Temple Israel Reform Congregation

of Staten Island

315 Forest Avenue

Staten Island, New York 10301

office@templeisraelsiny.org


Rabbi Michael D. Howald

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein

          

Bryn Biren, Felicia Otto

Co-Presidents

Temple Israel’s Electronic Bulletin

E-Shalom

DECEMBER 2023

Kislev-Tevet 5784

“Shalom, Welcome to Temple Israel....” is a phrase taught to us by Carole Lachman, a beloved, long-time congregant and bulletin editor who died in 2002. We named our bulletin in her honor and worked to realize her vision of Temple Israel as a community that welcomes the stranger and lets no one stand alone. This new version of the bulletin maintains our tradition of communicating with our Temple Israel family and continues to forward Carole’s vision, love and devotion for our synagogue.

CLICK ON ANY OF THESE IMAGES TO PRINT OR DOWNLOAD FLYERS WHICH CAN ALSO BE FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THIS BULLETIN.

CAKES, COOKIES, (EGG)CREAMS & CAROLS

SCHOOL FUNDRAISER

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY

CHANUKAH SHABBAT

& NEW MEMBER DINNER


ONEG SPONSORSHIP

CERTIFICATESES

KRISTALLNACHT COMMEMORATION

TREE OF LIFE

Erev Shabbat Services take place IN PERSON. Live-stream links, for those unable to join us, will be e-mailed to all congregants, along with the Friday night Progam, every Friday. The Zoom link for Saturday morning Torah Study and Services can be found below.

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SHABBAT MORNING TORAH STUDY AND SERVICES 

Shabbat Morning

Torah Study at 10:00 a.m. followed by Services at 11:00 a.m.


Meeting ID: 878 5582 6129 

Passcode: 778943


**PLEASE CHECK NEWS & NOTES AND THE FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAM E-MAILS FOR STREAMING LINKS FOR FRIDAY NIGHTS AND FOR ANY CHANGES REGARDING STREAMING AND/OR ZOOM LINKS.

AN ELECTRONIC VERSION OR COPY OF

MISHKAN T'FILAH

MAY BE PURCHASED FROM CCAR

CLICK HERE

AN ELECTRONIC VERSION OR COPY OF

MISHKAN T'FILAH FOR YOUTH

MAY BE PURCHASED FROM CCAR


CLICK HERE
A Message from


Rabbi Michael D. Howald



Last month, I was honored to interview Ben Freeman, the author of two books about “Jewish Pride” for a book event at the Jewish Community Center on Staten Island. In these books, Ben draws on the teachings and example of the LGBTQ+ Pride movement to build a case for the Jewish community and its members to take greater public and private pride in being Jewish. The LGBTQ+ pride movement changed Ben’s life for the better and he believes the lessons he learned there can also benefit the Jewish community. His aim is to educate, inspire and empower the Jewish community to reject the shame of antisemitism as well as stereotypes about what it means to be a Jew in our modern world.


Ben’s message is even more timely after October 7th. As I write this article, the news and social media are riveted on the war between Israel and Hamas. Much of this coverage, explicitly or implicitly, accuses Israel of waging war unjustly and cries of “war crimes” or “genocide” echo in street protests all over the world and day and night online.  Some of these protests have targeted individual Jews who, often, become “Israel in proxy” in the eyes of the protestors just for appearing Jewish, daring to draw attention to the hostages taken by Hamas or openly supporting Israel’s military response to the October 7th massacre. In this environment of rising antisemitism, Ben’s books maintain that “Jewish Pride” is more important than ever, lest the Jewish community be reduced to silence by fear or anxiety.  Only through Jewish pride, he argues, can the Jewish community find its authentic voice in perilous times.


Ben’s two books, the first called Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People, and the second called Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride, each carefully distinguish between arrogance and pride.  When Ben talks about Jewish pride, he refers to reorienting our own attitudes about ourselves to reject prejudices that come from outside the Jewish community. He believes that too many of us have internalized stereotypes and attitudes about Jews that make us either diminish our own voices or adopt positions to make ourselves more acceptable to the outside world.  Jewish pride, he maintains, is not about claiming superiority over any other people or group, it is about being comfortable with ourselves and taking pride in our own Jewishness.


Since the book event took place on October 18th, our discussion also included how the world has changed since October 7th. Ben is a proud Zionist, and he believes that the hostility against Israel unleashed by Israel’s campaign to bring the perpetrators to justice and find the hostages taken by Hamas has placed enormous pressure on the Jewish communities of Europe and North America. In this environment, he believes it is even more important for each of us to examine how much attitudes from the non-Jewish world influence how we think about ourselves and what we say when we talk about Israel.  He acknowledges that safety is the primary consideration, but he asked each of us at the discussion to be more forthcoming in expressing our Jewishness as an integral and important part of who we are.  If we silence that part of ourselves at this critical moment, he predicts, it will be even harder for us to find our authentic Jewish voice in the future. The Jewish community is not to blame for antisemitism, Ben reminds us, yet we each can benefit from reflecting on how much we have internalized these stereotypes and doing the hard work of releasing ourselves from their influence. 


You can buy Ben’s books at your bookstore or favorite online retailer. They both offer important food for thought about how we think about our community in relation to the non-Jewish world. After October 7th, their message is more important than ever!


Rabbi Michael Howald   

A Message from the Co-Presidents

Bryn Biren

Felicia Otto

Each of our lives is complicated. Our days are filled with obligations, details, annoyances, and silly things that happen. We complain about them. We say that we wish life was easier. Some of the us look back and think that times were simpler and more meaningful for us. Little things get us down.


What I know is true is that our connections to individuals in our families, or in the families that we have created for ourselves is what is going to carry us through. We watch the horror in Israel, we watch the horror in Lewiston, Maine, we watch the horror in the Ukraine. What I do know without certainty is that no matter where in the world we are, incidents are taking place. There are people of all ages, of all ethnicities, who are someone’s loved ones who are being touched by tragedy. They are mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, and children. We may not know them personally, but they are cherished by their families.

            

How important is it for us to appreciate the beautiful things that we have in our lives each day? When we call a young man or woman to the Torah, we watch the generations passing down the legacy of our lives. We can be there to celebrate. When we light the candles on the Chanukah menorah, we can be there to celebrate. When tragedy strikes we can be there, knowing that in the future we will once again celebrate. We have to live every one of our days celebrating the lives we are so lucky to have - and often take for granted.

            

We are here for each of you at Temple Israel. We call you our “Temple family”. Let’s dedicate ourselves to appreciating the people around us and supporting them. We think it is worth the effort. You never know what tomorrow will bring!


 

Bryn Biren & Felicia Otto

Co-Presidents

A highlight of my recent trip to Eastern Europe was meeting Rabbi David Maxa, the leader of Ec Chaim, the progressive Jewish community in Prague. Rabbi Maxa welcomed our group of cantors and congregants to the small sanctuary set up in an office building. He told us his moving story, which you can read on his website:  https://davidmaxa.com/en/aboutme


When he opened the ark, we all oohed and aahed at the beautiful new Torah cover, made by artist Jeanette Kuvin Oren, the designer of the 2022 US Chanukah stamp. Rabbi Maxa told us the story of the Torah. Saved from the Holocaust, the Westminster Trust had loaned this Czech Torah to the URJ Kutz Camp in Warwick, NJ. Before he became a Rabbi, David Maxa had worked at Kutz Camp.  This Torah was the very first scroll he ever read from.  When Kutz Camp closed down, the decision was made to send the Torah back to the Czech Republic, to Ec Chaim.  Rabbi Maxa ended our time with him by singing Debbie Friedman's Misheberach for us, in his own translation into Czech.  


The four letters on the Chanukah dreidel, nun, gimel, hey and shin, stand for "Nes Gadol Haya Sham" - "A great miracle happened there." Of course, on the dreidel, "there" refers to Israel, but witnessing the vibrant Jewish communities growing in Prague, Krakow and Warsaw, places where such unimaginable destruction occurred, I felt that a great miracle is happening in Eastern Europe, too!  Especially in this troubling time of war, we can find inspiration and solace in the miracle of our peoples' survival through the ages.  


The "Holocaust" Torah at Temple Israel comes from the town of Nachod, on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland. You can read about its history on the Temple's website:  


https://templeisraelsiny.org/our-memorial-czech-scroll-66/ 


There is no longer a synagogue in the town of Nachod. Our tour bus stopped at the town boundary so that Barbara Feigelman and I could take a picture by the sign to say, Mir zainen do! We are here!  


Wishing you and your family a very happy Chanukah, full of light, love and miracles!

Cantor Bernstein and

Barbara Feigelman in Nachod

Rabbi David Maxa

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein 



SENIOR CHOIR

Sunday, December 3- 10:00 am

Rehearsal


Tuesday, December 5 - 7:00 pm

Rehearsal


Friday, December 8-3:30 pm

Shabbat & Chanukah Songs at the Brielle

ALL ARE WELCOME!


7:00 pm

Warm-up in library for

7:30 pm Shabbat Chanukah Service




JUNIOR CHOIR

Friday, December 1 -Warm -up -6:30 pm

for 7:00 Family Service


Sunday, December 3 -12 noon Rehearsal


Friday, December 8-3:30 pm

Shabbat & Chanukah Songs at the Brielle

ALL ARE WELCOME!


Join Cantor Bernstein, the Adult Choir & Rabbi Howald as we celebrate Chanukah Shabbat with residents of

The Brielle on Friday, December 8th

at 3:30 p.m.

Wear your most festive Chanukah attire!

Click Here For Directions
CLICK HERE TO RSVP

As the secular calendar comes to a close at the end of this month, we thank our congregants and friends of Temple Israel listed below who have fulfilled their High Holiday Pledges at the time of this e-bulletin publication. 


With sincere gratitude and thanks to you all, 

Bryn Biren and Felicia Otto on behalf of

The Board of Trustees of Temple Israel

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DECEMBER 2023

KISLEV-TEVET 5784

For calendar updates please check the Temple website.

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

MAZEL TOV TO:


KIM and VICTOR AVIS on being honored at the JCC's Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for the Arts and Culture;

All CONGREGANTS who participated in the NYC Marathon.



CONDOLENCES TO:


The family of former long time member, DR. FRED MARKS


GET WELL WISHES TO:


JUDY MAGNUS recovering from a fall;

MURIEL SCHLEFSTEIN recovering in Rehab;

INEZ SINGER recovering from vascular surgery;

ROBERT SILBERMAN recovering from a cardiac stent placement; JUDITH PESSAH recovering from an infection and hospitalization;

 ROBIN HOWALD recovering from COVID.


THINKING OF YOU: 


DR. RON AVIS, DR. ALICIA BASKIN, GAYLE CHASON,

MAXINE COHEN, SUE FREEDMAN, JOE GAMORAN, JERRY GROSS, SILVIA GORNSTEIN.


WELCOME 


New Members:


THE MICHELI FAMILY

THE ROSKIN FAMILY


December 1, 2023

Richard B. Marcus *

Eleanor Rosenblum

Ann Docteroff *

Tobie Schaeffer

Anna Janatofsky

Faye Radin-Ferretti

Jay Wolodiger

Michael Rosch

Abraham Friend *

Pearl Brill *

Diane Terris Eisenkraft

Douglas Howald

David Meltzer


And we remember from the Holocaust:

Eita Tobiasz

Makca Dalfin

Mania Yelin

Isak Montija

Maximilian Rose


December 8, 2023

Jacob Mydlarz

Joanne Hanibal

Helene Lipton

Joseph Reznikoff

Lillian Rebecca Scher *

Eileen Tepper

Evelyn Wildrick

Dorothy Peretz *

Nettie Mazer *

Pearl Smith

Isaak Fuks

Theodora Teddy" Goldstone"

Rose Kurlander *

Richard Lasher *


And we remember from the Holocaust:

Dezso Partos

Itzhak Baer

Rochl Sofnas

Hersch Pasternak

Berl Schieber


December 15, 2023

Peggy Bachman Boyer

Sophie Elman *

Phillip S. Menna *

Morris Martin Blumin *

Savin Cohen *

Florence Ruskin *

Alexander Weiss *

Sidney Tanzer

Anna Berg

Dr. Charles Biren

Harry Goldberg *

Charlotte Selma Kitoff

Selma Nison

Frieda Zuckerberg

Philip Hirsch

Yetta Pisetzner

Rita Weinman

Morris Jaeger *

Charlotte Manger *


And we remember from the Holocaust:

Ernst Künzl

Gustaw Stinsky

Shlomo Singer

Moshe Graber

Gitl Ofman


December 22, 2023

Mary Howald

Morris Soller *

Harold Gross *

Meyer Meltzer

Shirley Schneider

Alan Guttsman

Julius Kerstein

Saul Polonsky

Fannie Reznikoff

Nicholas Straniere *

Roselyn G. Gross *

Joan Richter *

Beatrice Cohen *

Yetta Soller *


And we remember from the Holocaust:

Moshe Berl

Lipotne Hirsch

Rayzel Zamel

Gustav Joseph

Emmerich Markovics

December 29, 2023

Julie Ellyn Kanter *

Mary Berlin *

Fannie Calmus

Henry Holtzman

Harriet Ganz

Sigmund Haber *

Jacob Kitoff *

Charles Kurlander *

Irwin Jaeger *

Joseph Lipsitz *


And we remember from the Holocaust:

Ferenc Kemeny

Siegfried Edelhofer

Bere Milyunski

lara Brandes

* These names are on our Memorial Wall.

EREV SHABBAT SERVICES

_________


Friday, December 1

FAMILY SERVICE

Service at 7:00 p.m.

JUNIOR CHOIR SINGS

In Person and

via Live-Stream

(link to be sent via e-mail)

ONEG SPONSORED IN HONOR OF SHABBAT BY

THOSE CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES IN DECEMBER.


_________


Friday, December 8


Celebrate Chanukah & Shabbat with Residents of The Brielle

3:30 p.m.



CHANUKAH PAJAMAKAH

CHANUKAH DINNER 6:00 PM

(RESERVATIONS REQUIRED)


Service at 7:30 p.m.

Person and

via Live-Stream

(link to be sent via e-mail)


ADULT CHOIR SINGS

ONEG SPONSORED IN HONOR OF SHABBAT THE OTTO, SHERER & SARFATI FAMILIES

_________


Friday, December 15


Service at 7:30 p.m.

In Person and

via Live-Stream

(link to be sent via e-mail)


_________


Friday, December 22

TOT SHABBAT-5:30p.m. Service at 7:30 p.m.

In Person and

via Live-Stream

(link to be sent via e-mail)


_________


Friday, December 29

Service at 7:30 p.m.


In Person and

via Live-Stream

(link to be sent via e-mail)


SATURDAY MORNING

TORAH STUDY

Torah Study

Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.

followed by

Services at 11a.m.

Via ZOOM


Click here to join  Saturday Morning Torah Study and Services on Zoom!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DONATIONS MADE EASY!

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  dfeder19@aol.com to set up an account. 

DEDICATE A LEAF ON OUR

TREE OF LIFE

Click on the image below.

MOST FLYERS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FOR PRINTING BY CLICKING DIRECTLY ON THE FLYER.

For updated information,

please contact Jacqueline Rabinowitz directly at jperezrabin@gmail.com.

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.





The November 3rd Friday evening Family Service started with the distribution of blue ribbons to commemorate the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel in October.  We will not forget the hostages and have held a place on the Bimah represented by a chair with a blue sash. In addition, we will continue to light a second set of Shabbat candles for the people in Israel who cannot light Shabbat candles.  The Rabbi has also now included representative names during the Shabbat evening Mourner’s Kaddish.  Also in November we applaud the Membership Committee for overseeing the November 17thTot Shabbat led by Rabbi Howald and Cantor Bernstein.  


This month we will be celebrating Hanukah, Chag Sameach!   We thank Sisterhood for the many ways they help our Temple family to celebrate.  Friday Night December 8th is the Sisterhood sponsored Hanukah Pajamakah & New Member Dinner. This will be followed by a Shabbat Hanukah Service with Rabbi Howald, Cantor Bernstein and the Adult and Junior Choirs.  We do note that the first Hanukah candle is lit at sundown on Thursday December 7th.  And for those students in our Hebrew School there will be a school Assembly on December 10th

         

Finally, we look forward to seeing you at Friday night Erev Shabbat Services, hopefully in person (but also available on stream) and at Saturday morning Torah Study and Shabbat Services which are on zoom.  And we continue to thank Jim Rohan for his musical leadership on those Friday nights Cantor Bernstein is not here and also Dr. Ken Pickover for his musical accompaniment on Saturday mornings when he is available.


Please look to your e-mails, messages, Temple Israel’s New and Notes, our Facebook Page and this E-Shalom for additional information as it becomes available. 



In any and all ways you celebrate we again wish you Chag Sameach and a healthy and happy secular New Year.


Nina Rohan

Remy Smith

Co-Chairpersons

__________________________


Thank you to the following congregants for their assistance with ushering during services or for honoring the Congregation with their presence on the Bimah in December:

 Deana Feder, Barbara Feigelman, Claire Guttsman,

Robin Howald, Cheryl Levine,

Sandy Mazzucco (Usher & Bimah), Joanna Meltzer,  Felicia Otto,  

Chad Rachman, Blanche Ricci, Sarah Sarfati and Remy Smith


Nina Rohan

Ushering Chair

December starts with a bang with Sisterhood’s very special Chanukah Pajamakah and New Member Dinner on Friday, December 8.  There will be fun and games for the children.  Come in your Chanukah pajamas if you like.  We will be serving tasty traditional holiday foods that guests at a Chanukah dinner enjoy most - roast chicken, brisket, potato pancakes, etc. To make the evening even more complete, the children and adult choirs, led by Cantor Bernstein, will perform for the congregation during the service.  We hope that you and our new members will attend this enjoyable event.  


November was an enjoyable month.   For Sisterhood’s November’s General Meeting Shari Stein-Ballow and Pamela Rogozin arranged for dietician Elizabeth Holtzman to speak to us about nutrition.  She told us about the best foods to eat for good health and we learned that we could eat almost anything but always in moderation.  That’s good news!


On Sunday evening, November 12, Fern Barris arranged a Ladies Night Out and Gift Exchange.  All those attending brought their favorite dish which we shared and quickly gobbled up.  We especially had fun time exchanging gifts with each other.  It was so enjoyable that Sisterhood plans to do it again next year. 


Sisterhood’s Annual Holiday Fair was held on Sunday, November 19.  A huge thank you to Blanche Ricci and Deanna Feder who so skillfully headed this event as they have done for many years.  Tables were filled with Chanukah menorahs, dreidels, storybooks, furry stuffed animals, Bryn Biren’s handmade jewelry, Chanukah candles, and an array of children’s Chanukah toys. Beverly Mazer and Inez Singer collected the money for the purchases, and Claire Guttsman and Nina Rohan were busy wrapping the gifts for those who needed it.  A big thank you for all the others who manned tables, set up the night before and on the morning of the fair, and assisted in helpful ways. Those volunteers were Linda Hanibal, Salvatore Mazzola, Anita Zuckerberg, Bob Zuckerberg, Fern Barris, Shari Stein-Ballow, Larry Hanibal, Jodi Siegel, Alan Siegel, Debra Smith-Levine, Ronnie Schorr, Libby Gershansky, Debbie Chernoff, Shariann Ganz, Silvia Gornstein, Sam Gornstein, Cheryl Levine, Robin Hertzberg and Barbara Feigelman.  Please excuse us if we neglected to list you.


Our December 17, Sisterhood’s General meeting will also be our Paid-up Membership Brunch.  Please contact Claire Guttsman or Sandy Feuerstein to let them know you will be there.  You don’t want to miss this!


We look forward to a very special and enjoyable performance (and fundraiser) by Rabbi Deborah  Zecher.  “Jewish Caroling” on January 20, 2024, will include the music of Carole King, Carol Bayer Sager and Carolyn Leigh.  Join us for wonderful desserts and feel free to sing along!   Please make sure to secure your reservation and bring friends.


We are very grateful to all our volunteers for assisting with Friday night onegs. 


Sisterhood hopes that you enjoy Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, with your family, friends, and Temple Israel. 


Please continue to pray for peace and the release of the hostages in Gaza.  


 

Pamela Carlton, Sue Freedman, Judy Lee, Anita Zuckerberg

Sisterhood Co-Presidents 

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


Many happenings have transpired since our successful BBQ in October.


Our attention, apprehension, trepidations, and deep concern has been focused on the events, that have not only been unfolding in our beloved Israel since October 7, but the unprecedented spike here in the US of antisemitic acts, rhetoric, and complete disdain on the part of the leaders of our educational institutions. 

Hopefully, with the announced release of a number of hostages in the works, we can breathe a little easier and pray for speedy resolution.


If you haven’t already done so or would like to do so again, here a few suggested links for charities to help our landsmen in Israel.


Friends of the IDF- Click Here

Magen David Adom- Click here

United Hatzalah- Click Here

Jewish National Fund (JNF)- Click Here

AIPAC - Click Here

Resources for Israel and for the local community link below Israel Resources | USCJ ​​​​​​​- Click Here


A few of our brothers, Larry Hannibal, Jerry Gross and Bob Zuckerberg participated in the ACS Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday October 22.


A big thank-you to those members and families who are participating in this years beautiful Community Chanukah Card.


Going forward, Brotherhood will be providing games and giveaways during the Chanukah Pajamakah event on Friday December 8.


Brotherhood is also co-sponsoring with sisterhood on January 20, 2024 "Cakes, Cookies, (Egg) Creams & Carols" (see flyer above)


For the Spring: 

·      We are looking into set up a monthly BINGO night co-sponsored with Sisterhood;

·      A Dine-Around in May at Zara Forest Grill (Turkish);

·      A Summer BBQ;


We thank you in advance for your continued participation in allowing us to provide a variety of social events and happenings and to help raise funds for our Temple. 


We hope, if you haven't signed up, you will. Please remember that all new members to Temple Israel enjoy complimentary membership for their first year.)


Fraternally,



Bob Zuckerberg and Alan Siegel


Hanukkah is here and we are excited! The junior choir will sing at this month’s Family Shabbat Service on Friday, December 1st. The following week we are looking forward to seeing so many families enjoy Sisterhood’s Hanukkah Pajamakah and New Member Chanukkah Dinner on Friday, December 8th. We have a record number of school families attending and we can’t wait! Later that weekend on Sunday, December 10th at 11:00am we will have a school Hanukkah assembly. Each class has been preparing a Hanukkah skit with the help of my amazing Co-Chair, Brooke Lopez, and the skits will be presented at the assembly along with Hanukkah songs and prayers led by Rabbi. Together we will then enjoy latkes, jelly donuts and more. 


The school has been raising Tzedakah all year to send aid to Israel. At the end of November we sent $315 to American Friends of Magen David Adom. We thank the students and families of our religious school for their generosity in supporting Israel at this time. 


Finally, our annual pasta fundraiser is up and running. Gluten free and low carb options are available in addition to all of the themed pasta you have come to love for gifts and enjoyment! Please reach out if you'd like to place an order directly to avoid shipping. 


Wishing you all nothing but love, light, laugher and latkes this month!



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.

The Sisterhood of Temple Israel would like to help you celebrate birthdays and anniversaries for you and your family.
You can share the joy of Shabbat and your birthday and/or anniversary by helping to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat on the Friday evening when we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries for that month.
In addition to sponsoring the Oneg, the names of those celebrating appear in the Friday night program and celebrants are invited to the Bimah.
A contribution of $10 for birthdays and $18 for anniversaries is suggested to honor your special occasion and help the Temple at the same time.  
Letters are sent out early in the month prior and payment would be appreciated before the first Friday of the month of the celebration. 

The Membership Committee met on November 16th on Zoom.

Several Committee members are presently working on a new Temple Israel flyer and new ideas for getting our name out in the community. We are also considering highlighting the stories of members and their experiences at Temple Israel. We will speak to Jodi regarding this idea for the E-Shalom Bulletin.


The dues proposal prepared by Judy and Barbara was presented to the Executive Board. We spoke about inviting Jackie to our meeting to discuss our current dues structure and the feasibility of developing new categories for the 18-30 age groups. 


The Committee discussed developing an updated Temple logo that would denote our diverse and inclusive congregation.


We will contact the JCC as they advertise events in the Community using a bullet points schedule to enable more exposure for our Temple Events. 

We organized a successful Tot Shabbat on November 17th. We have created a monthly schedule for coverage of future Friday night Tot Shabbat services.

Our Temple Kavod reception date will be April 12, 2024 prior to the Erev Shabbat Service. Further information will be announced. 


We discussed the possibility of doing a wine and cheese Membership event before one of the Shabbat services to “bridge” the generations. Another “intergenerational” event idea that we discussed is having a movie night. There will be a meeting set up to plan for this.



Our committee is moving forward with many good ideas. 

The next meeting will be Dec 14 at 7:30 on Zoom.

Respectfully submitted,


Sandy Mazzucco

Claire Guttsman

Co-Chairs

hands_together_sand.jpg

One of our long time congregants lost a loved one this past month. Miriam Friend mourns the loss of her youngest brother, David Schnittman (Eisner). David is also survived by his brother, Michael Schnittman, his sister-in-law Suzanne Schnittman, 4 adult nephews and their spouses, and ten great nieces and nephews. May the family of David Schnittman find comfort among the mourners of our people and may his memory be a blessing.


Pamela L. Rogozin

Caring Community Chair

Temple Israel Sisterhood Judaica Shop
EVERY HOLIDAY

EVERY LIFE CYCLE

EVERY SIMCHA

Just what you need and just what they want!
The only place on Staten Island for all your Jewish gifts.
Special Orders available.
Contact branchtr.ricci@gmail.com or call the Temple Office at 718-727-2231.
Some featured Judaica Shop items this month:
Contact Blanche Ricci at branchtr.ricci@gmail.com
 if you are interested in any Judaica Shop items.

Bryn Biren
Terry Baver
Avis Foundation Trustees

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.

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

On December 3 at 2PM, the young children can come, with their parents, to Cutest Cookies to create beautiful Chanukah cookies! Please reach out to Terry if you are planning to attend. We need to know the number of children and parents who are attending. 


We look forward to seeing you all at the Chanukah dinner at temple on December 8th. Make sure to meet and welcome the new families who we hope will be there!  And on Sunday December 10th the children will be doing special Chanukah performances during Sunday school. We welcome all the parents who want to attend!


We continue to hope you all attend the Family services which are usually  the first Friday of every month. Of course, you can attend all the services with your children, but this one is very important for them to come to. They can also have a part speaking during the family service. Just remember to let Rabbi know that your children would like to participate.


A reminder:  On March 3rd, the wonderful woman who ran the Challah making class for us is going to do a Hammentashen class! We are thinking it will begin at 11 am and ALL children are welcome to come! Please let us know if you are planning to attend.


We continue to remind you all to volunteer for a committee. If you have any questions about which committees you might be interested in, reach out to either of us and we will be able to talk about all the committees with you!


We know this has been a very hard time in our world. We hope that things will start to shift in a more positive, decent and safe way. 



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!!!!


COME AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS, OFTEN ON ZOOM, AND SOMETIMES TOGETHER AT THE TEMPLE!



Many thanks to Scott Kalmikoff for giving us insight into the diverse practices of our Jewish religion, through his fascinating programs.

Let us know if you have ideas for ways we can further that insight and knowledge.

Our thanks go as well to Quinn Nguyen who helped us learn some important information about “Nutrition and Aging”.



BOOK DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HELD in DECEMBER, FEBRUARY, APRIL, AND JUNE. 

Our next discussion, on Zoom, will be on Thursday, December 20, at 7:30. (Note this is a Thursday). We will be reading “The Matzo Ball”, by Jean Meltzer, an amusing romance novel. (No, It is not about Chicken Soup!) Please RSVP Judithpessah@gmail.com if you wish to participate and receive the Zoom link.


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

Nilaja Troywill share some of what she has been studying , in a 3 part discussion of “ Comparative Religion”,

Tuesday, December 19, “ The Birth Of Christianity “

Tuesday, January 2, “Schism And Persecution “

Tuesday, January 9, ‘Where Are We Now?

All at 7:30 PM on Zoom.


Check News and Notes to find out when and where to RSVP if you wish to take part in these exciting programs.


A program on “JEWISH DIVERSITY” is under consideration, initiated with Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff’s discussion. Do you want to learn about the variety of ritual in different branches of Judaism? 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












The FUNdraising committee would like to wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year.
Please save the date Saturday May 4, 2023 for our next FUNdraiser!


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

Co-Chairs

Contributions to Temple Israel as tributes, dedications or memorials are welcome and are published in the weekly Shabbat program.

Donations can be dedicated to the general Temple Israel Fund or to any of the following specific funds: 

  • Adult Education Fund 
  • Building Preservation Fund 
  • Caring Community Fund 
  • Carole Lachman Memorial Fund
  • Choir Fund 
  • Confirmation Fund 
  • Estelle A. Gootenberg Memorial Fund (for Torah Repair/ Restoration) 
  • Gerald J. Lustig Memorial Fund (for Ark & Ark Doors) 
  • Liheyot Fund 
  • Membership Fund 
  • Prayerbook Fund 
  • Rabbi Marcus Kramer Memorial Library Fund 
  • Shoah Education Fund
  • Scholarship Fund 
  • Rabbi Michael D. Howald Fund for Social Action and Tikkun Olam

A $5.00 minimum donation is requested for these funds. Checks for donations to any of these funds should be made payable to Temple Israel.

PRAYERBOOKS may be dedicated in honor or memory of a special person or occasion. For specific prayerbooks and donation amounts, look for the Prayerbook icons found in this bulletin

Please make checks for Donations to the RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND payable to that fund.

Donations in any amount may be made to SISTERHOOD OF TEMPLE ISRAEL or BROTHERHOOD OF TEMPLE ISRAEL with checks made payable directly to the affiliate organization.

For a leaf on the TREE OF LIFE in honor of a simcha, please scroll down. 

For permanent MEMORIAL PLAQUES on our Family Memorial Wall or Original Memorial Wall, please call the Temple office at 718-727-2231.

To see list of all recent
Tributes and Program
Donations to Funds...
CLICK HERE
CLICK ON THIS ICON TO TAKE YOU THERE!

If you are not receiving this Bulletin via a direct e-mail and would like to, please contact us at TICOMMUNICATION@aol.com to be added to our mailing list.

CONTACT INFORMATION
718-727-2231
  tmplisrael@aol.com
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