Congregation Brith Sholom President: Ron Ticho rabbi: Michael singer

Rabbi emeritus: rabbi Allen Juda

Volume XXXi No. 1 ~ January 2020 Tevet 5780 ~ Shevat 5780

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

CONGREGATION BRITH SHOLOM

BETHLEHEM, PA 18017

Tel: 610-866-8009

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

All information must be received in writing or copy ready by the 15th of

each month. Any article received after

the deadline will be published in the

next Bulletin. Visit our website at

www.brithsholom.net

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FROM THE RABBI

Resiliency 

There once was a young man jogging along the beach. He came across an old man picking up stranded starfish and

throwing them back into the sea. When the young man saw how many starfish were washed up on the shore - he went over to the old man and said, “You are an old fool! You cannot possibly save all of these starfish!” “True”,

replied the old man “but it matters to this one.” And he tossed it back into the sea. He picked up another and tossed it back.

“And also to this one.” (Parable)

Rabbi Tarfon taught, “You are not required to finish the task, nor are you free to neglect it.” (Pirkei Avot 2:21) I have always imagined this teaching being taught in the voice of Yoda. It seems at once to be sage advice and yet a little cryptic. Who was the intended audience for Rabbi Tarfon’s teaching? Was it to strengthen and comfort those toiling against overwhelming challenges who might feel they can’t fix them all? (The “If I can’t finish/fix it then I have failed.” crowd) Or was it to light a fire under those, who when seeing how numerous and daunting the tasks, give up before even trying? (The “What’s the use, it won’t mat-ter.” crowd) In a very Yodaesque way, Rabbi Tarfon, allows each person to size up where they stand in the paradigm at any given moment and gain perspective and balance. Yet, maybe the most brilliant part of Rabbi Tarfon’s teach-ing is that he reminds us to keep plugging away doing the best we can. Some days it is enough to put one foot in front of the other. Other days we move the needle forward a little. No matter what, we must keep going forward. What is ultimately required is the attribute of RESILIENCE. As a kid, I learned this lesson by playing baseball. Baseball was an obsession for me. I loved the game, but, if you have ever watched or played baseball, more often then not, there seems to be a futility to it. Batters strike out or hit the ball to one of opposing teams fielders 80 - 90% of the time. This is a game where, if you fail to reach base 70% of the time, you are considered a great hitter. And even if you reach first base, the likelihood of reaching home depends on a multiplicity of factors out of your control including: the next batter hitting the ball safely (see above statistic), the opposing team’s ability to field the ball, the wind, the di-mensions of the ballpark, and, frankly, just plain luck. I re-member my coaches warning our team against trying to swing for the fences (hit a home run) every time we would step to the plate. Getting on base was a miracle enough. Yet, even when we struck out, were in a slump, or down 4

runs in the 9th inning - we would get back in the batter’s box and take our crack at it. I remember after a particularly tough game where I played poorly (I cost my team the game), I thought about quitting the team. My dad said, “Quitting is not an option! You will pick yourself up, remember who you are, that you are part of a team, that it is a combined effort, and that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but playing the game is what it’s about.” In essence - Resilience. As human beings we often face difficult challenges in life both personal and communal. On the one hand, we bring our creativity, industriousness, and intellect to bear. On the other hand by our very nature, we are confined by our finite resources - money, talent, energy and most of all time. It is the dialectical dissonance between our power and our limitations, between progress and regression, and between our dreams and our realities - that can lead us down the path to apathy, hopelessness, or a loss of meaningful pur-pose, the symptoms of which can manifest themselves in: Burn out, compassion fatigue, listlessness, and detach-ment to name a few. That is why I believe building and supporting resiliency in our children and each other is a critical part of Jewish life. What others may call stubbornness, our faith calls resili-ence and determination. It has served the Jewish people well throughout our history. We believe that even the small-est acts can make a difference in our lives, the lives of oth-ers, and even change the course of history. We can’t al-ways understand the impact at the time or live to see our dreams fulfilled. Even so, we do not give up! We step up to the plate to do our part with our eyes on the prize. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” Indeed, as Rabbi Tarfon taught so long ago, “You are not required to finish the task, nor are you free to neglect it.” Rabbi Michael Singer

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Friday, January 17 ~ Candle Lighting: 4:43 pm ~ SATURDAY, January 18 Torah Portion: Shemot ~ Exodus 1:1-6:1 ~ Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23 ~ Havdalah: 5:52 pm

Friday, January 24 ~ Candle Lighting: 4:51 pm ~ SATURDAY, January 25 Torah Portion: Vaera ~ Exodus 6:2-9:35 ~ Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 ~ Havdalah: 6:00 pm

Friday, January 10 ~ Candle Lighting: 4:35 pm ~ SATURDAY, January 11 Torah Portion: Vayehi~ Genesis 47:28-50:26~ Haftarah: I Kings 2:1-12 ~ Havdalah: 5:44 pm

Schedule of Services SHABBAT

Everyone is invited to attend and participate in the beauty of the Shabbat Services and the Kiddush that follows.

Services begin Shabbat morning at 9:00 AM.

MINYAN—is held in the Chapel

Monday and Thursday mornings……….7:45 AM

Holiday mornings……………...9:00 AM

SHABBAT VAERA

SHABBAT VAYIGASH Friday, January 3 ~ Candle Lighting: 4:28 pm ~ SATURDAY, January 4

Torah Portion: Vayigash ~ Genesis 44:18-47:27 ~ Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28~ Havdalah: 5:37 pm

SHABBAT VAYEHI

SHABBAT SHEMOT

SHABBAT BO Friday, January 31 ~ Candle Lighting: 5:00 pm ~ SATURDAY, February 1

Torah Portion: Bo ~ Exodus 10:1-13:16 ~ Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28 ~ Havdalah: 6:09 pm

Celebra ng Sam Save the Date - March 6th and 7th, 2020

The following is an excerpt from the President’s Message delivered by Ron Ticho on Yom Kippur…

At Congregation Brith Sholom, over the years, we have had so much to be grateful for and celebrate. And this year, 5780, marks a milestone, no doubt, worthy of honoring and celebrating.

Strong communities are often bound by a common thread. Clearly ours, as a community, is to be re-sponsible for the physical and communal needs of our members. And central to that is the way in which we pray together.

A Shaliach Tzibur literally means “messenger of the community” and refers to the individual who leads services in a syna-gogue. According to the Shulchan Aruch (our Code of Jewish Law), the shaliach tzibur must be one who is “fit” – that is, free of sin, possessing a good reputation, humble, acceptable to the community, skilled at chanting, and who is well versed in sa-cred texts.

At Brith Sholom, we have someone who meets all the criteria.

This high holiday marks the 50th anniversary of Sam Guncler leading our high holiday services. Yes, he was davening as soon as he came out of the womb.

Sam became a bar mitzvah at Brith Sholom in 1968 and was asked to lead Shacharit services for Rosh Hoshanah in 1969. Since that time, he has led our prayer together and he has done so in a manner that has enabled each and every one of us to participate in services in a very meaningful and special way.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to share with you that we will be honoring Sam, as he begins his next 50 years leading services at Brith Sholom. The celebration will take place this March 6-7 and we are in the early stages of plan-ning. I’m grateful to past presidents Judith Rodwin and Steve Glickman, and our board vice president Ruthie Shleifer, who are heading up this effort. If you’re interested in being involved, please let them know.

There will be an opportunity for everyone in our community, past and present, to participate in this celebration. It will also be an opportunity for us all to contribute to ensuring that this milestone is recognized and has a lasting impact on our community.

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Leftovers, Hand-Me-Downs, and Treasures

Leftovers become wasted food when we don't know what to do with them and 40% of wasted food in the United States comes from our homes. Rabbi Juda focuses on this problem as he considers what the Jewish value of bal tashkhit and Jewish tradi-tion have to say about waste of all kinds. Learn how to plan a meal with the idea of using leftovers in a re-purposed second meal. Jannie Kay will tackle this challenge as she and class participants prepare a nutritious lunch. This 2-week session takes place at CBS, 11 a.m.-1:30 on Tuesdays, January 21 and 28 with a snow-date of February 4th. Class fee: $20. Registration is required: Deadline: January 13, 2020.

The Party’s Over, It’s Time to Call it a Day...so sang Nat King Cole. It is one thing to have a vision but to make it become a reality requires something more. That MORE was provided thanks to the talents of our congregants. They performed, cooked, designed, and served you, too. Memories of December’s Shabbat dinner remain because of the sheer enjoyment of hearing Rabbi Singer and Alexis sing a duet from Oklahoma followed by Rabbi Singer singing his favorite Paul

Anka tunes. Many of us knew exactly when the Texaco Song [as rendered by Gary Lader, Alan Cohen, Ron Ticho, and Rabbi Steve Nathan] introduced the Milton Berle Variety Show. Some Doo Wop tunes were sung by Gary Lader and Rabbi Steve and there was a beautifully sung Que Sera Sera by Barbara Platt and Judith Rodwin...they had all of us singing the well- known phrase, What will be Will be. Thank you to our talented performers. It was noticeable, even from a quick glance, that entering the social hall was stepping into a by-gone time. We thank our incredibly creative Lora Geftic for setting the mood with well-researched historical facts on display and beautiful-ly coordinated decorations. The cooks who were busy in the kitchen making sure that the meatloaf and gravy were above the quality of Swanson T.V. dinners were Sandy Wruble, Ursla Levy, Lora Geftic, Steffi Miller-Berman, Judith Rodwin, Alice Level, Maria Ain, Sandy Greenfield, Fran Fisher, Gale Maleskey, and Jannie Kay. Many thanks to them for their dedication to producing another delicious Shabbat dinner. Thank you, Fran Fisher for preparing and sending out our attractive EVITES. Heartfelt thanks to our experienced servers; they get the food to everyone when it is hot, they fill all requests conscien-tiously, and they stay to the very end, helping to clear the tables. Todah rabah to Daniel and Toby Lader, Miriam Singer, Kayla Bleier, Dale and Devon Berkove, Peter Capote, and Emily Franko. We are grateful to Ann Edmonds and Ron Pettit for their assistance over the many days that we worked together in the kitchen. And where would we be without Tammy Watts, who receives reservations and with efficiency ensures that we have all that is required for our dinners. Thank you to all you came to this communal event. Jannie Kay, Dinner Host

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Support our Jewish community by suppor ng our Jewish businesses! 

Around the Table Catering (also known as Dror’s Kosher Food Truck)

Together, we can assure that our Jewish community thrives. By suppor ng our local Jewish businesses collec vely, each in our own small way, we support our Jewish community – and this does not involve sacrifice on our part but,

rather, is a great opportunity to partake of delicious, freshly prepared, parve kosher meals!

Dror’s and Lee’s Around the Table Catering is exactly that opportunity.

Isn’t it wonderful to have fresh, delicious parve‐kosher meals? You can order with a simple phone call or text and pick‐up your order right here in Allentown, just outside the Jewish Community Center, on Tilghman Street, near the

corner of 22ndStreet.

The menu items are not exhaus ve but offer a wide variety of delicious, freshly‐made fare like falafel pitas and pla ers, hummus, tahini, Moroccan cous cous, many varie es of freshly prepared soups and many, many other

items – all made under the supervision of our own Lehigh Valley Kashrut Commission (LVKC), overseen by Rabbi Ni‐san Andrews.

And don’t let Dror’s and Lee’s li le food truck fool you – it is small but very able, and neat and very clean, and serves

up wonderfully fresh and tasty items.

Just dial 570‐954‐3028 between 11am and 7pm, Sunday through Thursday, and leave a voice or text message with your order and the approximate me you’ll pick up your meal. For Shabbot, order from their expanded menu on

Tuesdays for pick‐up on Thursday.

Follow them on FaceBook, and give them your phone number to add your name to their WhatsApp pos ngs, to read about their upcoming menus and specialty items.

We can, each of us, do our part, no ma er how small that may seem, in helping assure our Jewish community

thrives. Collec vely, we can make a huge difference in our Jewish community and, in a substan ve way, make that difference by assuring Dror’s and Lee’s food truck remains a staple of our Jewish community

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Best wishes, Rabbi Nisan Andrews

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It is with gratitude that we acknowledge the following gifts given to the synagogue in memory of or to honor and commemorate the people or events mentioned. It is a sacred obligation and a unique privilege for each of us to be able to show such traditional support and respect for our heritage and loved ones. (Minimum contributions to each of the donation levels are: Temple/$10; Chai/

$18; Silver/$25; Double Chai/$36); Golden/$50; Platinum/$100

In appreciation of Brith Sholom & in honor of the wedding of Ariel & Andy

Jacqueline&AvrahamOzIn honor of Margo & Steve Wiener

Lisa&BarnetFraenkelIn loving memory of Ervin Gross

ShirleyGrossIn loving memory of Gary Miller

DebbieMiller

In loving memory of father, Noe Heitlinger

Marilyn&LeoHeitlingerIn loving memory of parents, Herbert J.

Bischoff and Jeannette E. Bischoff JoanBischoff

In loving memory of Betty Herzon LorinSchneider

Thank you to our CBS Family for your calls and heartfelt prayers for Herb’s

recovery during his hospital stays Julia&HerbSaunders

In loving memory of Melvin Goldberg

Ann&HerbGilles

In appreciation of the Con irmation Class’s contribution to the Progressive

Dinner TheProgressiveDinnerCommittee

In loving memory of Sylvia Riskin

TheRiskinFamilyIn honor of Rose Lee & Gordon Goldberg being recognized as Spectacular over 70

ReneeGittler

In honor of Dr. Gordon & Rose Lee Gold-berg being recognized as role models for

their years of dedication Flora&AndyPestcoe

In loving memory of Jean Waddell BarbaraHoffman

In honor of Jannie Kay chanting Haftarah

on the occasion of her 40th bat mitzvah anniversary GwenKay

In honor of Sandy Wruble chanting Haf-tarah on the occasion of her 40th bat

mitzvah anniversary GwenKay

In memory of Dr. Morton Newman Joanne&HerbertPessin

In loving memory of father, Benjamin Stein

Pearl&ShirleySteinIn best wishes of good health to

Rosalyn Sahn HelenAppel

Best wishes of good health to Herbert Saunders HelenAppel

In memory of Ben Stein MitziDubin

In loving memory of sister, Adriana Rosiello AlinaCapote

GOLDEN DONATION

DOUBLE CHAI DONATION

SILVER DONATION

CHAI DONATION

TEMPLE FUND

PLATINUM DONATION

Sponsor

Anita & Syman Hirsch in honor of our 60th wedding anniversary

Jennifer Kaufman in memory of my grandparents, Lew & Nesha Schor on what would have been their 55th wedding anniversary

Contributor

Sandy Greenfield in loving memory of uncle, Julius Greenfield

The Pestcoe Family in loving memory of father, Karl Solomon

Roberta Kaplan in loving memory of son, Lance Kaplan

Double Chai

Pam Lott, Nathan, Hannah and Connie Ticho in honor of Ron chanting Haftarah on the anniversary of his bar mitzvah

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WEEK OF JANUARY 4, 2020 Leo Alter 7 Tevet Jan. 4 Bernice Forman 11 Tevet Jan. 8 * Morris Mindlin 7 Tevet Jan. 4 * Arthur Lehrich 11 Tevet Jan. 8 * Anna Perlman 7 Tevet Jan. 4 Oscar Packman 11 Tevet Jan. 8 Edith L. Black 8 Tevet Jan. 5 * Sanford Herzfeld 12 Tevet Jan. 9 Franz Feitl 8 Tevet Jan. 5 * Richard Kravits 12 Tevet Jan. 9 Zelda Bryen 9 Tevet Jan. 6 * Sylvia Lazarowitz 12 Tevet Jan. 9 * Milton Harris 9 Tevet Jan. 6 * Alexander Maysels 12 Tevet Jan. 9 * Clara J. Maysels 9 Tevet Jan. 6 * Sarah Spilberg 12 Tevet Jan. 9 Lester Aronson 10 Tevet Jan. 7 Dorothy Rosenfeld 13 Tevet Jan. 10 * Morris S. Friedman 10 Tevet Jan. 7 Harry Wakstein 13 Tevet Jan. 10 * Elkah Solomon 10 Tevet Jan. 7 * Eva Horowitz 13 Tevet Jan. 10 WEEK OF JANUARY 11, 2020 * Sadie Adler 14 Tevet Jan. 11 * Lillian Alshutz 17 Tevet Jan. 14 Bernard Freedman 14 Tevet Jan. 11 Sydney Gruber 17 Tevet Jan. 14 Abe Blinderman 14 Tevet Jan. 11 Barry Belgrade 18 Tevet Jan. 15 * Anna Katz 14 Tevet Jan. 11 Walter Goldstein 18 Tevet Jan. 15 * Lillian Levin 14 Tevet Jan. 11 Nicholas Greenfield 18 Tevet Jan. 15 * Philip R. Miller 14 Tevet Jan. 11 * David Scoblionko 18 Tevet Jan. 15 * M. Leah Nisnick 14 Tevet Jan. 11 * Jeanette Goldblat 19 Tevet Jan. 16 * Meyer Moskowitz 14 Tevet Jan. 11 Sarah Silverberg 19 Tevet Jan. 16 Flor Ruth Berlow 15 Tevet Jan. 12 * Jennie Lazarowitz 19 Tevet Jan. 16 * Alice Phillips 15 Tevet Jan. 12 Folkert Strikwerda 19 Tevet Jan. 16 * Harold Rothfeld 15 Tevet Jan. 12 Benjamin Carroll 20 Tevet Jan. 17 * Hyman Feigenblatt 16 Tevet Jan. 13 Betty Geftic 20 Tevet Jan. 17 * Sarah Green 16 Tevet Jan. 13 * Lillian Schnitzler 20 Tevet Jan. 17 * Sidney Schwartz 16 Tevet Jan. 13 WEEK OF JANUARY 18, 2020 * Sidney P. Goodman 21 Tevet Jan. 18 Harold Cohn 25 Tevet Jan. 22 * Dora Cook 22 Tevet Jan. 19 Rebecca Hercules 25 Tevet Jan. 22 * Frank Herzon 22 Tevet Jan. 19 * Isadore Mindlin 25 Tevet Jan. 22 * Benjamin Kaplan 22 Tevet Jan. 19 Louis Warshavsky 25 Tevet Jan. 22 * Lillian Moskowitz 22 Tevet Jan. 19 * Jerome Hausman 26 Tevet Jan. 23 * Martin Schwalb 22 Tevet Jan. 19 Sandy Herzfeld 26 Tevet Jan. 23 Joseph Milestone 23 Tevet Jan. 20 * Iris Hirshberg 26 Tevet Jan. 23 Elliott Goodman 23 Tevet Jan. 20 * Bertha Gross 27 Tevet Jan. 24 * Kenneth Moss 23 Tevet Jan. 20 Anna Gruber 27 Tevet Jan. 24 * Minnie Mahler 24 Tevet Jan. 21 Adolph Kaufmann 27 Tevet Jan. 24 * Norman A. Shane 24 Tevet Jan. 21 * Isadore Schiff 27 Tevet Jan. 24 * Julie Arnold 24 Tevet Jan. 21 Ralph Schiffer 27 Tevet Jan. 24 Alain Ain 25 Tevet Jan. 22

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YAHRZEIT PLAQUES

These bronze plaques are permanent tributes to your loved ones. Unlike many of the other synagogues both here in the Valley and in other places, our Yahrzeit Memorial Wall has individual lights that are turned

on during the week of the Yahrzeit. It does not matter how long ago a grandparent, parent or, G-d forbid, a child has died, the memory is still there. Traditionally, we show respect and love for our departed family members by this annual demonstration of remembrance. We say Kaddish in shul. We hold them in the forefront of our hearts and minds, and, for many of us, by the public illumination of their names on the Memorial Wall. The price for a plaque is $300. The price to reserve a space is still $25.

To reserve a space or order plaques, please contact :

Sandy Wruble (610-865-2474)

Support

Congrega on Brith Sholom!  

Purchase Giant Foods Gi Cards

and Congrega on Brith Sholom

gets 5% of the proceeds.

So when you purchase groceries

you will be

dona ng to the shul.

Giant Card contact:

Dore Ko ler, rxdek@ptd.net or 610‐395‐3259 Thank you!!!!

WEEK OF JANUARY 25, 2020 * Abe Green 28 Tevet Jan. 25 * Harry Schiffer 2 Shevat Jan. 28 * Joseph Spitz 28 Tevet Jan. 25 * Hyman A. Cook 3 Shevat Jan. 29 Edward Sitver 28 Tevet Jan. 25 * Beverly Schachter 3 Shevat Jan. 29 Catherine Brams 28 Tevet Jan. 25 * Oscar W. Brisker 4 Shevat Jan. 30 Norman Belonofsky 29 Tevet Jan. 26 Charles R. Bryen 4 Shevat Jan. 30 Seymour Bogdonoff 29 Tevet Jan. 26 Barry Margolin 4 Shevat Jan. 30 * Sadie Hoffman 29 Tevet Jan. 26 * Shimeon Berenson 5 Shevat Jan. 31 * Mollie Lutz 29 Tevet Jan. 26 Lena Gruber 5 Shevat Jan. 31 Victoria M. Howitz 1 Shevat Jan. 27 * Mary Miller 5 Shevat Jan. 31 * Israel Feigenblatt 2 Shevat Jan. 28 * William Subkow 5 Shevat Jan. 31 * Lillian Levitz 2 Shevat Jan. 28 * Abraham Warshaw 5 Shevat Jan. 31

Cont’d

Attention Summer Campers

Apply for an

Ellen Wruble-Greenberg

Camp Scholarship

This is a scholarship for $3,000.00 to be applied directly to a Jewish camp of your choice.

Requirements are:

1. Family must be members of Brith Sholom Synagogue

2. Applicant must answer this question in writing:

- Why do you want to attend a Jewish camp this summer?

3. Submit letter to the Brith Sholom office by June 1st.

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

4th of Tevet, 5780

2

5th of Tevet, 5780

3

6th of Tevet, 5780

4:28p

4

7th of Tevet, 5780

Parashat Vayigash

5:37p

5

Alaskan Cruise

Meeting—4pm

6

9th of Tevet, 5780

7

10th of Tevet,

5780

Asara B'Tevet

8

11th of Tevet,

5780

9

12th of Tevet,

5780

10

13th of Tevet,

5780

4:35p

11

14th of Tevet,

5780

Parashat Vayechi

5:44p

12

15th of Tevet,

5780

13

16th of Tevet,

5780

14

17th of Tevet,

5780

15

18th of Tevet,

5780

16

19th of Tevet,

5780

17

Traditional Shabbat Dinner

6:00p

4:43p

18

21st of Tevet,

5780

Parashat Shemot

5:52p

19

22nd of Tevet,

5780

20

23rd of Tevet,

5780

21

24th of Tevet,

5780

22

25th of Tevet,

5780

23

26th of Tevet,

5780

24

27th of Tevet,

5780

4:51p

25

28th of Tevet,

5780

Parashat Vaera

6:00p

26

29th of Tevet,

5780

27

1st of Sh'vat, 5780

Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat

28

2nd of Sh'vat,

5780

29

3rd of Sh'vat, 5780

30

4th of Sh'vat, 5780

31

5th of Sh'vat, 5780

5:00p

4 Tevet, 5780

5 Shevat, 5780 JANUARY 2020

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CONGREGATION BRITH SHOLOM President: Ron Ticho Rabbi: Michael singer

Rabbi Emeritus: Rabbi Allen Juda

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Congregation Brith Sholom

1190 West Macada Road

Bethlehem, PA 18017

Non-Profit Organization PERMIT no. 461

U.S. Postage Paid Lehigh Valley, PA

Volume XXXi No. 1 January 2020 Tevet 5780 ~ Shevat 5780

Tel: 610-866-8009 Fax: 610-866-8000

email: info@brithsholom.net

rabbisinger@brithsholom.net

Visit our website at www.brithsholom.net