Rabbi Michael D. Howald

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein

Bryn Biren, Felicia Otto

Co-Presidents

FEBRUARY 2024

Shevat-Adar 5784

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TREE OF LIFE

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As January draws to its close, we are also making our way through the Hebrew month of Sh’vat. In a “regular” year, the next month, Adar, brings Purim to our congregation near the end of February or the beginning of March. This year, however, the Hebrew calendar contains a 13^th month, called Adar II, which pushes Purim to the last days of March and, consequently, will place Rosh Hashana in the year 5785 on the evening of October 2^nd, 2024, and the first candle of Chanukah on the evening of December 25^th, 2024. This positions the start of Chanukah this year near its latest possible beginning point on the secular Gregorian calendar which governs the reckoning of the days in the Diaspora.

Every year, members of this congregation ask me why the Jewish holidays seem to migrate through the calendar from year to year. I begin by reminding them that the Hebrew calendar fixes the holidays on the same day every year. It is only from the perspective of the secular calendar that our Jewish festivals seem to move from one month to the other. This also reminds us that the migration of our community’s celebrations and remembrances through the calendar has its root cause, not in some arbitrary calculation, but in the difference between a lunar and a solar reckoning of the passage of the year.

In a purely lunar calendar, a year is equivalent to twelve lunar months, about 354 days. In a purely solar year, the year is measured by the average time it takes the earth to return to the same point on its orbit around the sun, about 365 ¼ days. Using an exclusively lunar calendar, accordingly, means a difference of approximately 11 days between a lunar year and a solar year. If we only followed the lunar calendar, this would mean that the Jewish holidays would gradually journey through the seasons, sometimes placing Passover during the winter and Rosh Hashanah in the spring. Since the Bible refers to the first calendar month as Aviv, the Hebrew for “spring,” the rabbis of the Talmud rejected this practice in favor of a calculation that periodically brings a purely lunar calendar into alignment with the solar year so that the Jewish people would always celebrate Passover during the springtime.

To bring the two different calendars into agreement regarding the seasons, the Jewish people in antiquity began intercalating an extra month in the Hebrew calendar in seven out of every 19 years. They did this because, in 19 years, the solar calendar exceeds the lunar calendar by 209 days, equivalent to 7 months. When the Temple still stood, the intercalation was determined according to agricultural conditions in the land of Israel at the time. After the destruction, however, the cycle was fixed with an extra month added every 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th years. This cycle, called the machzor katan (the “small cycle”) in Hebrew, and the “Metonic” cycle in English, after the Greek astronomer Meton (sixth century B.C.E.) who calculated that nineteen solar years and 235 lunar months are approximately the same duration. This means that every 19 years, the yahrzeits of the people we remember will bring the secular date and the Hebrew calendar into alignment.

Although the need to reconcile the solar and lunar calendar was recognized millennia ago, the Hebrew calendar we have today was only finalized until 10^th century of the Common Era. Our present calendar also prohibits placing Yom Kippur just before or after Shabbat and demands that Rosh Hashanah never fall during the daylight hours of Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday. Other regulations fix the minimum and maximum number of days during a regular year (12 months) and the leap year (13 months). Since an astronomical lunar month may contain either 29 or 30 days (as opposed to the secular calculation of between 30 and 31 days), the length of two months, Cheshvan, and Kislev, vary from year to year to bring the 19-year cycle into agreement with the solar year. All this means that the length of the Hebrew calendar varies from year to year, not to confuse everyone, but to make sure that, when we raise our glasses for the first cup of four at the seder, we are looking forward to the rebirth of spring!

As I look out my window at the snow and ice outside, I am grateful that our people understood the wisdom of keeping our seasons and holidays in alignment. I, for one, treasure our ancient calendar which places us outside the rest of the world’s reckoning of time. It makes me appreciate the ancient wisdom of a life tied to the seasons and cycles of both the moon and the sun. Now that you know more about the reasoning behind our special calendar, I hope you feel the same!

Bryn Biren

Felicia Otto

Temple Israel is, for the most part, a volunteer organization. Rabbi Howald and Cantor Bernstein, our office manager, Gerard (our full time custodian), and our part time custodians are paid employees. That is IT!

Our synagogue, which operates seven days a week with almost daily activities counts on volunteers to make it a success.  There is Sisterhood, the very backbone of the Temple, as well as Brotherhood. The Ritual, Membership, Finance, House, Religious School, Fundraising, Caring Community, and Social Justice Committees function almost without anyone noticing. You are invited to attend meetings and events and you have no idea how much time and effort goes into the creation of each activity. What you need to know is that most of these committees are still relying on our experienced and older members. Our congregation is in transition. Many of these members who have volunteered for many years are looking to train the new generation of members. New ideas are welcome and are necessary.

Going forward, Temple Israel will change. Although this may be difficult for some to see, this is inevitable. February is the time when many of you will receive a call from the Nominating Committee to step up and take a job on a committee, or as a member of the Board of Trustees, or to assume a position on our Executive Board. Our Temple Israel leadership must see growth and new perspectives.

We are all busy people. We have families, jobs, and responsibilities. What many of us do have is children whose lives are involved at our synagogue. We, as parents and grandparents, are planning for their futures.

Giving time to Temple Israel is well worth the effort. We want to hear from you even if you have been a member for only a few months. You have something to offer. In addition to building a foundation for future families your volunteerism will gain friendships for you. Temple Israel will become an important part of your life.

We are both available to discuss volunteer opportunities with you. We strongly encourage and look forward to your involvement. (Bryn Biren [email protected] Felicia Otto [email protected])

Sincerely,

Bryn Biren & Felicia Otto

Co-Presidents

In February, all hearts turn to thoughts of... Purim!  

This year, we are going Barbie Pink for Purim! Invented by Jewish mom, Ruth Handler, and celebrated in the blockbuster movie that swept the globe, the indomitable doll who can do anything joins forces with Morda-Ken to save the Jewish people!

Co-directors Brooke Lopez, Genni Lopez and I invite anyone who has Ken-ough chutzpah to bring Barbie's world to our bima to join us on Sunday, February 4 at noon for the initial spiel meeting.  

May the two months of Adar in this Hebrew (and secular) leap year deliver all a double dose of happiness! C'mon Barbie, let's go party!  

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein 

SENIOR CHOIR

Sunday, February 4- 10:00 am

Rehearsal

Tuesday, January 23 - 7:00 pm

Rehearsal

Friday, January 26- 7:00 pm

Warm-up in library for

7:30 pm Shabbat Shira Service

JUNIOR CHOIR

Friday, February 2 -Warm -up -6:30 pm

for 7:00 Family Service

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FEBRUARY 2024

SHEVAT-ADAR 5784

For calendar updates please check the Temple website.

To print or download a copy of this calendar, click here.

MAZEL TOV TO:

LINDA & LARRY HANIBAL on the birth of their grandson, ETHAN JACOB to Brian Hanibal and Gayle Teofilo; MAZEL TOV to Aunt RACHEL HANIBAL as well.

AMANDA & MICHAEL and big sisters Aria and Camila on the arrival of their baby boy and brother, Maximus.

CONDOLENCES TO:

The family of longtime member, RICHARD D. KUHN JOHN GREENBAUM & family on the loss of his father, CAL GREENBAUM; JUDY LEE and family on the loss of her father, JACK ROSENBLUM

GET WELL WISHES TO:

HARRY ELRICH recovering from a respiratory infection;

STEPHEN SINGER recovering from pneumonia;

SHARI STEIN & LARRY BALLOW recovering from COVID.

THINKING OF YOU:

SUE FREEDMAN

RICHARD LEIMSIDER

WELCOME 

New Members:

MAVIS & MICHAEL SMOOK

February 2, 2024

Raisa Borodova

Nathan Goldberg *

Ben Levee *

Harriet Bogart

Emma Greenwald *

Miriam Lavender

Gussie Siegel *

Hersh Blumin *

Max Dichter *

Joshua Kemeny

Abigail Wolchok

Dr. David Silverman *

Maurice Silverman

Kalman Weis

Martha Leef

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Edmund Singer

Ilse Leiser

Marcel Even

Belane Iritz

Walter Franken

February 9, 2024

Rabbi Marcus Kramer*

Alexander Meltser

Harry Nison

Caroline Stern *

Abraham Talisman

Robert Henken

Dr. Harvey I. Sonnenblick

Stanley Waldman *

Richard Diamond *

Solomon Eugene Hirsh *

Hela Mydlarz

Robert Ricci

Edward C. Frey, Jr

Maurice Quartin *

Marie Dub *

Irving Blackman

Murray Ginsberg

Solomon Feldman

Minnie Harris

Rose Soren Jablon *

Anita Jurikson

Ruth Tiger

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Peter Wagner

Albert Schweiger

Peter Dobermann

Herbert Fisch

Hanni Jacobsohn

February 16, 2024

Joseph R. Carlton *

Eleanor Goldberg *

Morris Lewis

Howard Rosenblum *

Milton Weiss

Max Yanowitz *

Charles Baver *

Rosella Cohen

Barbara Freedman

Josie Machol *

Simon Schwartz *

Rhea Silberberg

Gerald Silberlight

Joseph Andrews

Milton Feigelman

Bella Leder

Abraham Lipson *

Tillie Yanowitz *

Bessie Bleiman

Robert Harper

Allan Weissglass

Paul Jurikson

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Szaja Checinski

Hersch Rennert

Hedwig Weissenfeld

Ilbe Takobowirk

Hana-Sara Essner

February 22, 2024

Dr. David Machol *

Evelyn Richman *

Evelina Shapiro

Leonard Winer *

Richard U. Maren *

Nancy Kerstein

Jerome Fried *

Esther Grossman *

Walter Hanibal

Jacob Rabin *

Freda Rosenblum *

Amy Smith

Charles Kaner

Marcus Soloff *

Dorothy Siegel *

Morris Heitowit *

Anna Rodale

Isabelle Slamow

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Paul Lamoureux

Gitl Zarek

Eugeniusz Modzelewski

Aron Yakubowicz

Noakh Wajntraub

The Advance Payment Program allows members to pay in advance for Friday night program ads. Members usually deposit $100 (or less in some cases) and when an ad is placed, $5 is deducted. When the balance gets low (usually to about $10) an e-mail is sent reminding the member that they should consider adding money to their account. 

You may, if you wish, pay in advance for Friday night program announcements. For more details contact the Temple office or contact Deanna Feder at  [email protected] to set up an account. 

DEDICATE A LEAF ON OUR

TREE OF LIFE

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This month we welcomed a new family to our congregation and we now are fortunate to have 146 families within our synagogue. Thank you to all of you who continue to meet your membership commitments throughout the year. 

This spring on Friday, April 12^th, we will celebrate our Kavod Society members who contribute to our congregation at the highest level. As you reflect on what Temple Israel means to you, we encourage you to think about whether you are able to increase your financial commitment to Temple at any level. Doing so enables us to assist families in various ways.

Jacqueline Rabinowitz 

Financial Secretary

Please consider becoming a member of our

KAVOD SOCIETY.

It helps to make membership available to all our families. Speak to our Financial Secretary to upgrade your membership.

December and January were good months filled with great activities. 

We followed up a very successful Chanukah Dinner by assisting with the Annual December 25 meal preparation for Project Hospitality.  Many thanks to Pamela Rogozin and her volunteers who prepared hot food for the Project Hospitality.  

Claire Guttsman and Sandy Feuerstein, our Vice Presidents of Membership have  reported that Sisterhood membership is growing with 87 members and 11 friends of Sisterhood.  We hope that if you have not yet officially become a member of our organization, that you send in your dues.  Everything Sisterhood does goes to support Temple Israel, our community and all of it members.

“Cakes, Cookies, (Egg) Creams and Carols”  on Saturday, January 20  was a fabulous evening. Over 70 people enjoyed the performance by Deborah Zecher and Tracy Stark and had the opportunity to make their own egg creams, relive some memories by enjoying a Charlotte Rousse, some Good and Plenty and many more nostalgic treats.   Libby Gershansky, Jodi Siegel, Sandy Mazzucco, and Claire Guttsman chaired the event.  We are grateful to The Avis Foundation, Brotherhood and all the other donors who helped to underwrite this event. All leftover desserts from this event were donated to Project Hospitality.

The Joint Sisterhood/Brotherhood Breakfast will be held on February 11.  Shari Stein-Ballow, Vice-President of Programming has  arranged for Pam Silvestri to present "The Best Of.... (Everything on Staten Island).  The General meeting wiki be followed by  the Congregational Meeting.  

On March 2, Sisterhood will hold a Sampled Sale as a fundraiser for the Jennifer Straniere Memorial Seder Fund. This fund allows us to keep the cost of our community Passover Seder at a lower price for our members and to subsidize those in need. We hope you will join us for this fun evening filled with bargains! .A light supper will be available, and a 50/50 raffle will be held.  We have many wonderful items to bid on and you are sure to find something for yourself or for a gift.    If you have items that you would like to donate (new clothing & shoes, collectibles, small appliances, jewelry, new children’s items, etc.) please contact Jodi Siegel.  Reservations are being accepted through February 24^th.  See the flyer elsewhere in this bulletin for more information.

There will be a Sisterhood/Brotherhood Bingo Night (fund raiser) on March 16.

At our March Sisterhood General Meeting, we will host a representative from our parent organization, WRJ (Women’s Reform Judaism)  who  will share ideas on how to best support our members and grow our organization 

Erev Purim is March 23.  Be sure to participate in our Shalach Manot gifts!  Your sponsorship allows us to provide gifts to all those members who attend our Purim service.

Please remember that SISTERHOOD NEEDS YOU!  Our Nominating Committee is currently in the process of forming our slate for next year.  Please let them know that you are willing and able to help our Sisterhood remain strong and vibrant!

Pamela Carlton, Sue Freedman, Judy Lee, Anita Zuckerberg

Sisterhood Co-Presidents 

Brotherhood at Temple Israel continues….Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

And where were you on Saturday evening, January 20^th?  Well, if you were in the Social Hall which was converted to a Cabaret for the evening, you participated in a wonderful presentation by Rabbi Deborah Zecher, accompanied by Tracy Stark on keyboards.  The evening was enhanced by a wide variety of ‘snacks’ that surely brought back some very pleasant memories of the past.  Brotherhood was able to assist in underwriting this Temple-wide event for the benefit of all of our Congregants and guests.  Congratulations to the organizing committee.

Please be reminded that in preparation for the Temple’s annual Yom HaShoah observance, Brotherhood will again be sponsoring the distribution of the yellow memorial candles to be lighted on Erev Yom HaShoah, Sunday, May 5^th.  We believe that this event takes on a special significance in light of the events of October 7^th, 2023.  We hope that you will all participate.

Also, please remember that you still have the opportunity to renew or initiate your membership in Brotherhood which is open to all members of our Temple community. As you can see, with your support, we will be able to assist with the ongoing activities here at our Temple.

With best wishes,

Bob Zuckerberg and Alan Siegel

This month we kick off our Spring Shabbat Star Incentive program. Religious school students who attend at least one Shabbat service from February-May will receive a gift card from the school! Eight students met the incentive in the fall and earned gift cards. They are: Charlie Baver, Arielle Otto, Austin Otto, Evelyn Sarfati, Nora Sarfati, Daniel Shagenov, Rebecca Weiss and Riva Weiss. We are hoping to increase the number of eligible students for this spring!

Our Family Shabbat service for February is Friday, February 2^nd at 7:00pm. We will announce the February Students of the Month at that time and the Junior Choir will sing. Please continue to consider how your child dresses for Shabbat and their participation on the Bimah. We ask that students are in slacks, collared shirts, skirts, dresses and attire that honors the sacredness of the Bimah and Shabbat. 

On Saturday, February 3^rd at 3:00pm join us in the sanctuary as school student Sophia Papas is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah. This is a wonderful way to celebrate with Sophia while also helping your child understand what their B’nai Mitzvah will look like. 

Finally, we are keeping the Tu B’Shevat spirit going with our first annual Tu B’Shevat assembly a few days after the holiday on Sunday, February 4^th at 11:00am. Come celebrate the new year for the trees with a model seder and performances from the students. See our attached flyer and we hope to see you all there!

Sincerely, 

Felicia

Felicia Otto

Religious School Committee Co-Chair

We are sorry if your name was inadvertently omitted. Please contact the Temple Office to update your membership information.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPONSORING AN ONEG, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FLYER BELOW AT LEAST ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE YOU ARE REQUESTING.

SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO SISTERHOOD VIA THE SISTERHOOD MAILBOX, OR GIVE IT DIRECTLY TO

SISTERHOOD CO-PRESIDENT JUDY LEE.

YOU WILL THEN BE CONTACTED BY A SISTERHOOD REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL HAPPILY ASSIST YOU WITH ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS & DETAILS.

Our Board Financial Secretary Jackie Rabinowitz updated the Committee that Rakefet is live and new member categories will soon go through an analysis.

The Committee discussed making phone calls to members that have not been at services as of late or who have not had any recent contact with Temple. We will also be connecting with the families who have joined Temple recently. 

Each month we continue to connect with families to let them know about the scheduled once per month Tot Shabbats.

We had also discussed whether to schedule April as a No Shush Shabbat. We have done this in the past for families with special needs children.

We are also looking at the month of April to schedule a Kavod reception. 

We are continuing to discuss wearing disposable name tags at services and Onegs so that people might be more apt to approach unfamiliar members of the Congregation if they can see their names. 

We are exploring the possibility of creating a new updated Temple logo to use for flyers, stationery etc. Sarah Sarfati has reached out to a friend that is a graphic designer. We are looking into the costs. 

We are continuing to explore other advertising options to expand our presence in the Community.

We are also exploring doing a movie night as a Membership Committee activity. More information to follow.

Our Next Membership Committee Meeting will February 15^th.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy Mazzucco

Claire Guttsman

Co-Chairs

This month we were saddened by the passing of the father of a long time congregant. Calvin Greenbaum, father of Past President, John Greenbaum, passed this month at the age of 97. A Shivah was held on Long Island. 

We are also saddened by the passing of the father of one of our Sisterhood Presidents. Jack Rosenblum passed this month at the age of 106, leaving behind his daughters Judy Lee and Jill Morgan (Robert Slaney), Grandchild Jules Lee and Nieces and Nephews. A Memorial Service was held on January 28th on Zoom. 

May the families of Calvin Greenbaum and Jack Rosenblum find comfort among the mourners in Zion and Jerusalem and may their memory be a blessing. 

Pamela L. Rogozin

Caring Community Chair

The mission of the Dr. Ronald Avis Foundation for Temple Israel Reform Congregation is:

…. to provide financial support for young families seeking membership in Temple Israel, and to attract new young families by providing learning opportunities, family programming, and social justice initiatives.

************************************************************

Welcome to February, 

We look forward to seeing you all on February 4th at 11 am at our Religious school Tu B’Shvat morning event. All our religious school children will be performing songs and skits! 

A reminder again…..On March 3rd at 11am, you are welcome to bring all your children to learn how to bake Hamantashen! The same wonderful teacher who taught out children how to make challah will be doing the class for us. Reach out to Terry if you are planning to come. 

And on March 10 at 2pm, our children who are 10 + are invited to come to the Museum of Jewish Heritage - a Living Memorial to the Holocaust. They will be doing a tour and program for our children, “The Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark”. Reach out to Terry if you are planning to attend. 

And on February 10, Felicia and Bryn have created a wonderful concert with Vinnie Medugno..a concert of 1960’s wonderful music with back-up singers and a band.

We are hoping to set up a zoom meetup with all the parents in the next month and will send you all information about the date. We want to talk to you all about your involvement with our congregation, interests you might all have working on committees and your own interest in activities you would like to set up.

Sincerely,

Bryn Biren and Terry Baver

The story of the Dr. Ronald Avis Foundation for Temple Israel

Dr. Avis originally provided our wonderful Foundation to cover a portion of the membership cost for the first 6 years for young families with young children. Our congregation had been diminishing and he was looking for a way to help us all begin to grow. After meeting with Bryn and Terry a few times, more money was added so the families would also have the opportunities to experience programs for their children. Many wonderful events have been set up for the young families including museum visits, Chanukah cookie designs, a Challah class, a program at the Staten Island Holocaust Center, and many other experiences. The foundation has also helped cover the cost of the religious school teachers.

But then!!!! Covid happened!!!!!!

So the decision was made to use a portion of the foundation money to help all the temple members. The Avis Foundation began to create the zoom classes for the adults in our congregation. These classes are continuing and the foundation covers the costs of them all. The Avis Foundation also covered the cost of the 75th anniversary event. And the foundation is now working with Judy Pessah and the Adult Education Committee to help cover the cost of all the events and classes for the adults in the congregation. 

So: Our entire congregation has benefitted from the generosity of the Foundation. Thank you RON!!!!

Book Discussion— Thanks to Judy Lee for leading us through an amusing discussion of “The Matzah Ball”. By Jean Seltzer. THE NEXT BOOK DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD IN THE SPRING. WATCH FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE DATE AND CHOICE OF BOOK.

The programs that follow will be happily presented as a joint effort of the Adult Learning Committee and the Avis Foundation.

• Scott Kalmikoff will return to us with some exciting programs, on January 16, 30, and February 6, at 7:30 PM, discussing “The History of Israel, Zionism, and the present Conflict”.

• And we are looking forward to a program on the evolution of Reform Judaism, given by Rabbi Howald.

• Our expert Mark Meyer will be returning with some new views on the world of Art, on February 20th, 27th and March 5th, and 19th, at 7:30PM.  Please check News and Notes for the Zoom link when we get closer to the dates.

• A program on “JEWISH DIVERSITY” is under consideration. Would those of you in our congregation, or friends, whose Jewishness did not begin in America, like to talk to us? Would you like to hear about Judaism in parts of the world where you would not think it would exist? We are working on these ideas. Please share your thoughts with us!

We have many congregants traveling the world. Would you like to share your adventures with us? Would you like to take part in a program, perhaps— “AROUND THE WORLD IN A LIFETIME OF DAYS”? If so let us know!

Judith Pessah

Adult Learning Committee Chairperson

Please join the FUNdraising committee to test your creative skills and have some fun painting a ceramic piece at

Clay and Kiln

861 Castleton Ave

Staten Island, NY 10310

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Party starts at 6pm.

$40 per person includes choice of three clay pieces, paints, supplies, cheese and crackers and soft drinks.

BYOB

Raffle and 50/50

Please RSVP by February 11, 2024 see flyer attached for all info.

***Save the date Saturday May 4, 2024***

for our next FUNdraiser

We will do line dancing to country and pop music, this will include lessons for all the dances.

Be on the lookout for our flyer.

Rhonda Trontz-Allen, Karen Frey-Gamoran, Lissa Winchel

Co-Chairs