Where Traditional Judaism Embraces the Contemporary World

Human Dignity – CBA continues to openly support every individual

regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, and religious heritage.

Bulletin BETH AM

March 2017 Adar - Nisan 5777

- 2 -

As we march into the

month of March, we see the new moon of

Adar, the last month of the Jewish year.

Our year may change its number in the

7th month of Tishri with the celebration of

Rosh ha-Shana, but the Torah tells us that the first month

of the year is Nisan when we celebrate Passover. It makes

much more sense to begin a year when the flowers bloom

than when the leaves on trees die.

The month of Adar, therefore, is an appropriate

time to bid farewell to the cold mornings of winter and

prepare to joyously welcome the brightness of Spring.

The Rabbis of the Talmud issue the challenge:

MEE-SHENEEKHNAS ADAR MARBEEM B'SEEMHA

When Adar begins, find ways to increase joy.

Just what is joy, and how can we increase it? The

commentator Dennis Prager offers some very fine insights

that we should take very seriously as we “en-joy” the

month of Adar, the month of increased joy:

FUN DOES NOT LEAD TO JOY. The major

difference between fun and joy is that fun is experienced

only during an act, while joy is experienced that

transcends the ephemeral fun. Who is happier in the long

run: the person who has a lot of fun eating all the desserts

he or she wants, or the one who has learned the art of self

-control? Rosh ha-Shana services are not exactly in the

category of fun, but people feel more fulfilled when the

service is over than they are when they go home from a

New Year's Eve party.

EVERYTHING THAT LEADS TO SOME HAPPINESS

INVOLVES SOME AMOUNT OF RISK. Many people avoid

things that bring the deepest joys - marriage, family,

serious studies, embracing religious demands,

volunteering to help others, to name a few - knowing that

there is a risk of failure involved in each one. To live, that

is to truly live and experience life, there must be the risk

that comes with responsibility. Continuous avoidance of

responsible risk is to merely survive life, to get through

life, but not to live it with meaning and joy.

FINDING JOY IS A MATTER OF WHAT IS, NOT

WHAT IS NOT. Look up at a tiled ceiling on which one tile

is missing. If you are like most people,

you will concentrate on the missing

tile. We tend to do the same in life:

We tend to focus on what we do not

have rather than on what we have.

The Talmud asks, "Who are the most

fortunate people?" The answer: "Those who are content

with what they have." This is one of those truisms whose

validity becomes increasingly apparent as we get older...

and wiser.

As we immerse ourselves in the Purim festivities

and the month of Adar, we should take Dennis Prager's

insights seriously, for Judaism believes that finding joy in

life is, indeed, a serious issue.

— Rabbi Rick Sherwin

RabbiRick@embarqmail.com

Sunday Morning Minyan

9:30 a.m. in the Minyan Room

A Message

From

Rabbi Rick

Please sign up at:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c48aaaa2ea2ff2-cbaeast3

EAST SIDE HAVURA March 10 at 6:30 p.m.

at the home of Rebecca & Josh Katz

- 3 -

READING THE MEGILA

The celebration of Purim centers on the reading

of the Megila, the Book of Esther. The service is unlike

any other, as we are encouraged to come in comfortable

clothes and to be noisy in an effort to drown out the

name of the villain, Haman. All "children" are invited —

grandchildren and grandparents and everyone in

between — to put on costumes or "funny" T-Shirts.

Since your head must be covered anyway, you might as

well wear a funny hat!

The Shabbat-ending hour-long Purim service,

followed by fun refreshments, on Saturday evening,

March 11th, begins in the Sanctuary with the brief

evening service and Havdala at 6:45 p.m., and the

reading of the Megila at 7 pm.

PURIM

The word “purim” means “lots”. The holiday is

so named because it commemorates the tale of the

villainous Haman who cast lots to determine the best

day for the massacre of the Jews throughout the Persian

Empire.

The day has acquired many of the characteristics

of the simultaneous carnival season enjoyed by other

people. Instead of observing the day in seriousness and

gravity and contemplating the possible, dreadful

consequences, we traditionally treat the even as a huge

joke. In fact, Haman — the archetype of the classic anti-

Semite — is portrayed as a clumsy clown.

Some people call Purim the holiday of Spring

Fever. The long winter in Israel is about to end, and

Spring is just beyond the next new moon. We wear

costumes and we laugh, almost as if to get our of our

systems the riotous emotions of early Spring, in order to

address the theme of liberation more profoundly when

Pesah arrives.

Sweeping through one hundred years of Scandinavian

history, this luminous story follows three generations of

Swedish women–a grandmother, a mother, and a

daughter–whose lives are linked through a century of

great love and great loss. Resonating with truth and

revelation, this moving novel deftly explores the often

difficult but enduring ties between mothers and

daughters, the sacrifices, compromises, and rewards in

the relationships between men and women, and the pat-

terns of emotion that repeat themselves through genera-

tions. If you have ever wanted to connect with the past,

orrediscover family, Hanna’s Daughters will strike a chord

in your heart. . . .

Book & Movie Club Thursday, March 16 - 7pm Panera across from Publix

in Springs Plaza

- 4 -

MARCH

1 Daniel Franzel

2 Dylan Escobar

3 Michael L. Baron

3 Ben Colley

3 Delaney Rosenblatt

4 Rayna Cohen

4 Rebecca Hinkley

4 Sami Keimach

5 Janelle Jacobson

6 Gwen Bloom

6 Femmy Schiffrin

7 Scott Halperin

8 Holnic Altidor

8 Jacob Bourne

9 Denise Jaffe

12 Herb Weissman

13 Betsy Batwin

13 Beth Oxborough

13 Rich Rubin

14 Fred Muscatello

15 Karen Estrin

15 Debbie Zelkowitz

16 Kate Botwinik

19 Havener Closner

19 Jae Muscatello

20 Larry Kaplan

20 Jonah Katz

21 Jeffrey Poiley

21 Elly Soski

22 Kevin Colley

23 Lauri Cayado

23 Mary Kutner

24 Henry Kaplan

24 Kang Muscatello

26 Suzzie Byron

26 Hilda Frishman

26 Stan Levine

27 Fran Gelfand

28 Seth Herwitz

28 Abigail Katz

29 Heddy Bernstein

30 Michael Finkelstein

31 Jared Schlesinger

2 Denise & Cliff Reback (58)

4 Sophia & Alberto Poliak (36)

5 Susan & Paul Brodersen (17)

7 Karen & Steven Franzel (19)

7 Marsha & Marty Stein (25)

9 Rebecca & Josh Katz (14)

10 Hope & David Keimach (16)

10 Rachel & Sam Shapiro (17)

12 Stacey & Rich Kaiser (11)

15 Susan Shapiro & Steven Sable (37)

19 Elaine Silver & Michael Baron (40)

21 Sharon & Michael Wilensky (24)

Bat Mitzva

Danielle Shenkman

March 31st & April 1st, 2017

Danielle Shenkman is the

daughter of Jason and Lisa

Shenkman. Danielle is in the

seventh grade at Sanford Middle

School in the pre-IB program. She loves the performing

arts and participates in the drama club and advanced

chorus and competes with her Jr. Thespian troupe. In her

free time, Danielle loves to read, sing, act, dance and

draw. Danielle also cares deeply about animals and the

environment and has thus been working on her Mitzvah

project since the 2nd grade.

Danielle designs, makes and sells hair accessories and

donates the profits to the World Wildlife Fund to help

save endangered animals.

Danielle’s older brother Zachary, will be in attendance, as

well as all of Danielle’s grandparents; Leonard and Debra

Silver from Boynton Beach, FL and also Norman and Rita

Shenkman from Connecticut. Danielle has many aunts,

uncles and cousins who have happily travelled from the

Northeast to celebrate with her. Uncle Rob, and cousins

Brad and Justin from New Hampshire; Aunt Jodi, Uncle

Matt, and cousins Kasey and Jared from Connecticut; and

Aunt Jenn, Uncle Dave, and cousins Hannah and Avery

from Massachusetts.

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way

for you to support Beth Am!

You’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and

convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with

the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of

the purchase price to Beth Am.

Simply copy and paste

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/59-2570603

and begin shopping !

- 5 -

SUPPORTERS OF BETH AM

Yahrzeit Fund

Celia & Steven Rosenberg

In loving memory of, Louis Schiff

Jackie & Stan Levine

In loving memory of, Florence Olicker

Gitty Adler

In loving memory of Frieda Brauer

Mindi Antalek

In loving memory of Lisa Hardaway

Mati Harac

In loving memory of Michael Harac

Steven & Celia Rosenberg

In loving memory of Peter Rosenberg

Barbara & Sherwin Sokolov

In loving memory of Annie Sokolov

In loving memory of Dr. Howard Sokolov

Howard, Kim, Josh & Michael Finkelstein

In loving memory of Lee Finkelstein

Mindi Antalek

In loving memory of Sam Broad

Diane & Marc Siegel

In loving memory of Erna Stern

General Fund

Paula & Yair Erez

In honor of Mati Harac

Cantor’s Fund Sarah & Al Opoliner

In loving memory of Jan Opoliner

Education Fund

Fred & Frances Brown

In loving memory of Sidney Brown

WE REMEMBER MARCH YAHRZEITS

1 Al Feinberg, uncle of Marissa Mencher Kaprow

1 Moshe Salzhauer, father of Shlomith Cohen

2 Louis Heller, father of Cheryl Allen

3 David Eichenholz, grandfather of Jason Eichenholz

4 Doris Miller, mother of Barbara Bernstein

5 Hyman Hecht, father of Eva Martin

6 Sidney Brown, father of Fred Brown

6 Sidney S. Brown , father of Alan Brown

6 Erna Stern, grandmother of Diane Siegel

6 Florence Goldfarb, mother of Marcia Rosen

6 Marta Keating, mother of Sean-Paul Lewis

6 Max Maysman, father of Carolyn Kaplan

6 Morris Meister, father of Joanie Mayer

6 Roland Reagan, father of Jo Ann Woociker

7 Celia Mendelsohn, grandmother of Robyn Eichenholz

8 Albert Weiner, father of Shelby Poiley

9 Bertha Grutman, mother of Jeri Leavitt

10 Flora Tulip, mother of Cyndie Elman

10 Helen Poiley, aunt of Jeffrey Poiley

11 Dave Jacobson, father of Linda Bernstein

11 Fred Gardner, brother of Rick Gardner

11 Irene M. Berman, sister of Carolyn Kaplan

12 Floyd Bellet, father of Pam Bellet

12 Lillian Schanz, mother of Barbara Sokolov

12 Martin Levin, brother of Rhonda Des Islets

13 Chaim Kusnetz, father of Sue Bobele

13 Morris Tenenbaum, grandfather of Nyles Teicher

13 Paul Pisak, father of Nancy Kucaba

15 Sam Broad, father of Mindi Antalek

16 Kenneth Bowman, husband of Wendy Bowman

16 Maybelle “Aunt May” Corenswet, aunt of Mark Estrin

16 Pearl Barron, mother of Anne Lev

17 Lenore Leavitt, 1st wife of Jack Leavitt

17 Matthew Rothman, father of Sandi Groberg

17 Rose Padawer, mother-in-law of Gloria Padawer

18 Samuel Poiley, father of Jeffrey Poiley

18 Wilbur “Bill” Shapiro, husband of Bernice Shapiro

18 Wilbur “Bill” Shapiro, father of Susan Shapiro

19 Hess Finestone, father of Judith Rosenblatt

20 Leon Goldfarb, grandfather of Mark Lichtenstein

20 Marie Kucaba, daughter of Nancy Kucaba

20 Roslynne Bloom, mother of Gwen Bloom

20 Tillie Kornick, grandmother of Mark Davids

20 Tillie Kornick, mother of Bernice Davids

- 6 -

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3 Tales for Tots 9:30 a.m. Shabbat service 7:30 p.m. at CBA

4 B'nai Mitzva class 9 a.m. Shabbat Service 9:30 a.m.

5 Religious School 9:15 a.m. Morning minyan 9:30 a.m. Board meeting 10 a.m.

6 JTEN

6-7:30 p.m.

7 Religious School (east side) 5-6:30 p.m.

8 Religious School (CBA) 4:15-6:00 p.m.

9

10 Shabbat service 7:30 p.m. at CBA

East Side Havura 6:30 p.m. at the home of Rebecca & Josh Katz

11 B'nai Mitzva class 9 a.m.

Shabbat morning service 9:30 a.m. Havdala 6:45 Megila Reading 7pm

12 Religious School 9:15 a.m.

Morning minyan 9:30 a.m. Mitzvah Brigade Meeting 10am Purim Carnival & Schpiel 11:30-1pm

13

14 Religious School (east side) 5-6:30 p.m.

15 Religious School (CBA) 4:15-6:00 p.m.

16 Book & Movie Club - 7 p.m. at Panera (Hanna’s Daughters by Marianne Fredrikkson)

17 Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.

18 No B'nai Mitzva class Shabbat morning service 9:30 a.m.

19

No Religious School

20

21 No Religious School

Oakmonte with Rabbi Rick 1:30 p.m.

22

No Religious School

23

24 Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m. Oneg sponsored by Sheri Kaplan Cohn & Alan Cohn

25 B'nai Mitzva class 9 a.m.

Shabbat morning service 9:30 a.m.

26 Religious School 9:15 a.m.

Morning Minyan 9:30 a.m.

Security Meeting 10am

27 JTEN

6-7:30 p.m.

28 Religious School (east side) 5-6:30 p.m.

29 Religious School (CBA) 4:15-6:00 p.m.

30

31 Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.

1 B'nai Mitzva class 9 a.m. Shabbat morning service 9:30 a.m.

SERVICE SCHEDULE:

Friday Evenings at 7:30 p.m.

Shabbat Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Minyan at 9:30 a.m.

Community

Minyan

7:45 a.m.

Mon-Fri

Jewish

Academy

of Orlando

MARCH 2017

ADAR - NISAN 5777

Bat Mitzva Danielle Shenkman

- 7 -

MA’OT HITTIN: THE MATZA FUND

It is an ancient custom to make a special solicitation of funds before Pesah to help those in need. While charity is a mitzva at all

times, it was felt that on Pesah particularly, no one should go hungry. We continue this custom today by contributing money

that will enable others to celebrate Passover in a manner befitting one who is no longer a slave.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PLEASE RETURN TO CONGREGATION BETH AM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Rabbi Rick,

___ I/We enclose my/our contribution to the Matza Fund.

___ I/We are making a separate contribution through the secure contribution page on the CBA Website

___ I/We hereby authorize you, as the agent of Congregation Beth Am, to use a portion of the enclosed contribution to symbolically

“sell” all leaven in my/our possession. The remainder of the contribution is to be set aside for the mitzva of Ma’ot Hittin.

Signature _______________________________________________________________

Printed name ____________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________

Date ___________________________________________________________________

First Night Seder

led by Rabbi Rick

Monday, April 10

Seder begins promptly at 6:15 pm

Reserve your spot by April 3!

Adults (member) $38

Adults (non-member) $48

Children (ages 5-12) $20

Children under age 5 No Charge

College Students without local family $10

Active duty military personnel No Charge

Please remit your payment and RSVP

through the synagogue office ( 407-862-3505 ) or on our secured website - shalom@congbetham.org

SIYUM B'KHORIM:

THE FAST OF THE FIRST-BORN

Monday Morning – April 10 – 7:15 a.m.

It is an ancient and widespread custom for the

firstborn to fast on Erev Pesah as a statement of

thanksgiving that the Angel of Death “passed over” the

homes of the Israelites during the tenth plague.

There are different customs associated with this fast.

Ancient sources teach that every firstborn – male or

female – must fast on this day. If there is no firstborn,

then the oldest in the house must fast.

This fast is treated with leniency so that if there is a

meal associated with a mitzva (such as a Siyum which

completes a section of Talmud) the firstborn may partake

of the meal. Once the fast is broken for a mitzva, the

firstborn may eat during the remainder of the day.

The Siyum B'khorim is a particularly meaningful Parent

-Child occasion for learning and prayer. It is a mitzva to

go out for breakfast following the service, even if it

means that our child will be a little late for school!

- 8 -

- 9 -

- 10 -

- 11 -

Lucille Belnick, M.D., P.A.

Internal Medicine and Women's Health

Providing modern medical care

with an old-fashioned touch

Located in Casselberry/Winter Park area

5558 Lake Howell Road

Winter Park, FL 32792

Currently accepting new patients

Phone: (407) 679-3400

Fax: (407) 679-3412

E-mail: LBelnickMD@gmail.com

We encourage you to support our

advertisers who support us with their ads

in our Bulletin, Membership Directory

and on our Website !

- 12 -

Custom Painting By Richard Rubin

407.869.4779

Cell: 407.718.9950

Free Estimates ♦ Excellent Local References

Interior ♦ Exterior Commercial ♦ Residential

Exterior Pressure Cleaning

Celebrating 35 Years in Business!

MEMBER CENTRAL FLORIDA

eBay FOR CBA

Donations are way down…….. Please Help!

Think of CBA when you clean out your closets or garage!

We will pick up your items!

All proceeds benefit CBA!

Please consider a vehicle donation!

Call Herb Weissman

321-246-0717 for a pickup appointment.

HOW TO CONTACT US

407.862.3505

Shalom@CongBethAm.org

www.CongBethAm.org

Please direct

all written correspondence to:

P.O. Box 915756

Longwood, FL 32791-5756

We're located at:

3899 Sand Lake Road

Longwood, FL 32779

Opportunities For Giving

Our tradition teaches us the importance of

tz'daka. What a wonderful and lasting way to

commemorate a birthday, anniversary, yahrzeit,

recovery from illness or hardship, Bar or Bat

Mitzva, wedding, new baby or other occasion!

Or give just because... !

We maintain various funds, donations to which

are used to support our many activities and to

make Beth Am the Synagogue we want it to be.

Please show that you care —

make a contribution to the fund of your choice.

All contributions are tax deductible.