Rabbi Michael D. Howald

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein

Bryn Biren, Russell Kaminsky

Co-Presidents

DECEMBER 2024

Cheshvan-Kislev 5785

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

CHANUKAH- NEW MEMBER DINNER

COMEDY NIGHT

HANUKKAH PARTY

HOLIIDAY GIFT FAIR

THEATRE TRIPS

ART IN THEORY

CHANUKAH CARD

EVENING WITH VINNIE MEDUGNO

PLEASE DONATE

ONEG SPONSORSHIP

CERTIFICATES

TREE OF LIFE

Shabbat Morning

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

Meeting ID: 878 5582 6129 

Passcode: 778943

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MISHKAN T'FILAH

MAY BE PURCHASED FROM CCAR

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MISHKAN T'FILAH FOR YOUTH

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This week, the city of New York issued a drought warning, the second of the three levels of warning the city issues when rainfall falls below expectations. The warning comes because of the longest dry spell in the city’s history since 1924, with less than a quarter inch of rain since October 1^st.  As a result, the city’s reservoirs, which are usually around 79 percent full at this time of year, are only at 60% of their total capacity, and numerous wildfires have filled the air with the smell of smoke. For the time being, we are being asked to voluntarily limit our water use by turning off our sprinklers and refraining from washing our cars. If the drought continues, the city may impose mandatory controls on our water use.

Our ancient ancestors would have understood the efficacy of water conservation. Much of ancient Israel, after all, was comprised of arid land completely dependent on rainfall for water. They, however, would have endorsed additional measures in response to drought that our city cannot demand. The most familiar of these responses is, of course, the prayer for rain. In Mishkan T’filah, for instance, the second prayer of the Amidah, the G’vurot, includes an insert for winter that reads mashiv haruach umorid hagashem (you cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall).  During Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, moreover, our festival liturgy includes a prayer for rain that revives and redeems the earth. This reflects the needs of a people who needed rain to survive.

When the need for rain was urgent, fasting was a frequent additional measure adopted by our ancestors. The opening chapters of the Talmudic tractate on fasting, Ta’anit, for instance, are devoted to the rituals for asking for Divine intervention in the event of drought. In ancient Israel, as now, the rainy season began after Sukkot and lasted only a few short months. Without sufficient rain during this period, the people risked starvation. As the calendar progressed towards the Hebrew month of Kislev (usually November/December) without rain, Jewish law prescribed a series of mandated public fasts with each series having progressively stricter rules. Interestingly, in one of the few mentions of Chanukah in the Mishnah, the ancient compendium of Jewish laws composed around 1800 years ago, the sages ruled that the people should not be asked to fast during the Festival of Lights no matter how severe the drought.

The prayers of the righteous were considered particularly effective in addressing drought. One of the most famous examples of this phenomenon was performed by Honi the Circle-Drawer. Many of us have heard the more well-known story of Honi’s planting of a carob tree as an act of generosity to future generations but the account that gives him his name “Circle-Drawer” comes from an ancient drought.  According to the Mishnah, Honi, an ancient scholar, was so frustrated by an ongoing drought that he drew a circle in the ground, stood inside it, and swore that he will not step out until God brought rain. His prayer was so effective, and the resulting rain so heavy, that Honi eventually had to pray that God gentle the rain lest it wash the people and their possessions away.

Few of us believe that we match the piety of Honi. I doubt we intend to draw a circle on the ground and refuse to leave it as a response to the present drought. As we hope for more rain in the coming weeks, however, it couldn’t hurt to pay particular attention in our prayers on Shabbat to those words we usually say without much intention: Mashiv haruach umorid hagashem. May the God who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall listen to our prayers. While we are waiting for a Divine response, let’s limit our water use and avoid any activity that might spark a fire in the dry tinder and brush of our borough.

Bryn Biren

Russell Kaminsky

It is sometimes difficult to come up with a topic for a President’s message. This month it is easy. December is the month of The Festival of Lights. Chanukah is approaching. The days are short, they are cold, and in the dark, we come together in December to light the menorah. We recite the prayers, go through the motions, clean the wax from the menorah each day (if we are even using the old-fashioned menorahs), and get ready for the next night.  We go through the motions for eight days. Is Chanukah really about the miracle of the oil burning for eight nights instead of only one? We choose to disagree.

No.  The miracle is really about being with your family, in your home or your synagogue, and being able to create lifelong traditions. Doing it over and over again, year after year, is what creates a lifetime of worthwhile memories. The familiarity of the blessings and the physical act of lighting the candles binds us together.

We are lucky enough to be the parents to a total of six children and five grandchildren. Educating them to know their Jewish background, to follow the festival traditions, to respect the traditions of our people and to act as good people has been our goal. Gathering at a table around the menorah has been a tradition in each of our homes.

Take the time this year to internalize the moments, spend the extra time to involve yourself with your family and with your Temple Israel community this month. Time flies by and you cannot get it back. 

Chag Hanukah Sameach!

Sincerely,

Bryn Biren & Russell Kaminsky

Co-Presidents

I have so many memories of Chanukah celebrations at Temple Israel over the years! Let's make more musical memories on this "Pajamakah" as we anticipate the joyous festival of lights! Senior Choir and Rock of Israel Band members are requested to participate in rehearsals on 12/15 and 12/17. Junior Choir members can join in the fun by coming to our warm-up in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. on the evening of the service.  

Chag Chanukah Sameach! Happy Chanukah!!

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein 

We will welcome the Shabbat & Chanukah with our friends at

The Brielle on Friday,

DECEMBER 20th at 3:30 p.m.  

ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US!

Song sheets provided!

JUNIOR CHOIR

Friday, December 6

Junior choir warm-up at 6:30 pm for 7 pm Family service

SENIOR CHOIR

Friday, 12/20- Visit Brielle - All Are Welcome. Song Sheets Provided

Friday, 12/20- With Rock of Israel Band

7 pm Warm up for 7:30 Shabbat Chanukah Pajamakah Service

SENIOR CHOIR REHEARSALS

Sunday, 12/15 - 10:00 am with Rock of Israel Band

Tuesday, 12/17- 7:00 pm with Rock of Israel Band

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DECEMBER 2024

CHESHVAN-KISLEV 5785

For calendar updates please check the Temple website.

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

MAZEL TOV TO:

THE BALLOW FAMILY on the occasion of JORDAN PADILLA being called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.

THE LEE FAMILY on the occasion of ELLIOTT being called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.

GET WELL WISHES TO:

PAMELA CARLTON

LARRY HANIBAL

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

JUDITH, MICHAEL & JORDAN SOBOL

THINKING OF YOU:

HOWARD MAZER

BARBARA MENNA

RUSSEL KAMINSKY

Good & Welfare and your privacy.........

We feel it is a congregation's sacred duty to provide support to its congregants. Some of our tools are pastoral care provided by Rabbi Howald and notifying your friends in the congregation when you have a happy Mazel Tov occasion or your family is burdened with illness or loss. We are willing to publish this information in our Good & Welfare e-mails and for Rabbi to contact you, but we need your help. 

When contacting the office or Rabbi about these events, please let us know if you wish the information sent out to the congregation or if it should remain confidential. WE WILL NOT PUBLISH INFORMATION AS A PRESIDENTIAL DONATION OR A "SUDDEN & SERIOUS" EMAIL UNLESS WE ARE TOLD THAT IT IS OK TO DO SO. If you are having a friend or family member contact us, please let them know your wishes.

A reminder: Please do not leave family emergency information only on Rabbi Howald's or Lara's office voice mail as these are not checked during non-office hours. For a family emergency, please call Rabbi's special line -- (718) 447-5810

Thank you

December 6, 2024

Abraham Friend *

Pearl Brill *

Julie Ellyn Kanter *

David Meltzer 

Diane Terris Eisenkraft 

Joseph Reznikoff 

Joanne Hanibal 

Helene Lipton 

Lillian Rebecca Scher *

Lewis A Selmon 

Eileen Tepper 

Hyman Ruskin *

Arthur M. Selznick 

Evelyn Wildrick 

Rona Schwartz 

Dorothy Peretz *

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Manone, Abelesz

Karl, Flauscher

Artur, Meinert

Hieronim, Chrzaszczyk

Hersch, Reif

December 13, 2024

Nettie Mazer *

Pearl Smith 

Theodora "Teddy" Goldstone 

Rose Kurlander *

Richard Lasher *

Isaak Fuks 

Peggy Bachman Boyer 

Herbert Gross *

Phillip S. Menna *

Savin Cohen *

Fanny Goldberg *

Morris Martin Blumin *

Rhea Silberberg 

Anna Berg 

Dr. Charles Biren 

Charlotte Selma Kitoff 

Harry Goldberg 

Selma Nison 

Frieda Zuckerberg

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Jakub, Winter

Tibor, Diamant

Imre, Foldes

Adolf, Fleischmann

Haim Hersch, Geller

December 20, 2024

Rita Weinman 

Charlotte Manger *

Morris Soller *

Shirley Schneider 

Harold Gross 

Meyer Meltzer 

Fannie Reznikoff 

Alan Guttsman 

Saul Polonsky 

Julius Kerstein 

Nicholas Straniere *

Roselyn G. Gross *

Douglas Howald 

Joan Richter *

Jacob Mydlarz 

Beatrice Cohen *

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Rachel, Wachtel

Maria, Glasner

Jozsef, Lukacs

Adolf Silbermann

Yitzhak Zarski

December 27, 2024

Yetta Soller *

Mary Berlin *

Henry Holtzman 

Harriet Ganz 

Sigmund Haber *

Jacob Kitoff *

Charles Kurlander *

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Ewald Ransenber

Fishel Dimant

Elisabeth Rut

Leib Wenglinski

Abel Abramowitsch

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.

DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR BOOKS FOR DONATION!

TEMPLE ISRAEL BENEFITS FINANCIALLY!

Dear Fellow Congregants,

Thank you to all that have honored your annual commitments to Temple Israel this year. If you have not done so yet and need to make arrangements, please contact me at your earliest convenience @ JPerezRabin@gmail.com.

Also, in an effort to keep all account information current, please be sure to provide any updates/changes to email addresses and/or phone numbers for all included family members.

Again, thank you for your on-going support of Temple Israel.

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.

Sisterhood continues to be one of the busiest arms of Temple Israel.

We are happy to be able to make sure that the traditions of an Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush take place at every single Friday evening Service and in-person Shabbat morning services, included those at which our school students are called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.  We are grateful to have members who volunteer their time, come early and stay late to make sure that everything is done to perfection.  A special shout out goes to Debbie Chernoff and Robin Hertzberg, Karen & Jerry Gross, along with Shariann Ganz, always make sure that we have challah, juice, wine and a lovely assortment of sweets for each and every week. 

Over the past month, we held a successful Bingo Blast evening in conjunction with Brotherhood.  The evening was filled with wonderful conversation, games, prizes, raffles and refreshments.  Thanks to Claire Guttsman, Bob Zuckerberg, and Sandy Mazzucco and all who assisted with every aspect of the evening, making it profitable and very enjoyable.  We are grateful to the supportive congregants and friends of Temple Israel who attended.

Sisterhood hosted our annual Paid Up Members Event which, for the very first time, was held off-site.  Over 75% of our membership attended.  It was a fun afternoon of desserts and trivia.  This tradition is Sisterhood’s way of thanking our members for their support and participation throughout the year. We would love to be able to include you in all our special events.  Please join us!

We were thrilled to have been able to present our traditional gift of an engraved Tanakh to each of this past month’s Bar Mitzvahs, Jordan Padilla, grandson of our VP of Programming, Shari Ballow and Elliott Lee, son of member Michelle Lee.  We thank Fern Barris and Joanna Meltzer for ably representing us at these two simchas.

We are continuing our social action focus with “ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GIRLS”  as we collect toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, new sports bras and underwear for those in need.  We hope that you will make a donation to this initiative by bringing one of these items with you whenever you come to Temple.  If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, we will happily do the shopping for you.  Please see the attached flyer.  

We are deep into the planning Chanukah, which is just around the corner!  We look forward to seeing every one at our Holiday Gift Fair on December 8^th and at the  Chanukah/New Member Shabbat Dinner and Chanukah Pajamakah on December 20^th. This is one of the most enjoyable evenings at Temple.  Come celebrate the light and joy of Chanukah with your Temple Family. Reservations for the dinner are due by 12/6. And as we celebrate all the light and love in our own lives, please do join us as we prepare meals on December 25th at 9:30 am to help others enjoy the holiday season.

We are also looking forward to an informal “Girls Day Out” on Sunday, December 29^th.  Details will be e-mailed to all Sisterhood members.

Sisterhood’s next General Membership Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 12^th. We will host a team from Staten Island University Hospital/ Northwell Health to do a presentation on Women’s Health.  We hope that all will attend.

Jodi Siegel and Shariann Ganz

Sisterhood Co-Presidents 

Sisterhood is organizing a trip to the Anne Frank Exhibition on Wednesday March 19 at 11:30 am.  The cost is$25 per person. 

If you are interested in attending please contact Jodi Siegel at jsiegel23@aol.com by Wednesday, November 27th.

This event is open to non-Sisterhood/Temple members. So if you have friends or family who might like to join us, please let Jodi know that when you respond.

We look forward to hearing from you and having you join us as we share this experience.

Join us for Canasta, Mah Jongg

or any other game of your choice!

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

The Brotherhood hopes all Congregants had a meaningful and reflective Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. Brotherhood’s leadership is quite pleased with the enthusiasm and camaraderie we’ve felt over the last few months, not to mention the time given volunteering for the projects we’ve sponsored.

If you are not already a member of Brotherhood and would like to help us in supporting our Temple, as well as our Community, please make a check out to ‘Brotherhood of Temple Israel’ and send it to the Temple Office. You may contact Alan Siegel at ajsiegel1@aol.com or Bob Zuckerberg at zuckie15@aol.com to confirm your participation.

On November 9th, we co-sponsored with Sisterhood a most successful and enjoyable Bingo Night. We hope to replicate this program on a yearly basis.

Our theatre program with Wagner College was oversubscribed for the November 23rd performance of “City of Angels” and we are still accepting reservations for “Once Upon a Mattress” on March 16, 2025.

Our thanks go out to Jules Lee (Judy Lee’s child) for the beautiful artwork provided for our Chanukah Card. Many of our members have again subscribed to send warm holiday greetings to the Temple Israel family.

In a few weeks,  we will be co-sponsoring a children’s Chanukah party with the School Parents’ Committee.

We wish everyone a wonderful Chanukah and may you be blessed with Health and Safety in the New Year.

Bob Zuckerberg

President

Dear Families, 

The students of our Religious School have enjoyed some wonderful events this fall. On October 20th and November 24th, children and their families had the opportunity to mingle with some of the more seasoned members of our congregation at Buddy Breakfasts. Some attended a special Challah Making activity on November 3rd. During class sessions on Sunday mornings, students immersed themselves in the stories of Creation and Noah's Ark through dramatic play and song. Now, with Hanukkah approaching, we have so many more exciting events planned for the month of December.

On Sunday, December 8th, every Religious School class will be given an opportunity to shop for holiday gifts at Sisterhood's Annual Hanukkah Fair.

On Saturday, December 14th at 3:00pm the AVIS Foundation is sponsoring a Hanukkah cookie decorating class at Cutest Cookies. If you are interested in attending, and have not yet responded, please reach out to Terry Baver, who is organizing the event, at terryqbaver@gmail.com.

On Sunday, December 15th at 11am, the Religious School will present a student-led Hanukkah Assembly, featuring presentations of songs, dances, and dramatic readings by every class. The assembly will be followed by a free family Hanukkah Party, beginning at noon, which is being sponsored by the Religious School Parent Committee as well as the Temple Israel Brotherhood.

We are encouraging all Temple Israel families to take part in our 4th annual "Fun Pasta" Fundraiser. A portion of the proceeds is donated back to our school, allowing us to fund programming for our Religious School students! Please contact Felicia Otto and take advantage of free shipping! Or, click on the following link:

Finally, we are looking for volunteers to perform in our annual Purim Shpiel! Rehearsals will take place after class on Sundays, starting in January. Please contact Cantor Suzanne Bernstein or Brooke Lopez if you are interested in participating.

We wish everyone a very happy Hanukkah!

Felicia Otto and Brooke Lopez

Religious School Committee Co-Chairs

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 SHARIANN GANZ.

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

The Membership Committee met and continued to discuss several new initiatives for the year.

The Membership Committee had a second Buddy program with the religious school on Sunday November 24^th at 9:00 AM. The first program was very well received and more people expressed interest in signing up.

We are continuing to work on designing a new logo and flyer describing Temple Israel that would include information on the variety of our programs and the diversity of our congregation. 

Sarah Sarfarti reached out to Hillel at CSI and heard back from Rachel. We will schedule a get together to establish a connection between Temple Israel and the Hillel college students. We will also reach out to Carole Bullock the director of the Pride Center on Staten Island to determine if there are people interested in attending Shabbat services.

Rian Silverman is looking into a variety of dues categories.

Maxine Cohen is investigating how to target membership with widows and widowers. She is going to contact the Bereavement Group at the JCC.

Bob Zuckerberg is in contact with the head of marketing at the JCC to explore more opportunities for advertising. He is also going to contact Borough Hall to explore ways to expand the visibility of Temple Israel throughout the borough.



We are working on a date for the Kavod reception for the Spring.

The next Membership meeting is on December 12th at 7:30 on Zoom.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy Mazzucco

Co-Chair

As most of you know, Social Action has been preparing a Christmas Day meal for those of our community in need for many years. This year we will again feed the hungry by coming together at 9:30am Dec 25th at Temple. Bring your favorite knife and your kids (who can frost cakes among other things) and join us in our efforts to prepare a holiday meal. 

Please help us with this wonderful Mitzvah!! 

Pamela Rogozin 

Social Action

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 December

We all enjoyed the Challah making class on Nov. 3. We are now looking forward to the Chanukah Cookie making class at the Cutest Cookie at 1300 Hylan Blvd. 3pm on Saturday December 14th. 

December 8th is the Holiday Gift Fair at temple. It is a very great place for the children to buy gifts for their parents for Chanukah! There will be Judaica, gifts and jewelry!

On December 20th there is the Shabbat Chanukah dinner at temple. It will be lovely if many of you attend. 

We are very much hoping that you all begin to volunteer at our temple and join committees and begin to think about helping our congregation survive! We are a small congregation and all the work is done by volunteers! If there is any interest you have in being a part of a committee or any interest in providing us with the help we always need, reach out to us and we will help you do the kind of volunteering you would love to do.

Sincerely,

Bryn Biren and Terry Baver

MsBunny7@aol.com

terryqbaver@gmail.com

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!!!!

On Tuesday, November 12 we enjoyed “Jewish PIRATES of the Caribbean”,

A presentation by Rabbi Johanon Bickhardt, former spiritual leader at the Jewish Fellowship at Hemlock Farms in the Poconos.  We hope to hear “Part 2”. From Rabbi Bickhardt!

On Sunday, November, 24 we took part in a lovely “ Afternoon of Poetry” with Jacob R. Moses and Douglas Scala..  We shared our thoughts and poems, and relaxed with coffee and cake.  Thanks to Pam Rogozin for her help with the refreshments.

Looking Ahead

We are working on Adult Learning plans for the new year.  We would appreciate it if you think along with us.  Please tell us what you are eager to learn about, suggest what you yourself may be able to teach us, and let us know of people who can present learning programs to us.

We would love to have you help us make arrangements for our programs.  Please tell the “Judys” if you would ‘love” to join us.

Some of our budding ideas for programs—

• Furthering our knowledge of Jewish observance and practice. 

(We are hoping for a presentation by the delightful Rav Shoshana Mitrani Knapp, the present Rabbi at the Jewish Fellowship at Hemlock Farms.  Waiting for later in the year to confirm the details.)

• Conversational Hebrew
• The evolution of Reformed Judaism
• The Birth of Christianity and its effect on Judaism
• A bus trip to “Jewish” Philadelphia

We will be viewing the play “Gene and Gilda” at the George St. Playhouse in New Brunswick, N.J., on December 15th.

If you wish to learn about Judaism and be entertained, on your own,  click on https://www.youtube.com/.@FriedaVizelBrooklyn, for some interesting presentations. (Thanks to Fern Barris for the information)

 Please look out for Adult Learning Committee meeting notices and JOIN US.

Judith Pessah & Judy Lee

Adult Learning Committee Chairperson

Please join the FUNdraising committee on Saturday December 14, 2024 @ 7:30pm for a night of Comedy.

The cost is $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

Following the show please bring your own jokes to tell.  Play a Jewish humor trivia game with your table mates.

Light refreshments will be served.  Please BYOB.

There will be raffles and a 50/50.

Please send your check by December 6, 2024 payable to Temple Israel Reform Congregation of Staten Island and mail it to Temple Israel, Attn: FUNdraising , 315 Forest Ave., Staten Island NY  10301

Please see flyer attached

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 
• The Jeffrey Ganz 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 
• Maurice Schlefstein Fund for Minor Repairs and
• Prayerbook Fund 
• Peterson Holocaust Education 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...