December 2023 / Kislev - Tevet 5784

ISRAEL IN CRISIS

Find ways to help at:

www.templeisraelcanton.org/israelincrisis

Rabbi's Message

by Rabbi David Komerofsky

What can we do in the face of this astonishing rise in antisemtic rhetoric and activity? I have said before that antisemitism is not something that Jews can solve. It is not a Jewish problem - it is a human problem. We cannot force others to love us, or convince zealots that we are not the source of the world's troubles.

What can we do? Embrace our uniqueness as Jews and resist the temptation to appease those who seek our destruction. Heaven forbid we should become like the rest of the world, broken and untethered from a moral anchor. Heaven forbid we should sacrifice our distinctiveness as Jews on the altar of popularity. We Jews have never been a numerical majority in the world, and there is only one country in which we are the majority. And that country is under constant attack on the battlefields of war, terrorism and public opinion.

What can Jews do in the face of antisemitism? Be Jewish.

Below is a link to a video that describes the last Lubavitcher Rebbe's discussion on the uniqueness of the Jewish people and the Jewish state through the story of his interaction with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. A Chasidic rabbi who never visited Israel and a secular Israeli who had little use for ritual can teach us all what it means to be proudly Jewish.

You Are Not Alone

by Julie Zorn

The horrific massacre that took place in Israel on October 7^th occurred right before the first day of Chadash this school year. We were gearing up to come back strong, and when a nightmare unfolded in our homeland, and once again, we were left with a very adult topic in a very non adult setting. 

Without even a discussion, the need to feel our connection to Israel and to spread that feeling of connection throughout every classroom just seemed to intrinsically happen by the entire school and faculty. From singing Hatikvah each week at T’fillah to the large Israeli flag that now drapes the table in our Chadash wing, to posters made in a show of support and cards sent to our partnership region, it is evident. Our Chadash family loves Israel!

As the first Chadash week wrapped up and the situation in Israel grew more dire, the need of that connection spread throughout the community. It was at about this time, a sweet email from Ronit Sherwin came making an offer to donate bracelets to Chadash students that said in Hebrew on one side, “Am Yisrael Chai,” and on the other side, “You Are Not Alone.” I graciously accepted knowing how appreciated they would be, but it wasn’t until her husband, Rabbi Komerofsky passed them out before we sang Hatikvah the following week that I realized the importance and impact of these bracelets.

As he passed them out, the Rabbi said that if any of our students are the only Jewish kid in their classrooms at school, that they could look down at these bracelets and remember that “You Are Not Alone.” My interpretation of these bracelets prior to that moment had only been that they were to be worn in solidarity with Israel in order to express to our Israeli brothers and sisters that THEY are not alone. 

As I’ve thought about it since though, I’ve realized that both interpretations are true, and that in the statement, “You Are Not Alone,” perhaps the word YOU is the most important word of them all. “You”, the people of Israel or “You,” that person over there or “You,” meaning ME! Simply, this bracelet talks to YOU, and you are most definitely not alone. You are among a tribe, part of a community, with your people…whichever way you put it, you are not alone if you are person who calls Israel your homeland. You are part of a great world-wide Jewish community, and you will never be alone.

Worship Services - December 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, December 1

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. Family Shabbat Service

Saturday, December 2

10:00 a.m. Stollen Moments Torah Study

Friday, December 8

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service

Anniversary & Birthday Blessings

Saturday, December 9

10:00 a.m. Stollen Moments Torah Study

Friday, December 15

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service

Saturday, December 16

10:00 a.m. Stollen Moments Torah Study

Friday, December 22

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service

Saturday, December 23

No Stollen Moments

Friday, December 29

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service

Saturday, December 30

No Stollen Moments



Sisterhood Meetings for Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

Sunday Dec. 3

Sunday Jan. 21

Sunday Feb. 25

Sunday March 17

Sunday April 21

Brotherhood Meetings for Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

Sunday Dec. 10

Sunday Jan. 21 

Sunday Feb. 25

Sunday March 17

Sunday April 21

Sisterhood Meeting

December 3, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

Sisterhood will be icing cookies for the Urban Ark Dinner and for the Hanukkah get together at the Sanctuary as well as discussing our Sisterhood cookbook! Hope to see you there!

CHANUKAH LUNCH RESERVATIONS DUE DECEMBER 5

SAVE THE DATE

Martin Luther King, Jr. Shabbat Service

Friday, January 12, 2024 - 6:15 p.m.

Guest Speaker Willis Gordon

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

Welcome New Temple Members:

• Rebekah Brown & Taylor Wright
• Samantha Collins
• Steven Taylor & Alyssa Glass-Taylor

Mazel Tov to:

Ellyn and David Roberts on the marriage of their daughter, Jamie. She was married to Dr. Alex Carsel on Nov.18 in Cleveland, Ohio. They currently reside in Cleveland. 

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

• Howard Zecher

Contributions

Temple Israel Endowments

Lockshin-Goldenfield Religious School Endowment

In Memory of

• Rose Katz Averbach, by Shirley Lockshin & Family

Narens Family Endowment

In Memory of

• Howard Zecher, by Ed & Jo-Anne Buxbaum

Rabbi John H. Spitzer Endowment for Social Justice & Action

In Honor of

• Rabbi John Spitzer's 50th Anniversary of Ordination, by David & Lynda Herbert, Celia & Robert Borack, Bill & Randi Smuckler, Gary & Susan Fogel, Fran & Bob Reaven

Bilha Ron Religious School Enrichment Fund

In Honor of

• Jason Parker on his Induction into the DeMolay Legion of Honor, by Shoshanah, Ivah & Abe

In Memory of

• Howard Zecher, by Dennis & Marianne Glazer, Joyce & Jerry Ortman, Fran & Bob Reaven
• Sam Ron, by Bob & Susan Narens, Gary & Susan Fogel, Fran & Bob Reaven

Chadash Fund

In Honor of

• Doug Blocker's Big Birthday, by Rob & Shelley Schweitzer

Kiddush Fund

In Memory of

• George A. Spitzer, by John & Cheri Spitzer
• Judy Nusbaum, by Fran & Bob Reaven

Hunger Relief Fund

In Honor of

• Rabbi John Spitzer's 50th Anniversary of Ordination, by Barbara Goldberg

In Memory of

• Russ Sinopoli, by Bill & Randi Smuckler & Family, Joyce & Jerry Ortman
• Judy Nusbaum, by Bill & Randi Smuckler
• Howard Zecher, by Ruth & Bob Altman, Adele & Ron Gelb, Eileen & Irv Dinn
• Ann Olden, by Karen Olden
• Gwen Balin, by Karen Olden
• Joseph Mule', by Paul & Carolyn Garfinkle
• Jacob Wolf Hartman, by Harlene Smuckler
• Catherine Shifman Rosenbloom, by Harlene Smuckler

Naomi & Arthur Freedman Library Fund

In Memory of

• Judith Nusbaum, by Gary & Linda Sirak

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

In Appreciation of

• Rabbi Komerofsky performing Judy Nusbaum's funeral, by David & Linda Sklar
• Rabbi Komerofsky, by David Goe
• Rabbi Komerofsky performing Gerard Dyer O'Mallon's Baby Naming Ceremony

In Honor of

• Temple Israel's Support for Israel, by Martin Smith

In Memory of

• Sam Ron, by Davina Schweitzer
• Donald Springer, by Linda & David Sklar
• Rita Brenner, by Harlene Shifman Smuckler

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

Tuna in Water

Kleenex

Napkins

Paper Towels

Toilet Paper

Please feel free to drop off your donations to the Temple Office.

ADULT PROGRAMS

TECH TALK

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | 1:00 P.M. at Beit Ha’am

CUTTING THE CORD

Reduce your montly expenses and ditch your cable bill by finding alternatives such as Netflix, YouTube, and more. Learn how to turn a standard flat-screen TV into a Smart TV using devices such as a Roku, Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

This course is FREE but registration is required. All are welcome!



Please RSVP to Debbie by Thursday, December 7

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