The Bulletin from Temple Beth Sholom, December 2001

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM Temple Beth Sholom THE BULLETIN December 2001 Kislev-Tevet 5762 Vol. 1, No. 9 Happy Hanukkah! INSIDE THIS ISSUE Messages from The Rabbi and Cantor Security Committee Update Under the Dome Education Department USY Chapter Forming "World Wide Wrap" Program Preschool News Women's League Men's Club Donations Advertisements Calendar of Events Schedule of Services 16 Temple Beth Sholom is a Conservative Congregation Affiliated with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism The Sha'arei Binah Lecture Series Continues... Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Adventures "I come from a very liberal San Francisco family," says I Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, who will speak at Temple Beth | Sholom this month. "My family marched for Eugene McCarthy. I was the president of the Democratic Club at Harvard Univer-1 sity, and I interned with Sen. Alan Cranston and Rep. John Bur-1 ton." Rabbi Artson is also past executive vice president of I the Board of Rabbis of Southern California and dean of the Uni-1 versity of Judaism's Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. Artson studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary, I where he excelled as a student. In his spare time, he wrote Love Peace and Pursue Peace: A Jewish Response to War | and Nuclear Annihilation (United Synagogue of America, 1988). He states that the book was a way to keep his sanity during his I studies, and a way to merge his commitment to Judaism with I his passion for making the world a better place. Since becoming a rabbi, Artson has succeeded in balancing?and frequently bringing together?his Jewish and civic ideals. The full-time spiritual leader at Congregation Eilat in Mission Viejo, Calif., from 1988-1998, he has been a visible and energetic presence on dozens of boards that deal with interfaith and racial relations, urban affairs, animal rights, education and many other concerns. He has written over a hundred articles in which he offers thoughtful Jewish perspectives on issues that run the gamut: God, prayer, vegetarianism, autism, Shab-bat, environmental affairs, gay and lesbian rights, and a love of Zion, just to mention a few. This flurry of activity has continued unabated, even during his demanding post at the Southern California Board of Rabbis. "Just as you can't have Judaism without ritual commitments, you can't have Judaism without social justice," Artson maintains. "Ultimately, Judaism is not what you practice in the sanctuary, but what you take with you when you leave it?how you treat other people, how you treat the planet." To help encourage a deeper commitment to both ritual and ethical observance, he wrote the popular book, It's a Mitzvah! Step-By-Step to Jewish Living (Behrman House and the Rabbinical Assembly). Rabbi Artson will speak at Shabbat services on Friday evening, December 21, at 7:30 p.m. His topic will be "Jacob Loves the Sabbath: Growing Up with My Autistic Son." On Satur-day morning, December 22, at 9 a.m., he will discuss "Homosexuality, Jewish Law and Conser-vative Judaism: Where Do We Stand?" On Sunday morning, Rabbi Artson will give a talk on "It's a Mitzvah: Turning the Ordinary into an Extraordinary Adventure." The session will begin at 10 a.m., following 9 a.m. morning minyan and a light breakfast at 9:30 a.m. For additional information, call the Temple office at 804-1333. Rabbi's & Cantor's Messages A Message from the Rabbi Felipe Goodman Now that the month of Kislev is here, I would like to continue ex-ploring familiar Jewish ritual, and how we can use it to bring us strength in the months to come. The beginning of this year has been a specially turbulent one. Soon it will be Hanukkah, that won-derful festival of light and warmth in the dark and cold of our own personal winters, the winter that is only more poignant and cold because of what we have gone through as a nation. Each night we will light our Hanukkiyah. Each night we will have an opportunity to make light go forth into this severely devastated world in which we live. Having recited the appropriate brachot, we will watch our flick-ering candles push back the darkness, and we will sing to God, Ma'oz Tzur, Eternal Rock. This year, let's think about what it means to light a candle. Some-one - was it Helen Keller? - said that it is far better to light a single candle than to curse darkness. Especially at Hanukkah, what a wonderful kavannah - what a wonderful meditation - for lighting our candles! Here are some special additions to the original liturgy that can help us see the glowing light that Hanukkah brings with it: "Here I am, prepared to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting my Hanukkah lights, and with that small act I show that I refuse to curse the dark-ness, but rather to illuminate it with my humble candles." Having spoken the meditation, say the brachot and light your candle(s). As you light the newest candle, add the following: ^ First night: Master of the Universe, may this candle light the way for one lost soul to be able to go back to You. ? Second night: Master of the Universe, may this candle light one dark corner where a lonely child cowers. \ Third night: Master of the Universe, may this candle cast light on the embittered soul of one person intent on evil; thus may one act of evil be averted. \ Fourth night: Master of the Universe, may this candle's glow banish the despair of my soul. ? Fifth night: Master of the Universe, may this candle light in one soul the courage to dare to return to a life of choices based on opportunity, not fear. % Sixth night: Master of the Universe, may this candle remind us of what glows at the heart of our Jewish world - the time-lessness of God and the Torah. \ Seventh night: Master of the Universe, may this candle re-mind one person of a loved one far away, whether in miles or in estrangement, and compel that person to reach out and bring that loved one near. \ Eighth night: Master of the Universe, may this candle remind me that candles cannot light every corner of the world. Remind me of a heart that needs to be warmed. Dear friends, these are only suggestions. You are welcome to use this list to enrich your holiday experience, but if you come up with other ideas as well, ways that our Hanukkah candles can help light up our world this year, please share them with me. Hag HaUrim Sameach! A Message from the Cantor Daniel Friedman On January 26, we are beginning a new musical Shabbat morn-ing service that we know will lift your spirits. We are working hard to bring you prayer services that are both traditional and enlighten-ing. We invite you to attend and celebrate with us. I believe that it is through a certain combination of our hearts and our minds and our physical bodies that we learn to elevate the everyday activities of our lives. We put our hearts into our thoughts, and we take ac-tion. Especially when what we do, we do for the nourishment of our inner self. As we live, hopefully we can become more conscious of God in everything that we do. Hopefully, we can elevate, so to speak, our everyday activities, not just when we come to pray in the synagogue, to the realm of the spiritual. But, how can we give meaning to our lives and those around us? How can we truly enrich our lives and feed our hunger to be fulfilled? This is the wonderful challenge we can choose to accept as part of being Jewish. Simply put, one of the ways we can achieve this desire to be spiritually fulfilled is through the joy-ous celebration of lifecycle events and the happy observance of Holy Days. But how do we do this when, perhaps, we view religion as a chore or obligation? In one simple way we can begin by being open to the experiences we are having not only at the synagogue but also in the world around us. Contrary to some commonly held beliefs, dancing and singing within the prayer service is perfectly acceptable when it comes from within as a natural expression of ones hasidut (piety). It is through our prayerful search for oneness that we can begin to un-derstand the mystery of God's Spirit in our lives and live every day to the fullest, with joy and happiness in our hearts. This is what we search for as we begin to explore the forms of prayer we now prac-tice. This is what we strive to achieve as we come together on Shabbat and other Holy Days. When we sing out, strong and full, and forget about how we sound, or what people may think about our voice, we come closer to being in the present moment. With melodies of piety (hasidut), time can shrink, the past and the future disappear, and only the moment come alive in our pursuit of a con-nection to God's Shechinah (Divine Presence). In the mid 1700s, some rabbis began to explore this form of ob-servance and encouraged their followers to join together in song and even to dance. Can you imagine! These rabbis believed that music could blend with holy thoughts and enhance our prayerful concentration with God. Above all else, these rabbis believed wor-ship in melody might achieve what worship through tears and mourning the destruction of the Temples could not. Perhaps, they surmised, through niguns and songful prayer we could bring so much joy to the world that, like Jacobs ladder, we could bring a little bit of heaven to earth. So, as we sing songs with intensity and al-low ourselves to be moved through melodies, and not cry about our state of being, we can more fully celebrate life and worship God. One of the leading Jewish philosophers of modern times, Martin Buber (1878-1965), wrote, "The soul lays hold of the voice of a (person) and makes it sing what the soul has experienced in the heights, and the voice does not know what it does." With this in mind, we invite you all to open your hearts, open your minds and open your souls to new musical experiences of prayer, worship and Jewish observance. 2 Dec. 2001 Security Fund Update Security Fund Update Thank you to all who donated to the Kol Nidre Security Appeal. A Security Committee has been formed and a professional evaluation of our security needs is currently taking place. Plans have just been completed for a perimeter enclosure. Our Kol Nidre Security Fund donors are listed below: M/M James Abrahamsson D/M Scan Abramow Ms. Jacqueline Ackerman Mrs. Marie Ackerman M/M Marvin Alpert M/M Hesh Altman Mrs. Selma Altose Dr. Jodi Altman Mr. Cecil Arnold M/M Hillel Aronson Ms. Marilyn Barkan M/M Carlos Banchik M/M Gary Banner Mr. Zuri Barnes & Ms. Alma Moreno D/D Mark Barney Ms. Melanie Bash M/M David Bereskin M/M Lawrence Bergenfield M/M Stuart Berger Ms. Shelley Berkley & Dr. Larry Lehmer Mrs. Bonnie Berkowitz M/M Neil Bialkin M/M Mark Bleecker M/M Raz Blit D/M Alvin Blumberg Mr. Carlos Blumberg M/M Jerome Blut Mr. Richard Blut M/M David Bluth Ms. Rachel Braly M/M Allen Brewster Mr. Keith Brill M/M George Brookman Mr. Leonard Brown Adam Boyar & Jill Carmer D/M Anthony Carter M/M Sidney Chaplin M/M Gerald Cherson M/M Melvin Chervitz Mr. Brian Chilton M/M Stanley Chupnick M/M Steven Cohen M/M Rene Colen M/M Bertram Colodny Ms. Staci Columbo M/M Edward Devore M/M Andrew Donner Mr. Robert Dubin & Ms. Shelley Weinberg Ms. Geraldine Dupler Ms. Arlene Familian Mr. Stanley Farber & Mrs. Lillian Bruski M/M Israel Feit M/M Steven Fink M/M Bennett Fishbain M/M Edward Fitch D/M Barry Frank M/M Brook Frank Mrs. Eva Frankel Ms. Florence Frost Mr. Lauren Ftumes M/M Marc Frye M/M Michael Furman D/M Alan Galsky Mr. Harold Gastwirth M/M David Gelbart Ms. Deborah Gelbart Mrs. Jo-Ann Geller M/M Leon Gelobter M/M Gerald Gersten M/M Morris Gertz M/M Stanley Garber M/M Lawrence Ginsberg M/M David Ginsburg M/M Fred Glick Mr. Fred Glusman M/M Irwin Goldberg M/M Jay Goldberg M/M Stanley Goldfarb M/M Leon Goldstein R /M Felipe Goodman M/M Ross Goodman Mr. Joel Goot M/M Donald Gordon M/M Gene Greenberg M/M Isadore Greenberg Mrs. Gladys Greene M/M Victor Grigoriev Ms. Iris Gross Ms. Isabelle Gross M/M Irving Herman Ms. Catherine Herskovic M/M Harold Herzlich Dr. Edward Hoffman Ms. Marcy Horky Ms. Nancy Horowitz M/M Steven Jaffe Mrs. Deborah Jensen M/M Maurice Jones M/M Edward Kainen Mr. Gregory Kamer D/M Jack Kane M/M Alan Kantor M/M Harvey Kaplan M/M Jerry Katz Ms. Roberta Keck & Mr. David LeGrand Ms. Randee Kelley M/M Donald Kemp Mrs. Dorothy Klegerman M/D Jeffrey Klein Ms. Louise Kloner M/M Phillip Kohen Mrs. Patricia Kowalski Ms. Jane Kriensky M/M Wayne Krygier M/M Floyd Kuklin M/M Walter Lamp M/M Gerald Lancz M/M Scott Langsner M/M Jack Lazar Ms. Mara Lazer M/M Orin Lazer Dr. Steven Leibowitz M/M Murray Leitner M/M Matt Levin Ms. Audrey Levinson M/M Robert Levy Ms. Anita Lewy Mrs. Sally Lieberman D/M Joel Lubntz M/M Jim Lukasiewicz Mr. Michael Mack M/M Steven Mack M/M Ronald Mack Mr. Ron Manca Ms. Jessica Mallin & Mr. Joshua Pianko M/M Stanley Mallin M/M Jim Mallinger Mr. Murray Marcus D/M David Martin M/M James Mason M/M Stuart Mason M/M William Mason Mrs. Amy May D/M Murray Marcus Ms. Suzie Frank Maruini D/M James Marx M/M Phillip Meisel M/M Fred Memar M/M Morris Menasche M/M Jeffrey Michelman M/M Steven Michelman D/M Alan Mintz M/M Bradley Mitchell Mr. Richard Morrison M/M Robert Murdock M/M Arthur Nathan Ms. Barbara Neal M/M Gerald Nebron Ms. Francine Bromley- Norwood M/M Mitchell Ogron Ms. Lizanne Olbur M/M Steven Olshansky M/M Kevin Owens M/M Robb Packer M/M Max Phillips M/M Clifford Plotkin M/M Joseph Premack M/M Jerrold Rappaport Ms. Libby Raynes M/M Alan Resnik Ms. Emily Robinson Ms. Maura Robinson Mr. Lawrence Rodis & Mrs. Gillian Silver-Rodis Ms. Bonnie Rogers M/M Lawrence Rosenberg M/M Ira Rosenmertz M/M Leonard Rosenstein Mr. Ted Rosenstein Ms. Marilyn Roth M/M William Roth M/M Jerry Rubin M/M Lawrence Ruderman M/M Henry Sandler Ms. Naomi Sauerland D/M Steven Saxe M/M David Schiffman M/M Murray Schofel M/M Kenneth Scholl D/M Sheldon Schore Mr. Charles Schussler Dr. Adam Schwartz M/M Howard Schwartzer M/M Neil Schwartz M/M Richard Seda, Jr. D/M JaySelznick M/MJared Shafer M/M Tamir Shanel M/M Ivan Sher M/M Samuel Showel M/M Matthew Shlisky M/M Brian Shuster M/M Hyman Silkes M/M Howard Silverman Ms. Carol Siskind M/M Seymour Slackman M/M Michael Smith M/M Michael Solomon Mr. Robert Solomon & Ms. Nancy Hexter Ms. Helene Stadler M/M Lewis Stadtmauer Dr. Robin Stall M/M Michael Stein D/M Sheldon Stein M/M Brian Steinberg M/M Irving Steinberg M/M Murton Strimling TBS Men's Club M/M Randall Tan- Ms. Roslyn Teitelbaum D/M Ole Thienhaus Mr. Willi Thompson M/M Jaime Trachtman Mr. Austin Turshinsky M/M Ron Turshinsky M/M Max Ukeiley M/M Robert Vex Mr. Fred Victorson M/M Mitchell Warner M/M Ira Wechsler Ms. Jennifer Weinberg & Mr. Steven Speidel M/M Todd Weinstein M/M Robert Weisbord M/M Irving Weintroub Mr. Leo Winer M/M Joseph Wrobel M/M Fredric Zwerg Dec. 2001 3 Under The Dome / \ - j m Bikkur Cholim Committee Forming ? Temple Beth Sholom is putting together a Bikkur Holim Committee to visit the sick This committee will be chaired by Stan Sorber, who is one of our new members and was very involved with the Bikkur Cholim Committee in his past congregation. Visiting the sick is a very important mitzvah?so important that Sod was the first to perform it when God visited Abraham after he had his brit milah. Serving on this committee will be a very rewarding experience because you will be able to help and cheer up people at a time when they need it most. We have planned an initial meeting on Tuesday, December 18, at 6 p.m. This meeting will be followed by a number of training sessions led by Rabbi Goodman and by professionals in the healthcare field. Hevra Kadisha Seeks Members?With the growth of both our congregation and the Jewish Community at large we are experiencing an increased need for the participation of our Hevra Kadisha in the ritual purification and preparation of our loved ones as they depart this world. Being part of the Hevra Kadisha at Temple Beth Sholom can be a genuinely inspiring and rewarding experience. The highest form of gemilut hasadim (act of loving kindness) that we can per-form as individuals is to participate in this most holy of deeds. We need volunteers to help us and to help our brothers and sisters in their time of need. I f you are inter-ested in being part of our Hevra Kadisha or if you have any questions please call Jacob Raijman (coordinator for men), 804-1333, or Linda White (coordinator for women), 254- 0281. Remember that many of these ancient rituals bring with them peace, spirituality and fulfillment to all of us who perform them. Women's League Celebrates?The Women's League will hold its annual Hanukkah Celebration meeting on Wednesday, December 12, from 11:30 am. to 2 p.m. Feast on latkes at the light lunch; gift exchange (please bring one) and best of all, entertainment by Jean Arin of "Viva Oy Vegas." No reservation necessary. In other Women's League news, a new Bat Mitzvah class is forming in Janu-ary. Call Lorie at 804-1333, ext. 104, for details. Finally, the new Etz Hayim chumash is available through Women's League for $60. Call the Judaica Shop at 804-1333, ext. I l l , for details. Bereavement Support Group?Because we know that the bss of a loved one is a very difficult thing to bear, the Chesed Committee of Temple Beth Sholom is continuing our Bereavement Group. Meetings are led by Ole J. Thienhaus, M.D., M.B.A., professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. Thienhaus is Board-certified in General and Geriatric Psychiatry. The group meets on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Special Thanks?A special thank you goes out to all those who worked so hard to make the Man of the Year Gab a success, par-ticularly Arlene Blut, Shirley Chaplin, D.J. Jensen, Ann Knowles, Audrey Merkin, Marci Murdock, Mona Silverman, and TBS office staffers Mary Ann King, Helene Rosen, Susan Militelb and Lorie Stowers. Thanks also to our Shabbat greeters Bennett and Zena Fishbain. Childcane Available?Stephanie Friedman will supervise children ages 4-8, in the Quiet Room during Saturday morning services, 9:30 to 11:30 am This service is sponsored by Ruth Goldfarb. Women's Class Extended?The course, "Discussions on age-old topics in the eyes of today's Jewish women," will continue through March. This course?taught by Rabbi Goodman?explores sub-jects that rebte specifically to areas of women's spirituality, and issues of women and Jewish Law in the Conservative movement. Also to be expbred are the great texts of Rabbinic Judaism and the Tarach, experienced through the eyes of contemporary Jew-ish women, commentators and scholars. The course is free of charge, and sessions will be held at 8:45 am. on Dec. 13 and 20; Jan. 10, 24 and 31; Feb. 7 and 28, and March 7 and 21. New class participants are welcome. The Many Avenues to Long-Term Charitable Giving?Guest speaker Dori Blessing, vice president of wealth management at Merrill Lynch Trust Company, will speak at a brunch at TBS on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 11 am. The event is sponsored by Joel Goot and Merrill Lynch, and is being chaired by Temple Beth Shobm and its Men's Club. To attend, call Mary Ann at 804-1333, ext. 133. 1 "Under the Dome" is an ongoing column of general information. Read "Under the Dome" to find out the latest tidbits about people and events at Temple Beth Sholom. Dec. 2001 Education Department/USY 'Great Spirit and Fun' in the Education Department Last month, our Temple and the Religious School students had the wonderful opportunity to listen to the world-renowned Jewish storyteller Peninnah Schram. Ms. Schram presented a special session for the Religious School students in which children from all our classes (K to 7th Graders) enjoyed listening to her wonderful stories and to the superb music played and sung by the masterful musician Gerard Edery. Ms. Schram was impressed by our students' knowledge and behavior and acknowledged our school's accom-plishments during her performance. We are very proud of our students! They gave us lots of Naches. In the Adult Education department, our lan-guage classes are well on their way. It is wonderful to hear both Hebrew and Yiddish coming alive every week in our Temple. More and more people are joining us every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for a wonderful energetic ses-sion of Rikudim (Israeli folk dancing), and our Introduc-tion to Judaism class held on Wednesday at 7 p.m. This class was initially designed for those who wish to convert to Judaism, but we are now seeing more and more members who are interested in learning more about their own religion. We also have other classes about the Siddur, Bible, and the Talmud. If you would like more informa-n ; ? tM- "--Si ??? -./?? mmw^^ ? J, tion please contact us in the office. Our Mommy & Me and Shabbat & Me pro-grams are thriving with three meetings a week and many happy babies, toddlers and Mommies. Our ba-bies (0-15 mo.) are meeting on Monday mornings, our toddlers (15 months to 3 years) on Wednesday morn-ings, and our special Shabbat & Me (0-3 years) pro-gram meets on Friday mornings. The children are en-joying songs, dancing, stories, parachute play, "Enter the Gates of Jerusalem" special movement activity, and a Shabbat service. All three programs are present-ing age appropriate materials with a Jewish and He-brew approach. We are so happy to announce that due to an incredible turnout, we will now host the Shabbat & Me program in the Social Hall. Get ready, Get set, Go... Our next community activity is the already legendary Chanukah Treasure Hunt. It will take off on Sunday, December 2, at 9 a.m., from the Temple. As it did before, it will take us all over Las Vegas with great spirit and fun. Get your books, computers, creativity, cell phones and brains ready!!! B'Vracha Jacob Raijman Director of Education wanted for u . s y ? e v e r y o n e 1 2 to ?J- y e a r s old Temple Beth Sholom is now organizing our United Synagogue Youth (USY) chapter. USY is for all Jew-ish students who are 12 to 17 years old. We are looking forward to having programs that will be interesting to everyone. We encourage everyone to join. If you don't have children, but know someone who might be interested, please let us know their names and phone numbers. All eligible youth are urged to attend our first event which is our organizing meeting. Our First Event: Saturday, December 1, 7 to 9 p.m. ? Cosmic Bowling & Pizza Dinner at the Suncoast Hotel Our Second Event: Friday, January 4, in the morning, through Sunday, January 6, 2002 ? Kinnus: "Israel Is Real," at Valley Beth Sholom Temple, Sherman Oaks [Los Angeles], California Our Third Event: Friday, February 1 - Dinner & Shabbat Services Super Bowl Weekend; also planned for that week-end, on Sunday, February 3, 2002, is a sleepover with Midbar Kodesh We're looking forward to an exciting year. For more information and to receive our mailings, please call Phyllis & Gary Segal at (702) 873-5324. Dec. 2001 a Wrap It Up Let's get wrapped up and be counted At Sunday morning minyanim around the world. SAVE THE DATE On Sunday, January 27, at 9 a.m., our Men's Club will join thousands of Jews around the world to celebrate the Mitzvah of Tefillin. Afterwards, please join us for a bagel (and more) and learn more about this wonderful mitzvah from the rabbi and others. Come and learn with us at our Tefillin Training Sessions, led by Rabbi Goodman: Thursday, January 17, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 24, at 6:30 p.m. For details, visit www.WorldWideWrap.org Sponsored by The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. 6 Preschool News/Women's League/Men's Club News from the Sandra & Stanley Mallin Early Childhood Center November has been very busy for the preschoolers! With the High Holy Days behind us, r mm we have been introducing our pre-reading curriculum. All of the classes are meeting their new letter friends, and having a great time learning! The preschool held their traditional Thanksgiving feast on November 21. This year we fed P over 180 people. It was a lot of fun. We would like to thank Rabbi Goodman, Cantor Daniel , M K 1 ! and all the wonderful parents who helped make our Thanksgiving Feast a success. a In December, the preschool will be busy getting ready for their Hanukkah Festival. The theme this year is "Hanukkah Around the World," and each class will perform a Hanukkah dance from a different part of the world. The festival will take place on December 12, at 6:30 p.m., in the main sanctuary. This event is free, and everyone is invited. We would canto^Danie'id'ressedas like to thank the Women's League for their help and support with gifts for the children and a turkey and pilgrim for for cosponsoring our Hanukkah Festival. ,h e preschooi's The preschool will be closed December 24 through January 2 for winter break. We will Thanksgiving feast reopen on Thursday, January 3, 2002. We would like to thank Designer Carpet and Flooring for their donation of carpet squares! All donations are wonderful, and these are such a great addition to the school. The Women's League of Temple Beth Sholom Blanche Meisel We often hear about the "December Dilemma," a term used to give answers to the question of how to mirror Jewish Hanukkah celebrations with Christmas festivities. I won't give you any answers here, simply because I do not have any. I will try however to give some insight. Referring to the dilemma in December is really a contradiction in terms. Hanukkah is about Jewish steadfast-ness, which is exactly the opposite of dilemma. Hanukkah is the celebration of the Maccabees' victory over the Hellenizing Greek-Syrians, who wanted us to enforce the Hellenization of the Temple ritual. The result was the Maccabean revolt. We were steadfast in our belief. We chose Judaism over the dominant culture (Hellenism then, Christianity today). And so, we celebrate Hanukkah. The December dilemma is ironic because Hanukkah, the holiday which celebrates Jewish separateness (therefore steadfastness) should not be confused with either celebrating assimilation, or imitating the holiday practices of other religions. Let us light the candles for eight nights to recall the miracle of the oil, and the miracle of our victory over as-similation. Let us sing happy, whimsical songs, play dreidel and eat lots of latkes. Let us give Hanukkah gelt and presents with a Judaic presence to celebrate our joy. Let us be happy because we are steadfast. Happy Hanukkah! A Message from Men's Club Irwin Goldberg Men's Club elections?as required by the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs?will be held in January. Be there to get involved. We are planning a Tefillin Wrap," in conjunction with Temple Beth Sholom. The event will involve much more than just putting on tefillin. It will be a complete explanation of what they are, what's inside and what it all means. Please come?it will take place the same day as the Men's Club election. Dec. 2001 a Tributes?Donations from our Hearts BUILDING FUND In honor of: Allen Brewster's 80,h Birthday Bonnie Berkowitz Sandy Mallin's Birthday Lil & Kenny Glicken Birth of Edye & Irwin Goldberg's grand-daughter Elaine & Irving Steinberg Birth of Rex Leon Mack Elaine & Irving Steinberg CANTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND In honor of: Cantor Friedman's new home Paul Schmier EDUCATION FUND In honor of: David, Lara & Andy Stone Jack Conley GENERAL FUND In honor of: Sandy Mallin's Birthday Ruth & Mel Wolzinger The birth of Rex Leon Mack Shirley Chaplin Lil & Kenny Glicken Ruth Sideman's Birthday Shirley Goldberg Hortense Eckhaus's 85,h Birthday Linda & Leonard Eckhaus The birth of Edythe & Irwin Goldberg's granddaughter Lil & Kenny Glicken Gene Greenberg's new home Ruth Goldfarb Allen Brewster's Birthday Kathleen & Moe Menasche Craig Brown's Bar Mitzvah Ruthe Spector Irv Steinberg's Bar Mitzvah Faye & Dr. Leon Steinberg Alan & Rhoda Stock Harriet & Marvin Goldstock On his Aliyah Sam Showel Mitch Ogron's 40,h Birthday Andrea, Richard, Drake & Scarlett Gordon In memory of: Rita Barish The Larry Ruvo Family For High Holy Day Honors: Anita Lewy Refuah Shleimah for: Seymour Slackman Marie Ackerman Jackie Ackerman & Donald Barrett In appreciation of: Rabbi Goodman, Cantor Friedman, Jacob Raijman, Marlowe Mogill, Rose Raphael, and Gloria & Irv Bransky, and their sup-port during the funeral and mourning pe-riod of Charles Greenfeld Jackie & Ron Turshinsky HEARING HEADSET FUND Debbie & Harold Lederer KOL NIDRE/SECURITY FUND Designated Gifts In Memory of: Helen Herman The TBS Men's Club Rachel Katz Ermiene & Jim Mallinger In Honor of: Allen Brewster's 80th Birthday Edye & Irwin Goldberg PRAYERBOOK FUND In Memory of: Ann Gastwirth Etta Friedman Rita & Mort Kreda Herbie Moskovitz John, Mary & Alexandria Andreolas Abby DeJoris Donna & Michael Fox Marilyn & Jerry Tarbell In Honor of: Allen Brewster's 80,h Birthday Elaine & Irving Steinberg RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND In appreciation of the Rabbi: Alan Stock Jackie & Ron Turshinsky In memory of Julia Goodman Adam Brustein In memory of Charles Greenfeld Jackie & Ron Turshinsky In memory of Herbert Silverman The Silverman Family TREE FUND In honor of Allen Brewster's Birthday Jan Bracket Shirley & Sidney Chaplin Lil & Ken Glicken Lil & Henry Kronberg Judy & Ron Mack YAHRZEIT/MEMORIAL FUND In Memory of: Arthur Ackerman The Ackerman & Barrett Families Ida Bolasny Aisuss Charlotte & Sam Showel Anna Aprill Eunice & Albert Merkin and Family Rita Barish Ronald Richardson Isador Becker Sid Chaplin Rebecca Best Shirley Kravitz Frances Bloomberg Edith & Allan Bloomberg Michael Bornstein's Father Nadolyn & Kenny Karchmer Saul Bottsfield Rose Sugarman Sara Broch Lucia Feit Dave Brown Laurie & William Barron Benny Brustowsky Ruth & Allen Brewster Rose Burstein Helen Rosenberg Aron Chozahinoff Barbara & Igal Chozahinoff Sidney Eckhaus Linda & Leonard Eckhaus Myer Finkelstein Mildred Lassoff Chesna Fisher Nita & Harry Shuster and Family Albert Fruchter Rochelle Schneider Nathaniel N. Frumes Lauren Frumes Louise Frush The Dvorak Family Nissim Gabay, Victor Gabay Ralph Gabay Ellen Gentry Viola L. Goldstein Margaret Gershman Sheila & Jay Gershman Israel Gertler Lillian Kronberg 8 Dec. 2001 Tributes...Donations from our Hearts YAHRZEIT DONATIONS. CONTINUED In Memory of: Miriam Glasser Rosalie & Orin Lazer & Family Morris Glick Fred Glick Frances Goldberg Mimi Katz Herbert Goldberg Sally Lieberman Leo Goldberg Mrs. Leo Goldberg Marie Gordon Reba Saiger Abraham Gottlieb Sheldon Gottlieb Charles Greenfeld Lois & Scott Karp Mary Ann & Jon Weiner David A. Greenfield June & Bert Colodny Florence Brown Herman Rose Raphael Helen Herman Ruth Goldfarb Simon Herskovic Cathy Herskovic William Hessing Esther Hessing George Hill Lee & Ed Devore Samuel Himmelfarb Betty Weintroub Gaye Schneider Israel D.J. & Jon Jensen Michael Kaplan Sid Kaplan Sylvia Kaplan Bess Bergman & Family A1 Kash Sharon & Jerry Lancz Ed Kauffman Nadolyn & Kenny Karchmer Rose Keilin Sharon & Jerry Lancz Marshall Klein's Father Sharon & Jerry Lancz Bessie Kline, Michael L. Kline Harriet Straus Gloria Kohen Phillip, Ilene, Staci, Elyssa, Larry & Jay Kohen David Kornfeld Edith & Allan Bloomberg Seymour Kulwin Albert A. Kulwin Isadore Jack Lasky Marshall Lasky Anita Leitner Murray Leitner Rose Levine E.J. & Hy Levine Bill Lipsky Dr. Doris Soroky-Aarenau Rosalyn Lozowick Fran & Herb Jaffe Mr. Magulies, Jay Margulies, Harriet Margulies Candace Margulies Jeffrey Martin Marks Dr. Doris Soroky-Aarenau Bessie Meisel Blanche & Phil Meisel Annie Leah Moskowitz Millicent & David Cohen Norman Nathan Dorothy Nathan Dave Oberne Hylda Leitner Rose Pearl Selma Altose Sidney Peilte Esther "Lala" Powell Lillian & Henry Kronberg Stuart Reisman Karen Reisman Louis Reiter Norma & Phillip Wilensky Jessie Ritchie Barbara Greenspun Mary Roicin Charlotte & Sam Showel Mollie Rosenthal Florence Bolatin Rose Ross Hazel & Harold Handelman Dr. Walter Schwartz Priscilla Schwartz Terri Lynn Seltzer Marci & Ed Seltzer Moe Senz Carole & Jerome Turk