August 2023 / Av - Elul 5783

Rabbi's Message

by Rabbi David Komerofsky

צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ׃     

Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that Adonai your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:20)

The Shabbat of August 18/19 we will read Parashat Shoftim, which includes the exhortation to pursue justice. The wording in the Torah is interesting, as the word for justice, tzedek, is repeated. Tzedek is more than justice, it is righteousness. Tzedek puts the world in balance, ensuring fairness and equity. The 12th century Spanish sage Abraham ibn Ezra comments on Deut. 16:20 that the repetition of tzedek is to teach that we must pursue justice/righteousness whether it is to our benefit or our detriment. In other words, there is no room in our tradition for "heads I win, tails you lose." 

In June I attended a conference billed as "Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism," aimed at gathering thought leaders to address growing concerns about the direction of our Movement, or lack thereof. (If you are interested, you can view the sessions at https://swfs.org/re-charging-reform-judaism/watch/) One plenum was titled "Rooting (Social) Action in Jewish Values." The charge was leveled by a number of speakers that mainstream Reform Judaism puts social justice above Judaism, embracing liberal politics over adherence to Torah values. It was part of a larger theme of the balance between being universalistic and particularlistic. Does our idenitity start with our Judaism and branch out, or is our anchor something other than Judaism? 

I share this with you because I think it is an important question to consider. As Reform Jews, we make a conscious choice to balance modernity with tradition in ways that differ from other streams of Judaism. Have we become untethered from Torah in our pursuit of justice? Are we too keen to be universalists to the detriment of what makes us particularly Jewish? In other words, are we pursuing tzedek because we are Jewish, or are we Jewish because we pursue justice?

I do not have the answers, only more questions. I do believe that our Judaism should be central to who we are as human beings, and that we should embrace what makes us different. Part of that is our pursuit of justice. I am concerned, however, that we are at risk of making an idol of a pursuit of justice that is imbalanced. So the work continues.

Later this month, our Social Justice Alliance will reconvene to determine how best to use our various talents to further the pursuit of justice in service of the vulnerable. All are welcome to participate. More information is available at www.templeisraelcanton.org/social-justice. Whether your Judaism is rooted in social action and social justice work or not, I invite you to join the conversation on August 23 at 7:00 p.m.

The Mitzvah of Doing a Mitzvah

by Julie Zorn

On Sunday, August 20, 2023, Temple Israel is coming together once again for a special Mitzvah Day. Our Torah commands us to practice tikkun olam or repairing the world, and a special “mitzvah day” is designed to do just that.

Throughout a Chadash school year, we look for opportunities for our students to perform mitzvot. There are greeting cards for the residents of local nursing homes at Rosh Hashanah time. There have been canned foods and other goods to those in need at Thanksgiving time. There was even a pet food drive once as a “b’nei mitzvah project” when the Jewish lifecycles class was learning about bar and bat mitzvahs. Of course, there is always a tzedakah collection going each year, as well. This past school year, the oldest Chadash classroom voted to donate the tzedakah collection to Stark Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (Stark MHAR), as they decided the state of mental health in Stark County needed some attention and assistance.

These opportunities are how our Chadash students learn firsthand that even though they are young people, they too, can make a difference in the world. They too, can follow the mitzvah of tikkun olam and help to make the world a better place.

It our job as adults to both role model how to follow the mitzot of our Torah, but it is also our job to create opportunities for our children to take part in in order for them to achieve their own part, as well.

We are grateful to Temple Israel for creating these opportunities for the community and especially always inviting us to ask the Chadash students to participate. We hope to see our Chadash families joining Temple on August 20^th. Not only will they be able to participate in mitzvot, but they will be able to participate alongside a community of all ages coming together to simply make a difference. 

For more information and to register for Temple Israel’s Mitzvah Day, please go to this link: https://www.templeisraelcanton.org/mitzvahday

Shabbat Services - August 2023

All services are in-person and streaming live via Temple Israel’s YouTube channel.

Watch our website and Temple Tidbits for updates and more information.

Friday, August 4, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Family Shabbat Service

Saturday, August 5, 2023

NO Stollen Moments

Friday, August 11, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Shabbat Service

Including August Birthday and Anniversary Blessings



Saturday, August 12, 2023

10:00 a.m. - Stollen Moments Torah Study and Shabbat Service

Friday, August 18, 2023

Hawaiian Themed Shabbat

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday, August 19, 2023

10:00 a.m. – Stollen Moments Torah Study and Shabbat Service

Friday, August 25, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday, August 26, 2023

10:00 a.m. – Stollen Moments Torah Study and Shabbat Service

My family and I would like to thank everyone for the prayers, cards, donations, food and money. This has been an extremely difficult time for us, but with all the support, kindness and love you have shown us, it has helped tremendously. 

We will never be able to thank you enough for everything, but we are forever grateful.

Darrell Vanest and family  

Sisterhood is asking that any congregants who have college aged students or students in the Armed Services, send in their addresses for the 2023-2024 school year. Also, if any grandparent would like to send a Rosh Hashana goody box to their college age grandchild, please send in their address and a check made out to Temple Israel Sisterhood for $10 by September 1, 2023.

SAVE THE DATE – DONOR 2023

Back By POPULAR Demand

The Pop Tarts

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Dessert Reception from 7:15 PM

8:00 PM - Pop Tarts Perform

$10 per person PLUS your Donor Donation

Reserved seating for tables of 8 will be available

Sisterhood Meetings for Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

Sunday, Oct. 15

Donor Program, Saturday Nov. 11

Sunday Dec. 3

Sunday Jan. 21

Sunday Feb. 25

Sunday March 17

Sunday April 21

Brotherhood Meetings for Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

Sunday Oct. 15

Sunday Nov. 19

Sunday Dec. 10

Sunday Jan. 21 

Sunday Feb. 25

Sunday March 17

Sunday April 21

We are pleased to announce our new Temple Board for 2023-2024

Executive Officers

John Spera, President

Shelley Jurkiewicz, Secretary

Mark Atleson, Treasurer

Shelley Schweitzer, Immediate Past President

Board of Trustees

Courtney Johnson-Benson

Todd Kotler (Brotherhood)

Mary Jo Lockshin

Anita Porter

Stanlee Rosenblatt

Sue Shafer

Barbara Spera (Sisterhood)

Suzanne Stieglitz

Mark Taylor

Judy Tenenbaum

David Whitehill

We would like to give a special thank you to our past Board members for all their hard work, dedication and loyalty:



Denise Nielsen

Joan Ortman

Dr. Eileen Saltarelli

The Social Action Committee will be collecting school supplies for the months of July and August for Aim Academy in Canton . The school houses K-6 grades and goes year round. Here is the list of supplies:

Crayons | Folders | Glue sticks | Scissors | Pencils | Tissues | Backpacks |

1 subject notebooks | Dry erase markers | Composition notebooks

Please drop off your supplies at Temple Israel. Thank you for your continued support.

Paulette 

Social Action Committee 

Introduction to Judaism

The next series begins in October.

Learn more at www.templeisraelcanton.org/intro

ENDOWMENT FUNDS

Temple Israel has a variety of endowment funds that support our mission and vision. CLICK to see the full listing.



If you are interested in contributing to an existing endowment, simply CLICK here.

To establish a new endowment, contact treasurer@templeisraelcanton.org or president@templeisraelcanton.org

OUR TEMPLE FAMILY

Mazel Tov to:

Ernie & Margaret Brubaker on their daughter's baby naming- Ava Elizabeth Brubaker

Andrew & Rachel Ash on their children's baby namings - Wilder & Walker Ash

Bryan & Marcie Hecht on the birth of their granddaughter, Sydney Elizabeth Worthington

Welcome New Members:

Matthew Comshaw Arnold

Trevor Lab & Chloe Dobbins

The Temple's Sympathy is extended to the families of:

Stanley Greenwald

Dr. Irwin Lilenfield

Contributions

Temple Israel Endowments

J. Edward & Janet S. Diamond Senior Enhancement Endowment

In Memory of

• Robert R. Lowe, by Ed & Janet Diamond

Lockshin-Goldenfield Religious School Endowment

In Memory of

• Lowell Stein, by Shirley Lockshin & Family
• Delbert Branz, by Mary Jo Lockshin & Family
• James Lockshin, by Shirley Lockshin & Family
• Joseph Goldenfeld, by Shirley Lockshin & Family

In Honor of

• Lee Karelitz's installation as Lifetime Trustee at Temple Israel by Shirley Lockshin & Family

Floral Fund

In Honor of

• The birth of Bryan & Marcie Hecht's granddaughter, Sydney Elizabeth Worthington, by Eileen & Matt Saltarelli

Habitat for Humanity Donation

• Sue Shafer

Kiddush Fund

In Memory of

• Ervin Wilkof, by Ron & Ruthanne Wilkof
• Stanley Greenwald, by Marilyn & Paul Feldman

In Honor of

• Lee Karelitz' Installation as Lifetime Trustee of Temple Israel, by Bonnie & Steve Manello

Mazon Fund - A Jewish Response to Hunger

In Appreciation of

• Greg DeMuesey's Friendship, by Adele & Ron Gelb

In Honor of

• Lee Karelitz' Installation as Lifetime Trustee of Temple Israel, by Adele & Ron Gelb

In Memory of

• Winnifred McGuire, by Sue Shafer
• Stanley Greenwald, by Adele & Ron Gelb, Rick & Susie Grossman, Harlene Smuckler, Eileen & Irv Dinn, Joyce & Jerry Ortman
• Dr. Irwin Lilenfeld, by Shirley Lockshin & Family
• Sam Humphries, by Adele & Ron Gelb

In Recovery of

• Bob Friedman, by Ron & Adele Gelb

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

In Honor of

• The birth of Bryan & Marcie Hecht's granddaughter's, Sydney Elizabeth Worthington & Genevieve Sydney Davis, by Lou & Rita Schaner
• Lee Karelitz's Installation as Life Time Trustee of Temple Israel, by Marilyn & Paul Feldman, Linda & Arnie Rosenblatt, Diane & Bob Friedman, Ellen & Steve Miller

In Appreciation of

• Rabbi David Komerofsky, by David Goe

In Memory of

• Patty Vanest, by Marty & Joan Ortman, Davina Schweitzer, Sue Shafer, Eileen & Irv Dinn, Rita & Lou Schaner
• Stanley Greenwald, by Lou & Rita Schaner & Family, Stuart & Laraine Levine, Linda & Arnie Rosenblatt, Paula & Jon Stein
• Sandy Maxson, by Stuart & Laraine Levine

Speedy Recovery of

• Debbie Spetich, by Barb & John Spera
• Bob Friedman, by Barb & John Spera

Save the Date - August 3rd

3:30 PM - 7:30 PM  

The Jane Altman Zoldan

Blood Drive

Please use the link below to schedule your time slot. Call Debbie Sinopoli with any questions at

(330-323-4540)

https://donors.vitalant.org/dwp/portal/dwa/appointment/guest/phl/timeSlotsExtr?token=5izH%2BBOdh%2FgkgTOo7hpXp9HuaLlZtUtG9KWe7nLALk4%3D

Jewish Family Services list has changed and they are in need of the following:

• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Table Napkins
• Facial Tissue
• Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Canned Tuna in water
• Unsweetened Applesauce
• 20-30 oz. Dish Soap
• Canned Fruit
• Canned Vegetables

Please feel free to drop off food at the office!

ADULT PROGRAMS

MEN’S CLUB BREAKFAST AT BEIT HA’AM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 2023 at 9:30 am

·     SPEAKER: RABBI DAVID KOMEROFSKY

·    TOPIC: Rosh Chodesh Elul – The Month of Spiritual Self-Reckoning

·    COST: Continental Breakfast is $5 per person

Guests are welcome!

Please RSVP to Debbie by Monday, August 14 by noon at

(330) 445-2412 or via email at dguilliams@jewishcanton.org

Lunch and Learn: AVOIDING SCAMS

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 | 12:00 p.m.

At Beit Ha’am

$10 per person includes a dairy lunch



Presented by the Better Business Bureau, join us to learn about top scams that are affecting our area. This discussion will educate us on how to spot the top 10 most common scams, how to best avoid them, as well as provide a brief overview about AI.

Please RSVP to Debbie Guilliams by Monday, August 21 at (330) 445-2412

or via email at dguilliams@jewishcanton.org