June 2023 / Sivan - Tammuz 5783

Rabbi's Message

by Rabbi David Komerofsky

Over the course of five years of rabbinical school, between 1994 and 1999, I learned a lot of interesting things. I acquired a facility with Hebrew that unlocked the wisdom of thousands of years of tradition. I enjoyed lively conversations with my chevruta (study partners) in Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati. I mined the depths and mysteries of the American Jewish Archives researching my senior thesis. In student pulpits and as a religious school principal and rabbinical intern I put theory into practice thanks to the patience and generous spirits of congregants and students.

What I did not learn was how to make a website.

Email was just taking off when I was a student, and websites were rudimentary. They were not visually appealing or easy to navigate. And few people had the technology or the skills to make use of what was on the world wide web in the mid-1990s. Oh how the times have changed.

I learned how to use technology on-the-job not because I have a particular talent for it. On the contrary, I have no idea how the internet works. My father was a pioneer in the field of computer programming beginning in the 1960s. I did not inherit that gene. I learned how to use technology because it is an important means for keeping people connected. This is especially true since 2020. As people require more and different means to access our services, technology is the answer.

I share this information with you because Temple Israel recently launched a new website, and you may wonder “why?” The answer is simple. A website is the front door to every organization and business and the impression that we make at first glance is just as important as the content that we provide once someone is through the door. Our website – www.templeisraelcanton.org – is the first point of contact for many people. It is how those interested in learning about Judaism find us. It is how prospective members moving to Stark County know what we have to offer. It is the one, constant place to which we can direct people for more information. It is also an invaluable resource for members to find the calendar, links to view services, forms for registration, and (eventually) the ability to manage membership details.

Take a look around the website and see for yourself that the wisdom of thousands of years of Jewish tradition have taught us to adapt. Rashi and Maimonides did their work before movable type. When the printing press was invented, the Tanakh and Talmud became immediately more accessible. A vibrant and functional website is the latest link in our chain of tradition.

www.templeisraelcanton.org

Chadash Director

by Julie Zorn

Even though Chadash concluded its year on May 7, 2023, we are still up and running all summer long getting ready for the upcoming school year. As well, there are opportunities for Chadash students and their families to get together throughout the summer. The following programs are being offered, and we very much encourage Chadash participation.

June 10: Stark Pride (2pm 10pm) – Come join visit the Temple Israel booth or even sign up to volunteer at www.templeisraelcanton.org/pride

July 20: Peace for Packs (6:30 pm) – Come learn about Temple Israel’s newest outreach initiative and help us make peace signs out of Perler beads. Please contact Julie Zorn to RSVP at educator@templeisraelcanton.org

August 6: Chadash Family Sunday Funday (10 am – 12pm) – Join us at Veteran’s Park for a fun-filled morning of Splash Park fun, playground, crafts and a snack. Register at: www.templeisraelcanton.org/sundayfunday

August 20: Mitzvah Day (9:30 – 11:00 am) – Temple Israel is hosting another Mitzvah Day, and it is a great opportunity for Chadash students to participate in a good deed! Register at: www.templeisraelcanton.org/mitzvahday

September 10: High Holy Days in the Park (10 am – 12 pm) – Chadash meets at Shelter #5 in Stadium Park for a variety of hands-on activities celebrating the upcoming high holy days.

Registration for the 2023/2024 school year is now open, and the Chadash calendar is also now available. Please contact Chadash director, Julie Zorn, for more information at chadash@jewishcanton.org.

Temple Israel Annual Meeting

Friday, July 7, 2023 - 5:00 p.m.

Followed by the Family Shabbat Service and Oneg Shabbat

CLICK TO RSVP

www.templeisraelcanton.org/annualmeeting

Shabbat Services - June 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, June 2, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Shabbat Service

Saturday, June 3, 2023

NO Stollen Moments

Eliana Adler Bat Mitzvah

Friday, June 9, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Shabbat Service

Saturday, June 10, 2023

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

Friday, June 16, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Including June Birthday and Anniversary Blessings

Saturday, June 17, 2023

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

Friday, June 23, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday, June 24, 2023

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

Friday, June 30,2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Peace for Packs

by Julie Zorn, Outreach Director

This past April, Temple Israel launched its newest outreach initiative called Peace for Packs at the Canton Jewish Community Federation’s program, A Day of Remembrance/A Day Against Hate. The program addressed the topic of hate with approximately 75 teens from the Alliance, Perry and Northwest school districts, and the workshops presented to them encouraged the young audience to take an active role in the fight against the hate that plagues society.

The idea for Peace for Packs was created by Temple Israel’s outreach director, Julie Zorn, when she was handed a crocheted heart at Stark Pride in June 2022. The heart included a tag with crisis numbers for the LGBTQ+ community to call when they needed support, and Zorn hung onto the heart for almost a year admiring the project and imagining that something like it might be able to help start a conversation about hate across Stark County.

A year later, Zorn approached Temple Israel sisterhood with the concept, and together, they determined that making peace signs out of Perler beads was an accessible low-cost project that could easily create community involvement. Each peace sign would include a tag that gives 4 simple steps to effectively report a hate crime. A sisterhood team consisting of Sue Shaffer, Betty Smith, Cathy Atleson and Barb Spera worked tirelessly on making the first 100 peace signs, which were distributed at A Day of Remembrance/A Day Against Hate.

From there, Zorn created a website, which expanded Peace for Packs even further. The website not only explains the program and how to make the peace signs in order to donate them to be distributed to local Canton youth, but it also encourages the Canton community to “report a peace incident” in order to highlight the wonderful things our community is doing to promote peace in Canton on the website’s “Peace Page.”. There is even a certificate on the website to print out when you take Peace for Pack’s “Peace Pledge,” a promise for local businesses and organizations to promote peace in the workplace.

Within a matter of weeks since the website was launched, Zorn began booking Peace for Packs events around Canton where participants will learn about hate and how they can combat it. They will also make peace signs at these events that will be distributed around Canton with the hope that Canton youth will proudly display them on their backpacks knowing that they have the ability to anonymously report a hate crime on their own if they are ever in a situation where they need to.

The next event where Peace for Packs peace signs will be distributed will be at Stark Pride 2023, being held in downtown Canton on June 10^th. Temple Israel will be an exhibitor with a booth and is asking for volunteers to help run it. To register, sign up at www.templeisraelcanton.org/pride. 

Temple Israel will also be holding a Peace for Packs program at Beit Ha’am on July 20, 2023 at 6:30 pm where they will be making peace signs in order to increase their inventory If you would like to help, please contact Julie Zorn at educator@templeisraelcanton.org. 

For more information about Peace for Packs, please visit the website at www.peaceforpacks.org.

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:

Mark and Judy Tenenbaum are excited to announce the engagement of their son Bradley Tenenbaum to Alison Huffman. They reside in Washington D.C.

Welcome New Member:

Matthew Comshaw-Arnold

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

Kathy Nielsen Ross

Contributions

Temple Israel Endowments

Eldy Gross, Jr. and Nathan & Ida Ross Endowment

In Honor of

• Dr. Terrance Simon receiving the 2022 Trustees Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Orthopedic Profession, by Linda Scott

Janet Fisher Liturgical Arts Endowment

In Honor of

• Dr. Terrance Simon receiving the 2023 Prestigious Trillium Award, by Linda Scott

Fine Arts Fund

In Memory of

• Larry Green, by Dori Smith

Kiddush Fund

In Memory of

• Betsy Sachs, by Sarah Robbins

Mazon Fund - A Jewish Response to Hunger

In Honor of

• Robert & Cissy Borack's 55th Anniversary, by Betty Smith

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

In Appreciation of

• Rabbi Komerofsky teaching Adult Education Classes, by Cynthia Burnell
• Rabbi Komerofsky for being a great Tzadik & for bringing our 2 halves into one, by Samantha & Ryan Richfrit

In Memory of

• Paulette, Philip, William & Florence Landau, by Estabelle Landau

Habitat for Humanity Donation

• Timothy & Debbie Petroff

Save the Date - August 3rd

3:30 PM - 7:30 PM  

The Jane Altman Zoldan

Blood Drive   

Details to follow soon

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

Please feel free to drop off food at the office!

ADULT PROGRAMS

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Join your friends in Wooster for lunch and a performance at the Ohio Lite Opera.

11:30 AM - Lunch at The Broken Rocks Café

123 E Liberty Street

Wooster, OH 44691

2:00 PM – Ohio Lite Opera

Freedlander Theatre

329 E. University Street

Wooster, Ohio 44691

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING

Winner of seven Tony awards—including Best Musical and Best Book—and only the fourth musical to win the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Drama, How to Succeed is, a breath of Broadway fresh air. Forgoing the formulaic boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl plotline, it tells the story of a young window washer, J. Pierrepont Finch, who—always with his all-foreseeing How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying manual in hand—sets his sights on rising through the ranks of the World Wide Wicket Company. Through wily manipulation of the corporate hierarchy, along with a little encouragement from his doting personal secretary Rosemary and aid from the voluptuous Hedy La Rue, he is finally appointed chairman. Song highlights include Finch’s self-loving “I Believe in You”; “Grand Old Ivy,” his college-fight-song duet with company president Biggley; and the show-stopping, mock-revival “Brotherhood of Man.”

Van riders will depart from Beit Ha’am at 10:45. The cost for van transportation is $18 per rider payable by cash or check to Jewish Family Services.



NON-REFUNABLE Opera tickets are $45 each. Your check payable to Jewish Family Services is your reservation.

Join your friends for a guided tour!

MAPS Air Museum is an internationally known museum of aviation and serves as a center of aviation history for Northeast Ohio. The museum features exciting educational displays of its collection of acquired artifacts, interactive exhibits and historical archives in its own library.

Thursday, June 29, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.

MAPS AIR MUSEUM

2260 International Pkwy

North Canton, Ohio 44720

Meet directly at the museum; the tour begins promptly at 9:30. Admission is $10 per person.

Please RSVP to Debbie Guilliams by June 22 at (330) 445-2412 or via email at dguilliams@jewishcanton.org

Porthouse Theatre 

3143 O’Neil Road

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223

Complimentary Summer Outdoor Theatre Tickets Now Available

Saturday Matinees – All Performances at 2 pm

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum | June 17

The Marvelous Wonderettes | July 8

The Prom | July 29

Tickets are limited! Please contact Debbie Guilliams at 330-445-2412 or via email at dguilliams@jewishcanton.org for more information.