The Bulletin of Congregation Ner Tamid, December 2001

Congregation Ner Tanjid , -ran 13 n?np The Reform Jewish Congregation of Las Vegas ...A Special Place to Belong December 2001 - Vol. XVI No. 4 Sanford D. Akselrad Rabbi Jennifer C. Weiner Assistant Rabbi Bella Feldman Cantorial Soloist Stewart Blumenfeld President 16 Kislev-16 Tevet 5762 Leon Marco Interim Executive Director Jacqueline Fleekop Education Director Lois Bergman Preschool Director Melanie Gorman Bulletin Editor Chanukah Dinner and Family Services CNT's Annual Chanukah Family Dinner will be on December 14th at 6:15pm. It will be a traditional dinner, latRes and all! Please feel free to bring your family menorah to light at your table. Adults are $16, children (4-l0) are $8, and children under 4 are free of charge. Please RSVP by December 7th. Your check is your reservation! So bring it #to the Temple office today! After dinner, please stay for the fes?tive Chanukah Family Service at 7:30pm. The Shabba-Tones will perform, mak?ing this evening one that you won't want to miss! Hope to see you There! Happy Chanukah From Your CNT Family Time For Gift Wrap! Holiday time is just around the corner. For the past 5 years, the Temple has run the gift wrap booth at the Galleria Mall. This is a big fundraiser for the Temple. We raise about $10,000.00 each year. This is the one time that all we ask for is your time. We run the booth Sunday's through Thurs?day's, December 2nd- December 24th. To volunteer, please call Sandy Stolberg at 228-6863, or Adrienne Miller at 897-5/99. In This Issue... Worship Services 2 Rabbi's Message ? 2 Message from our President 3 Notes from our Cantorial Soloist 4 Religious School/Preschool 5-6 Auxiliaries 7-8 December Bar Mitzvah 9 Birthdays & Anniversaries 18 Tributes 19-20 In Memoriam 21 Yahrzeits 21 (the Bulletin is published monthly)Worship Services Conducted by Rabbi Sanford Akselrad, Rabbi Jennifer Weiner, & Cantorial Soloist Bella Feldman December 1 Torah Study 10am December 7 Tot Shabbat 6:30pm Shabbat Service 7:30pm Oneg sponsored by CNT Sisterhood December 8 Torah Study 10am December 14 Family Service with The Shabba-Tones 7:30pm Oneg sponsored by Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Lincoln Spoor December 15 Torah Study 10am December 21 Baby Naming Nathan Arnold Beiier Shabbat Service 7:30pm Oneg sponsored by Sylvia and Neil Beller December 22 Anthony Messinger Bar Mitzvah 10am Kiddush sponsored by Patricia Messinger December 28 Family Service 7:30pm Oneg sponsored by CNT Sisterhood December 29 Torah Study 10am SO Rabbi's Mbssace A Tribute To My Grandmother ^ Dear Congregants: On TUesday October 23rd, my grandmoth?er passed away. At shabbas services on October 26th I delivered an extempora?neous tribute to my Grandmother. After?wards so many people commented to me on how the sermon touched them, that I decided to write up a summarized ver?sion of this sermon and share it with you in this month's Rabbi's message. Thank you all for extending your condolences to me and my family. May you find that the love in your family touches many a generation as well. Rabbi Akselrad love dies after a protracted illness, we feel re?lieved that their suffering is over. But we wish that they did not have to go through that or?deal. And ironically, though we seem to have all the time in the world to say our "good?byes". It rarely happens that the person we love dies like in a Hollywood movie. Where loved ones gather and the person hears words of love and then simply closes their eyes one last time. And the family still utters tne words, "They lived so long, I can't believe that my loved one is gone." And when the person dies suddenly. We feel cheated. We didn't have a chance to say good?bye. To utter words of love and reconciliation if needed. Learning to say Good-bye: Remembering Grandma Rosenberg Selfishly, I would like to think that all my sermons were "pearls of wisdom." Tnat what I uttered would be remem?bered for a long time, becoming as much a part of you as it is a part of me. But honestly, even I don't recall all of the sermons that I have given! They are ut?tered and fade with time. Though from time to time there is a sermon that I give that I remember with remarkable clarity. Such was the sermon that I de?livered in 1993- It was a sermon entitled, "How Do We Say Good-bye". I delivered this sermon after returning from a trip to Eugene, Oregon to visit my Grandma. At that time it seemed like her health was de?clining as she was in her early 90's and my mother asked everyone to come up and visit and say their good byes. Upon returning I reflected upon the difficulty of saying "good bye" to those people who have played important roles in our lives. People tnat we are close to or people that have changed our lives forever. And I guess I remember this sermon be?cause I have delivered it so many times. Over and over again. To each of you here. To so many others. Every time I have delivered a eulogy. When someone we We are taught by our faith tradition to go to those that we love and make peace-shalom with them. To let them know tnat we love them. To let them know each day how much we care. But the reality is that this is one of the hardest things in the world for any of us to d^^ It isn't so much that we take those we Iove:^R granted. Sometimes it is difficult to get be1" yond past hurts or bruises. Sometimes we find it too difficult to change our life patterns. To express that which is on our heart, preferring instead to be more private with our thoughts and feelings. Thinking that those we love sim?ply "know it" and few words need to be said. Until the time comes ...to say "good-bye". My grandma didn't die in 1993- Nor in 1994. Sne continued to live yet another year, anoth?er month, another day, another moment. Her health wasn't always the best. She knew for the most part who her visitors were. Welcomed with delight when loved ones came to visit. But with each passing day, she did become weaker. And a week ago, my parents received a call from my cousin, "Come, I think that Grandma is dying". So my parents drove up to Eugene. Ana Grandma rallied! One more time. And my parents had hope. But stayed on a few days more just the same. On Tuesday, they took care of family business and errands and came to visit Grandma at about 5:00 p.m. Gathered with my cousin, my parents were able to say their last "good-bye". A half hour later Continued on Page 1 5# Congregation N e r Tamid December 2001 Temple Board Members ?STHWART Blumenfeld President Scott Stolberg VP Administration Howard Skolnick VP Ways & Means Richard Granich VP Membership Ira Spector VP Religious Activities Hilary Torchin VP Education & Youth Mindy W adkins VP Member Activities Scorr Dockswell VP Social Action Leon Marco Treasurer Lynn Sasso Secretary Esther Saltzman Trustee Jacky Rosen Trustee Robb Worth Trustee Beth Bromberg Trustee Cookie Olshein Esq. Trustee Cecilia Schafler Trustee Ira Miller Trustee Gina Polovina Trustee Doug Unger Esq. Trustee Ruth Urban Sisterhood Michael Milano Brotherhood Samantha Saltzman NTTY Sid Garber Golden Chai Drew Levy PastPresident Bob Unger Esq. Past President Jerry Gordon Esq. Past President Cal Lewis Past President Eileen Kollins Past President Kenneth Schnitzer Past President Dr. David Wasserman Past President Dr. Steve Kollins Past President ^B|hael Cherry VV Bernard Farrow Eugene Kirshbaum* Past President Past President Past President David Goldwater* Past President Rabbi Sanford Akselrad Ex Officio Rabbi Jennifer Weiner *Deceased Ex Officio ?December ?Torah Study Dates Tuesdays zvith %abbi Ahsefrad 12pm-lpm/ ?Board ?Room 12/11 Saturdays zoith a lay header 9 am / Library 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22, 12/29 ISSAGE FROM OUR TEMPLE PRESIDENT On Taking a Kid to Israel Maybe it?s not a good time to be talking about traveling to anywhere, much less Israel. Never?theless, most of us are not canceling existing plans to travel away from Las Vegas by air ana many people are making new plans to travel in the next few months. (A sizeable CNT contin?gent is going to Boston this month for the UAHC 2001 Biennial.) There are two reasons you should think about taking a child?or grand?child?to Israel in the coming year. First, if you have friends or relatives in Israel, you know from talking to them that they are feeling some?what isolated and even abandoned by the rest of the Jewish family. According to Ministry of Tour?ism statistics, tfie number of visitors to Israel has declined by about 50%. Imagine how you?d feel if lots of your relatives said they were afraid to come to the place where you have to live and work and send your kids to school every day. And something else to ponder: the influx of Christian visitors is holding up much better than Jewish visitors. Why should that be? There?s an even better reason for going with a child or grandchild: seeing Israel through your child?s eyes is a whole different experience than going alone or with your spouse. Sharna and I know. Last year, we fiad the thrill of taking our granddaughter Nikki, then 13, for her first visit to Israel. Now, those of you who know us know that we have a strong attachment to Israel be?cause we have many close friends there from the years when we all lived in Ghana (West Africa). So we ?o fairly often; last year?s visit was Sharna?s 15?? and my l4lh. But going with Nikki was as big a thrill as our very first visit more than 27 years ago. Everything was new again. Explaining the place of Massada injew- ish history while walking around on top or it is a lot more meaningful to a youngster than sim?ply talking abstractly about the Israelites? strug?gle for freedom 2000 years ago. Going to Modi?in and relating the story of the Macabee revolt while standing at the traditional place where they lived and, according to tradition, are buried injects a dose of reality into the sto?ry: this was a real family. (NOTE: Modern Modi?in is also the location of CNT?s sister Reform congregation, YOZMA.) Watching the wheels of our granddaughter?s imagi?nation produce images of life in Beit She?an as she clambered around its ruins was as fascinating as the first time I explored it and tried to do the same. Sitting at a res?taurant in a Druse village and watching our American teenager decide if she?d try local foods based only a description of kibbeh and mezze by our friends is a won?derful memory. So is the enjoyment she obviously took in discovering the comfort of a McDonald?s right across the street from our hotel in Tel Aviv. But I think the most wonderful thing for us was to see Nikki connect with our friends? teenage grandchildren, to come to the realization that she has much more in common with these kids, who live so far away, than she could have dreamt when we departed McCarran airport early one morn?ing the week before. She and they discov?ered that they like the same clothes, listen to the same music, see the same movies, have homework to do, and probably have the same complaints about their parents? and maybe their grandparents. (Israeli middle-class kids speak pretty good English, so there was no big communications gap.) What better way for her to empathize with these kids who nave to travel to school on a bus, just like she does, except with one big difference: they have an armed guard on their bus. Everyone has to balance risks and rewards for tnemselves. And who knows what the situation will be when you might be ready to go. But if you?re okay with it, grab one of the bargain airfares and hotel deals and go, already! You might even run into Sharna ana me with our grandson Matt. B?shalom? Stezvart December 2001 A Special Place To Belong Serving as Cantorial Soloistfor more than a decade at Congregation NerTamid has been an incredible learning ground for me. To be a member of the clergy team in the fastest growing community has given me endless opportunities to explore and build a strong music program for our Congregation. Working with both children and adult choirs? has broadened my spectrum of Jewish music knowledge. The recent forming of the Shabba-Tones has allowed me to bring some of the newest Jewish music to the forefront. From ?traditional? to contemporary, Sephardic to jazz, chassidicto pop, you?ve heard it all. Whetheryou realize it or not, our Congregation has been diversely musically educated and; therefore, developed a ?musical palette?. In order to continue wetting your palette, we have a variety of performers coming to our community over the next few months. Last month we hosted Rockin? Rabbi Joe Black in concert at our temple. It was a fantastic show and we should be proud to be able to bring such talent to our bima. We are so fortunate to be able to work together with others to bring in some of the top Jewish performers in the country. As Las Vegas is ?catching up? with the nation in terms of hearing these performers, it is so important to support these programs. We?re not stopping with Rabbi Black. On February 10th, we are collaborating with the JCC and Temple Beth Sholom to bring in another incredible performer, Craig Taubman. If you?re not familiar with the name, you would recognize his music from our Shabba-Tones Service including: Rom?mu, L?cha Dodi, Barechu, Flashkiveinu, Adonai Sephatai and Shalom Rav. These are only a few of his most recent melodies and his repertoire is much more extensive. Many of Craig?s melodies are sung throughout the country and have become favorites in camps and our National Federation of Temple Youth programs. Don?t pass up this opportunity to continue to broaden your musical horizons! So buy your tickets in advance, bring your friends and family and get ready for another great show! Purim Carnival This year's Purim Carnival will be on Sunday, February 24th. There will be a Raffle and a Silent Auction as well as games, booths, prizes, food and MOST OF ALL, FUN! Letters will be sent soon to our congregation and to the business community requesting sponsorships, raffle prizes, silent auction items and any other help you can offer. All proceeds benefit our Religious School. Save These Dates!! January Pass over Chocolate Fundraiser Pre-Sale* February 24 Purim Carnival May 19 Religious School End-of-Year Picnic & Party *Passover Chocolate Fundraiser Pre-Sale starts in January. Milk and Dark Chocolate - Fruit Slices - Choco?late Lollipops - Chocolate Covered Matzo - Truffles - Caramel Chews - AND MUCH MORE!!! Fliers from Barton?s Cosher for Passover Choco?late?s will be going home soon! All orders benefit the Religious School. Congregation N e r Tamid December 2001 Religious School News Religious School Calendar December 2001 Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 2 4 5 6 9 11 12 13 16 16 19 20 23 No R/S 30 No R/S 25 No R/S 26 No R/S 27 No R/S **23rd-30th, No R/S due to Winter Break Does a Menorah make Chanukah? Symbols are reminders of Biblical instructions and traditions of our religion and family customs. I collect Menorahs and I think they are beautiful. They remind me of the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. The Shamus reminds me to feat those who serve me with respect whether it be the Person who collects my trash, my gardner, or the professors and family members who helped develop my life values. Often when we think of Chanukah, we think of latkes, presents, dreidel games, decorations and family get- togethers. No! a few school concerts, mall singers and all the gift shopping is not what it?s all about. It is about people caring for each other, giving of their money to help others and offer them a good holiday. Feeding the hungery of which we have too many. It is about life?s miracle, a promise of hope with the birth of a child, the finding of a letter from a loved one long gone. Peace at the end of a war for freedom, a cell phone call or a message on a message machine to tell someone they will always be loved. Holidays bring out the good in people and the love we feel for each other. It is not the best gift or the largest, shiniest Menorah that makes these holidays have importance. It is the sharing, giving and remembering. At CNT we have a tradition: GIVING. This year we will give food to the food bank. Collection for this will be December 9th - December 16th. We will collect NEW clothes for children in shelters, size 0 to 2 toddler, (there will be containers in the foyer of the temple for these donations). The religious school will have a special program at 11am to 12:15pm on Sunday, December 16, 2001 in our social hall. We will have a congregational Chanukah Dinner on Friday, December 14, 2001 and we hope to see all our children there celebrating. Each of us will remember a special holiday event or story. We need to keep these stories alive by sharing them. My gift to all of you is a story told to me by my Uncle Louie. When he was in World War II, he didn?t have a beautiful shiny menorah, but he did have a strong connection to the Jewish religion. The Coca Cola Company supplied the soldiers with soda. The soldiers were supposed to return the bottles to Coca Cola instead Uncle Louie and his friends, (none of which were Jewish) collected 9 bottles. When Chanukah arrived, they lit utility candles that were carefully placed in the soda bottles. Just as guickly as they were lit, they had to be blown out, for safety reasons. The candles, like the oil at the Temple in Jerusalem, lasted all eight days. In a way it was Uncle Louie?s miracle in a war to free people who had been oppressed by Hitler?s army. He and his friends shared a special memory together. After the war, Uncle Louie and his friends would get together during Chanukah and line up the Coke bottles in the back yard. They shared a few laughs and remembered the guys that didn t come back. May your holiday be filled with the blessings of giving and the ability to create special memories for your family and friends. Happy Chanukah Jad(ie ffee!(gp December 2001 A Special Place To Belong cut mscHeei an? kinucrcartcm November was an exciting month for our Preschool and Kindergarten students. We learned about our Veterans and why we are so proud to live in America. We had a visit from the fire department. We had our fingerprints taken for safekeeping. Dr. Jim Siebert, the weatherman from Channel 3, was here to visit us. The older classes enjoyed their field trip to the Rain Forrest Cafe for lunch and a show. But Thanksgiving was the holiday we most anticipated. We nad a delightful Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. What delectable Turkey, Pumpkin Pie, and Cranberry Sauce. We are sure great cooks. The youngsters were dressed in traditional Pilgrim and Native American Garb. Our classes sailed across on the Mayflower, just as our ancestors did so many years ago. It is a pleasure to see our students learning and playing together. The children have developed friendships and watching them work, play and interact with their teachers is a rewarding experience. Our students have learned a great deal both socially and scholastically in the last Kindergarten Boys, L-R Avi Feldman, Kevian Chaco, John Widmeyer, Victor Arriaza few months, and they look forward to learnin even more throughout the school year. December will bring our long anticipated Chanukah program to the stage. We have practiced and rehearsed with Miss Jodi to make our program a special gift to our parents. This spectacular event will take place on Friday December 14th at 11am followed by our traditional latke lunch and Chanukah party. Of course the preschoolers and kindergarten students will be learning all about Chanukah. We will be making traditional Chanukah crafts and be singing all the traditional Chanukah melodies: as well as some new ones. The Rabbi will be reading us a Holiday story and the pre-k and kindergarten classes will be going to the Mandalay Bay Shark reef. This special time of the year is always a favorite and we look forward to seeing this holiday through our children's eyes. Happy holidays from the staff and students of CNT Preschool & Kindergarten Lois ?Bergman Shabbat, L-R Avi Feldman, Elisabeth Ruskin, Azriella Oolen Computes are Fun! L-R Miss Elaine, Danielle Goldstein, Shaney Kanfi Congregation N e r Tamid Sitting Outside, L-R Zachary Coulson, Nikki Korer, Braden rleggenkuhle, May Levy, Michaela Shulman, Josh Popowcer December 2001 Auxiliaries liiiiiiiiti SutzxLod JVw? iiiiiiiitii Greetings and Happy Chanukah! Can you believe it is December already? Even though the holiday season is busy, it can?t compare to the unbelievable Fall Sisterhood experienced. We are in full swing now with our program activities. We had a very fun and educational wine lecture and tasting under the Sukkah in October and an enlightening program on Breast Cancer later in the month. These programs and many more fun and educational programs have been planned by Sandy Stolberg. In early November Sisterhood sponsored our very successful and delicious Chanukah Bazaar with the Ms. Noodle Kugel contest and FUN-D 4 Youth raffle with tremendous prizes. These events took months of work by our dedicated Sisterhood board members and volunteers, Jan Fleckner, Toni Popowcei; Marilyn Polovina Bulavsky, Cecilia Schafler and Yvonne Weiss. Again tne Party Shop under the direction of Frances Klamian, and with the assistance of all her many Sisterhood volunteers, fed us the best latkes and brisket and other goodies. Thank you ladies for such an outstanding job! One of the items for sale at the Chanukah Bazaar was a ?Jewish ? either Forecaster? yam doll made by Sisterhood members specifically ?children to purchase for their parents and grandparents. This was an impromptu project developed by Board Member Sherri Speaker, and a call went out to Sisterhood members to help. The response was wonderful and 15 women showed up to help create dozens of these adorable dolls. We all had a great deal of fun on this project and it was the essence of what Sisterhood is all about. We were doing a mitzvah for CNT while learning from each other and experiencing a wonderful bonding as Sisterhood members of all ages. Thank you Sherri and all our helpers. In keeping with my promise to introduce a few of the Sisterhood Board, it gives me great pleasure to bring tell you about the following women: Katherine Scott, has lived in Las Vegas 38 years and came here from Southern California. She is a single parent of a 19 year old son, Sean, who grew up at CNT. Katherine was the CNT Congregant of the Year for 2001. As a trained Para-Rabinic, she has written many of the special services for CNT, and serves as the Religious Activities Chair for Sisterhood, and has been busy working on a monthly Rosh Chodesh program for Sisterhood scheduled to begin in January. (This is a most interesting spiritual program and more specific information will be mailed directly to members.) Susie Sernoe Plotkin has been in Southern Nevada 11 years coming from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she was bom. She and her husband, Steve, have three children, 15 year old twins Sara and Angela, and son Kurt, who just celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. Susie serves as co-chair of the Party Shop/Kitchen committee and fits that in along with her duties as a full time educator for the school district and religious school teacher at CNT. Many of you may not know that Susie also is the wonderful M.C. for the Hanukah Bazaar and Purim Carnival, complete with costume and all. Gert Moldave moved here 13 years ago from Southern California, where she was in business. She and her husband of 48 years, Sam, have one son. Gert was a woman ahead of her time. She served as a Sargeant Major in the Canadian Army in the early forties and has been a business woman lone before many women had careers outside the home. Once a golfer and tennis player, Gert?s hobbies now are the computer and playing pan and of course volunteering for Sisterhood board member at large. Sherri Speaker has been in Las Vegas for 27 years. She has three grown children, and five grandchildren. She and her second husband Rick have been married 21 years. Sherri co-chairs the Cookbook Committee. She is a natural for this position because she has owned and operated her own restaurant ana loves to cook. She was born in Germany and European cooking has had an influence on her culinary talents. Sherri enjoys the theatre, music and reading along with riding motorcycles. On another note, Rita Malkin, Debbie Levy and Yvonne Gordon are working hard on a special program scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, January 13th, so reserve that date. The program, Chai Life, will be a celebration of local Jewish women artists featuring their work. It will be an afternoon of champagne, chocolate ana fine art. What could be better? If you know of an outstanding artist please have them call Rita Malkin at 451-9412 ASAP. If you are interested in finding our more about Sisterhood, please join us at our regular board meetings, the second Thursday of each month. The board meetings are open to any Sisterhood member. We have now moved our meetings to 7pm. Also, in response to a request from several members, we will hold a very brief business meeting before each program event. Please feel free to call me at 768-8529, or email me at rutn@ruth-urban-group.com if you have any questions about Sisterhood. I welcome your input and questions. I wish you and your loved ones a warm and festive Chanukah. Shalom, ?Rutf December 2001 Sisterhood Congregation 9\[er ?Tamicf A Special Place To Belong Auxiliaries Continued Men 's Club Shalom. As we appraoch the end of the year, The Men's Club is going stronger than ever. Membership has already suipassed last year's number of 103 and we have set a goal of 135 this year. Our breakfast events have been well attended and participation in our community activities has been more than I could ever have asked for. In Novem?ber we sponsored breakfast for the JCC book fair and the room was full as Congresswoman Shelley Berkeley spoke about our situation overseas. On Saturday November 30th, The Men's Club helped spon?sor Rabbi Weiner's Installation Dinner and it was wonderful to eat, sing and dance with so many of our Congregants. Mazel Tov to Rabbi Weiner. In December, we are going to participate in a food- road rally. We are looking for volunteers to travel to people's home to pick up Dags of food for us to deliver to the Jewish Family Services Food Bank. From what we hear the situation is dire and we need your help. Also, I will be travelling to Boston to accept the Gerald L. Wartell Achievement Award from the UAHC and look forward to shar?ing my experiences with you when I return. In January look for our health fair, coordinated by Dr. Fred Toffel. Many medical vendors and speakers will be present in the Social Hall to answer your questions and discuss new technologies. We are in a very difficult time right now and things may get worse. We should all be re-evaluating our priorities. Re-tninking what the meaning of our lives really is. I hope many of you will come forward and help more at Temple, bring your children and grandchildren more and open your hearts more to the charities and community functions that need you the most. If you have any questions about how you can help please do not hesitate to call me or send me an email at michaelmilano@msn.com. Lastly, we are planning our golf tournament earlier this year and are looking for volunteers, golfers and sponsors. This is our biggest fund?raiser and our best event for the year. Give someone a call from the Men's Club and ask how you can make a difference. Afterall, we are now legitimately "The Best Men's Club in the United States." Keep the energy up and let's make it even better. Shalom, Micfmei Mifano We have a significant amount of scrip on hand from the following merchants: Smiths, Raleys, Galleria Mall, and Toys R Us This scrip was earned by the Temple as a rebate from purchases made by various congregants at these merchants locations. The scrip is usable exactly as cash. We are asking all congregants to help us convert this scrip into cash we can then use to support our operating budget. Just stop by the office and see me at any time to purchase this scrip. Those congregants who have member carde from these merchants should remember to use them when shopping at these stores. Again, this does not cost you anything and earns the congregation addi?tional scrip which can then be redeemed by our congregants. There is no cost to you. Your dollars are converted to scrip and the scrip can be used by you exactly the same as cash. Your participation in this program will be appreciated. This can be a good fund raising program for the congregation without any cost to the individual con?gregant. All we need is the enthusiastic participation of as many congregants as possible. Please help us do this! Leon MarcoThe October meeting was well attended and great things are happening at temple. Our youth classes are in full swing, outreach will be starting soon, and we have a very active adult conversion class in progress Kudo?s to everyone that helped make this years High Holidays run smooth and Kol Nidre a success. Thanks o to Rabbi?s Akselrad & Weiner, the Ritual Committee, en's Club, Choir and the office staff for being there for the congregation. K This year the UAHC Regional Biennial will be in Boston during December. So far it looks like about fifteen people including board members, are planning to attend. At the biennial, Mike Milano, Men's Club President, will be accepting the Jerald L. Wartell Jewish Layman?s Award. Way to go guys! Plans are now under way for Rabbi Weiner's installation and weekend festivities November 30th and December 1st. This special weekend for Rabbi Weiner is a way for the whole congregation to participate and welcome ner as a art of our temple family. < e Religious school is doing great! Committees are now being formed for the Purim Carnival . This is the time to get involved and have some fun. The Passover Candy sales will also soon be starting and announcements will be forthcoming for when the sale begins. Other announcements included the winter fundraiser gift wrapping booth. Sign up sheets will be available at tne Chanukah Bazaar as well as afterwards. It?s a fun way to help the temple raise money for all the special programs we enjoy. The board approved the nomination of Maxine Molinsky as Congregant of the Year. Mazel Tov Maxine it's an honor well deserved! A search committee has been formed to select a new Temple Administrator. Beginning in January, 2002, temple board meetings will be neld on the second Tuesday of the month rather than the first Tuesday. Have a great Chanukah...first night is Sunday, December 9th. Shalom, Lynn Sasso Corporate Secretary Mazel Tov to Our December B'nai Mitzvot! Hello my name is Anthony Messinger. I go to school at Knudson Magnet Middle School. My major is Theater Tech and my minor is Percussion Instruments. My hobbies include theater tech, drums and soccer. I will be called to the Torah on December 22nd and would love to invite the entire congregation to come celebrate with me. Planning set for 2003 Bar Mitzvah We are beginning to schedule Bar and Bat Mitzvahs for the calendar year 2003. They will be mailed around December 15th. If you are planning to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in 2003 and have not received a packet from the office by the end of December, please call Karen Levine immediately at 733-6292. If you have any questions about the process of selecting dates, please contact Bella Feldman at CNT. A Special Place December 2001CNT RELIGIOUS SCHOOL TEACHES ETHICAL VALUES, CARING, AND KINDNESS When we asked our students to help the children who lost parents due to the September 11th attacks, they quickly responded. Students brought in nick?els, dimes dollars and checks from their own sav?ings accounts. A check for $1,000, letters and drawings were sent to the UAHC disaster relief fund. (UAHC is the Union of American Hebrew Congrega?tions for the Reform Movement). Shortly after the attacks, students were sad, angry and some were afraid. Many of the children expressed feelings of helplessness. Talking to each other and to our staff help give them comfort. Donating to the fund took away the feeling of helplessness. Later, when President Sush asked the American chil?dren to give a dollar to help the children of Afghan?istan, our students told us they were doing this in secular schools. They wanted their Tzedakah money to go to the ?Amy M. Spector Memorial Campership Fund?. They d