Rabbi Michael D. Howald

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein

Bryn Biren, Russell Kaminsky

Co-Presidents

MARCH 2025

Adar-Nisan 5785

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      On October 7, 2023, the unthinkable happened to the Bibas family. While sleeping in their home at Kibbutz Nir Oz, they were attacked by Hamas terrorists. Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir (8 months) and Ariel (4 years) were dragged at gunpoint into a car and taken hostage into Gaza. Shiri’s husband, Yarden, was also beaten and captured. Shiri’s elderly parents, among the founders of the Kibbutz, were shot and killed. Since that day, the Bibas family has been the public face of the cruelty of the Hamas attack. Their pictures have been carried at every rally for the hostages in Israel and the entire nation has awaited word on their fate. Two weeks ago, Yarden was released from captivity. This Tuesday, the Israeli government confirmed that Hamas intended to turn over the bodies of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir later this week.

           I first heard the news on Facebook when a multitude of my friends began posting broken hearts online. The news reports from Israel show a whole country in tears. Israeli President Isaac Herzog summed up the mood of an entire people: “There are no words. Our hearts—the hearts of the entire nation—lie in tatters.” When our own words fail us, however, we can turn back to the words of the Hebrew Bible and its millennia old contemplation of the reality of evil and death in our world. Using the Book of Kohelet as a model, let me offer this prayer and meditation for the Bibas family and all who mourn with them.

(based on Kohelet, chapter 3 and a reading from L’chol Z’man v’Eit, the CCAR Life-Cycle Guide)

For everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die;

When death shatters us,

what new season is born?

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted;

they were uprooted too soon,

what have we left to plant?

A time to tear down and a time to build up;

our spirits are brought low

and we are built up with anguish.

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

we weep into the night

and laughter has fled our lips.

A time to grieve and a time to dance;

the rhythms of grief guide our mournful steps.

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

our spirits are now the stones we gather together.

A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

Hold us now, O God, in Your loving embrace.

A time to seek and a time to lose;

our days of loss have come but we did not seek them out.

A time to keep and a time to discard;

show us what to treasure and what to cast aside.

A time to tear and a time to sew;

how shall we sew our tattered hearts together?

A time to keep silent and a time to speak.

When words fail us, our tears speak our grief.

May the Bibas family and the entire house of Israel find comfort in our tears and embraces in the days ahead.

Bryn Biren

Russell Kaminsky

What does it mean to belong to Temple Israel? The answer to that question is that there is no correct answer. Membership, to each one of us, has a completely different meaning.

Years ago, you were born into a family that signed you up for Religious school and Hebrew school and you went. Why? Because your parents told you to go. You attended High Holy day services with your family because that is just what you did. We followed the guide set by our parents.

Today, the world has changed. Family synagogue membership has decreased. A family may call our office to inquire about a baby naming. It may be the first child born into the family; they may have not even considered affiliating long-term with a synagogue. We have received a number of calls from parents with children who are 11 or 12 years of age and would like to arrange for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. When we ask about the child’s religious background, oftentimes, they respond that there has been none. There are also calls from individuals/couples who are looking for a place to meet other adults with similar religious values. They have attended services at other temples and just didn’t feel the connection. We also have long term members who choose to attend only High Holy day services. 

Although we offer festival activities, learning services, courses, etc., this is not what they desire. They come once a year, because that is what works for them.

So, what is the point? We are constantly trying to expand membership, to bring in those who are not “regulars”, to fill our sanctuary on Shabbat evenings. We sometimes have a model in our minds for what our members should be doing. What we must always keep in mind is that we must respect individual choices, while maintaining the quality of the religious education we offer and maintaining our own traditions, rituals and standards. What we want is connection, validation and acceptance for everyone - and we must keep in mind that every person who enters our front door is different. Being open-minded and welcoming to those who choose to be members of our congregation will enable us to have a successful future and make Temple Israel have value to whomever wants to be a part of our temple.

Sincerely,

Bryn Biren & Russell Kaminsky

Co-Presidents

By the time Purim arrives, we will already know the results of the 97th Academy Awards. How many of "Wicked's" 10 nominations will reap the golden statuette? Will Timothee Chalemet, at age 29 the youngest two time best actor nominee since James Dean in 1957, finally get to give his acceptance speech? And, most importantly of all, will I regret basing this year's Purimspiel on Chalamet's A Complete Unkown, when the ever fabulous Brooke Lopez was eager to come up with a very Wicked spiel? The answer, my friends, is blowin' in the wind.  It's Adar, be happy, (Babylonian Talmud, Ta'anit 29a) and next year, Brooke will spiel-ify Wicked, Part 2 for everyone's delight! Purim will be celebrated on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m.

At the Shabbat evening service on March 21, Sam Gornstein, Anne Young and I will speak about the American Conference of Cantors trip to Argentina, and sing one of the pieces we performed in Buenos Aires, with Mavis Smook accompanying us at the keyboard.  

As we read in Megillat Esther, "Lay'hudim hayta ora v'simcha." May we enjoy light and joy on Purim!   

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein 

🎶 ACC Brought Music to Argentina 

The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) are on a journey in the Jewish community in Argentina. As part of this trip, they delivered an unforgettable concert at Fundación Judaica in Belgrano, led by ACC President Cantor Seth Warner. 

Rabbi Sergio Bergman, WUPJ President, joined the concert and reflected on the unifying power of music as a bond of identity and hope: 

"Music is the most spiritual and universal way to connect. For the Jewish people, music is prayer, and prayer is music— a deep source of our Jewish identity. For me, this is the most universal way for every Jew, anywhere in the world, to feel connected. When we sing the same songs—our prayers—we unify as a people and build a bridge between us. 

The repertoire took the audience on a journey—from classic Yiddish songs to Broadway hits, closing with Hatikva, uniting generations in one heart. 

Anne Young, Sam Gorntsein, Cantor Bernstein and Silvia Gornstein

at The Reception after the opening night concert on the first night of their trip to Buenos Aires.

Dear Purimspielers and Choir Members:

Brooke and Freda Lopez, once again our star choreographers for this year's Purimspeil, are casting fabulous disco dancers, no experience or talent necessary! She will be sending all of you videos of the dances from the spiel for you to learn in the privacy of your own dance cave so you can dance like no one is watching. We are counting on some of you, especially Esther, Haman, and Vashti's dancing queen attendants, to learn these dances, and warmly invite the rest of you to join in, especially for the final dance.  The more the merrier, and more hilarious, too!  

The videos will come in a separate email.  

Here is the complete March schedule for both Spielers and other musical events:  

Sunday, 3/2: 9:30 a.m. Purimspiel rehearsal at the Temple. Spielers must park off premises and walk to Temple because of the St. Patrick's Day parade

Friday, 3/7:  

3:30 p.m. Shabbat and Purim sing-along at the Brielle. All are welcome!

6:30 p.m. warm-up for children who would like to sing in the family service at 7 p.m.  

Sunday, 3/9, 11 a.m. Adult Purim Shpielers in Principal Roles Meet in Sanctuary

12 p.m.: Full cast Purimspiel rehearsal 

Tuesday, 3/11, 6:30 p.m.: Purimpspiel dress rehearsal

Thursday, 3/13, 5:00 p.m. call time for Spielers

6:30 p.m: Erev Purim Megillah reading & Spiel. 

Friday, 3/21 - Sam Gornstein, Anne Young and I will speak about the American Conference of Cantors trip to Argentina, and sing one of the pieces we performed in Buenos Aires, with Mavis Smook accompanying us at the keyboard.  

All are welcome to join us as we celebrate

Purim and Shabbat

with our friends at The Brielle

on Friday, March 7th

at 3:30 PM



CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MARCH 2025

ADAR-NISAN 5785

For calendar updates please check the Temple website.

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

MAZEL TOV TO:

JEN & CHAD RACHMAN on the occasion of ELLIOTT being called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.

CONDOLENCES TO:

The entire AVIS FAMILY, on the loss of our beloved long-time member and benefactor DR. RON AVIS;

SHARI STEIN-BALLOW & family on the loss of her step-mother, MELODY STEIN;

The Menna Family on the loss of long-time member,

BARBARA HARRISON MENNA

GET WELL WISHES TO:

MICHAEL ROGOZIN

SUE FREEDMAN

THINKING OF YOU:

PHYLLIS ELRICH

JERRY GROSS

RUSSEL KAMINSKY

SANDY MAZZUCCO

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

March 7, 2025

Elinor May

Sadie Mogol*

Thomas Sparacio

Albert Rosen *

Blanche Dembiner

Ella Small

Harry Levee *

Moises Gornstein

Ida Baver *

Edward Lipsitz *

David Sappin

Felix Ecker *

Harry Siegel *

Ethel Kessler *

Margaret Guttman

Max Kadin *

Milton Feigelman

Pamela Popler-Tolk

Elaine Schnittman *

William Levine

Louis Harrison

Lena Tannenbaum

Lillian Selznick *

Bessie Bleiman

Samuel Smith *

Carl Litkofsky

Sidney Lachman *

Cecily Marianne Sostek

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Emmi Sopp

Zisl Beigelman

Yakov Hojnatski

Gita Hofmann

Samuel Mendels

March 14, 2025

Veronica Balogh

Mary Curatola

Norman Feigelman

Sanford Rosenthal

Michael Levine

Mark James Sheirr *

Ida Grober

Charles Overberger

Alice Snyder Best

Michael Sorkin

Esther Bierman

Luz Burstein *

Robert Stakofsky *

Beni Kessler *

William Pollack *

Isabel Slamow

Eleanor Weinberg

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Albert Levy

Reizel Wajsberg

Beila Wolfowicz

Lea Kirschenbaum

Maria Dobrujinska

March 21, 2025

Caroline Elrich

Greta Newman *

Samuel Tepper*

Harriet Simmons *

Thelma Fuller

Mollie Kantrowitz

Daniel Shapiro

Alice W. Blach

George Schwartz *

Howard Wolodiger*

Jerry Fleishman

Warren Silverman

Sheila Blit

Phyllis Brennan

James Levy *

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Karoly Molnar

Joseph Poitier

Elianora Winer

August Stockmann

Gyulane Boros

March 28, 2025

Gertrude Doria

Ida Herman *

Lena Levinson *

Jack Sugar

Steven Schreiber *

Lori Singer-Olson

Dr. Jeffrey Walters

Florence Rubin

Falik Bronzaft

Nancy Avis *

Israel Pisetzner *

Rose Sugarman

Bertram Bronzaft

Ellyn Sigmund

And we remember from the Holocaust:

Antoine Galbau

Else Sonntag

Eva De Lange

Shmuel Band

Hana Jochymowicz

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 who continue to meet your membership commitments throughout the year. If you have not done so yet and need to make arrangements, please contact me at your earliest convenience @ JPerezRabin@gmail.com.

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.

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.

Winter is almost behind us, and Purim and Passover are rapidly approaching. It is also time for Sisterhood to search for our future leaders.

We are taught that it is not up to an individual to complete a task but important to bear some responsibility. I am wondering, as our Sisterhood Nominating Committee is engaged in the task of securing new leaders or encouraging leaders to agree to serve in different positions, why it is difficult for many women to agree and to accept responsibilities for a single year.

In sisterhood, a woman is never alone. We hope there are always other women just waiting to be asked to assist. Perhaps, it is incumbent upon current leaders and nominating committee to focus on the personal benefits to women who choose leadership. We hone our skills and learn new ones, we connect with wonderful women, each unique in what she brings to our work, we ensure the future of our sisterhood and our Temple, we build community, we strengthen our Congregation, we have fun, and, best of all, we find new sisters to share our lives. Why would a woman hold back from these opportunities and experiences?

On a personal level, my sisterhood experience has been happening for just about thirty years. I would have scoffed thirty-one years ago had one of my friends suggested that I would be involved in sisterhood! My life in Brooklyn was mostly centered around the work I did, my small family and some close friends. When I moved to Staten Island and had a daughter, I found Temple Israel. I was fortunate to be welcomed, as everyone new to Temple Israel is. Temple became important. But it wasn't by magic! I said "yes" to small, then increasingly larger commitments. My life has been enriched. My family's life has been enhanced. I have found amazing friends who have become family. I have grown as a woman and, more importantly, as a Jewish woman. I have used my education, my talents and my skills. I have followed the example set by those strong women of Temple Israel who were there to teach me, and I learned from them and many others. 

This message is for all the women, no matter the age, of our congregation who have an opportunity to accept new responsibilities and challenges in Temple Israel Sisterhood or to continue the traditions and gifts they have brought to our temple for many years. The benefits and the rewards are totally worth your time, energy and commitment. Who of you will say yes? Who of you will encourage another woman to take on a task? If you don’t, who will?

We ensure the future of our Sisterhood and our Temple when we say “yes”!

Jodi Siegel

Sisterhood Co-President 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, March 12 – Shalach Manot Bag Set Up – 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, March 13- Erev Purim

Wednesday, March 19- Anne Frank Exhibit Outing- Reservations required

Tuesday, March 25- Sisterhood Executive Board- 7:30 pm via Zoom

Sunday, March 30 – Sisterhood General Membership Meeting with Program and

Mini Sampled Sale - 10 a.m. at Temple

SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP FORM

Click on the form below to print!

Join us for Canasta, Mah Jongg

or any other game of your choice!

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

We look forward to greeting you at the March 16th performance of ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ at Wagner College. Your tickets will be available to you prior to the performance. 

Please be reminded that Brotherhood will be sponsoring the Yom Ha’Shoah Yellow Candle memorial project. Candles will be available to all Temple members for use on Erev Yom Ha’Shoah, April 23rd. Please participate to honor the recent Israeli hostages released as well as commemorating the events of October 7th. 

Brotherhood also extends its condolences to Temple members who have recently lost loved ones.

We will be sponsoring a membership breakfast later in the Spring. We encourage your attendance and participation.

Bob Zuckeberg

Alan Siegel

Our March Family Shabbat service will celebrate a new group of students of the month on Friday, March 7^th at 7:00pm. Please join us and see who will be honored with student of the month!

This month our 2^nd annual Passover fundraiser with Miss Chocolate will take place. Be click on the flyer below. You will be able to purchase kosher for Passover candy and foods as well as many other great gifts and supplies for the home and office.

We are looking forward to seeing this year’s Purim Spiel at 6:30pm on March 13^th and our students who are involved in the spiel!

Have a great month!

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 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 on January 9 via Zoom. We continued our discussion with Hillel group leader Rachel. A joint event with Hillel and Temple Israel has been changed to Monday, March 31st at Temple Israel. It is hoped that this event will bring young professionals to our Temple.

The next Buddy program is scheduled for Sunday, March 7th at 5:30 prior to the Shabbat family service.  We will follow the same format as previous programs with food, discussion and a themed project. This program has been very successful with more children coming each time.

We are moving ahead with the redesign of our website with the goal of making it more current and user friendly.

The Annual Kavod reception has been scheduled for Friday, April 4^th at 5:30. Invitations have been mailed. A subcommittee will finalize all plans.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy Mazzucco

Membership Committee

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 March.

We all felt sad as we all knew of the death of Dr. Ronald Avis. His extraordinary care for our congregation had been so emotionally powerful. The Avis Foundation is continuing and we are all blessed with that awareness.

Brooke Lopez and Felicia Otto have now joined us as members of the Avis Foundation and we are so grateful to them for their commitment to our congregation.

On March 16th, our temple member Amanda Donovan is creating a wonderful “class” for the little ones…ages 2-4. The children are to attend with a parent!

A reminder, on April 27th, we have created a wonderful event at The Museum at Eldridge Street, where they will be seeing the beautiful Eldridge Street synagogue. Please reach out to us to let us know if you are planning to come. It will start at 2PM and we can each take the ferry or choose to drive there. 

We continue to look forward to seeing you all at the children’s services on the first of every month. We hope you all attend with your lovely children!

As we have said before, please consider joining one of our committees at our temple. We are all volunteers! If you have any thoughts of what you would like to do for our temple, or ideas about things our families and children could experience, reach out to us any time!

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. 

Our entire congregation has benefitted from the generosity of the Foundation. We are all sad about the death of Ron Avis this year, but our love for him and gratitude we will always feel for him, will stay in our hearts."

Many thanks to the amazing Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for his enlightening program on “Unlocking the Siddur—Exploring the Heart of Jewish Prayer”. The program gave us an understanding of the differences between the three daily services—Shacharit (morning), Mincha (afternoon), and Maariv (evening). We look forward to continuing our Jewish education with Scott, in the future.

Looking Ahead

On Tuesday evenings, March 4 and 11, at 7:30, on Zoom Lyssa Harvey and Rachel Barnett, authors of “Kugels & Collards” will present —SOUTHERN COOKING AND TRADITIONS.

On Tuesday, March 18, 7:30, on Zoom, Gabriella Rubin will present “ELEMENTAL POETRY”-

Part 2.

On Tuesday, April 8, 7:30, on Zoom, BOOK DISCUSSION—“The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride. This is the story about Black and Jewish residents in a neighborhood called Chicken Hill in Pottstown, Pa. In the 1920’s and 1930”s. Please RSVP to Judy Lee, aninformedsource@aol.com, so we can send you the Zoom information.

On Tuesday, May 6, 7:30-8:30, our new member, Michael Smook, will help us learn about—

‘RAOUL WALLENBERG-RIGHTEOUS GENTILE”, and his life saving accomplishments during World War II.

More information on Michael’s interesting approach to this topic will follow.

We are working on Adult Learning plans. 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”and Bryn and Terry, if you would ‘love” to join us.

Some of our budding ideas for programs—

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.

Let us know if you have any ideas for arranging a bus trip to “Jewish” Philadelphia, possibly in April.

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)

Judith Pessah & Judy Lee

Adult Learning Committee Chairperson

The Purim Disco Ball that was scheduled for Saturday March 15, 2025, has been cancelled due to the small number of advance reservations. 

Please be on the lookout for our next fundraiser. Details to be announced.

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

Co-Chairs

Our entire congregation mourns the loss of our beloved member and benefactor Dr. Ron Avis. We send our condolences to the entire Avis Famiy.

This past month one of our members was saddened by the loss of a beloved family member. Melody Stein, step-mother of Shari Stein-Ballow, grandmother of Fanya & Jillian Ballow and great-grandmother of Jordan Padilla passed on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

We also said a sad goodbye to Barbara Harrison Menna, a long time member of Temple Israel who recently spent most of her time in Florida. Barbara is survived by her two sons, Jason & Jonathan Menna. Her husband, Phillip, passed away in 2009.

Our hearts are with the families at this sad time.

May the families of Melody Stein and Barbara Harrison Menna find comfort among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and may her memory be for a blessing. 

Pamela Rogozin

Chair

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 
• 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...