Shalom June 2011

Dear Friends:

By the time you read this message, Confirmation will be over. Our school sessions will have concluded for the year. The annual meeting will be just a few days away. The sermons have been preached, the books reviewed, the lectures delivered – and this is the last Temple bulletin message for the season. Despite all of the financial difficulties, it has been a good year, but I am never quite cer-tain how to measure achievement. Numbers of participants at a program or service reflect

some success on the Temple’s part. But the goals of a religious institution are far more intangible than most – one cannot evaluate what a Temple means in the life of a family by counting seats filled or hours spent within its walls. So we must hope that through the traditional experiences of synagogue life – study, worship and friendship – Tem-ple Beth Torah has reached out to its members and the community-at-large and enriched their lives. I hope we have. I know how hard we have tried.

Of course, the Temple isn’t planning on closing down during the summer months. I genuinely hope that

you will attend our beautiful Shabbat Morning and Evening Services – please note that Shabbat Eve Services will begin at 6:00 p.m. in July. They are all quiet, meaningful worship experiences which I want you to share. Our library has many fine volumes, new and old, fiction and non-fiction, which can enhance your summer reading. Plan to read some Jewish books of value during these next weeks. If there is a college student in your family, re-mind him or her that the Rabbi would love to share a lunch together – my treat. And, of course, I will be availa-ble through most of the summer and the Cantor will be around while I am on vacation in July attending our son’s wedding and then traveling to South America with Lisa.

It is already time to plan for next year. Life Long Learning, Religious School, Pre-School, youth programs,

High Holiday and Festival Services and a hundred other activities must now be set in the calendar with as few con-flicts as possible and in such a way as to please everyone. And, although the High Holidays are late this year, there still isn’t all that much time. I should have done this yesterday, but come to think of it, I believe I’ll wait until to-morrow. From all of us, have a fine summer. Yours sincerely, Stephen H. Pinsky

Iyyar / Sivan / Tamuz 5771| June/July 2011

Rabbi’s Voice Rabbi Stephen H. Pinsky

Shalom June / July 2011 -

A publication of

Temple Beth Torah 900 Big Blue Trace

Wellington, Florida 33414

TEL.: 561-793-2700 FAX: 561-793-1072

E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB SITE: templebethtorah.net

TEMPLE OFFICE HOURS:

Monday - Thursday: 9AM - 5PM Friday: 9AM - 4PM

RABBI

Stephen H. Pinsky [email protected]

CANTOR Carrie F. Barry

[email protected] PRESIDENT Louise Marks

[email protected] VICE PRESIDENTS

Richard Lebowitz Philip Levine

TREASURER Richard Samuels SECRETARY Marcia Weber

EDUCATION DIRECTOR Jodi Kaufman

[email protected] PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR

Sandy Wilensky [email protected]

YOUTH ADVISOR Jamie Sistino

[email protected] BROTHERHOOD PRESI-

DENT Doug Barr

SISTERHOOD PRESIDENT Tammy Smith

[email protected] SHALOM CREATIVE DESIGN

Philip Levine EDITOR

Phyllis Weinstein

From the President Louise Marks

My term as President is rapidly coming to a close. It is almost time to wel-come Sara Marcus as President. This has been an amazing experience, to say the least. The following passage is borrowed from a wonderful source book, On the Doorpost of Your House. "I have aspired and labored and achieved. God, give me wise and constant spirit, one aware of my debt to others for what I have achieved. All that I am and all that I may yet be, I owe to the creative power that You have implanted within me." When I opted to become President, I had a specific goal: to return us to the warm, nurturing, supportive congregation that I found here when I first joined. Surrounded by a strong Executive Committee composed of Richard Lebowitz, Rick Samuels, Philip Levine, Marcia Weber and Eric Bakerman, I knew this could happen. I have spent most of the days in this term smiling, greeting, meeting and speaking with people. We have been blessed with an administrative staff that is superlative. They have made this a wonderful work environment. Our senior staff is composed of the most intelligent, caring and hardworking people. It has been my honor to work with them. The premises have been maintained by an experienced custodial staff. My husband, Alan, supported me during this term. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease during my term. I immediately wanted to step down and he would not hear of that. He is a worthy partner, and not a silent one! He has lis-tened to speeches, heard my laments and provided encouragement. Our two schools have been a constant source of pride for me. It is a pleas-ure to read to some of our preschool children and to kibbitz with the religious school students when I see them in school. I still contend that they are our fu-ture. I doubt that anyone could staff two faculties as well as our Preschool Direc-tor and our Educator-Administrator have done. Another contribution to my joy has been to be around our religious school students; whether it be B'nai Mitzvah presentations or being up front for all func-tions. That was a wonderful part of my work. It has been a learning experience to sit on the bema each weekend. I have enjoyed that experience more than I can ex-press. I am a different person because of that duty. I can enumerate so many other thoughts. I will not! I greet each `Temple Day' with enthusiasm, optimism and grati-tude. Many thanks to those who have led before me and to those who will come after me. I am a changed person (for the better of course) because of the opportunity I accepted to serve as President of Temple Beth Torah. Shalom, Louise S. Marks


Cantor’s Voice Cantor Carrie Barry

It is not unusual for someone to come up to me after services on a Friday night with a question about a song or a choice I made about the music. Once in a while, however, someone asks me why I bow during the Avot, but not at the end of the Gevurot. This is one of my favorite questions because the answer is fascinating. First, though, I need to make a general statement about prayer “choreography.” Movement within the ser-vice is tradition, not law. As a Reform Jew, it is a choice whether or not to include bowing as part of your own personal practice. In order to make an informed decision, though, it helps to know all the information. The fixed, or standard, prayers in our siddur developed after the second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 C.E. At this point, the worship service of Judaism changed from a sacrifice performed by the priests to one of both personal and communal prayer. The people who first recited the prayers we know today lived in a complete-ly different historical context than the one we live in today.

In the present day, we are able to conceptualize a very personal and spiritual connection to God. Our an-cestors, however, lived in a world of kings, emperors, and courtiers. The King’s Court was governed by numerous rules that insisted on formality and specific choreography. It was customary to bow when one approached the king, of course, so if you bow when approaching an earthly king, wouldn’t you, then, bow when “approaching” God through prayer?

The question remains, why in the Avot and not the Gevurot? When the lords and ladies were presented to

the king, they were introduced through a list of their ancestry. We know this from all of the movies we have seen. Well, that is how the Avot begins. It is a list of our ancestry: “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, God of our fa-thers and mothers, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Sarah, Rebecca Rachel and Leah.” We bow both at the beginning and ending of this benediction.

The Gevurot is the prayer that follows the Avot. This is no longer part of our introduction. Now we are

reciting all of God’s powers. It is not customary to bow at the end of this prayer. So, why do so many people think we are supposed to bow? Well, someone bowed once and others followed, and then even more followed. That’s the way traditions develop. I have seen some people bow every single time we say “Baruch atah Adonai” even though there is no reason for this custom. Ultimately, each of you will take this information and do with it what you will. Prayer choreography is, again, a choice. I think the “why” is interesting and it’s always a good idea to know the reasons behind our actions. In fact, I would love to answer any other questions you may have about music, prayer, Torah, or anything else about which you may be curious. Feel free to email your questions to me at [email protected]. You may just find your question to be the subject of my next article!

I wish you and your family a healthy, happy and safe summer, and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.

B’shirah (in song), Cantor Carrie Barry


The Wisdom of Why Phyllis Weinstein

Question: Why are cheese products eaten on Shavuot? Answer will be in the August issue of the SHALOM Answer to May question: Why is the Torah parchment attached to rollers? The Torah parchment is made up of many pieces of parchment sewn together. In order to make it possible to move the parchment to the portion of the Torah to be read on a particular day,it is most practical to attach the joined pieces of parchment to rollers which are made from wood or ivory.

From the Desk of the Temple Educator Jodi Kaufman

Did you ever hear a rabbi, cantor, or educator quote some obscure rabbi and wonder, "How did they come up with that quote?" I know you must think that we must have studied for many years to remember all this. While this may be true, many times we turn to a book of the Mishnah (the code of Rabbinic law codified in 200 CE) called Pirkei Avot, Ethics of our Fathers. While the other 62 books of the Mishnah are comprised of short legal texts on subjects such as what is an appropriate blessing for a particular occasion or how much matzah does one really need to eat on Pesach, Pirkei Avot is filled with short, pithy gems from our sages. It is the Barlett's Quotations of Judaism and is often found in traditional prayer books, as it is customary to study a chapter or two on those long, summer Shabbat afternoons. Some gems from Pirkei Avot are: "Say little, do much" (Chapter 1:15), "Be wary of the authori-ties" (Chapter 2:3), "Do not withdraw from your community" (Chapter 2:5), and "Whoever honors Torah will be honored by others, and whoever dishonors Torah will be dishonored by others" (Chapter 4:8). One saying, attributed to Shimon Ha-Tzaddik, is sung during the Torah Service: a-slosha d'varim, al-ha-Torah, v'al ha-avodah, v'al gemilut chasidim. The world stands on three things: on Torah, on service to God, and on acts of loving kindness. As we go into the summer months, and many of us travel away from our congregation, and as our children do not attend religious school, let's see if we can find ways to incorporate these words into our lives. Perhaps we now have the time to volunteer at the nursing home or soup kitchen that we didn't have during the busy winter months. Perhaps the early sunrise, and maybe children at camp, can be a motivator to join us for some Torah study on Shabbat mornings this summer. Perhaps a good summer project is emptying out those tzed-akah cans and penny jars that you have around the house and sending the money to a worthy cause of your choice. You can even research the organization with your kids and make it a family event. There is no better Avodah, service to God, than helping those in need. I wish you all a great summer and I look forward to seeing you, and learning with you, in the fall! Jodi Kaufman Director of Education


Sisterhood News Tammy Smith

Sisterhood members attended WRJ Area Day, May 1st. It was a fun, informative day of Sisterhood brainstorming and networking! Photo: (Tammy Smith, Andrea Parker, Dinah Harmon, TBT Sisterhood Board members, and Andrea Cannon, WRJ SE District President)


Jewish Summer Camp for Girls


Events at Temple Beth Torah

June 2011 Wed Jun 1, 2011 28th of Iyyar, 5771 7pm Sisterhood board meeting Thu Jun 2, 2011 29th of Iyyar, 5771 Fri Jun 3, 2011 1st of Sivan, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jun 4, 2011 2nd of Sivan, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jun 5, 2011 3rd of Sivan, 5771 Mon Jun 6, 2011 4th of Sivan, 5771 Tue Jun 7, 2011 5th of Sivan, 5771 Wed Jun 8, 2011 6th of Sivan, 5771 Shavuot Thu Jun 9, 2011 7th of Sivan, 5771 Fri Jun 10, 2011 8th of Sivan, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jun 11, 2011 9th of Sivan, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jun 12, 2011 10th of Sivan, 5771 9:30am Annual meeting Mon Jun 13, 2011 11th of Sivan, 5771 Tue Jun 14, 2011 12th of Sivan, 5771 Wed Jun 15, 2011 13th of Sivan, 5771

Thu Jun 16, 2011 14th of Sivan, 5771 Fri Jun 17, 2011 15th of Sivan, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jun 18, 2011 16th of Sivan, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jun 19, 2011 17th of Sivan, 5771 Mon Jun 20, 2011 18th of Sivan, 5771 Tue Jun 21, 2011 19th of Sivan, 5771 Wed Jun 22, 2011 20th of Sivan, 5771 Thu Jun 23, 2011 21st of Sivan, 5771 Fri Jun 24, 2011 22nd of Sivan, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jun 25, 2011 23rd of Sivan, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jun 26, 2011 24th of Sivan, 5771 Mon Jun 27, 2011 25th of Sivan, 5771 Tue Jun 28, 2011 26th of Sivan, 5771 7:30pm Monthly Board Meeting Wed Jun 29, 2011 27th of Sivan, 5771 Thu Jun 30, 2011 28th of Sivan, 5771


Events at Temple Beth Torah July 2011

Fri Jul 1, 2011 29th of Sivan, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jul 2, 2011 30th of Sivan, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jul 3, 2011 1st of Tamuz, 5771 Mon Jul 4, 2011 2nd of Tamuz, 5771 Tue Jul 5, 2011 3rd of Tamuz, 5771 Wed Jul 6, 2011 4th of Tamuz, 5771 Thu Jul 7, 2011 5th of Tamuz, 5771 Fri Jul 8, 2011 6th of Tamuz, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jul 9, 2011 7th of Tamuz, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jul 10, 2011 8th of Tamuz, 5771 Mon Jul 11, 2011 9th of Tamuz, 5771 Tue Jul 12, 2011 10th of Tamuz, 5771 Wed Jul 13, 2011 11th of Tamuz, 5771 Thu Jul 14, 2011 12th of Tamuz, 5771 Fri Jul 15, 2011 13th of Tamuz, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service

Sat Jul 16, 2011 14th of Tamuz, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jul 17, 2011 15th of Tamuz, 5771 Mon Jul 18, 2011 16th of Tamuz, 5771 Tue Jul 19, 2011 17th of Tamuz, 5771 Wed Jul 20, 2011 18th of Tamuz, 5771 Thu Jul 21, 2011 19th of Tamuz, 5771 Fri Jul 22, 2011 20th of Tamuz, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jul 23, 2011 21st of Tamuz, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service Sun Jul 24, 2011 22nd of Tamuz, 5771 Mon Jul 25, 2011 23rd of Tamuz, 5771 Tue Jul 26, 2011 24th of Tamuz, 5771 Wed Jul 27, 2011 25th of Tamuz, 5771 Thu Jul 28, 2011 26th of Tamuz, 5771 Fri Jul 29, 2011 27th of Tamuz, 5771 7:30pm Shabbat Service Sat Jul 30, 2011 28th of Tamuz, 5771 8:45am Torah Study 9:45am Shabbat Service

Sun Jul 31, 2011 29th of Tamuz, 5771


Welcome to our New Members

We welcome the following new member back to our “Temple family” and look forward to her

participation in our services and activities.

Sherrie Rosen, Membership Co-Chairperson Nancy Freedman, Membership Co-Chairperson

Edson Inacio and Laura Alves

Jennifer and Dr. Andrew Smith Shana and Matthew Wendrow

Mazel Tov To: Our B’nai Mitzvah:

Paul Goldstein and his family

Special Simchas: Bobbi and Dr. Ronald Ackerman and

Esther and Harry Ackerman on the birth of their grandson and great grandson, Ethan Ackerman

Syd and Dr. Jack Zimmerman on the engagement of their son, Zim Zimmerman, to Katie Jenkins

Get Well To: Larry Bernstein, Dr. Helen Garson, Neil Garson,

Harvey Harnick, Fran Lerner, Barbara Nussbaum, and Oscar Peskoff

Deepest Sympathy To: Marc Guthart on the loss of his mother, Marilyn Guthart

Mitchell Thal on the loss of his father, Harvey Thal Family and friends of Laone Nachman

The Ackerman Family on the loss of Esther Ackerman

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND

In Honor Of Rabbi Stephen Pinsky on his

birthday Roz & Morris Ball

Dulcie Burns

Rabbi Stephen Pinsky’s 67th birthday and the anniversary of

his becoming a Bar Mitzvah 54 years ago

Philip Aronson

The fortieth anniversary of Rabbi Pinsky’s ordination as a

Rabbi and to honor his fifteen years served as our Rabbi and spiritual leader

Carol & Dr. Elliott Brody The Cordes Family

Sarah Franzblau Beverly & Martin Gareleck

Susan & Reed Kellner Phyllis & Marvin Weinstein

Janna & Joel Zaidspiner

The Bat Mitzvah of our daugh-ter, Genna Barashick

Barbara & Mark Barashick

The birth of our grandson, Ethan Hayden Ackerman

Bobbi & Dr. Ronald Ackerman

The engagement of Zim Zimmerman to

Katie Jenkins Syd & Dr. Jack Zimmerman

The B’nai Mitzvah of the

Kestenbaum’s twin grandsons and son’s engagement

Sylvia & Albert Shoengold

In Appreciation For Our MiShebeirach prayers

Sonia & Jerry Goldman

Prayers from Rabbi Pinsky Cyril Gold

Sha-Bark Shalom

Susan & Reed Kellner

In Memory Of Ed Wallace

Carol & Edward Cohen

Jay Michaelson Selma & Saul Goldman

Robert Rosen

Selma & Saul Goldman

Sidney Dorfman Susan & Reed Kellner

Harvey Thal

Lisa & Vince Gerardi

My dear wife Cyril Gold

CANTOR’S DISCRETIONARY

FUND In Honor Of

The Bat Mitzvah of Genna Barashick Barbara & Mark

Barashick

In Appreciation For Passover Aliyah Irene Warten

Sha-Bark Shalom


RABBI STEPHEN PINSKY EDU-CATION FUND

In Appreciation For Our pre-marital blessing

Lauren Gold & Seth Erstein

The pre-marital blessing of our granddaughter,

Lauren Gold, and her fiancé, Seth Erstein

Arline & Noel Shevack

In Memory Of The Bluttner, Kling and Lakner

families Ruthe Blecher

Leon Eisen Lisa & Rabbi Stephen Pinsky

Lillian Eisen

Lisa & Rabbi Stephen Pinsky My grandfather

Phillip Kalaniopio

Ida Levitt Stella Levitt

Lila Levitt

Stella Levitt

PRESCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In Appreciation For The Busy Bees’ monthly singing for Wellington Hadaaash Chap-

ter Dulcie Burns

YOUTH GROUP FUND Jane & Dr. Fred Shuster

In Honor Of

The 50th wedding anniversary of Eileen & Barry Eckhaus Muriel & Gene Holland

In Memory Of Harvey Thal

Janna & Joel Zaidspiner

Carol Starkschall The Starkschall Family

] Gracious Donations ]


] Gracious Donations ] TZEDAKAH BOX FUND

In Honor Of The graduation of Jo Wilensky

from Law School Marcia & Scott Weber

The graduation of

Melissa Kellner from Law School

Marcia & Scott Weber

Daisy Dorfman on her retire-ment




LIFE LONG LEARNING FUND In Honor Of

The speedy recovery of Fran Lerner

Cheryl & Ian Cordes

BILL BENDER CARING FUND In Memory Of Harvey Thal


LIBRARY FUND In Honor Of

The birth of Sofia Elaine Fish-man

Doris & Karl Fishman

FLORAL FUND In Memory Of Harvey Thal

Jane & Dr. Fred Shuster

GENERAL TEMPLE FUND In Honor Of

Daisy Dorfman’s retirement The Adler Family

Andi Parker’s special birthday

The Adler Family

Meredith Hirschberg being awarded the Barbara and Dr.

Samuel Steinberg Award The TBT Board of Directors


Louise & Alan Marks

Barbara Weinstock

Esther & Seymour Birnbaum

YAHRZEIT FUND In Memory Of Oscar Glassman Sarah Franzblau Anna Franzblau Sarah Franzblau

George W. Dunn

Tamara Dunn

Henry Warten Irene Warten

Itta Rosenblatt

Rena & Henry Bonk

Roslyn Abrams Arthur Abrams

Ethel Abrams

Arthur Abrams

Sylvia Levenson Cynthia & Dr. Stuart Kleit

Morris Kleit

Cynthia & Dr. Stuart Kleit

Abraham Goldman Evelyn Goldman

Renee Thal

Mitchell Thal

Asher Rabin Sheila Tenenblatt

Leonard Perry

Destiny & Madison Andrews

Rose Pitterman Joy Pitterman

Israel Eismann

Roslyn Eismann

Dr. Michael Eismann Roslyn Eismann

Adele Fisch


Gerald Paskal Karen Paskal

Nat L. Feldstein Myra Goodman

Faye & Louis Wallace

Norma Herzlin

Harris H. Harnick Barbara & Harvey Harnick

Irving Dubin Barbara & Harvey Harnick

David Reckseit

Michelle & Rachel Reckseit

Louis Woolf

Dr. Howard Woolf

Frances Panesh Shirley Brodsky

Mina Midman

Eileen & Jerry Midman

Abraham Franklin Eileen & Jerry Midman

Mildred Stillman

Eileen & Jerry Midman

Millie Friedman The Leiboff Family

Nathan Daniels

Ellen & Steven Shapiro

David Reckseit Ronnie Reckseit

Irving Sussis

Karen McDole

Melvin Greer Jonathan Greer

Florence Ellner

Betty & Hank Brodie

Lisa R. Goldstein Andrew Goldstein

Bernice R. Levinsohn

Harvey Levinsohn

Fajga Leucove Danielle Levinsohn

Sylvia Kellner


Jackie Zevin

Shelley Sandler

Morton Moses Cindy & Bob Moses

Paula and Dick Weber Marcia & Scott Weber

Max Feldberg Barry Feldberg

Ralph Mattes

Arline & Noel Shevack Bunny Mattes

William Reiman

Fred Reiman

Abraham Saldinger Michael Yasuna

Camilla Biener

Esther & Seymour Birnbaum

Rabbi Jack Stern Esther & Seymour Birnbaum

Rifka Baumgarten Roz & Morris Ball

Albert Sherman

Mel Dener

Morris Peskoff Oscar Peskoff

Edith Stetson Joan Stetson

Nettie Lipschultz

Joan Stetson

Fay Zupnick Judith & Mel Zupnick

Morris Goldberg

Judith & Mel Zupnick

Friday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. CONFIRMATION SERVICE

The Service will be led by members of the Confirmation Class of 2011

Saturday, June 4 at 9:45 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Paul Goldstein

Son of Jennifer and Andrew Goldstein Torah Portion: Naso, Numbers 4:21-7:89

WEDNEDAY, JUNE 8 at 10:00 p.m.

SHAVUOT/YIZKOR SERVICE

Friday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Pinsky will speak on the Torah portion of the week.

June Birthday Blessings

Saturday, June 11 at 9:45 a.m. Service-in-the Round

Torah Portion: Beha’alotecha, Numbers 8:1-12:16

Friday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Pinsky will speak on the Torah portion of the week.

Saturday, June 18 at 9:45 a.m.

Service-in-the Round Torah Portion: Shelach Lecha, Numbers 13:1-15:41

Friday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Rabbi Pinsky will speak on the Torah portion of the week.

Saturday, May 28 at 9:45 a.m. Service-in-the-Round

Torah Portion: Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32

JULY SERVICES Friday Evenings at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday Mornings at 10:00 a.m. Led by Cantor Barry

June / July 2011 Service Calendar

Shalom June 2011

Documents

Transcript of Shalom June 2011