VIEW FROM THE PULPIT Rabbi Frank Muller · Virtual Lunch & Learn Sessions Tuesday, May 12 , 2020...

VIEW FROM THE PULPIT Rabbi Frank Muller

c o n g r e g a t i o n

May 2020 | Vol 84 No. 8 | Iyar—Sivan 5780

Upcoming Events:

May

Virtual Sisterhood

Meeting

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Time: 10:30am

Location: Zoom

See page 9 for details

Rabbi Muller’s Final

Virtual Lunch & Learn

Sessions

Tuesday, May 12 , 2020

“Dealing With the

Pandemic From a

Jewish Spiritual

Perspective”

and May 19, 2020

“Reminicses,

Recollections, &

Rembrances From 25

Years”

Time: 12pm

Location: Zoom



Tot Shabbat

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Time: 9am

Location: Zoom



Shabbat Service

Friday, May 29, 2020

Time: 6pm

Location: Zoom


Dear Friends:

After nearly 250 bulletin messages written to you over the last 25 years, it is hard to believe

that this will be my final missive to you as spiritual leader of Congregation Rodef Sholom.

A quarter century seems like a long time —a thousand weeks not so much. That’s the funny

thing about the passage of time— in one sense I feel like I have been in Youngstown serving

our congregation forever... in another sense I can still vividly remember, as if it was

yesterday, unpacking my books on the first day my tenure here began on November 1,

1995.

That very first week a tragedy occurred in the Jewish world— the assassination of Yitzchak

Rabin, Prime Minister of Israel. Plans made to welcome me into the congregation that

Shabbat were delayed because of the crisis. The sanctuary was packed that Friday night as

we memorialized this great leader of the State of Israel.

Then six years later, in September of 2001, a tragedy struck our nation as nearly 3000

people lost their lives in the terrorist attack of 9-11. It was just a few days before Rosh

Hashanah, and I can vividly remember having to scrap my sermon for the evening service,

and, along with every other pulpit rabbi in America, scramble to write something that

would help our congregants process this horrific event.

Fast forward to 2020, in what will undoubtedly be remembered as the year of coronavirus.

Just a short two months ago, who among us could’ve imagined the nightmare scenario that

has taken so many innocent lives, and stricken anxiety, fear and even panic into the hearts

of people throughout the world. This unthinkable disaster which has befallen all global

citizens should have been confined to the sci-fi movie screen, but sadly it is reality. As we

begin to heal and recover from this calamity, we know things will never be quite the same.

Life is so unpredictable. If we didn’t realize it before, we have learned it now, that the

supposedly solid, unshakable ground that we walk on can break apart or even collapse at a

moment’s notice. Things can change in a heartbeat. Nothing is assured, and certainly

nothing lasts forever. Our lives are on loan from God, and our time on this earth is a divine

gift which we must never take for granted.

On a personal level, I could never have imagined that my final months in the congregation

would’ve seen the closing of our building, the curtailment of all of our programs and

services, and the subsequent move to an online format. I cannot quite put into words how

much I have missed the personal face to face interaction with all of you that was the normal

course of daily affairs before this pandemic struck all of us so quickly and relentlessly.

How much the more so do I feel deprived of the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to all

of you before my official departure on May 31st.

And yet I must reiterate what I have said many times over the last few weeks during our Continued on page 2

https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month.asp?tdate=12/31/2019&mode=j

2

CONGREGATION RODEF SHOLOM IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

1119 ELM STREET YOUNSTOWN, OH

PHONE: 330.744.5001

[email protected]

WWW.CONGREGATIONRODEFSHOLOM.ORG

RABBI FRANK MULLER, D.D.

SARAH WILSCHEK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

AARON HIVELY PRESIDENT

MICHAEL RAWL VICE PRESIDENT

HARVEY KAYNE TREASURER

DOUGLAS ABBATIELLO SECRETARY

ARTHUR GREENBAUM PAST-PRESIDENT

NEIL ALTMAN

BRIGITT BERK

SALLY BLAU CO-PRESIDENT OF SISTERHOOD

JASON BOSTOCKY

NANCY BURNETT

PHYLLIS FREEDMAN

BETHANY GOLDBERG

RON HEIMAN

TEDD KUNKEL

ALAN NATHAN

TOD NEWMAN PRESIDENT OF BROTHERHOOD

JANE POLLACK

BOB RAWL

KANDY RAWL CO-PRESIDENT OF SISTERHOOD

ALAN SAMUELS

WILLIAM TRACHTMAN

SAMIE WINICK

online Shabbat services—we must keep things in perspective and distinguish

between an inconvenience, a problem and a tragedy. Being shuddered at home is an

inconvenience; not being able to pay a mortgage because of a furlough or layoff from

work is a problem; losing your home and all of your personal belongings in a

tornado is a tragedy. Being forced to eat at home every night because restaurants

are closed— that’s an inconvenience; not being able to put food on the table to feed

your family— that’s a problem; a homeless person who has to sift through a

dumpster to find their next meal— that’s a tragedy. Having to postpone a hair or

nail appointment or an elective surgery is an inconvenience; losing your hair from

radiation treatment because you have cancer is a problem; not being able to receive

a life-saving treatment or procedure at all because the hospitals are too

overwhelmed with coronavirus patients is a tragedy (this actually happened to a

young mother with a two-year-old child).

So let’s get a grip and not catastrophize our circumstances. It’s so important to

realize that what we’re all going through right now will not break us. Throughout

our lives, we’ve handled the inconveniences, we’ve surmounted the problems, and

we’ve even survived the tragedies. It has certainly been that way for the Jewish

people over the centuries. If nothing else, we have learned from our history that we

can and will survive the greatest obstacles and challenges that confront us. From

slavery in Egypt, to the Holocaust, to wars and terrorist attacks in Israel, and all the

trials and tribulations in between, we have survived and we are still here. This virus

too shall pass, and we will be the stronger and the wiser for it. This pandemic will be

defeated, the economy will recover, and life will return, not to normal, but hopefully

to a new normal where we have not only flattened the curve, but have narrowed the

gap, between rich and poor, between black and white, between the genders and the

sexes and every area where oppression and discrimination exists in our world. Covid

-19 has shown us that we are all human, all vulnerable to the same illnesses and

disease, and that ultimately, the most important thing in life is that we take care of

each other.

This is the most important message I can leave you with after 25 years of being your

spiritual leader: take care of yourselves, but never forget to take care of each other.

Take care of this beloved temple, this precious Jewish community, our

Youngstown neighbors and neighborhoods, and do what you can to help anyone,

anywhere, who is in need. As we are taught in Pirke Avot, “If I am not for myself,

who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?

Darlene and I wish each and every one of you, all the best. For the past 25 years you

have been our extended family. We will miss you all very much. Zai gezunt- be well,

b’hatslachah- wishing you good luck and success in all your future endeavors, and

l’hitraot- hope to see you very soon, especially for my retirement event, which will be

rescheduled at a later date when we can gather together again in real time and

space. Until then, may the good Lord grant us safety, serenity and sanity. Please

stay healthy.

Rabbi Muller

MAY SHABBAT SERVICES Friday, May 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm

Torah Portion: Acharey Mot, Leviticus 16:1—18:30 or Kedoshim, Leviticus 19:1—20:27

Virtual Shabbat Service on Zoom

Friday, May 8, 2020 at 6:00 pm

Torah Portion: Emor, Leviticus 21:1—24:23



Torah Portion: Behar, Leviticus 25:1—26:2 or Bechukotai, Leviticus 26:3—27:34



Torah Portion: Bamidbar, Numbers 1:1—4:20



Torah Portion: Shavuot


4

Please see Page 5 of the Bulletin for all the information on

how to log in to each Virtual Shabbat using Zoom

YAHRZEITS

MAY 1, 2020

MAY 8, 2020

6

*Jacob Allen *Nathan Grosshandler *Rebecca Kaufman Miller Sherman Samuels

*Hannah R. Blumental *Dr. Abraham Hoodin Arlene Oster *Leon Scheer

Meyer Bornstein *Hattie Mendel Horvitz *S. Martin Oyer *Mildred Freedman Shanks

*Isadore Cohen Racel Itkin Irene Persky *Dr. Sigmond J. Shapiro

Barbara Davidson *George Kaiser *Sonia S. Randolph *Bertha S. Tamarkin

*Dr. Emil S. Dickstein Fannie Cohen Klatman Arthur Rawitz *Miriam Traxler

*Florence Ehrlich *Dr. Samuel Klatman *Ella B. Robins Marvin Winkelstein

*Adolph Finesilver *Julia W. Krause *Edith Rosenfeld *James W. Wolfe, Jr.

*Irma G. Garson Adele Ruth Lehman *Sam Rosenthal Benjamin Zimet

*Joseph Goldberger Seymour Lipkin Calvin Routh Dr. Samuel Zlotnick

Henry Green *Herman Lipton *Louis Routman

*Arnold Greenberg *Sadie Grossman Lyman *Isadore Rudolph

Sarah Alschuler *Katie Gross *Joseph Lustig

*Joseph Baskin *Irvin Handler Elena Rebon

*Mitchell S. Bloomberg *Sarah Katz *Henry S. Robins

*Malie G. Brown *Otto Kaufmann *Nate Robins

Sheryn R. Chessin *Harold Klivans *Minna K. Rose

Moe A. Cohen *Clara Kunin *Samuel Rosenbaum

*Simon Cooper Philip I. Levinson Alec Routman

*Fannie L. Ephraim *Donald S. Levy Solomon Sniderman

*Irvine Freed Henry Levy *Henrietta Weiss

Edna Ethel Fried *Sadye Greenwald Lustig Arthur Weiss

*Flora K. Friedman *Esther M. Lustig *May Rose Wolff

* Denotes permanent memorial plaque

In the rising of the sun and in its going down

We remember them

In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring

We remember them

* Denotes permanent memorial plaque

YAHRZEITS CONT.

7

MAY 22, 2020

MAY 15, 2020 Molly Abraham Arnold Edelstein *Haskell Kalver Charlotte Sage

*Ida A. Altshuler Joy Elder *Ida Klein Sam Saul

John Balakoff *Fannie Ephraim *Ella Levenson *Irving J. Schmidt

Mary Bernstine *Bessie Horwitz Finesilver *Emil Lipscher Alfred Severe

*Frank Budd *Sara E. Fleck *Adele Malkin Dora Sharapan

Susan Buslik *Cora Frank *Blanch Hess Oppenheimer *Alfred T. Speizer

James Cartwright *Joseph Fried *Herman Reese *Bertram Speizer

Bessie Cohen Clara Glick *Abraham Rose Hannah Steinberg

*Minnie Cohen Joseph Goodman *Samantha Erin Rosen *Ruth Z. Taussig

*Hazel Ehrlich Cohn Charles Z. Greenbaum *Samuel Rosen *Liza Weltman

Elayne Cohn Leopold Grinblat *Mildred Rubin

*Norman Cukerbaum Max Humberman Irene Rufman

Harry Altman *Max B. Harrison Sylvia Nashbar Marilyn Stein

*Alroy S. Bloomberg Louise Dale Jolley *Samuel Perlmutter Sadie Tanenbaum

Sarah Chazanoff *Nina Burger Klein Leonard Rawitz *Lous Udell

*Herman Cohen *Samuel M Kranitz *William Roginsky *Hyman Udell

*Evelyn Lipscher Dawes *Nathan Hirsh Levy Sidney Rosen Edith Waldman

Robert W. Dignan *Michael B. Liebermann *Joseph P. Roth *Sadie Bachman Weil

*Isabella M. Dreyfus *Dr. Bruce Lipton *Rose Printz Roth *Robert B. Weimer

*Michael Foxman *Esther G. Lipton *Dr. Arthur Shagrin *Jewel Weiss

*George K. Fried Gertrude Melman *Charles F. Shorr Lillian Weiss

Anna Funk *Rita Ann Meyer *David Schwartz *Meyer Yanowitz

Bernard Goldstone *Frances L. Millstone *Isadore Smigelsky

*Louis I. Grossfield Jack Nashbar *Harry Stahl

MAY 29, 2020 Samuel Averback *Rebecca Ruth Friedman Milton Leebaw Ralph Sherman

*David Belinky, M.D. *Pauline Gottlieb *Mary Mehr *Samuel Silber

*Benjamin Blumental Mariam Green Sylvia Moresky David Silverman

*Ruth Donowitz Bolotin *William Greenberg Marilyn Moresky Newman *Myron Solyn

*Mollie E. Burger Max Harshman Margaret E. Newman Anthony Van Wye

Arthur Cohen Maxine Hartman *Margaret Reese *Bettie Weil

Joseph Danino *David S. Henkin *Irving Rubin Dorothy Winkelstein

*Rebecca A. Epstein *Dora Holt Marsha Shabsov

*Isaac B. Epstein Peggy Laskey *Faye Sherman

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

Virtual

Shabbat

Service

6:00pm

2

3

4 5

6

Virtual

Sisterhood

Coffee Talk

10:30am

7 8

Virtual

Shabbat

Service

6:00pm

9

10 Mother’s Day

11

12

Virtual Lunch

& Learn with

Rabbi Muller

12:00pm

13

CRS Virtual

Board

Meeting

6:45pm

14 15

Virtual

Shabbat

Service

6:00pm

16

17 18

19

Virtual Lunch

& Learn with

Rabbi Muller

12:00pm

20

21 22

Virtual

Shabbat

Service

6:00pm

23

24

31

25

Memorial Day

Office Closed

26

27 28 29

Shavuot

Office Closed

Virtual Shabbat

Service

6:00pm

30

May 2020

8

Prayer - Study– Network– Get Connected! The future is ours to create!

Passover is just around the corner! Come see the Gift Shop for all your Passover needs.

Following the tragedies in Pittsburgh and Poway, CA, we now have the “Stronger Than Hate” yarmulkes for $12. Supply is limited.

Inspired Generations contemporary giftware is available for weddings, hostess gifts, or just to update your home! Inspired Generations giftware is also being sold at local fine giftware

stores so why not support your Temple gift shop!

Please contact Darlene Muller at 330.759.4576 for inquiries regarding special item orders and new products. Thank you for your continued support!

9

TOILETRY PROJECT LITTLE THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Shampoos, conditioners, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, soaps, razors...small toiletries that you might pick up in hotels when traveling would be so appreciated by those in need. I have been distributing baggies filled with all of the above items to people at the Food Bank, Sojourner House, Homeless Shelters and others in need. I will pick up at the following drop off places: Jewish Community Center, Congregation Rodef Sholom, Temple El Emeth, Ohev Tzedek, Universalist Unitarian Church and Churchill Methodist Church.

An easy way to help in a big way. Thank you so much. ~Linda Palumbo

14

May 8th: Karen & Richard Abrams

(39 years)

May 25th: Jane & David Pollack (40 years)

May 16th: Christine & Elliot Legow

(40 years)

May 26th: Roni & Robert Rosati (35 years)

May 20th: Ruth & Harmon Lustig (58 years) Diane & Richard Schwartz (32 years)

May 23rd: Wendy & Ken Miller (27 years) May 27th: Judy & Lee Silverman (64 years)

Karie & David Newman (24 years) May 28th: Cory & Thomas Skook (38 years)

May 25th: Audrey & Robert Noble (55 years) May 29th: Kim & Daniel Gear (7 years)

MAZEL TOV TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS ON THEIR MAY ANNIVERSARIES:

Mazel Tov to the following members for a special birthday in MAY:

May 1st: Philip Frankle May 11th: Karie Newman

May 2nd: Florence Harshman May 18th: Jeff Simon

May 7th: Scott Burgauer May 23rd: Jeff Grinstein

BARUCH DAYAN HAMET PRAISED BE THE JUDGE OF TRUTH

It is with sorrow that we note the death of our members:

George Livingston

Bill Shapiro

We extend our heartfelt condolences to our members who have lost loved ones:

Sue Steiner Bogen Sister of June Rose

Joe Hanna Brother-in-law of Samie Winick

Phil Deangelo Husband of Lisa Deangleo

May their memory be for a blessing and may their loved ones be given comfort and strength.

15

Do you have a son, daughter, grandchild or great grandchild graduating from high school or college in

2020? The Temple would like to honor these students in our July bulletin. Let us know who the graduate

is, where they are graduating from, what degree they plan on pursuing or what degree they earned, and

the family members names to be included in the announcement.

You may send the information to [email protected]

Mazel Tov! (Baby Edition)

While the Temple has been navigating this new normal, we have created the Sunshine Committee in

order to reach out to congregants and provide help, a sympathetic ear, and a connection to our

members. A huge Todah Rabbah to Brigitt Berk, Co-Chair Nancy Burnett, Co-Chair Phyllis

Freedman, Bob & Kandy Rawl, Kim Trachtman, and Samie Winick, for volunteering to take

on the task of making phone calls to our local congregants.

Mazel Tov to Monica & Scott Burgauer on the birth of their

son, Phinnaeus Darwin, born on April 7, 2020. Phinnaeus is

welcomed home by his brothers, Cooper, Ludi, and Indy,

and was welcomed into our Temple family and the Jewish

community by Rabbi Muller via a virtual Brit Milah ceremony

on April 14th.

Mazel Tov to Sandy & Gene Mallen on the birth of their

newest Great Granddaughter, Everly Rose, on April 12,

2020. Parents are Julie & Daniel Arkles and Grandparents

are Stephanie & Mark Mallen.

Todah Rabbah ~ Many Thanks!

Mazel Tov to Cyndi & Nick Katz on the baby naming of their

granddaughter, Emma Lily Williams, daughter of Chasen &

Rachel Katz Williams. Rabbi Muller performed a virtual

ceremony on March 22nd.

The Congregation Rodef Sholom Annual Meeting originally scheduled for May 13, 2020, has

been postponed until further notice due to the stay-at-home order from Governor DeWine.

Announcements

mailto:[email protected]

TZEDAKAH CIRCLE Endowment Fund

In appreciation:

Mixon Ware

In celebration of:

Dianne Newman and Sue Weiss’ Special Birthdays

By Bobbi & Peter Grinstein

In celebration of:

Sue Weiss’ Special Birthday

By Jeanne & Ken Fibus

By Kay & Jerry Tamarkin

By Dianne & Bert Newman

By Barbara Heimann

In loving memory of:

Benita Penner

By Carole & Bill Weimer


Elaine Orlick

By Marilyn & David Miller


Bill Shapiro


By Sue Weiss

By Peter Marchese

By Joanne Corradi

By Patricia & James Knecht

By Susan & Robert Platt

By Carol & Tom Townley

By Pat & Jim Roemer

By Ivan Tamarkin

By Linda & Bill Kanche

By Geraldine & Nigel Newman

By Jennifer & Adam Eichberg

By Erin & Ben Pinsky

By David Tamarkin & Brian Vlicky

In celebration of the recovery of:

Bobbi Grinstein



Ken Rosen

By Karen & Tedd Kunkel and Family

Marilyn’s Mitzvah Meal Fund

In loving memory of mother:

Trudy Nelson

In loving memory of father:

Michael Abrams

By Karen & Richard Abrams


Harry Wolfe

By Sybil & Art Epstein

In celebration of:

The Hebrew Naming Ceremony of their son, Phinnaeus Burgauer

By Monica & Scott Burgauer and Family

In memory of:

Bill Shaprio

In celebration of:

Sandy & Gene Mallen’s newest Great Granddaughter

By Kandy & Bob Rawl and Family


Ruth Gross

By Inez Heal

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund


Jane & Howard “Buddy” Chessin

By Neil Chessin & Family

By Debby & Jerry Yarov


Sheryn R. Chessin

By Neil Chessin & Family

Oneg Fund


Morris Ortman

By Sandy & Gene Mallen

In loving memory of father:

Sherman Samuels

By Alan Samuels

Brotherhood Fund


Dr. Leonard Spiegel

By Carole & Bill Weimer


Benita & David Penner

By Martha Friedman & Harold Heft.


Bill Shapiro

By Gilbert Kessler

Social Action Fund


Joe Hanna

By Kandy & Bob Rawl and Family

16

17

Tamarkin Chapel Fund


Anne & Rudolf Oppenheimer

By Doris Tamarkin


Bill Shapiro

By Doris Tamarkin

By Kelly & Bruce Tamarkin

By Joyce & Rabbi Maury Hoberman

By Frances & Judson Knox

Rabbinical Endowment Fund


Bill Shapiro

By Ronnie & Karen Yarmy Fellheimer

Music Fund

In loving memory of parents in law:

Esther & Herman Lipton

In loving memory of husband:

Bruce Lipton, M.D.

By Paula Lipton Domsky

Tzedakah Cont.

c o n g r e g a t i o n

rodef sholom 1119 Elm Street

Youngstown, Ohio 44505

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Youngstown, OH

Permit No. 681

Current Occupant or:

Congregation Rodef Sholom would like to thank the following companies for their support

in helping to underwrite the cost of the bulletin. We are very grateful for their generosity.

SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE

Please contact the Temple office

at 330.744.5001 to help underwrite the

Our Star Sponsors

VIEW FROM THE PULPIT Rabbi Frank Muller · Virtual Lunch & Learn Sessions Tuesday, May 12 , 2020...

Documents

Transcript of VIEW FROM THE PULPIT Rabbi Frank Muller · Virtual Lunch & Learn Sessions Tuesday, May 12 , 2020...