September 2023 / Elul 5783 - Tishrei 5784

Rabbi's Message

by Rabbi David Komerofsky

Leave it to our people to celebrate the changing of the year not with the dropping of a ball at Times Square, but in penitent reflection at the synagogue. No popping of champagne corks, just the sweetness of the apples and honey and the blast of the shofar. 

As we prepare to gather again for the High Holy Days, I encourage you to enjoy the essays and readings in our prayerbooks to supplement the melodies and prayers that form the centerpieces of our communal worship experience. I share with you below one such selection:

Rosh Hashanah speaks to the entire world because Judaism is a global religion. Consider the different calendars of religions. How do different religions mark the calendar of time? For Christianity, this is Anno Domini, the Year of Our Lord. It marks the birth of Jesus as the Son of God.  

Muslims begin their calendar differently. They begin the calendar of the world with 622 AD, which dates back to Mohammed’s Hajira, his flight from Mecca to Medina. Here history begins. But the Jewish calendar celebrates not the birth of a Jewish savior, not the birth of a Jewish redeemer, not a Jewish event such as the Exodus out of Egypt or the Revelation of the Law at Sinai. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birth of the universe and the birth of humanity.  

Rosh Hashanah doesn’t celebrate the birth of any particular religion — God did not create religion. God created the universe and within the universe, humanity. And the singular biblical verse that resonates throughout Judaism and world history is the verse in Genesis: chapter 1, verse 26: God created every human being — man, woman, child — in God’s image. Whatever color, whatever race, whatever ethnicity, God created every human being with divine potentiality.  

— Rabbi Harold Schulweis (1925–2014), adapted (as included in Mishkan HaNefesh: Rosh HaShanah: Machzor for the Days of Awe, p. 4)

As a universal people with distinct practices, we can take pride in our renewed commitment to our common humanity with the rituals of Rosh Hashanah. It is a new year for everyone, yet another timeless gift from our people to all people.

Shanah Tovah!

It Takes Kulanu

by Julie Zorn

The Hebrew word kulanu translates as “all of us,” and it is no wonder the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) decided to name their congregational antisemitism program after this tiny but impactful word. Kulanu: Synagogues in Action Against Antisemitism is the full name of the program, which is dedicated to empowering congregations to address antisemitism and hate in their communities through education, community engagement, and advocacy.

The ADL recognizes that in order to create real change in our communities, it is going to take kulanu or all of us… not just a few strong voices, but every community member regardless of age, race or sex, and they have put together a program of leaders from around the country to learn, create and compare notes together.

I am excited to take part in the second cohort of Kulanu this year, as there were no other participating congregations in the entire state of Ohio previously. A large part of the Kulanu program, after all, is becoming part of a network of congregations to build bridges of understanding across communities.

The ADL will help prepare us with resources to develop and implement engaging and impactful programming, and it is my hope to utilize these resources for not only the adults in our community, but also for our children. As the Signature Synagogue program that Temple Israel previously participated in phases out and is replaced with Kulanu, it is the ADL’s hope to create and train community experts who can lead their workshops and not have to rely on team members from the ADL to facilitate them.

It is also a goal of Kulanu, to create programming beyond the Jewish communities to help educate about the rise of antisemitism and other hate across the world as well as to encourage reporting. With the assistance of Kulanu and the ADL, we will be able to develop Temple Israel’s newest outreach initiative more fully, Peace for Packs, which teaches young people how to report a hate crime.

As this new year approaches, it is beautiful to look at our own community and also at our larger and more global community with an understanding that we are kulanu, and together anything is possible. Kulanu, we can change the world. L’shanah tovah u’metukah or a sweet new year to all.

Worship Services - September 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, September 1, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Family Shabbat Service

Saturday, September 2, 2023

No Stollen Moments

Friday, September 8, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Shabbat Service

Including September Birthday and Anniversary Blessings



Saturday, September 9, 2023

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

8:00 p.m. - Selichot

Friday, September 15, 2023

8:00 p.m. – Erev Rosh Hashanah Service

Saturday, September 16, 2023

9:00 a.m. – Rosh Hashanah Family Service

10:00 a.m. – Rosh Hashanah Morning Service

12:30 p.m. – Tashlich at Stadium Park

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. – Open House at Sherwin/Komerofsky Home

Friday, September 22, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Shabbat Shuvah Service

Saturday, September 23, 2023

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

Sunday, September 24, 2023

10:00 a.m. – Kever Avot Alliance

11:30 p.m. – Kever Avot West Lawn

12:30 p.m. – Kever Avot North Lawn

8:00 p.m. – Kol Nidre Service

Monday, September 25, 2023

9:00 a.m. – Yom Kippur Family Service

10:00 a.m. – Yom Kippur Morning Service

1:00 p.m. – Yom Kippur Afternoon Program

3:00 p.m. – Yom Kippur Afternoon Service

4:30 p.m. – Yom Kippur Yizkor Service

5:30 p.m. – Yom Kippur Neilah Service

After Neilah – Break-the-Fast

Friday, September 29, 2023

5:30 p.m. – Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. – Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday, September 30, 2023

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

All High Holy Day information is available at www.templeisraelcanton.org/HHD

We invite our new members (up to 5 years) and long-time members (50 years or more) to share in the honor of an aliyah to the Torah these High Holy Days.

New Members - Rosh Hashanah Morning

Members of 50 Years or More - Yom Kippur Morning



CLICK TO LET US KNOW THAT YOU WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE ALIYAH

Do you need a Jewish calendar for the coming year?



CLICK for a free, printable calendar for 2023-2024/5784.

Building the Sukkah

Wednesday, September 27

4:00-6:00 p.m.

@ Beit Ha'am

Mitzvah Day - Thank You to our Volunteers!

Rabbi David Komerofsky, Bobi, Elliot & Kherington Barringer, Matthew Comshaw-Arnold, Yaakov & Samantha Richfrit, Kyle Arce, Maryl Jonas & John Mariol, John & Barb Spera, Shelley Jurkiewicz, Debbie Sinopoloi, Judy Tenenbaum, Pat Waltz, Eileen Saltarelli and Denise Nielsen

Thank you for a wonderful Mitzvah Day cleaning up the graves at North Lawn Cemetery. We appreciate all your hard work, effort and tools you provided. Looking forward to next year and hope to include more Mitzvah Doer's. Thank you!!!

Eileen Saltarelli & Denise Nielsen

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

Thank you for your donations of school supplies for Aim Academy in Canton. They were overwhelmed by the generosity of our Temple community. We greatly appreciate your continued support for the kids of Canton.

Paulette Karelitz 

Anita Porter 

Joan Ortman

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 [email protected] or [email protected]

Join Rabbi Komerofsky and a group of Temple Israel leaders for a gathering of Reform Jews from around the world! Let Rabbi Komerofsky know if you're interested in participating.

OUR TEMPLE FAMILY

Mazel Tov to:

Sheryl & Bruce White & Elizabeth & Eddie Slesnick z"l on the marriage of their son Jonathan Slesnick to Karen DeLeo on July 5, 2023 in Marcos, CA. They reside in Carlsbad, CA. Proud grandmother is Marlene Slesnick.

Welcome New Members:

Dr. Selah Givens

Daniel & Beth Allison Ringel

Contributions

Temple Israel Endowments

Donald & Mildred Stein High Holidays Endowment

In Appreciation of

• Temple Israel, by Dori Smith

Lockshin-Goldenfield Religious School Endowment

In Memory of

• Dorothy Rudick, by Shirley Lockshin & Family
• Mary Wilder, by Shirley Lockshin & Family

Rabbi John H. Spitzer Endowment for Social Justice & Action

In Honor of

• Silhouette Project, by Fran & PJ Wells

Fine Arts

In Memory of

• Edwin L. Kahn, by Dori Smith

Floral Fund

In Honor of

• Randi & Bill Smuckler's Grandson, Gerard Dyer O"Mallon, by Eileen & Matt Saltarelli



In Memory of

• Mary Wilder, by Barbara & Bob Ferne

Kiddush Fund

In Memory of

• Lavigne Spitzer, by Rabbi John & Cheri Spitzer
• Lavone Spitzer, by Rabbi John & Cheri Spitzer
• Freda Brokstein, by William Brokstein

Mazon Fund - A Jewish Response to Hunger

In Honor of

• Fran & PJ Well's Grandson, Oliver Ezra Culberg, by Matt & Eileen Saltarelli, Marilyn & Paul Feldman, Adele & Ron Gelb
• Adele & Ron Gelb's new home, by Diane & Bob Friedman

In Memory of

• Lena Smuckler, by Harlene Smuckler
• Dorothy Rudick, by Adele & Ron Gelb, Marilyn & Paul Feldman, Sue Shafer
• Luise Weintraub, by Marilyn & Paul Feldman
• Louis Olden, by Karen Olden

In Recovery of

• Robert Friedman, by Robert & Susan Narens
• Peggy Stabholz, by Sue Shafer

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

In Honor of

• Lee Karelitz's Installation as Life Time Trustee of Temple Israel, by Linda & Howard Smuckler, Barbara & Bob Ferne, Harlene Smuckler

In Memory of

• Stanley Greenwald, by Dr. Leonard Knell
• Mary Wilder, by Paula Bloom

In Recovery of

• Robert Friedman, by Irv & Eileen Dinn

In Appreciation of

• Rabbi Komerofsky & Rabbi Spitzer, by Robert & Jane Miller

Canton Jewish Community Federation is seeking its next Executive Director. CLICK to learn more.

Jewish Community of Community LLC (Beit Ha'am) is seeking its next Building Manager. CLICK to learn more.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Take in the autumn views at Maize Valley!

Join us for lunch and time to shop at the Farm Market.

All are welcome!

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 11:30 A.M.

Maize Valley Winery, Brewery and Farm Market

6193 Edison Street NE

Hartville, Ohio 44632

Meet directly at the restaurant or take the van. Van transportation is $14 per rider and will depart from Beit Ha’am at 10:45.

Please RSVP to Debbie Guilliams by Thursday, September 14 by phone at (330) 445-2412 or via email at [email protected].