UCH HAS happened at Beth El since late July

when Rabbi Elyssa and Hazzan Matt began their

leadership roles with our congregation. In some respects, it has been like

riding a rocket for them. There was finding and purchasing a new home,

moving, and at the same time planning for the High Holidays. In late

September we celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and then Sukkot

and Simhat Torah in October. Then in November we had our first Lev Tahor

Friday night service and the Clergy Installation. Most recently was our

Congregational Hanukkah Celebration as well as a number of speakers and

education events.

z February Table of Contents Rabbi & Hazzan’s Message ..... 1

President’s Message ................ 1

Beth El Online ......................... 1

Like Us on Facebook ............... 1

Thank You to ........................... 2

Happy Anniversary .................. 2

Lunch & Learn ........................ 2

Rose Hill Plots ......................... 2

Beth El in your Will ................. 2

Schedule of Services ................ 2

Sisterhood Events .................... 2

Yahrzeits .................................. 3

Calendar ................................... 3

Community Shabbat Dinner .... 4

Purim Event ............................. 5

Second Night Seder ................. 5

Bagels, Babies, and Blessings ... 5

Education Program ................. 6

Akron Jewish Music Festival ... 6

Upcoming Events ................... 6

Sisterhood Update .................... 7

Shlichim Events ....................... 8

ALEPH Kallah 2018 ............... 8

Ask the Clergy ......................... 9

Time Change ........................... 9

In Memoriam ........................... 9

Contributions ......................... 10

Memorial Plaques .................. 11

Contribution Form ................. 11

Lev Tahor .............................. 12

Annual Fundraiser ................. 12

The Challenge of Further Creating Our Future

Dr. Harvey Sterns, President

Meaning & Minyan

N FEBRUARY 25, Sunday morning minyan will begin at a new time:

8:45 AM. The Sunday service has been called

Yachad,which means “Together,” for over 5 decades. Yachad will mean

something new: an Intergenerational Family Friendly prayer service. The first

15 minutes will be dedicated to the traditional style, while the following 20

minutes will be dedicated to a more contemporary style most often led by the

Rabbi or Hazzan. Participants will be able to choose from the regular siddur or

an all-age friendly siddur with pictures. The timing is immediately before

Sunday school and invites families with young children to participate in

praying. The second half of the Yachad minyan will be musical and out loud,

together. On some Sundays, older minyan members will share a meaningful

memory or teaching from their time in minyan.

Prayer means different things to different people. Some come to pray to

praise God, others because of a brokenheart. Many

M

President page 8

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

FEBRUARY 2018 AKRON, OHIO SHEVAT • ADAR 5778

O

Rabbi & Hazzan page 7

Page 2 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

Knitzvah Feb. 18, 9:30 AM

Sisterhood Meeting Feb. 18, 10:45 AM

Taste of Torah Feb. 19, 7:00-8:30 PM

L'Chaim Cooking Club Feb. 26, 6:00-8:00 PM at Beth El

Happy Anniversary FEBRUARY YEARS 23 Morris and Barbara Katz ................. 60

Thank You to … • ...Kathy and Mike Seider for

sponsoring the kiddush on December 23 in honor their anniversary

• ...Bonnie Slavitt Moore for sponsoring the kiddush on December 30

• ...Esther and Larry Hexter for sponsoring the kiddush on January 6 in honor of Miriam's 45th birthday

• ...Jim and Susan Osherow for sponsoring bima flowers on Saturday, January 6 in honor of Rachel Osherow leading Musaf

• ...Art and Marcey Aronson and family for sponsoring the bima flowers on January 13 in memory of Herb Berns

• …Robert Cooper and Milton Cooper for sponsoring the bima flowers on January 27 in memory of Carolyn Cooper Lockshin

Beth El Congregation 750 White Pond Drive

Akron, OH 44320

www.bethelakron.com

Office: (330) 864-2105 office@bethelakron.org

Affiliated with

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Elyssa Austerklein

Rabbi rabbi@bethelakron.org

Matthew Austerklein Hazzan

cantor@bethelakron.org Stephen Grundfast

Rabbi Emeritus

Stephen Stein Hazzan Emeritus

Erin Katz Ford Director of Synagogue Education

educator@bethelakron.org

Arlyne Bochnek Office Manager

office@bethelakron.org

Dr. Harvey Sterns President

president@bethelakron.org

Jerry B. Nelson President Elect

Sharon Merklin Vice President

Marsha Friedman Treasurer

Stacey Simonton Secretary

Laurel Gress Baalat Koreh

Leonard Rose Editor

Vol. LXXIII No. 6

The Bulletin is published monthly by Beth El Congregation

750 White Pond Dr., Akron, Ohio 44320

(USPS 052-100)

Periodicals postage paid at Akron, Ohio.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bulletin of Beth El Congregation,

750 White Pond Dr., Akron, Ohio 44320.

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

FEBRUARY 2018 SHEVAT • ADAR 5778

Sunday – 8:45 AM (new time)

Wednesday and Friday – 7:30 AM

Saturday Morning – 9:15 AM

Please note: • Minyan times are Wednesdays and

Fridays at 7:30 AM and Sundays at 8:45 AM. Other times by request only.

• Friday night services will be held on the 2nd Friday of the month at 7:00 PM (Lev Tahor) and on the 3rd Friday of the month at 6:15 PM (Young Family Shabbat).

• Other morning and evening services will be held by request only. Please call the office one week in advance to make special arrangements.

Women's League for Conservative Judaism

Remember Beth El

in Your Will

For information, contact Michael Rabe, Endowment Chair

330 666-9098

Candle Lighting

Feb. 2 ..... 5:27 PM

Feb. 9 ..... 5:35 PM

Feb. 16 ..... 5:44 PM

Feb. 23 ..... 5:52 PM

Havdalah

Feb. 3 ..... 6:29 PM

Feb. 10 ..... 6:37 PM

Feb. 17 ..... 6:45 PM

Feb. 24 ..... 6:53 PM

Two Plots Available

Lot #230, Section 11

Please contact

Don & Marcia Stone

561-495-4189

dstone8500@aol.com

Lunch and Learn

Feb. 13 Noon - 1 PM

At the Law Offices of

Goldman-Rosen 11 S. Forge St.

Akron, OH 44304 Lunch is $12 per person. To RSVP, please contact

Karen James at ksj-66@goldman-rosen.com.

Rose Hill Burial Park

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 3

Shevat 5778 February 2018 Adar 5778

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Services (unless otherwise noted)

Sunday 8:45 AM

Wed. & Fri. 7:30 AM

Saturday 9:15 AM

Let Us Know Rabbi Elyssa and Hazzan Matt are eager to visit congregants in the hospital but can’t if they don't know. If you or someone you know is in the hospital or sick at home, and would appreciate a pastoral visit, please let us know.

1 16 Shevat

2 17 Shevat

3 18 Shevat

Yitro

4 19 Shevat

Annual Beth El Fundraiser

5 20 Shevat

6 21 Shevat

Hebrew School

7 22 Shevat

8 23 Shevat

9 24 Shevat

Lev Tahor 7:00 PM (musical service)

10 25 Shevat

Mishpatim

Shabbat Shekalim

11 26 Shevat

Sunday School

12 27 Shevat

13 28 Shevat

Lunch ‘n Learn 12 Noon

Hebrew School

Board Meeting 7:00 PM

14 29 Shevat

15 30 Shevat

Rosh Chodesh

16 1 Adar

Community Shabbart at Anshe Sfard

Rosh Chodesh

17 2 Adar

Terumah

18 3 Adar

Knitzvah 9:30 AM

Sisterhood 10:45 AM

Sunday School

19 4 Adar

Office Closed

Taste of Torah 7:00 PM

Presidents Day

20 5 Adar

Hebrew School

21 6 Adar

22 7 Adar

23 8 Adar

Hazzan Matt at Temple Israel

24 9 Adar

Tetzaveh

Shabbat Zachor

Bagels, Babies, and Blessings

25 10 Adar

Sunday School

26 11 Adar

L’chaim Cooking Club 6:00 PM

27 12 Adar

28 13 Adar

Purim Celebration 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Fast of Esther

Megillah Reading

Clare Greenbaum Fradel Haber George H. Haberman Karl Hacker Nancy Jo Harris Leo Kodish Ben Kodish Jean Leonard Dr. Richard Leshin Margaret Levine William Loeb Anna May Helen Miller Gerald Millman David Moritz Cyrl Moss Harold M. Post Ella Rein Judith Resnik Rebecca Sarlson Beatrice Sarlson Helen Savage Rae Schneier Brian Senser Jay Shulan

Charles Simpson Lily Sokol Sarah Sterns Hy Weiss Max Wyant February 10 - 16 Peter Abramson Elaine Apelbaum Alfred A. Axner Morris Berzon Nathan Borodkin Arlene Cohen Samuel Federman Randy Geller Morris Goldberg Roseline L. Kodish Sadie Levin David Lieb Herman Miller David Mirman Isidore Monosoff Harold Neiman Burton E. Portnoy Sonia Rippe

Larry Rudick Raphael Leon Sardas Harold Savage Pauline Schneir Nathan Schwartz Windsor Smith Samuel H. Stone Donald Wish Bernard Zetzer February 17 - 23 Jerry Bass Israel Borodkin Morris Brown Milton B. Cohen Molly Cohen William A. Dreyfuss Jeanette Emmer Mildred Federhar Betty Gertz Sylvia Gilbert Elnora Glicksteen Abraham Green William Heisler George J. Heller

Milton Kades Edward Katz Evelyn Katz Max Leeper Sally Lesowitz Rose Leubitz Harry Levy Stan Lichenstein Sam Loeb Minnie Manes Paul G. Martin Lillian Medoff Abraham Miller Max Minkin Ruth Toledano Moss Gary Nelkin Joseph S. Palazzo Randy Recht Jack Recht Harry Richman Albert H. Robbins Charles Schneir Ben Shecht Gussie Sokol Bob Sugerman

Simon Talis Fany Weinberger Joseph Weinstein Frances Weiss Jennie Winer Minnie Wolfe February 24 - 28 Dr. Harry Breman Sidney David Cheplowitz Louise Cohen Morris Cohn Ovadiah Geller Maxine Gertz Molly Greene Molly Heisler Abraham Kalish Rebecca Kaufman Richard M. Levin Fannie Levine Melvin Levy Fred Lieberman Jack Luck Belle Luckey Hyman Medvin

YAHRZEITS

February 1-2 Samuel Botnick Deborah Feingold Bertha Handler Elaine Kofsky Sophie Lasoff Carolyn Lockshin Clara Londa Randy Mermelstein Anna Raipstein Thelma Sholiton Minnie Sitzkin February 3 - 9 Edward Abramson Rosa Bane Evelyn Cheplowitz Marvin Gertz Edward Glass Daniel Goldstein Constance Gomberg Simon Gottlieb

Minnie Mervis Jack Minc Rose G. Morris Mickey Nusbaum Pearl Rosen Anna Rosenthal Irene F. Sanders Edward Savage Ronald Schneiderman Ellis Schwartz Jacob Shapiro Hannah Weinstein Yetta Weissfeld

Please call the Beth El office to inform us of Yahrzeit omissions

or corrections.

Page 4 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

Rabbi Elyssa and Cantor Kathy will lead the family service while Hazzan Matt, Rabbi Mendy, and Rabbi Josh will lead the main service.

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 5

Second Night, March 31, 2018

Community Passover Seder

Name: ___________________________________________

I would like to be seated with __________________________

Adults

Children (6-12)

5 and under

(vegetarian food will be available)

Be sure to RSVP by March 20 to save money!

Postmarked by March 20

___ @ $28 = $____

___ @ $12 = $____

___ @ FREE

Total = $____

Postmarked after March 20

___ @ $36 = $____

___ @ $18 = $____

___ @ FREE

Total = $____

Bagels, Babies, & Blessings Who .................. All babies born in 2017 and their families

When ................ Saturday, February 24, 9:15 AM

Where ............... Beth El Chapel

What ................. Join us for a special welcome and blessing followed

by bagels, schmooze, and Mini Minyan

What Else ......... Every baby will receive a Beth El onesie

Wednesday, February 28, 6 PM Purim Pizza & PJs

Family Friendly Megillah Reading and Dinner!

Pizza and Salad Bar, Milkshakes,

Adult Beverages, Hamentaschen

Thursday, March 1, Noon Megillah Reading

Lunch

Sunday, March 4, 10 AM Purim Carnival

For children 11 and under, at Temple Israel

RSVPs for Feb. 28 & March 4 are always appreciated: educator@bethelakron.org

Make checks to Beth El Congregation and send to 750 White Pond Dr., Akron, OH 44320

Please

note the

date change!

Page 6 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

Each year, all three area synagogues’ Hebrew schools get

together to plan and implement community programs for

students in Preschool through middle school. In the fall,

Beth El hosted the Shofar factory where participants

discovered how much effort went into creating shofarot.

Each student that attended made their own shofar in time

for the new year. For Hanukkah, Temple Israel hosted the

first ever "Give, not Get" where families were able to

make Judaically-themed gifts to send to synagogues,

Jewish communities, and camps recently affected by

natural disasters. In the spring, we will take a closer look to see how Matzah

is made and why the number 18 is so special. These programs are a wonderful

addition to our curriculum and would not be possible without the support of the

Savage Grant from the JCBA. These programs allow for wonderful Jewish

Family Education opportunities while also allowing all three synagogues to

work collaboratively. Families are also able to make new connections and

network with others that they normally might not have been able to meet.

Breath in a Ram's Horn • March 11, 4 PM In the Adult Education realm, there are some wonderful

new opportunities coming up – A unique opportunity to

hear Composer Daniel Asia talk about the relationship

between Classical Music and Judaism, together with a

liberal playing of his music, particularly that which has

been inspired by Jewish texts. This event will feature

Hazzan Matthew Austerklein, baritone; Stephen Aaron

(University of Akron), guitar; and other musical guests.

Tickets are $18. Students (with valid ID) and under 18 are free.

Purchase your tickets online at www.bethelakron.com or mail in your

reservation to the Beth El office. No physical tickets will be sent out, you

must check in upon arrival.

We are very excited to announce that Torah Scholar

Dr. Avivah Zornberg will be visiting Beth El in early

May. Please be on the lookout for more information

in the spring. To find out more about Dr. Zornberg,

please visit www.avivahzornberg.com.

March 6 Hebrew School

9 Lev Tahor

11 Sunday School

13 Board Meeting

13 Hebrew School

16 Young Family Shabbat

18 Knitzvah

18 Sisterhood Meeting

19 Taste of Torah

20 Hebrew School

25 Sunday School

26 L'chaim Cooking Club

30 Office Closed

31 Yom Tov Services

31 Annual 2nd Night Seder

April 1 Yom Tov Services

6 Yom Tov Services

7 Yom Tov Services

8 Sunday School

10 Hebrew School

10 Board Meeting

13 Lev Tahor

15 Knitzvah

15 Sisterhood Meeting

17 Hebrew School

20 Young Family Shabbat

22 Sunday School

24 Hebrew School

29 Akron Jewish Music Festival

May 1 Hebrew School

6 Sunday School

6 Avivah Zornburg

8 Hebrew School

11 Lev Tahor

18 Young Family Event

20 Shavuot Services

20 Consecration

21 Shavuot Services

25 Community Shabbat

Education

Program

Akron Jewish Music Festival

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ Sunday, April 29, 4:00 PM

Shaw JCC Featuring Hazzan Matt,

Beth El Choir members, the University of Akron Chamber Choir, and special guests!

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 7

come to say kaddish for a loved one, while still others

come simply for Tradition’s sake. Just as there is no

one right reason to pray, there is no one right prayer

service. We hope that you will brighten your Sunday

mornings by beginning with us in joy. (See more

about prayer from the Rabbi and Hazzan on page 9.)

When we arrived as your Rabbi and Hazzan, the

ritual committee had already put a “summer schedule”

in place. Over the course of our six months together,

we have had numerous conversations about minyan

with the board, the ritual committee, regular

minyan goers, and more. We have come to our new

schedule and Sunday time change by way of much

brainstorming and discussion on how to bring new

energy to our minyanim and to respond to the current

needs of the congregation.

We will continue with four weekly minyanim - Sunday morning at 8:45 AM, Wednesday and Friday at 7:30 AM (followed by a hot breakfast on Fridays),

Rabbi, from page 1

If you have not joined Sisterhood this year we hope you will

consider becoming a member! Sisterhood is an important part of

Beth El, supporting congregational events. We are proud of our

ongoing monthly Sisterhood programs and welcome you to

become part of them:

• Knitzvah • Meets the third Sunday morning of every month to knit items for the sick, elderly, handicapped and needy

www.facebook.com/groups/knitzvahbethelakron/) If you don’t know how to knit or crochet we will teach you!

• Taste of Torah • Monthly Women’s Torah Study Group every third Monday of the month led by women from our

congregation, 7 PM. Thank you to Kate Waits for leading our study in December!

• L’Chaim Cooking Club • A monthly cooking club every fourth Monday of the month, bringing recipes from the

Holocaust to life (a joint program with Temple Israel Sisterhood.) www.lchaimcookingclub.com 6 PM. Our third year

of cooking together began this January!

• Baking Crew • Meeting a few times a year to bake cakes and cookies for our Shabbat/High Holiday Kiddush. Our next

baking will be in February to bake hamantashen for Purim.

• New! – Monthly Sunday Morning Meetings/Programs • Following Knitzvah, third Sunday of the month, 10:45

AM (brunch is served)!

We had a wonderful meeting in December. Please join us at the following upcoming meetings:

• January – Work on the new Beth El Cookbook, led by Sherry Hellman. Come get involved in this wonderful project!

• February – Be part of our Baking Crew and help make Hamantashen for our congregation!

• March – Gefilte Fish! You can just open a can or buy a frozen loaf – or – you can learn to use a tried and true recipe

from our Beth El Cook Book! Just in time for Passover – come cook with us!

Other future programs we will be planning include Sisterhood Shabbat and Sisterhood Donor. We are also excited to help

Rabbi Elyssa and Hazzan Matt bring some special programs to our congregation. We hope you will volunteer to be on a

committee to help plan:

• A 'Chopped' cooking program challenging the rabbi

• A Miriam's Drumming Workshop

and at 9:15 AM on Shabbat morning. Additionally, we have two regular Friday evening services: Lev Tahor (Pure Heart, our musical devotional) at 7:00 PM on the second Friday of the month and Young Family Shabbat at 5:30 PM on the third Friday of the month, beginning with dinner.

As always, a special request for a morning or evening minyan may be made at least two weeks in advance. Evening minyan special requests may be held at the synagogue, at your home, or at the clergy’s home, as sent out over email.

Finally, in an effort to boost participation at minyan and support all our Beth El members, we will be requesting your attendance at 3 minyanim over the course of the calendar year. A letter with your pre-assigned dates will be mailed to you. If you need to change your assigned dates, please call the office.

Please join us in prayer as one path to making Beth El truly a House of God.

Rabbi Elyssa and Hazzan Matt

Page 8 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

All of these events have given us very satisfying and meaningful

experiences. We have had great enthusiasm in our Shabbat services

on a weekly basis and Family Shabbats and Mini Minyans have been

very successful. We see continuing growth in these activities, and

we are using congregational feedback to further meet expectations

and desires.

It is now time for us to contemplate what we want to accomplish

in our future synagogue programs and activities. Rabbi Elyssa,

Hazzan Matt, Erin, and your Officers are ready to move forward.

Rabbi has suggested a Program Planning Committee to consider

future events. If you would like to be part of this group, please let us

know. Now is the time to share your ideas. We have a wonderful

opportunity to carry out these future plans with resources provided by

the Lippman-Kanfer Foundation and other special funds.

We continue to need to be careful in meeting our annual budget

goals. Your dues and contributions are very important and

appreciated. On Sunday February 4, we will have our 37th Annual

Beth El Fundraiser. This event is extremely important to our financial

well- being. Hopefully you have already purchased your tickets, but

in case you have not, there is still time. Purchases can be made online

by going to our website, you can contact Tony Sterns 330-606-6675

or call the Beth El Office 330-864-2105. Look forward to seeing all

of you there.

My best,

Harvey

President, from page 1

Save the Dates: July 2-8, 2018 A Spiritual Summer Together

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Join Rabbi Elyssa and Hazzan Matt this summer as our congregation travels to the ALEPH Kallah, a week-long Jewish gathering where hundreds come together to immerse themselves in learning, prayer, art, dance, yoga, meditation, social justice, earth-based programs, and other inspiring and connective experiences facilitated by world-renowned presenters – ideal for adults or families, with meaningful Jewish experiences for all ages. Use discount code KL2018AKRON for a generous Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation grant of $500 discount per adult participant. Register online: www.aleph.org/kallah.

Upcoming Shlichim Events

• February 6, 7 PM M.O.R.A.K. –

Israeli Army Stories - Come hear

some super-secret stories (more or

less) about cool things the Israeli

Army did, and what role we (and

others) had to play in them.

• February 7, 7 PM RCJ special:

LGBTQ community in Israel –

Join the Shlichim and the RCJ on a

great night on the bar, as we hear

from a guest speaker talk about the

Israeli LGBTQ community and tell

his personal story.

• February 20, 7 PM National vs.

Army Service – We will talk about

the differences between army

service and national service in

Israel: who usually chooses which

course, the benefits of each of

them and discuss the immortal

question: "Does Israel really need a

mandatory enlistment?"

Editor’s note: Shlichim is Hebrew for messengers or emissaries.

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 9

sixty-three, as we grow beyond our drive for personal power, a

What is prayer?

Rabbi Elyssa: Traditionally, there are three modes of prayer 1. Praise (Hallel) 2. Request (Bakasha) and 3. Thanksgiving (Hoda’ah). While praise and thanksgiving are intertwined, praise is more the feeling of awe, surprise, and wonder. Thanksgiving is the understanding that comes through noticing. Life is a gift (praise), and I am grateful for life (thanksgiving). For some reason, Jews tend to be a bit more reserved when it comes to request. As with any intimate relationship, open communication on our needs is essential. When we find ourselves asking God for things, we can fine tune what it is that we really need and really want in our lives. Sometimes we are told yes, and sometimes we are told no. Either way we have opened the pathway to a more expanded connection.

Hazzan Matt: Prayer is calling out to something beyond ourselves. Formalized or spontaneous, prayer evokes a relationship with the transcendent, whether it is to God-on-High or the divinity thought to reside within each of us.

Why do people pray? Hazzan Matt: Praying is like any relationship – people enter them for a variety of reasons. Some people have emotional desires to pray – for love, connection, and purpose that comes from a relationship with the divine. We feel that God will hear us, honor us, direct us -- even if we are angry or broken-hearted.

Too often, I think, people identify prayer with asking God for “stuff”. This is not unlike the prayers of ancient pagan Greeks, who propitiated (and fed!) the fickle gods in order to avoid their wrath and elicit their blessings. The end desire, in all of this is power. This is a profoundly non-Jewish way of thinking about God: HaShem needs neither food nor prayers. We cannot manipulate Him, even through “being religious.” Because God is beyond bribery, space is therefore open to have a non-

transactional relationship -- i.e. one based on love and commitment. This is wisdom that we can take from our prayer relationships into our human relationships as well.

Rabbi Elyssa: People pray as a response to the wonder and awe of being alive. It is also about giving thanks for our many blessings and finding moments throughout the day to be grateful, rather than grasping. In Judaism, prayer is also about self-discipline. Engaging in prayer is a response, but also a regular practice in one’s day, week, or year. Like with any practice, results aren’t usually immediate, but the discipline itself has an effect on retraining the mind and one’s outlook on the world. Relatedly, prayer is self-analysis or reflection. Prayer can be a tool for refining one’s character, for reflecting on one’s actions, and for responding to the world in an improved way. Much like Shabbat, prayer can give us the space and time to recall and reflect. When we do this regularly, then prayer can serve as ethical conscious raising. It can go beyond the opportunity for reflection but preemptively help us to respond to the world more consciously in every moment.

People also pray because they want to be connected to the larger Jewish community. Of course, prayer can happen anywhere and anytime. But joining with us, particularly a minyan (ten Jewish adults), is a special Jewish value. It brings us out of isolation and reminds us that we are part of something greater - not just philosophically, but quite practically.

Finally, people pray because it is Torah study. Something can be learned from prayer, and it connects us to our Holy Texts. A lot of the words of the siddur were either written by the ancient rabbis, or are taken from psalms. Occasionally, and perhaps centrally, we also have quotes from the Torah, like the Shema from Deuteronomy. Prayer as learning, is also about expanding one’s consciousness and exercising one’s intellect.

Which one of these reasons to pray speaks to you the most? Email me and let me know. I want to hear from you. rabbi@bethelakron.org.

Time Change

Beginning February 25, Sunday morning minyans will

begin at 8:45 AM instead of 8:30 AM.

In Memoriam Beth El Congregation notes with sorrow the passing of

Burton Marks Husband of Rita; father of Wayne and Craig; grandfather of Abby, Elliott, and Claire

Morton Stein Husband of Geraldine; brother of Herbert; father of Todd and Cheryl;

grandfather of Michelle, Rachel, Jodi, Abby, Alexa, Hannah, and David

Cynthia Wein Wife of Marvin; sister of Maxine and Beverly; mother of Sheryl; grandmother of Evan

Ask the Clergy

Page 10 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

• Birth of Shoshana Vivian, granddaughter of Cantor Stephen and Abbe Stein, from Larry and Esther Hexter, Carl Lieberman

KIDDUSH

FUND

In Memory of • Samuel B. Tapper from Lillian and Marilyn

Tapper

• Helen Tucker from Kevin Tucker

KNITZVAH

FUND

In Memory of • Emory Geller from Dr. and Mrs. George

Litman

• Morton Stein from Dr. and Mrs. George Litman

LOUIS LOCKSHIN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In Memory of • Emory Geller from Jim and Susan Osherow

• William Kauvar from Irving and Ann Kauvar

• Morton Stein from Jim and Susan Osherow

In Honor of • Engagement of Blake Gross from Jim and

Susan Osherow

LUCK

HOLOCAUST FUND

In Memory of • Kate Yablon from Warren and Joie Yablon

RABBI'S

DISCRETIONARY FUND

In Memory of • Herman Benson from the Benson family

• Emory Geller from Marty and Joyce Oppenheimer

• Lenore Glauberman from Marty and Joyce Oppenheimer

• George Matheos from Marty and Joyce Oppenheimer

• Hy Potrock from Marty and Joyce Oppenheimer

• Gloria Reich from Gene and Susan Kaufman

• Lani Rothstein from Marty and Joyce Oppenheimer

• Alvin Schlossberg from Marty and Joyce Oppenheimer

• Esther Shapiro from Marv and Judi Shapiro

• Morton Stein from Joe and JoEllen Kodish

• Suzanne Tabachnick from Heidi Blinka

• Milton Zetzer from Sid and Shirley Zetzer

In Honor of • Birth of Shoshana Vivian, granddaughter of

Rabbi Stephen and Judy Grundfast, from Marty and Joyce Oppenheimer

ALEXANDER AND LILLIAN MEDOFF

MEMORIAL MUSIC FUND

In Memory of • Emory Geller from Hal and Greta Foster,

Marty and Sheila Gottlieb, Laurel Gress, Joe and JoEllen Kodish, the Lerner family, Marvin and Evelyne Manes, Burt and Lois Nobil, Libby Portnoy, Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Sardas, Jerry and Sandy Schneier, Andrea and Sid Steinberger, Leonard and Ruth Sweet

• Lani Rothstein from Jerry and Sandy Schneier

• Dorothy Schwartz from Bernard and Charlotte Schwartz

• Morton Stein from Mrs. Donna Geller, Libby Portnoy

In Honor of • Birth of Shoshana Vivian, granddaughter of

Cantor Stephen and Abbe Stein, from Laurel Gress

CANTOR’S

DISCRETIONARY FUND

In Memory of • Emory Geller from Hope Winer

• Sarah Goldstein from Elinor Borodkin Family

• Lani Rothstein from Hope Winer

• Eva Rubin from Charlene Edelman

Recovery of • Don Stone from Hope Winer

EDUCATION

FUND

In Memory of • Nathan Barnett from Ted and Rolinda

Schneiderman

• Juanita Beckett from Margaret, James, and Michael Sarlson-Chesler

• Jonathan S. Chesler from Margaret, James, and Michael Sarlson-Chesler

• Marcus Cohen from Esther Hexter

• Xenia Culiner from Louis Culiner

• Emory Geller from Carl Lieberman

• Mae Lieberman from Carl Lieberman

• Beatrice Sarlson from Margaret, James, and Michael Sarlson-Chesler

• Morton Stein from the Crane family

In Honor of • Birth of Joshua Aaron, grandson of Hal and

Greta Foster, from Larry and Esther Hexter

• Birth of Shoshana Vivian, granddaughter of Rabbi Stephen and Judy Grundfast, from Laurel Gress, Larry and Esther Hexter

• Difference Maker Award to Marc Merklin from Larry and Esther Hexter

• Campus Gala Award to Debra Shifrin and Steve Newman from Larry and Esther Hexter

REVEREND PHILLIP SALZMAN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In Memory of • Emory Geller from Mr. and Mrs. Herbert

Newman

• Sheridan J. Herzberg from Gail Greenberg

• Morton Stein from Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Newman

STEPHEN M. GROSS

MEMORIAL FUND

In Memory of • Emory Geller from Mr. and Mrs. Scott Gross

• Lillian Gross from Marv and Sharon Halpern

• Morton Stein from Mr. and Mrs. Scott Gross

SYNAGOGUE

FUND

In Memory of

• Morris Cohen from Gloria Treiber

• Emory Geller from the Crane family, Sandra Levenson, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Richman, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Saferstein, Edward and Alice Schneider, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Zetzer

• Sybil Gertz from Karen Rosenfeld

• Emil Goldsein from Randy and Bonnie Cohen

• Harriet Horn from Alan Horn

• Raphael Pesso from Jacques and Etty Sardas

• Meyer Rein from Marty and Sheila Gottlieb

• Lani Rothstein from Laurel Gress, Marilyn Mirman

• Morton Stein from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Richman, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Saferstein, Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Sardas, Edward and Alice Schneider, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Zetzer

• Corinne Woll from the Woll family

Recovery of

• Marc Leaventon from Randy and Bonnie Cohen

• Herb Moss from Hal and Greta Foster, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Richman

• Marty Oppenheimer from Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Sweet

• Steve Winer from Sid and Shirley Zetzer

In Honor of

• Birth of Joshua Aaron, grandson of Hal and Greta Foster, from Randy and Bonnie Cohen

• Engagement of Arielle Golden from Dr. John and Patty Saks

• Birth of Shoshana Vivian, daughter of Joe and Deana Grundfast, from Sandra Levenson

• Birth of Shoshana Vivian, granddaughter of Rabbi Stephen and Judy Grundfast, from Randy and Bonnie Cohen

Contributions

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 11

Congregational Funds • Cantor’s Discretionary Fund

• Education Fund

• Floral Fund (Shabbat Flowers, $36)

• Kiddush Fund

• Knitzvah Fund

• Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

• Synagogue Fund

Scholarship Funds • Frieda Weinberger Memorial Fund

(Camp Scholarships)

• Kloner Family Fund

• Lenore Gordon Scholarship Fund

• Lola Salzman Scholarship Fund

• Louis Lockshin Scholarship Fund

• Marks and Goldfarb Youth Fund

• Max and Regina Schneier Memorial Fund

• Reverend Phillip Salzman Scholarship Fund

• Simon Kopelson Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Stephen M. Gross Memorial Fund

______________________________________________ Donation for (name/occasion)

______________________________________________ Send card to

______________________________________________ Address

___________________________ _______ ________ City State Zip

_______________________________________________ Your name(s) as you wish them to appear in Bulletin

_______________________________________________ Card is to be signed

_______________________________________________ Your address

____________________________ _______ _________ City State Zip

Special Gift Funds

• Aaron Kranitz Memorial Fund

• Alexander and Lillian Medoff Memorial Music Fund

• Edward Abramson Memorial Fund

• Eleanore and Jerry Lippman Bar/Bat Mitzvah Book Fund

• Gress Torah Fund

• Hakoah Education Fund

• Irving Botnick Education Fund

• Jacob Reich Memorial Fund

• Lisa Botnick Memorial Fund

• Luck Holocaust Fund

• Max M. Federhar Memorial Fund

• Widlus Memorial Lecture Fund

Office Use: Card Sent _______

Beth El

Congregation

Date: _____________

Minimum ($10)

Chai ($18)

Double Chai ($36)

Triple Chai ($54)

I am enclosing $__________

Contributions to Funds

______ In Memory of

______ For the Recovery of

______ In Honor of

______ In Appreciation

______ Other

Send your contributions to: Beth El Congregation • 750 White Pond Dr. • Akron, OH 44320

SYNAGOGUE FUND

(CONTINUED)

In Honor of

• 90th birthday of Dr. Herbert Kern from Sid and

Shirley Zetzer

• Sheldon Ocker being named to the Baseball

Hall of Fame from Marty and Sheila Gottlieb

• Birth of Shoshana Vivian, granddaughter of

Cantor Stephen and Abbe Stein, from Randy

and Bonnie Cohen, Sandra Levenson, John,

Patty, Joseph, Katie, and Molly Saks, Steve

and Ellen Winer

In Appreciation for

• Laurel Gress from Dr. Lawrence and Harriet

Richman

THANK

YOU

Sincere thanks to all who made contributions in memory of Morton Stein. Herb Stein and family Gerry Stein and family

Our heartfelt thanks to those of you who contributed to Beth El in memory of Emory. Beth El was an integral part of his whole life. Donna Geller and family

Many thanks for the donations you have made in George’s memory. Reva Miller and family

Your thoughtfu l and generous contr ibut ions are appreciated.

Memorial Plaques

The Memorial Plaques in our

Sanctuary constitute a permanent

record of the names of men and

women departed from this earth.

To cherish and keep alive their

precious memories is a sacred

Jewish tradition. The contribution

for an individual plaque is only

$250. For further information,

please call Beth El, 330-864-2105.

Plaques were recently affixed in the

Sanctuary

in memory of:

`

PERIODICALS

POSTAGE PAID AKRON, OHIO

BETH EL CONGREGATION 750 WHITE POND DRIVE AKRON, OHIO 44320

Sun., Feb. 4, 11:30 AM Haven’t you heard about it?

Tickets are still available! Call the Beth El Office • (330) 864-2105, ext.117

A Service of the Heart, in-the-round, with Musicians

Friday Night Services February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11 @ 7 PM

followed by sweet treats