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
See page 12 for details
Rabbi Muller’s Final
Tot Shabbat
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Time: 9am
Location: Zoom
See page 13 for details
Rabbi Muller’s Final
Shabbat Service
Friday, May 29, 2020
Time: 6pm
Location: Zoom
See page 5 for details
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
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CONGREGATION RODEF SHOLOM IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT
PUBLISHED MONTHLY
1119 ELM STREET YOUNSTOWN, OH
PHONE: 330.744.5001
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
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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
Virtual Shabbat Service on Zoom
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Torah Portion: Behar, Leviticus 25:1—26:2 or Bechukotai, Leviticus 26:3—27:34
Virtual Shabbat Service on Zoom
Friday, May 22, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Torah Portion: Bamidbar, Numbers 1:1—4:20
Virtual Shabbat Service on Zoom
Friday, May 29, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Torah Portion: Shavuot
Virtual Shabbat Service on Zoom
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Please see Page 5 of the Bulletin for all the information on
how to log in to each Virtual Shabbat using Zoom
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YAHRZEITS
MAY 1, 2020
MAY 8, 2020
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*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.
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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
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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!
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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
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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.
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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
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
In loving memory of:
Elaine Orlick
By Marilyn & David Miller
In loving memory of:
Bill Shapiro
By Jeanne & Ken Fibus
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
By Jeanne & Ken Fibus
In loving memory of:
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
In loving memory of:
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
In loving memory of:
Ruth Gross
By Inez Heal
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
In loving memory of:
Jane & Howard “Buddy” Chessin
By Neil Chessin & Family
By Debby & Jerry Yarov
In loving memory of:
Sheryn R. Chessin
By Neil Chessin & Family
Oneg Fund
In loving memory of:
Morris Ortman
By Sandy & Gene Mallen
In loving memory of father:
Sherman Samuels
By Alan Samuels
Brotherhood Fund
In loving memory of:
Dr. Leonard Spiegel
By Carole & Bill Weimer
In loving memory of:
Benita & David Penner
By Martha Friedman & Harold Heft.
In loving memory of:
Bill Shapiro
By Gilbert Kessler
Social Action Fund
In loving memory of:
Joe Hanna
By Kandy & Bob Rawl and Family
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Tamarkin Chapel Fund
In loving memory of:
Anne & Rudolf Oppenheimer
By Doris Tamarkin
In loving memory of:
Bill Shapiro
By Doris Tamarkin
By Kelly & Bruce Tamarkin
By Joyce & Rabbi Maury Hoberman
By Frances & Judson Knox
Rabbinical Endowment Fund
In loving memory of:
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.
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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
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