October 2022 / Tishrei - Cheshvan 5783

Rabbi's Message

by Rabbi David Komerofsky

The sukkah is a visible symbol of life’s impermanence. An entire tractate of the Talmud is dedicated to the laws and rituals surrounding its construction and its limits. It cannot be so flimsy that it collapses, nor can it be a permanent structure. Like the Jewish people, our sukkot stand as firmly as possible for as long as we can, and eventually yield to the changes of the months and seasons. The sukkah is here for a time, it disappears, and then returns.

 Sukkot concludes the High Holy Day season and renews our cycle of Torah readings. In the sukkah itself we are close to nature, and at Simchat Torah we remember that we are always immersed in Torah.

This year we have at least three opportunities to share this holiday:

• Sukkah Building with Habitat for Humanity Staff – Thursday, October 6 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
• Yizkor Memorial Prayers in the Sukkah – Monday, October 17 at 6:15 p.m.
• Shabbat Service and Simchat Torah Celebration – Friday, October 21 at 6:15 p.m.

If you are interested in reading Tractate Sukkah, you can find it at this link - https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah?tab=contents.

And if you are building a sukkah, please send me a photo of your set-up (rabbi@templeisraelcanton.org). Stop by Beit Ha’am during the holiday to enjoy our communal sukkah and enjoy the change of seasons and its promise of renewal!

The Start of a Sweet New School Year

By Julie Zorn

Chadash Director

Chadash kicked off the school year in September learning and celebrating the high holy days. Students were delighted with opening day T’filah, which called them to attention with a special Shecheyanu followed by the sounds of the shofar. In addition, Chadash students each made Shanah Tovah greeting cards that were sent to our friends at Sanctuary Grande, as well as some of the other assisted living residences that serve our community. The following week, Rabbi Komerofsky shared the beautifully embroidered high holy Torah covers with Chadash students, and then each student learned about Teshuvah with a special in classroom version of Tashlich. There were apples and honey for snack, and the Torah Tots even made honey cakes with Morah Shankle.

There’s no doubt about it, Chadash students are ready for a sweet new year, and a sweet new year it will be with some new friends, new faculty, and even better, some new experiences.

We are excited to welcome Jessica Whitehill as the new teacher for our 3^rd-5^th grade class. Jessica moved with her family from North Carolina last year, and we are blessed to have her with us as she shares her energy and knowledge on curriculum that covers the Jewish lifecycles.

Our 6^th-8^th grade class will be led by a team of clergy that includes Rabbis David Komerofsky, John Spitzer and AJ Kushner along with Hazzan Bruce Braun.  This clergy dream team will work together to ensure that our group of oldest students learn about comparative Judaism, comparative religion and their own spirituality, as well. 

When Chadash returns after Rosh Hashanah, students along with their families, will join Temple Israel at the Alliance Jewish Cemetery for a special ritual object burial and Kever Avot service. Chadash students learn about burying materials with Hebrew prayers on them during our Hebrew school program. Morah Shankle keeps a basket for the students to turn in their ramot once they complete them. It is exciting to see what will happen with all of their former ramot, and we are certain this new experience will resonate for each them.

October will also bring back the annual Chadash Sukkot party which as been paused for the last couple of years due to Covid. This year’s theme will focus on the Seven Heroes of Sukkot. Lunch will be served for our students and families along with lulav and etrog shaking and classroom presentations.

From all of us at Chadash, we hope that your new year is as full and rich as ours has been, l’shanah tovah u’metukah or best wishes for a sweet new year.

Shabbat Services - October 2022

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, October 7, 2022

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Family Shabbat Service

Saturday, October 8, 2022

10:00 a.m. - Stollen Moments

Friday, October 14, 2022

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Including October Birthday and Anniversary Blessings

Saturday, October 15, 2022

10:00 a.m. - Stollen Moments

Friday, October 21, 2022

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service & Simchat Torah Celebration

Saturday, October 22, 2022

10:00 a.m. - Stollen Moments

Friday, October 28, 2022

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday, October 29, 2022

10:30 a.m. –  Sherwin B'nai Mitzvah

NO STOLLEN MOMENTS

Save the Date! 2022 Donor

L’Dor VaDor

Take Life By the Hand, and Dance

featuring Chadash students and Mr. Stuart Meyer

We hope you will join Shaaray Torah and Temple Israel Sisterhood on Sunday, November 13 for Donor 2022. Doors open at 11 am and the program starts  at 11:15am.

A kosher Israeli lunch will be available for $15. (Reservations and payment are due by Tuesday, November 1)

The Temple's Sympathy is extended to the families of

• Harold Mostov
• Shirley Shorr

Mazel Tov to:

• Denise and Steve Nielsen on the marriage of their daughter Heather Nielsen to Lance Curtis.  They were married on September 10, 2022 and reside in Cleveland, Ohio.

Welcome New Temple Members

• Evy Gaudette

Temple Israel Restricted Funds

Mazon Fund - A Jewish Response to Hunger

In Memory of

• Robert Shifman, by Harlene Smuckler
• Ruth Rubenstein, by Debbie & Vito Sinopoli
• Ida Mae Pullen, by Harlene Smuckler
• Sarah Singer-Nourie, by Sue Shafer
• Marlene Trissel, by Linda & Howard Smuckler
• Leah Olden, by Karen Olden

In Honor of

• Linda & Howard Smuckler's Grandson, Hudson Max Prescott, by Eileen & Matt Saltarelli, Marilyn & Paul Feldman
• Paulette & Lee Karelitz's Granddaughter, Mia Rose Schagrin, by Adele & Ron Gelb, Matt & Eileen Saltarelli
• John Spera for his continued leadership, by Adele & Ron Gelb
• Lee Karelitz for his Rosh Hashanah Aliyah, by Adele & Ron Gelb
• Fran Well's Special Birthday, by Linda & Howard Smuckler

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

In Memory of

• Bill Luntz, by Arnie & Linda Rosenblatt

In Appreciation Of

• Rabbi Komerofsky, by Carol & Ed Gableman, Eddie & Debbie Sherwin, Allan Sherwin and Sanford Sherwin
• Welcoming us for Rosh Hashanah morning, by Fred & Susan Bortz

Rabbi Spitzer Endowment for Social Justice & Action

In Honor of

• Silhouette Project, by Maureen Berger, Haley Lancaster & Evan Jarvis, Dan Toussant & Associates