) grant me some more days, months and years to complete my time on this planet With all my love Ray Berman and family COME TO SERVICES AND CELtSRATE Life STAFFING RESOURCES LYNNE FLETCHER 0 FIRST CITY INSURANCE ST & FINANCIAL SERVICES Leon Goldstein 1555 E. Flamingo Rd . Stc. 153 Lis Vcgu, NV 89119 Phone (702) 650-6515 Fii (702) 650-6516 KIM WILKS Tax Specialist/Financial Advisor Specializing in Home Appointments 4343 N. Rancho L ? Vt-gas. NV 89130 oftered tvoiign -yoynl Alliance Associates, inc. Wmrw NASD and SlPC OH.cp (702) -9747 Fax (702) 655 9553 Pager (800) 476-7878 (702) 243-2965 DUN. & P? 3I05 Firen/e Court. Las Vegai. Nevada 89128 TAXES ft BOOKKEEPING RAINBOW TAX SERVICE Lew Stadtmauer MBA 6480 Spnng Mcxrtan #6, Las Vegas 89146 873-1040 6129 Clarice Ava Las Vegps 89107 878-1040 Fax 8785949 AHAVArS NU7 1 PREFERRED SUPPLIERS JD'S DESIGNS AND LE BOUDOIR BOUTIQUE ARE THE FIRST LOCAL MERCHANTS TO BECOME PREFERRED SUPPLIERS FOR THE MEMBERS OF OUR SYNAGOGUE AND GUESTS AT HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES. THESE TWO. TOP OF THE LINE, COMPANIES WILL DONATE TO AHAVAT TORAH 10% OF ANY PURCHASE YOU MAKE AT THEIR STORES PLEASE SEE THE COUPON BELOW AND PRESENT THE COUPON WHEN YOU PURCHASE SOMETHING AT EITHER ONE OF THESE PREFERRED SUPPLIERS. JD'S DESIGNS IS AN INTERIOR DESIGN CENTER FOR ALL YOUR DECORATING NEEDS EVERYTHING FROM FLOOR TO CEILING AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN IS AVAILABLE. ALONG WITH GIFT ITEMS AND UNUSUAL ART, SCULPTURE AND INDOOR WATER FOUNTAINS SEVERAL OF OUR CONGRGANTS ARE ALREADY CUSTOMERS OF JDS DESIGNS. J.D. MCREE IS AN HONORARY MEMBER OF AHAVAT TORAH AND PERSONALLY DESIGNED AND BUILT THE LECTERN RABBI CRAIG USES. LE BOUDOIR BOUTIQUE OFFERS UNIQUE AND CLASSIC LINGERIE. INTIMATE APPAREL AND CLOTHING. YOU WILL NOT FIND ANYTHING LIKE LE BOUDOIR'S MERCHANDISE IN ANY OTHER STORE IN LAS VEGAS. SEVERAL CONGREGANTS HAVE ALREADY FOUND EXQUISITE ITEMS AT THIS VERY EXCLUSIVE BOUTIQUE. mum Jon D. McRee Interior Designer JO'S DESIGNS 1827 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 382-9300 Fax (702) 382-2946 Cel. (702) 683-1599 BOUTIQUE email - jds@anv.net W: (702) 39S-6343 fax: (7(B) 395-0175 L 2600 W Sahara Bird 3104 las Vfgas. Nevada 89102. USA JD'S DESIGNS 1827 WESTERN AVENUE LAS VEGAS, NV 89102 702-383-9300 PLEASE PRESENT THIS COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. 10% OF THE PRICE OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE DONATED TO AHAVAT TORAH SYNAGOGUE (EXCLUDING TAX) NAME: TOTAL PURCHASE: LE BOUDOIR BOUTIQUE 2600 W. SAHARA - SUITE 104 LAS VEGAS, NV 89102 702-395-6363 PLEASE PRESENT THIS COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. 10% OF THE PRICE OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE DONATED TO AHAVAT TORAH SYNAGOGUE (EXCLUDING TAX) NAME: TOTAL PURCHASE: 10% DONATION: 10% DONATION: March 2000 AHAVAT TORAH SYNAGOGUE Sunday Monday Tuesday ' " ^ ? ? ? ? ? ? B P - - ' Wednesday Thursday February 5 M T W T F_S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ""?"""" _ s M April T W T F S 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 - ? ' - - ?? ' i!" ? ~ ? ... . , ?? f'Hr"* . 6 SHERR1E CAPLAN BDAY 7:0* PVI G A 1 A COMMITTEE C H A D t r E H S O N S MEETING Hi ROSENSTFJKTS 1 4:30-6:00 PM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 8 4:30-6:00 PM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 9 LENNY RIDNICK BDAY SISTERHOOD SOCIAL & CANDY MAKING Friday 6:00 PM FAMILY SERVICE 7:30 PM NEWCOMERS SERVICE Saturday i BABY BOOMER HAVURAH 10 7:30 PM TOPICAL SERVICE 11 12 13 11:00 AM EVERAKES HOUSE BLESSING 14 15 7:00 PM BOARD MEETING LEE VERBOFSKY BDAY 4:30-6:00 PM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 16 RACHEL KELMAN BDAY 17 18 7:OOPMPURIM PLAY BY RELIGIOUS SCHOOL - SER-VICES TO FOLLOW ONH. SPONSORED i n S I I I K I i CL DISH IN HONOR Of BENN ETTS HI>\N ROSF.NZWEJG ANNIVERSARY BENNETT CUDISH BDAY HAVDALAH & POT LUCK a ROSENSTEIN-S 19 PURIM FAIR ? HEBREW ACADEMY 20 PURIM 21 22 4:30-6:00 PM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 23 7:00 PM AUCTION COMMITTEE MEETING a KAUFMANS IZ VERBOFSKY BDAY 24 7:30 PM TORAH SERVICE 25 C H I L D HAVEN 26 27 28 29 30 7:00 PM GALA MEETING ?} ROSENSTEIN'S BERNARD BASKJN BDAY 4:30-6:00 PM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 31 7:30 PM HEALING SERVICE . .... ^ | iBMba-aaaifiiijawiB - ...? -'<??>?- miii., PLEASE REMEMBER - IF YOU ARE HAVING A COMMITTEE MEETING LLOYD - SO THE DATE CAN BE PUT ON THE MASTER CALENDAR CONTACT LISA 2/25/00 Ahavat Torah Synagogue P.O. Box 370373 Las Vegas, NV 89137 Phone: (702)242-2111 Fax:(702)242-3979 Email: Craigaudrey@worfdnetatt.net Ahavat Torah Synagogue Friday Evening Shabbat Services are Held at: 7:30 pm Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive For information, please call the synagogue office at 242-2111 Ahavat's Nu? Editor Lenore Kerner President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Sisterhood President Brotherhood President Director Director Director Director Jack Kaufman Lisa Lloyd Mark Rosenzweig Alan Jacobs Fran Schofel Leon Goldstein Mort Berg Ray Berman Lew Stadtmauer Kim Wilks