What’s Inside Words from Rabbi Cohenbethisraelms.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/March-2014... ·...

What’s Inside....

ig LIGHTSA Publication of Beth Israel Congregation

Founded 1860 — A member of the Union for Reform Judaism, Serving Reform Congregations in North America

5315 Old Canton Road • Jackson, Mississippi, 39211ph 601.956.6215 • fx 601.952.0895 • WWW.bethISRAelMS.ORg

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Words from Rabbi Cohen

47th Annual Sisterhood Bazaar • April 2, 2014

Bazaar Updates 8

President’s Message 2

SisterhoodSpotlight 5

BITY and Religious School 10

From the Office 11

Contributions 12

Birthdays and Anniversaries 11

Baby Announcements 13

Yahrzeits 14

Upcoming Events 3

March 2014

See updates: pages 8-9

I remember years ago when Jona-than and I brought our first child to sleep-away camp. We flew to Texas together, sat in our

car at the gate, went through orientation, and helped Gabriel unpack. Really, we unpacked for him. Sitting on his bunk, Ga-briel didn’t even look at us.

“Aren’t you going to say goodbye?” I asked.

“Bye,” he said, not looking up. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. Suddenly, Jonathan and I got it. Now we understood what it really meant to be parents dropping off our kid at camp. All those years that Jonathan counseled parents through that first goodbye took on a different light.

That night, Jonathan wrote a beautiful blog about it. He had resisted tweeting or posting on Facebook, because parents

would have freaked out if they knew he was away from Jacobs for 24 hours during the summer. But we needed to have the experience of first-time parents and not just of Camp Director and Rabbi.

Just this month, we had an-other opportunity to experi-ence a life cycle as parents, one we have experienced so many times as Jewish profes-sionals. And again, it was very different and insightful.

As Gabriel became a Bar Mitzvah, surrounded by his loving community at Beth Israel, you allowed us to be parents. I will never interact with Bar/Bat Mitzvah students the same, much less their parents. While I have always tried to be sympathetic to the challenges they have faced in their children’s over-programmed schedules and Bar/Bat Mitzvah stress, I didn’t really get it until now. This experience has changed my



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ig LIGHTSMessages

President’s Message

Dear Congregants,

It is with great regret that I inform you that Rabbi Valerie Cohen has announced her resignation as the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Congregation. Rabbi Cohen will remain with our congregation until the end of June 2014.

Rabbi Cohen has been our Rabbi and spiritual leader for the past eleven years. We are greatly indebted to Rabbi Cohen for her enormous contributions during her time serving our community. Her passion and skill in Jewish education as well as her interests and experiences in pastoral counseling and life cycle events have enriched us all. Rabbi Cohen, Jonathan, Gabriel and Marisa will be missed by our community.

A search committee is currently being organized with Mark Fijman serving as the chairman to begin the process of finding a new Rabbi.

Please join me and the Beth Israel Board of Trustees in wishing Rabbi Cohen and her family all the best in their new endeavors. Watch your Chailights and BIC Blasts for upcoming events honoring Rabbi Cohen.

l’Shalom,howard t. Katz

temple President

Rabbi’sMessage(continued)

rabbinate, and you all helped me through it. For all those who offered their help - whether we took you up on it or not - we are so very appreciative.

For Gabriel, his experience was enhanced by the level of comfort he felt among you. Although he already knew we would be moving to Massachusetts, Beth Israel is the only place he wanted to have this milestone event. Growing up here in Mississippi, both Gabriel and Marisa have been blessed with important Jewish role models, inspirational adults, fun teenagers, and friends who have embraced them and influenced their lives. We are all better people because of you.

So begins the many messages of gratitude I dedicate to this community: the thanks I owe to you, Beth Israel Congregation, for creating a temple home for our family.

ig LIGHTSUpcoming events

Federation Shabbat

Please join us for Federation Shabbat Friday, March 28th

guest speaker: Marty greenbergExecutive Director of the Network of

Independent Communities for the Jewish Federations of North America

Marty is a dynamic nationally recognized speaker who has spoken throughout the United States on topics of Jewish history, American Jewish life, Israel

and the Diaspora as well as Israeli security matters. He has served as Executive Director for two Jewish Federations and two Jewish community centers. He also served as the Assistant National Director of Development for the Anti-Defamation League.

Please plan to stay following services for a special oneg sponsored by the Jackson Jewish Federation

“More than the Jews have kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept the Jews.” (Ahad Ha’am) Part of our Shabbat tradition is to gather after the Friday night service at the Oneg Shabbat. It is always a special time for catching up with our congregational friends and family.

We would like for our members to begin taking part in making our Oneg Shabbats just a little bit sweeter. Thanks to Sisterhood, there is always an inviting set up in the Social Hall which includes the traditional wine and challah. As an Oneg sponsor, you would provide some additional noshes (like cookies, fruit, cheese and crackers, etc.) in addition to the wine and challah provided by Sisterhood. You can sign up to do an Oneg for any reason: a special occasion, a life cycle event, a family member’s birthday, anniversary, graduation, or just because you want to.

If you would prefer to sponsor an Oneg by making a monetary donation, we will be happy to purchase and set up the additional food items for you.

Right now, the following dates are open during the month of March and April: March 21, April 4, April 11 (Choir sings), and April 25.We are looking for a few good women and/or men to join the Oneg Committee. Please contact the BIC office to sign up to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat, or to join the Oneg Committee.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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Sponsor an Oneg!

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holocaust Rememberance event

Saturday, April 26th • 7:00pm

beth Israel Congregation

Featuring speaker Dr. James Grymes UNC

Professorand Interim Chair of the Department of

Music andViolinist Marta Szlubowska, Concert

Mistress for theMississippi Symphony Orchestra

Israel literacyProgram

2nd Session

March 23rd at 10am

Beth Israel Congregation • Library

Be informed about the issues at the forefront of Israel today. We look forward to seeing you!

If you have questions, please contact lex Rofes at [email protected].

Judaica Shop Sale!25% off

everything(excluding prayer books)

Purim 2014: Megillah Reading

March 15th

7pm

Winter

Clearance!

The Classic Rock Purim Shpiel • March 22, 2014

this year’s shpiel will feature music originally recorded by Queen, eric Clapton, and more!!!

Any congregant, whether young or young-at-heart, can participate in this year’s Purim Shpiel! Whether you are a seasoned musician or just like to sing in the shower, we invite you to join us! We

will begin rehearsal at 7:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday night starting Tuesday, March 11, in the BIC sanctuary. No acting skills are necessary since this year’s shpiel features

the reading of the megillah set to music. More information is available in the BIC sanctuary.

For more information, please contact benjamin Russell at [email protected] or at 601-850-6625. We look forward to seeing you!

Singers needed!



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ig LIGHTSSisterhood Spotlight

lunch bunch

Passover 2014:2nd Seder

Passover 2014:erev Passover

Please Join Sisterhood lunch bunchtuesday, March 18 • 12pm

C W Finns Restaurant (Lakeland at Grants Ferry Drive)

Cost: $10.00 • RSVP: Jan Docter at 601.842.1550

tuesday, April 15th at 6pm$15.00 in advance • $20.00 at the doorKids 5-10 are $7.00 • Kids under 5 are free

Kindly make reservations on or before Friday, April 11th by contacting Charna [email protected]. Please indicate if you

need the vegetarian option.

Monday, April 14, 2014 • 5:00pm - 5:30pm

Passover Ma’ariv (evening) Services

Please join us in celebrating Passover!

“People often avoid making decisions out of fear of making a mistake. Actually, the failure to make decisions is one of life’s biggest mistakes.”

Rabbi Noah Weinberg



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ig LIGHTSSisterhood Spotlight

book Club

Family bowling!

SpringConsignment

Sunday, March 16th • 11am in the libraryAll are welcome

The March selection is People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime, analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serbian shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illustrated with images.

April 12 - 3-5pm

Fannin lanes

Everyone welcome. All ages!

Please collect your spring clothing, shoes, and accessories for our Spring Consignment Drive.

All clothing will be taken to Private Collection or donated to women’s shelters in Jackson.

Contact Charna for pick up at (954) 629-1371



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ig LIGHTSMen’s Club

Following the Men’s Club’s successful Temple dinner on November 1, 2013, we volunteered to cook and prepare the brisket in anticipation of the Sisterhood

Bazaar on April 2, 2014. Who better to prepare this well-known Jewish health food, which is also part of the official daily dietary regimen of the U.S. Olympic Team? Men’s Club volunteers turned out to cook approximately 400 pounds of brisket.

On Sunday, February 9, 2014, our crew undertook the daunting task of slicing and packaging it all for the hot and frozen food booths at the Bazaar. The end result was some very tasty and tender brisket. As an added plus, all Men’s Club volunteers left with the same number of fingers as they had upon arrival! Thanks to volunteers Clay Humphrey, Jerry Branson, Alec Kasoff, Lawrence Haber, Bert Rubinsky, George Glass, Ira Rubin and

Shawn Alexander. Thanks also to Jimmy Moore. Special thanks to skilled volunteers/technical advisors Susan Fijman, Mindy Humphrey and Susan Rockoff.

While on the subject of the Bazaar, the Men’s Club will need volunteers at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, March 30, 2014, to help the Sisterhood set up the Social Hall and also for the traditional annual raising of the PVC pipes. Likewise, volunteers will be needed at approximately 5:30 p.m. on the evening of

April 2, 2014, to break down the Bazaar, including the corresponding traditional lowering of the PVC pipes. If you would like to volunteer in advance, please e-mail Mark Fijman at [email protected].

If you are an existing Men’s Club member, please fill out the form in this month’s ChaiLights

and send in or drop off your dues for 2014. If you are not a member, this is a great time to join. We are planning another Men’s Club social event for April and will be sending notices out in the near future.

Beth Israel Men’s Club Application

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Phone:_________________ (Home) _________________ (Work) _________________ (Cell)

E-mail:___________________________________________________________________________

-Thank you for supporting the Men’s Club-

Detach and return your $35.00 check to:

Beth Israel Congregation- Men’s Club • 5315 Old Canton Road • Jackson, MS 39211


Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________


E-mail:___________________________________________________________________________





Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________


E-mail:___________________________________________________________________________




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Men’s Club Report

Mark FijmanMen’s Club President

(Photographs courtesy Susan Fijman)


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t

Please start collecting your White Elephant items and bring them on Sunday, March 30th from 9 am - 1 pm. We take all household items, kitchen items,

toys, small electronics in working condition, and sports equipment.

Whi te e lephant items needed

Silent Auction • give a little bit, give a little bit of Your love to…..

Collecting contributions for the 2014 Sisterhood Bazaar Silent Auction! In order for the Bazaar to be awesome like last year we need fun, funky, useful, beautiful, creative and

interesting items by March 15th. Letters for Silent Auction and Receipts for Contributions are available at the temple office.

Contact Susan Fijman at (601) 260-4130 or [email protected]

bazaar Cooking Dates

March 16th • Cabbage Rolls(volunteers needed 9am -12pm & 3pm - 6pm)

March 30th • Chicken Soup

March 31st–April 1st • Hummus, Babaganoush, Chicken Salad, Tabbouleh and Cole Slaw

2014 Bazaar RaffleBe on the lookout for your raffle tickets in the mail! Prizes include a ruby necklace, emerald earrings, and an overnight stay at the Fairview Inn.

$2 per ticket! If you would like to purchase or sell extra to friends, they will be available in the office. Thanks for supporting the 2014 Bazaar Raffle!

the book Sale is back... Bring your gently used books in on Sunday, March 30th from 9 am - 1 pm.

47th Annual Sisterhood Bazaar!Wednesday, April 2, 2014

10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday, 3/30Help Men’s Club set up • tables & PVC booth pipes

(Sunday morning at 9am)Decorate Social Hall• Set out supples• Chicken Soup cooking•

Monday, 3/31Salad making•

Babaganoush • making

Cole Slaw making•

tuesday, 4/1Salad making•

Cole Slaw making•

Chicken Salad • making

Wednesday, 4/2bazaar Day!Breaking down the Bazaar and Men’s Club Annual Lowering of the Pipes at approximately 5:30pm

Just Days before the bazaar - Volunteer Opportunities

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ig LIGHTS2014 Sisterhood bazaar

hOW DO YOU SPell RelIeF?b-R-O-t-h-e-R-h-O-O-D ! And, b-R-I-S-K-e-t !

Why, you ask? Because the Beth Israel Brotherhood/Men’s

Club volunteered to cook the brisket for the bazaar this year, and it’s all done and already in the freezer!

Check the Beth Israel calendar on the website because new feelings of relief are going to be happening for several weekends in a row. Matzah balls on Sunday, March 2nd, chaired by Rebecca Laskin; kugel and tsimmes Sunday, March 9th, chaired by Betsy Samuels and Beth Orlansky, respectively; cabbage rolls on Sunday, March 16th, chaired by Charna Schlakman.

I hope you all have already begun your cooking and filling your own freezers with goodies for the Take Home booth, chaired by Dana Larkin, and for the Gourmet Dessert Booth, chaired by Robyn Pollack. If you haven’t already been contacted, go ahead and cook what you always do and maybe add a few extra things. The more items we have to sell, the more profit we are able to make to use to do good things all year long for both our temple community and for our local Jackson Metro community. And, while you are at it, make sure you are gathering some great items for the silent auction and boxing up the things you are willing to part with for the White Elephant room. And, we are going to have the Used Book Sale again this year, so box up those books you’ve finished reading and bring them to the temple by the Sunday before the Bazaar (watch for more details on this, also).

Lastly, but certainly not leastly (is that a word?), be thinking about what shifts you would like to work on the day of the Bazaar—how about all day? We need all the manpower we can get in many different areas. Several vital people may be unavailable this year so we sure could use your help. We have had to call on several of our non-temple friends to help in the last couple of years so taking some vacation time from your job would help us a lot. And, don’t be thinking you have to be female to work the day of the bazaar. Or on Monday and Tuesday before the bazaar, helping make the salads. We are happy to have anybody and everybody who is willing.

On that note, I want to again thank the people from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and also the staff from Henry Jacobs Camp that come in the day of the bazaar and help us. Without these extra folks, we for sure would be short-handed.

Keep your eyes posted on the Blast for details on the cooking coming up in the next several weeks and call the office to volunteer if someone doesn’t automatically call you. Also, if you haven’t already been asked to work in an area (I know that some of you are faithful workers in certain booths each year), be expecting a call from someone to see when you are available to help us.

If for some reason you don’t get called, feel free to call the office and/or get in touch with Jo Ann or Carol and we will find the perfect spot for you. Thank you all in advance for your help in making our bazaar be successful and run smoothly each year, and thank you for allowing us to co-chair this event for one more year.

Sincerely,Jo Ann gordon and Carol Kossman

bazaar Report

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ig LIGHTS

BITY

Sunday, March 23 11:30am to 1:30pm

GAMES, CAKEWALK, PHOTO BOOTH, FACEPAINT, PRIZES, BOUNCE HOUSE, FOOD, and MORE!

Fun for the Whole Family! Unlimited Activity Wristbands: $10

lunch and snacks available for purchase



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ig LIGHTSFrom the Office

birthdays

Anniversaries

Contributions• processed after March 25th (this month only... normally the 10th of each month) will be included in the April issue of Chailights.

Reports and articles for the April issue of ChaiLights are due • Monday, March 17th. Submissions should be e-mailed to [email protected]. Submissions received after the 17th will be included on a space-available basis. *Please note in the subject line “(April 2014) Chailights submission.”

3/1 Maxwell Erlich

3/2 Jay Davidson

3/2 Michael Ivshin

3/2 Andrew Paul

3/3 Marisa Cohen

3/3 James Freedman

3/6 Bea Gotthelf

3/6 Richard Miller

3/8 Howard Katz

3/8 Elizabeth McGregor

3/8 Kathryn Wiener

3/10 Stephen Briggs

3/10 Lauren Rosenbaum Brown

3/10 Amanda Margolis

3/11 Dylan Klingler

3/12 Alexandra Schneider

3/15 Kay Pollack

3/16 Amy Burleson

3/17 Richard Stamm

3/18 Avery Cohen

3/19 Christine Branson

3/19 Gary Eriksen

3/19 Morgan Pollack

3/20 Myer Mack

3/20 Laurie Neidorf

3/21 Joshua Wiener

3/22 Ralph Daniel, III

3/22 Michael Lehman

3/22 Francine Sherwood

3/23 Tovah Rubinsky

3/24 Annie Jacobson

3/25 Jonathan Cohen

3/27 Isabella Morlino Torrez

3/28 Jacob Fijman

3/30 Michele Schipper

3/2 Sidney and Michelle Mack

3/5 Rusty and Kimberly Schneider

3/11 Michael and Lisa Palmer

3/14 Tedd Abeles IV and Erica Abeles

3/22 Clay and Mindy Humphrey

3/22 Dave and Donna Kaminsky

3/25 Art and Joyce Salomon

3/26 Gary and Alice Friedman

3/26 Roger and Lynne Rosenfield

If you are hosting an event at BIC, please submit ALL requests, set-ups or special instructions, by email to [email protected] you have questions call or text gilbert Sollek at 601.317.5506

Reminder!



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ig LIGHTSContributions

In honor of Rabbi Valerie CohenBy: Steve Goodman and Robyn Levi

to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

By: Bill Albright and Elizabeth Rankin to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

By: Shelly H. Crunk to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

In honor of gabriel Cohen’s bar MitzvahBy: Janice and Buddy Blumenthal

to the BITY Fund

By Michele and Vadim Gelman to the Shirim Choir Fund

In honor of eric Schipper’s bar MitzvahBy: Janice and Buddy Blumenthal

to the BITY Fund

In Memory of Judy FeldmanBy: The Schipper Family to the Cemetery Fund

By: Marcia and Robbie Barron to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Marshall NirenbergBy: Mindy and Clay Humphrey

to the General Fund

In Memory of tom UnderwoodBy: Mindy and Clay Humphrey

to the General Fund

In honor of beth IsraelBy: Vera Davis to the General Fund

By: Jonathan Sledge to the General Fund

beth Israel Programing FundBy: Jackson Jewish Federation

beth Israel endowment FundBy: Lou and Melanie Newman

Congratulations

to Brianna Larkin and Benjamin Shahvar on their wedding,

February 16th in California. Brianna is the daughter of

Dana and Jonathan Larkin.



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ig LIGHTSbaby Announcements!

Emmett Berman HartSusan and Macy Hart welcome their sixth grandchild

Emmett Berman Hart, born 2/20/14, weighing in at 9 lbs., 4oz.

and measuring 21 inches long. Parents Hilary and Micah Hart of

Atlanta, GA. He was welcomed by big brother, Jamie, who is two.

Caroline Claire SamuelsBorn February 20th, weighing 7 lbs., 12 oz.

Parents are Aaron and Morgan Samuels, grandparents are

Betsy & Joey Samuels

Hans Aviv BerkowitzAnnouncing the arrival of Hans Aviv Berkowitz, born

February 2, 2014, weighing in at 7 lbs., 11 oz.

Hans is son of Audrey and Ross Berkowitz and brother of Miss

Martina. Congratulations to the proud grandparents,

Peter and Jarmila Zapletal

Yahrzeits for March 2014March 1 - 8

Jean RosenEdward SchurMax Sebulsky*Sadie ShaperoAdeline FishH. Harry FishStanley Hart *Lois KrockJohn Hart LewisBea PepperIsidore DreyfusGiglio GiammarcoIsaac MykoffRose FoxEugene Hesdorffer, Sr.*Lester BearNorma Lee Greenberg*Betty JaffeeShelda K. Binder*Ellis Engel*Georgia LawsonHenrietta LuxenbergJeanette Oppenheim*

Moses A. Berman*Richard BrownH. Van Eaton Hart

March 9 -15

Sue HaileyRose Greenberg KlineAnna FosterCaroline Lill Kander RosenbergTillie Schwarz*Marvin Marx ZivitzBessie Hart Asher*Normarine BarronEvelyn Goodman*Mose GoodmanSol HoffmanHelen KlineClaire B SpielmanPearl W. DavidsonErvin GolodDorothy LaskyFlorence Millstein*Rebecca Salomon

Adolph S. Asher*Hyman Duke FingerRae Weltman*

March 16 -22

Laura BregmanFannie Crystal*Dave GraberIsabella GreenbergJulius GreenbergAaron JaffeeOscar Larkin*Marion FleischmanTheresa GaleaMac McClainLillian OstrovAlfred RosenbaumSeth Morris GoldbergCelia Oppenheim*Lorrayne Gavant*Elizabeth C. Grishman*Jack JacobsonRichard LeavittSidney Hart*

Hannah G. Schwartz*Rose FriedmanHelen Jill Gavant*Samuil GorelikO. G. HaileyHarry S. Herman*Ann Silberman

March 24 -29

Jesse DobelDerald RosenElla SollekSelma FriedmanGene Hesdorffer*Alvin Binder*Herman KreismanIda RosenAnn GilbertIda RatnerBeverly Daniel*

Non-Profit OrgU. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit #123JACKSON, MS

5315 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211

Phone: 601.956.6215 Fax: 601.952.0895

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