The Bulletin of Congregation Ner Tamid, February 1999

?Passover Seder March 31 6:30pm See enclosed flyer Ccpgregatioi) Ner Tarpld ?ran u n5np The Reform Jewish Synagogue of Las Vegas ...A Special Place to Belong February 1999 - Vol. XVIII No. 5 15 Shevat - 12 Adar 5759 Sanford D. Akselrad Rabbi Bella Feldman Cantorial Soloist Bob Unger President Leah Malmon Student Rabbi 'purim Oamivai G unhay, February 2.8 iam - 2dpm Raffle Tic kef i Now on Gale Viscount (fame anh "paob Ticket! available 2/7 ?t- 2/2.1 before anb after religious icbool Monty E. Willey Jacqueline Fleekop Lois Bergman Executive Director Education Director Preschool Director (MitzvaFi "Judaism is less about believing and more about belonging. It is less about what we owe G-d and more about what we owe each other, because we believe G-d cares more about how we treat each other than G-d does about our theology." Harold 8. Kushner "To Life" Everyone has their personal relationship with G-d, if they believe in G-d. How they integrate their beliefs into their daily activities effects how they celebrate holidays and life. I believe G-d?s relationship with us is based on how we live eacn Many people have heard me Pscribe life as a gift wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a bow. Day 199 I would not throw away a gift without opening it and examining its value to me. I feel we should value life and never waste a day. What if the gift is not what we want? What if life is too hard to deal with, how do we improve our lot in life? When things seem difficult for me, I try to improve the life of someone else. This action makes me feel better and I consider this feeling, this sense of joy, as a gift from G-d to me. There are too many people that need our help. Sunday, February 7, our religious school students will participate in Mifzvah Day. (continued on page 9) Worship Services 2 Rabbi?s Message 2 Notes from our Cantorial Soloist 3 School News 4 Director?s Spotlight 5 February Bar Mitzvah 5 Auxiliaries & Committees 7 Board Beat 9 CNT Survey Results 10 Birthdays/Anniversaries 14 Tributes 15 Yahrzeits & In Memorium 17 (the Bulletin is published monthly) cJL S p e c ia l r()lu e e ?7b (B elong, Do you remember those standard?ized tests we had to take as students? And there was always that one section on analogies that could drive a person crazy? The test would offer an analogy such as ?bird: tree? meaning ?a bird is to a tree as...? and then the test taker had to choose the appropriate analogy. Sometimes it was very difficult to choose. You had to first of all decode the relationship between the two words. Were they both nouns, and if so what kind of nouns. And then you had to decide if the relationship between the two words was a similar relationship to the other choices given...or the answer would be the infamous ?none of the above?. Sometimes, I think that modern Jews feel that Judaism is an analogy. It goes something like this: Orthodoxy is to Judaism as truth is to Torah and Reform is to Judaism as convenience is to religion. Given a choice, few would ever say that Orthodoxy is to Judaism as Reform is to Judaism or truth is to Torah. No, as staunch as adherents are to reform Judaism, there still lingers a peculiar senti?ment that what we do is somehow not as ?authentic? as Orthodoxy. That somehow, what is right and correct must be measured against what is traditional-even if it has been rejected. The same Jews who proudly belong to liberal synagogues also display portraits of dancing Hasids. To be sure, some of this is nostalgia, and some of it is just an appreciation for ?Jewish art?. E3ut it also reflects the deeper sentiment of the analogy of authentic Judaism. We compare ourselves to a standard other than the standards of our own movement. The recent cover of Reform Judaism featuring a bearded, talis-shrouded Rabbi Levy, President of the Central Conference of the American Rabbis caused a great stir around the country for those who felt that the portrayal of such a rabbinic figure in the reform movement was ?too ortho?dox? and that as the main author of the 10 Principles of Reform Judaism currently under study by the Reform Movement was thereby too ?ortho?dox? reflects this tendency. On the one hand, the author seeks to remind the reform movement that so called traditional rituals such as talis, tefilin, and yarmulke and dietary laws are not incongruent with the Reform Movement. On the other hand, critics fear that in embracing such rituals, we are becoming ?Conservative Juda?ism lite?. What is left unsaid is that as serious Reform Jews, we should not abandon tradition simply to rebel against archaic laws nor should we embrace ritual out of a collective sense of guilt. Reform Judaism has always taught that each of us must make individual choices based upon our understand?ing of the tradition and how G-d speaks to us today. As a movement our leaders seek to provide overall goals and statements that bring us together and reflect the ongoing process of evolution that is part of what reform Judaism is all about. In truth, there is perhaps no analogy that could be given with respect to other movements that would do justice to defining reform Judaism. No, the analogies and self definitions of what reform Judaism means to us today must be chosen by ourselves and our leaders. And it is to this task and process of choosing Judaism that is at the heart of reform Judaism. We abandon this reality only at the risk of a choice of last resort: ?none of the above.? %a6bi Sanford SUqedad & Conqreqat'ion Ner Tam'kI ?Worship Services Conducted by Rabbi Sanford D. Akselrod & Cantorial Soloist Bella Feldman February 5 Steven Daitch BarMitzvah 7:30pm Oneg Sponsored by the Daitch Family Alternate Family Service in the Beit Tefillah 7:30pm February 6 Torah Study in the Beit Tefillah 10:00am February 12 Tot Shabbat 6:30pm Shabbat Services 7:30pm Oneg Sponsored by the Sisterhood February 19 Shabbat Services 7:30pm Oneg Sponsored by the Sisterhood February 26 Purim Family Service with Jr. Choir 7:30pm Oneg Sponsored by the Sisterhood February 27 Torah Study in the Beit Tefillah 10:00am GIFT SHOP HOURS SuNdAys 9:OOam'12:]5pm (DuRiNq REliqious School) TuEsdAys 10:00AM'6:00pM^fe ThuRsaAys l:00'4:00pM FRidAys 6:50-7:15pM FEbRUARy 1999 Temple Board Members Bob Unger President Drew Levy VP Administration David Mendelson VP Ways & Means Ira Spector VP Membership David Stahl, PhD VP Religious Activities Scott Stolberg Lynn Sasso Rita Goldstein Ruth Urban Mel Hallerman Sylvia Beller Frances Klamian Jacky Rosen Jon Sparer Jere' Davis Esther Saltzman Sharna Blumenfeld Mindy Unger-Wadkin Sandy Stolberg Steve Joseph Charles Kallick David Lieberman Jerry Gordon Cal Lewis Eileen Kollins Kenneth Schnitzer Dr. David Wasserman Dr. Steve Kollins Michael Cherry Dr. Bernard Farrow ligene Kirshbaum* Ivbbi Sanford Akselrad VP Education VP Social Treasurer Secretary Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee-Membership Trustee Trustee-Membership Trustee- Youth Trustee-Library Trustee-Bulletin Sisterhood Brotherhood NTTY TNT Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Ex Officio *Deceased alternate SfiaSSat ?Evening ?Worship TebrucuyS March 5 March 19 ftprifS 9lprif30 \^ h ?iCotej, from our Cantorial So foisr^v This month we will be celebrating Purim in a brand new way. In the past we have used different musi?cal parodies throughout the ser?vice, changing the melodies to the various prayers to highlight a spe?cific theme. This year, Rabbi, Jack?ie, Leah and I have been working together to create the story of Purim with a whole new twist! Rather than changing the melo?dies to the prayers we will be re-telling the Megillah to a sur?prise theme. You nave never heard the story of Purim like this before! Our Jr. Choir will be lead?ing us in song and will add their special touch to the Service. This will be a celebration that you and your family will not want to miss. Next month everyone is cordially invited to our annual Jewish Music Season Sabbath on Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. In addition, we will be observing Shabbat Across America and using a Service enti?tled "Songs From Home." This music was written for the celebra?tion of "Yom Yerushalayim," the 50th anniversary of the commem?oration of the state of Israel. To mark this simeha we specially commissioned composer Aminadav Aloni to write choral and instru?mental parts for our Synagogue. These newly written arrangements will be debuted bu CNT's Adult and Jr. Choirs, myself and guest com?poser and pianist Aminadav Aloni. Please mark your calendars for these upcoming services and in?vite your friends to join you! B'shalom, ?Bella O CAMP CHAVERIM Fun for all ages 2 1/2-9 June 28th - July 30th 9:00am - 3:00pm A Fun Filled Structured Program with: music drama arts & crafts water play cooking exercise plus much more 5 Week Session $625 (Pay by 5/14/99 $575) 1 Week Session $135 Registration Fee $35 (non-refundable) Daycare available before & after for a nominal fee Congregation Net* T.xmit) The Reform Synagogue of Las Vegas For more information, contact us at 733-6292 FEbRUARy 1999 c/t SftejiiaL fyirio e Q it CBehwgp Qchool News Purim is Coming Services, Reading of the Megillah, Costumes, Games, Food ana Fun takes place during February this year. In the tradition of Purim, Shalach Manot baskets will be made by our students to be given to our senior group "Golden Chai" and to the nurses at Sunrise Medical and Children's Center. Friday, February 27 at 7:30pm, we will be treated to a creative reading at the Megillah and all children who come in costume will receive a gift from Rabbi Akselrad. On Purim we are obligated to read the Megillah and to have FUN. Congregation Ner Tamid has created a tradition of having a Purim Carnival which takes place Sunday, February 28 from 11:00 am to 2:00pm. School will be dismissed at 11:00am so that everyone can enjoy the food, fun, raffles, book fair, games and a lot more. Celebrating holidays and creating family traditions help to bind us together. Join your Ner Tamid Family to celebrate Purim and you will understand why Congregation Ner Tamid is a "Special Place to Belong." Jacque&ne fTeefgp Director of Education CNT PRESCHOOL* January was a busy month for all of the youngsters and teachers at our preschool. We celebrated Martin Luther Ring?s birthday, welcomed new friends in each of our classes, opened a third classroom, and prepared for our garden by planting seeds in our window box in preparation for our Tu?EJishvat garden ground breaking. All three of our classes were hard at work learning numbers, letters, colors and shapes. It is a pleasure to hear these little ones recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and the Motzi before we eat. As you can see, our youngsters are a very diverse group. The staff and parents all take pride in our students accomplishments. Speaking of pride: A Mazel Tov to Natan Srauner and his family on the birth of his baby brother (another prospective student for our school). Planning a Simcha? Attend Congregation Ner Tamids Simcha Fair. Get all the help you need to plan your wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or other simchas. Tuesday, March 16 6:30-8:30pm Me and Mine February 8th Tzeda'hah lessons and values for fanilies. February 22 Shabbat with a baby? holds the baby white we tight candles? us for Oewish parenting idutt and child. ConqreqarioN Ner Tam'kI February will be another exciting and fun filled month here at CNT Preschool. February 1st will be tl^M| dedication of our CNT PreschdM^? Garden. Our children all look forward? to the vegetables and flowers we will plant and even get to taste (some flowers are edible). We have already planted Crocus and Tulip bulbs, so they can poke their heads up for the Garden dedication. A Ground Hog Pay celebration will take place on February 2nd and on the 10th of the month, we will be going to visit the Natural History Museum to continue our study of the Pinosaurs. Our school will also celebrate the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Next month we will have our Purim celebration and begin our Passover studies to prepare for our school Seder. The youngsters will also participate in a Friday evening Shabbat service on the 5th of March. With all of these things going on, who would believe summer is just around the corner. We are making plans for our summer program for children 2Vz to nine years of age. ^ Lois ?Bergman FEbRUARy1999 Hello, my name is Steven Daitch and I will become a Bar Mitzvah on Friday, February 5, 1999. I am thirteen years old and cur?rently in the seventh grade at Becker Middle School. I was born in Detroit, Michigan and moved to Las Vegas four years ago. I enjoy many sports, Dut I love baseball. I like music and am learning to play guitar. My Bar Mitzvah is a very special time in my life and I hope you can join my family ana me at this special occassion. fA[ezu MemSers 1998 OOPS! ?We regret some names were not printed in last month's issue ?Welcomirg our 1998 9\[ew ?Members. ?We welcome to our [er ?Tamid family: ?Benita & Gary Suffer TLnita & Smrvey Moody ?.Denise ?Derocher Executive ,}s PASSOVER IS HERE! We are planning our annua! First Night Passover Seder. This year, the Seder is March 51. We are limiting the number of attendees to 250 people. We will be taking reserva?tions on a first come-first served basis. We will extend to our members and their guest, the first opportunity to reserve space until March 15, 1999. After that date, we will open it up to non- Temple members. REMEM?BER - - Your check is your reservation. By now, the ma?jority of our membership shouid have received a cou?pon book for payment of their membership dues and sanctuary commitment for 1999. This is our second year with the coupon book Spotlight and we were pleased with how it helped the member?ship and with the cash flow into the temple. We have fixed the problems with the computer billing system from last year. I would like to thank everyone that en?countered a problem for their patience. I know how frustrating it was and I appreciate your under?standing. We have begun to review some of the in?ternal procedures to en?sure this error never happens again. Each of you should have received your 1995 IRS Donor State?ment from our office. This letter should state the amounts by category of your donations for the past year. IT IS NOT A STATEMENT! Please review it as well. I can not em?phasize enough that it is imperative that we stay cur?rent with our fees. These fees are budgeted into the annual operation of the tem?ple. When payments get be?hind, so do the payments to our vendore. I will be con?tacting those that are be?hind later this month. Please help us out. Congrat?ulations to Maxine Gratz for her Congregant of the Year. Truly she is deserving of this honor. She spends countless hours of her time bringing sunshine into the lives of others. Monty FEbRUARy 1999 c /t S p e c ia l TTo hBelong. Tmiail of The Yea? The Post B'nai Mitzvah Class presented their case on the relevance of teaching the Holocaust. The trial took place Sunday, December 13, 1998. This was the conclusion of the first half of this year's study of Jewish life and law. We are grateful to Mr. Peter Duboswky, an attorney from an outside congregation, who acted as the Judge. Jason Burk who is not only an attorney but is a NTTY advisor and facilitator of this class participated also. To the students who worked so hard compiling all of their research into evidence, briefs and procedures, Mazel Tov! auetine fFkefpp or of Education Above: Samantha Willey gives testimony as Judge (Mr. Peter Dubowsky) listens intensely. Above: David Letterman gives his testimony before the court Left: Lawyers Ryan Ellis, A.J. Urban, Ranen Lardent, and Ari Klein stand as the Judge prepares to hear the case. The Most Incredible Rummer of Your Life! ? Challenging Personal Growth ? Magnificent Sights of Ancient and Modern Israel ? Jewish Pride and Self Esteem ? Superior Programs Designed Especially for Reform Jewish Youth teens*. tor more i^ot^uo.n?^ contact your Rahbi, or Regional Youth Ydvrsor Great Fun and Friendship rsfTY Israel nrw iinno jrtmpjto np*-uona P.O. Box 443, Warwick, NY 10990 (914) 987-6300, Fax: (914) 986-7185 E-mail: NFTYIS@warwick.net C?HQREqATioH Afar Tam id = TNT% Following a pizza lunch after Sun?day school on December 13, we went bowling at the Gold Coast. We all had a really great time. There were 17 of us ana we played three games each. The winners were Brian Berman and Jonathan Goldsmith. We had two more events as well. First was cleaning out the trash cans after the mara?thon on Sunday, January 24 (TNT even got paid a little for this). Second was a dance on January 30. We all had a great time. If you are of middle school age and are in TNT, that is great. If you are not TNT, we strongly encourage you to join us. We all have a lot of fun and the more people the better. So come join us at TNT! If you have any ques?tions, please contact David Lieber- man at 3G1-0081 or Samantha Willey at 897-1814. fflTTV fITTV MTTY NTTY made Chanukah cards for the Chanukah Card Contest sponsored by the JCC. As the advisor, I am so excited to tell all our congregants that these children made a wonderful variety of original and artistic cards. I would like to congratulate all of the children for their job well done! I would also like to especially congratulate Hannah Lardent, Deb?orah Lewis, and Molly Rosenberger who placed as winners in the contest. Out of seven possible winning entries, the MTTY NTTY entries placed in three! I look forward to seeing these great artists (and more of their classmates) at our continuing^ events...! am sure they will making more community cont^^ as we grow! FEbRUARy 1999 AUXILIARIES & Your IBrothorluMMl Advisor The Brotherhood's 1st Family Social Event, a night out rooting on our UNLV Runnin' Rebels was a SCREAMING SUCCESS, so much so that the demand for tickets exceed?ed our supply! All of those who were lucky enough to be able to get tickets for this event want to take this oppor?tunity to thank Gary Gilman, our So?cial Chairman, for putting on this enjoyable family evening. You say you have all kinds of ques?tion about investments? Well here is your opportunity to get those question answered. On Wednesday evening, February 17th at 7:OOpm, don't miss Mt INVESTMENT OUTLOOK SEM?INAR with Channel 3 "Money Man" Be author Steve Budin and Sutro & Calling all Mah Jong Players, now is the time to order your 1999 card. Our Sisterhood gets a credit from the Mah Jong League based on the number of cards we order. Natalie Shaw has been kind enough to be in charge of the orders this year. If you have any questions please con?tact her. * Sisterhood could not survive without the many women who donate their time in various ways. At the end of e Sisterhood year we have a beau- ul Donor Dinner to say thank you for all the hard work that has been Company's "Money Gal" & VP of Investments for Private Client Groups, Debra Cohen. To those of you who were unable to attend our 1st Family Social Event due to the unavailability of tickets, don't be shut out a second time. Our next Family Social Event is going to take place on Saturday, March 27th, at 7:00pm, when our Las Vegas Thun?der Hockey Team takes on the Utah Grizzlies. Tickets are going to be extremely limited as the cost per ticket is only $9.00 each. A Thunder Hat will be given away to every one who participates in this family event. Our last mailing included our "Cut & Save" Six Month Calendar of Events. Slsterfiood Xews done. Now this is a great deal, because all you need is twenty hours of your time working within Sister?hood or $100 in donations or a com?bination of both to qualify. You don't need 25,000 points, DONOR is totally achievable. No, you don't get to fly to some exotic island, but you do get to attend our lovely donor function, and that's done FIRST CLASS. There are no peanuts on this journey to mitzvot. Later this month a copy of the donor guide?lines will be mailed, along with your donor status to date. This handy Cut and Save Schedule is perfect for your refrigerator or desk so you have those important dates at you finger tips. The Calendar of Events will be updated periodically so you will not be left out in the cold. Keep an eye out for important dates like our Stress Seminar, our 3rd Fam?ily Night Outing with the Las Vegas Stars and our very popular Golf Tour?nament. On behalf of the Brotherhood, let me invite you to join us so you can see "WE ARE NOT OUR FATHER'S BROTHERHOOD"! Stephen Joseph Brotherhood President With our year half gone, we still have plenty to fill in on your calen?dars. On February 7th, we have a Mitzvah Day, and in March, a Book Review Luncheon with the Rabbi. Our All Women's Seder will be held March 25th. It's never too late to join Sister?hood. We have an event planned for each month and would like to see you there. Dues are $30.00 per year or $50.00 for a Mitzvah Mem?bership. Shalom, Sandy FEbRUARy 1999 c l S p e c ia l rp ia e e (Jo (Belong, Golden Chai I VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT Golden Chai is turning 18 "chai" this year! And they're planning a very special Erev Snabbat Service on Friday, March 26th to honor their members, the temple, and their Jewish heritage. All past and current Golden Chai members are encouraged to come, but many will need help getting to temple. We need volunteers from every corner of the valley to call the CNT Program Director and let us know how many Golden Chai members you can transport to/from temple tnat evening so that every Jewish senior citizen can participate in this special service! Golden Chai was formed 18 years ago as the social group of Congregation Ner lamia reserved for Jewish senior citizens. It is well- known among all of Southern Nevada's Jewish senior citizens, because it offers top-quality programs, great trips, and a twice- monthly bagel brunch and card game. Many of Golden Chai's members choose not to drive at night - posing a problem in getting to temple for services on their special night - Friday, March 26th. If you can transport one or more seniors to services that night, please call the CNT Program Director at 733- 6292. Book Club (Do you Cove to read? ?Then join CMTs BoohCCub! The (BoohCCub meets on the first (Monday of each month to review, discuss, and even argue about the booh chosen for that month. The boohs are chosen by C9fT ?Booh CCub Members a-nd nave incCuded detective noveCs, biographies, historicaC romances, science fiction, current events, anything suggested by the mem?bers. (February?s booh & (j-QcC..on a Marfey, by Joan (Brady, and wiCC be discussed on Monday, (Febru?ary 1st. It's a very short booh about a 37-year oCd nurse sujfer- ing from burn-out, bad reCation- ships, and other modern-day stressors. (But the booh b about these negatives in her life, it?s a funny and touching boh about one woman?s spiritual journey, one which reveals to her si^wondrousprecepts that bead to the deepest peace and fuCfiCCment we can hnow. March?s booh is d)ie ?Brofe. by Steven (PoCCan, and wiCC be discussed on Monday, March 1st. Die (Brohe is a funny, seCf-heCp, financiaC-p Canning,pearCs-of-wis?dom hind of boohaoout what eCse! money. (But it?s more than that it?s about Cjfe, and it?s an e?q)bratbn of what money means to us; is it a determining factor in our quattty of Cife or is the quatity of our Cife a determining factor of our need for money? In the end, you?d be abb to determine just what rob money wiCC have for you in your Cife, and be abb tc^ overcome any ambivabnce you?iB once had towards pbnning ana organizing your Cife accordingCy. Fhese two boohs chosen for the CMCX Booh Club demonstrate the varbty of boohs you can discuss with a group of frbnds and neighbors. So, marhyour cabn- dars now and join us every first Monday of the month, from 7:00 - ??? in the C9fFLibrary! YIDDISH LESSON FOR FEBRUARY In dred mein gelt - My money went down the drain! Ken zeln - Maybe, could be Koved - Respect, honor, reverence Knntzen - tricks FEbRUARy 1999 The tone of the January meeting involved preparing for our future and the year to come. Lois Berg?man was our guest with a very exciting report on the CNT Pre?school. It is far more successful than the Board expected and many new and exciting programs are in the discussion stages. Bob Unger announced that CNT made $10,000 from the gift wrap booth and the Board appreciates everyone's help in that team effort. Thank you. In preparation for the High Holi?days family service, CNT will again be looking for a part-time cantori?al soloist with the help of the UAHC. CNT is also exploring the idea of expanding the religious school mid-week program to Green Valley, like the program that is pro?vided in the western part of the valley. The first satellite location has been so successful, we feel t additional site will also work. e Board discussed how the stu?dent Rabbi program is working and what our needs are. We are hop?ing to continue the program with another student in the fall but with a student coming on a less fre?quent basis. It is the hope of our Board president that we can de?velop the CNT endowment fund so we can eventually hire a full-time assistant Rabbi sometime in the future. Board members Jacky Rosen and Mel Hallerman will be assisting CNT in a disaster recovery system for the computer in light of tne recent computer problems we have had that seriously hampered the dues billing system from working like it should. They will also be working on the Y2K issues. The Board discussed the problems in obtaining the new Memorial Can?dle and memorial plaques that have been back-ordered for months. Many CNT members have been concerned because in the delay in the plaques for their loved ones and the Board is very sorry for the delays from the vendor. We are hopeful this will be rectified soon and many people are anx?ious to see the new candle arrive so it can be installed. The Board also discussed the sta?tus of the new personnel practices manual that Monty and yours tru?ly, Ruth Urban, have been work?ing very hard on drafting. It has just gone to the Executive Board for Review and will then go to the Board for discussion, hopefully at the February meeting. The Board received a preview of the next Board retreat, and they reviewed what had been accom?plished at the first retreat, includ?ing the findings of several inventories and surveys they com?pleted. Shawna Parker made a very thorough analysis and presented a report on the Synagogue Ques?tionnaire that was given to con?gregants at High Holidays. Her analysis appears on the next page. Shalom, ?Rutfi Urban Mitzvah Day (continued from Page 1) Students will decorate bags, create cards and pack lunches tor people on the street. These walk away lunches will help to feed the many people who go to the shelter at seven in the evening and have to leave by seven in the morning and go hungry throughout the day. We also will be selling stuffed lions with our Sisterhood's support to fund our special need's program and the lions will be taken by our confirmation class to UMC and Sunrise Children's cancer wards. Clothing and food will be collected and separated. These items will be dropped off by our Post B'nai Mitzvah Class to area food banks and shelters. Following religious school some of our students and teachers will be taking CPR classes from the American Red Cross which is an activity sponsored by CNT's Sisterhood. The conversion class will be will be collecting items for babies. Food, furniture and funding will be collected from l:00-4:00pm. Please help to support this project. Religious school is not just to prepare children for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, it is to prepare them for a Jewish life. Mitzvah Day is not just a Tzedakah project, it is an educational program, participation will give you a sense of joy. Shalom, Jacqueline bfteeiqyp^ Director of Education t Tell and Kveil Congratulations to Betty and Harry Schloss on the birth of their great-granddaughter, Rachel Shoshana Hamburg, bom becember 1H, 1998. Proud parents are Oanine and Keith Hamburg. Shalom FEbRUARy 1999 Sm* """ s'} cH S fie e ia l rJ)ltu-e &0- (Belong. ^ 9 %, Anci tIie Survey SAid " 5 out of 4 PeopIe Very SATisfiEd Wiifi CNT DuRiNq Rosb HaS^ANA SERVICES, low RATiNq fROM tIhE MEIVlbERS, CNT MEIVlbERS WERE AskEd TO COMplETE AN ANONyMOUS SURVEy, RATiNq tIhE TEMplES SERViCES, pRO' qRAMS, ANd RoIe iN TbE COMMUNiTy. ONly 49 MEIVlbERS cboSE TO RESpONd to TbE SuRVEy, buT we were vERy qUd Tbsy did! WbAT we fouNd out was VERy iNTERESTiNq ANd VERy useful as we bEqiN plANNiNq foR This yEAR's pROqRAMS. OvERAll SATisfACTiON WiTb TbE TEMplE RATEd A 5.0 ON A 0'4 SCaIe, VERy qood coNsidERiNq TbE widE VARiETy of STANdARds WE WERE RATEd On! As A House of PRAyER, CNT MEMbERS RATEd TbE WORship SERViCES AS A 5.6! As a House of STudy, tempIe MEMbERS RATEd TbE Aduhr STudy PROqRAMS AT 2.7 ANd TbE QUAliTy of TbE EduCATiON offEREd TbROUqb TbE CNT REliqious School at 5.5. As a House of AssEMbly, CNT MEIVlbERS RATEd TbE CONqREqATiON AT 5.4 foR iTS roIe as a CARiNq COMMUNiTy, TREATiNq iTS MEMbERS AS fAMily. For CNT's roIe iN TbE qREATER COMMUNiTy, iNcludiNq ACTiNq AS AN AdvOCATE foR JEWS iN OTbER PARTS of TbE WORld, TbE MEMbERS RATEd TbE TEMplE AT 5.1 ON TbE 0'4 SCaIe. TbE MEMbERS Also EXpRESSEd TbEiR AppRECiATiON of TbE fuNdRAisiNq EffoRTS of CNT, RATiNq A 5.5 SATisfACTiON RATiNq wiTb bow fuNdRAisiNq is NOT TbE MAjOR focus of CONqREqATiONAl life ANd TbAT TbE fuNdRAisiNq ACTiviTiES ARE weIL ORqANizEd. CNT's MEMbERsbip Dues ScaIe, wbicb dEMONSTRATES A SENSiTiviTy TO TbE diffERENT IeveIs of fiNANCiAl SUPPORT TbAT diffERENT MEMbERS CAN pROVidE, Also RECEiVEd biqb pRAisE. For iTS EffECTivE use of VoluNTEERS ANd EfficiENCy of iTS COMMiTTEES, TbE TEMplE RECEiVEd A o \ Con qreqa t/on Ner Tam id SCORiNq A 2.6 SATisfACTiON RATiNq. So whAT bAppENS NOW, ONE MiqbT Ask. TbE BoARd of DiRECTORS is USiNq This iNfoRMATiON TO plAN ANd diRECT fuTURE pROqRAMS ANd SERViC' ES. For iNSTANCE, TbE SURVEyS iNdiCATEd EXTREME diSSATisfACTiON wiTb Tbs TempIe LibRARy - RATiNq iT AS UNiNViTiNq ANd NOT USEful. REspoNdiNq to This concern, BoARd MEMbER SbARNA BluMENMd bAS RECRUiTEd A dEdiCATEd ANd dETER' MiNEd qROUp of VoluNTEERS wbo bAVE TAkEN ON TbE TAsk of ORqANiziNq TbE LibRARy. UNdER TbE diRECTiON of BoARd PRESidENT Bob UNqER, TbE BoARd is pARTicipATiNq iN BoARd TRAiNiNq ANd dAy^loNq PlANNiNq Retreats, Ud by BoARd SECRETARy RuTb URbAN. WiTbiN TbE NEXT fEW MONTbs, TbE BoARd Will bAVE A LoNq'RANqE PlANNiNq Committee iN plACE, wiTb TbE ASSiqNMENT of CREATiNq A STRATEqiC PlAN foR TbE tempIe. TbE BoARd is Also WORkiNq on ESTAblisbiNq cIear quideliNES foR COMMiTTEE RolES ANd RESpONSibili- TiES. This plANNiNq process will bE Much iMpROVEd by TbE MEMbERS1 RESPONSES ANd OpiNiONS AS OUTliNEd iN TbE MEMbER SURVEyS. TbE BoARd bAS Also dETERMiNEd TO CONduCT sucb A SURVEy EACb yEAR, TO ENSURE TbAT MEMbERS bAVE A REqulAR ANd CONSISTENT MEANS of qiviNq iNpUT iNTO TbE plANNiNq process. So wbEN you RECEiVE yOUR SURVEy, plEASE bE SURE TO TAkE A fEW MOMENTS TO COMplETE iT ANd RETURN iT TO US. TbE BoARd ANd STAff will look AT TbE iNfoRMATiON ANd TAkE yOUR OpiNiONS iNTO CONSidERATiON iN TbE plANNiNq PROCESS. PREpAREd by SbAWNA Par!<er CNT lose Apparel _ ^ MOW 8 AVAILABLE! Puce your order now! Polos and Sweatshirts in Blue T-shirts in Blue and White Polos - $20 Adult Sweatshirt - $15 Adult T-shirt - $10 Youth Sweatshirt - $12 Youth T-shirt - $8 Call Jere' Davis at 655-1170 (Do you Have a family mem6er orfriend wbo is hospitalized? Rabbi Akselrad would like to help you and your family by visiting Temple members and friends of our congregation who have been hospitalized. Since there is no notification from the hospitals, please com Karen at the Temple office B 733-6292 when a family member or friend is hospitalized. FEbRUARy 1999 INTERESTED IN A HAVURAH? ^TNT has a very active havurah program. In case you don't know, a havurah is a small group within the larger Temple family that gets together periodically to share activities. The purpose of a havurah is to bring togeth?er a group of people to get to know one another and enjoy each other's company. ("Ha?vurah" derives from the Hebrew word "chaver"?friend). We presently have seven havurot (plural) and are willing to help members not yet in a havurah form more. Each havurah com?prises anything from 15 to 25 individuals and each decides upon its own membershi