CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL

“A Family of Families”

Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00am

Please come and join us

CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES

December 2011

Friday, December 2 Shabbat Service

7:30 pm

Saturday, December 3 Shabbat Service

9:00 am

Friday, December 9 Shabbat Service

7:30 pm (Traditional Service in the Racusin Chapel)

Saturday, December 10

Shabbat Service 9:00 am

Friday, December 16

Shabbat Service 6:00 pm

Family Dinner 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 17 Shabbat Service

9:00am

Friday, December 23 Hanukkah Shabbat Service

7:30 pm

Saturday, December 24 Shabbat Service

9:00am

Friday, December 30 Shabbat Service

7:30 pm

Saturday, December 31 Shabbat Service

9:00am

Dear Friends: The period between mid-November and the end of December is a time when we traditionally assess our lives. We are particularly conscious of the physical blessings that we have been given, our health, our shelter, our nourishment and, especially, our families. To be sure, each of us has

areas of concern, needs that are not fulfilled and problems that have yet to be resolved. Our lives are hardy perfect. Yet, compared to the lot of many other people, even people in Corpus Christi, we do have a lot with which to be satisfied. As we add up our achievements and our acquisitions at the end of the year, the word “Thanks” easily comes to our lips. In Pirke Avot, an ancient rabbi, Ben Zoma, asked “Who is rich?” His response to his own question was that a rich person is “content with what he already has.” There’s a great deal to make us content. But the prophets of biblical Israel (and their successors through the ages) have stressed that we ought not to look at the world as it is, but as it ought to be. It’s hard not to be aware of the imperfections of our society. In areas of our city, there is a high propensity for violence, drug use, gang activities. I spoke at King High School the other evening, and the principal told me that of roughly 800 students who enter as freshmen, only about 550-575 graduate. Some, of course, move out of the city and some go to other schools, but the majority of this nearly 30% loss end up with marginal literacy and minimal employable skills. How sad! And then there are the bigger, world-wide issues of which we are all aware: disease, poverty, malnutrition, war, prejudice, disasters of every sort. As satisfied as we may be with our lot in life, we cannot be smugly complacent in the face of the indignities with which fellow human beings are confronted every day. So this period of reassessment and gratitude ought also prompt us to think about ways in which we can improve the world in which we live. There are so many things – large and small – that each individual can undertake. All it requires is a little determination and motivation. It would be very nice if our good fortune would prompt each of us to find something to do that would move our world away from what is and toward what ought to be. Shalom, Kenneth D. Roseman, Rabbi

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 Saratoga

Telephone-361.857.8181/Fax-361.857.8227 Email: congregation@bethisraelcc.com

Website: bethisraelcc.com

Rabbi Kenneth Roseman Debbie Bustillo, Office Administrator

Susan Martin, Corpus Christi Community Religious School Administrator

President….……….……...………..….……..…….………..... ..Jim Gold First Vice President….………….………..…...…….………Suzy Hilliard Second Vice President……............………..……...……..……Gary Blum Secretary .…......…....…......…………….…….…………...….Julia Noble Treasurer………….….....…..…………...……...……………....Ed Mange Past President…………………………….……...……….Maury Wolfson Sisterhood President……………………….…......................Robin Adams Adult Education……….…………………..…………...…....David Jacobs Cemetery Co-Chairs………………...................Robert Adler, Carl Kuehn Gary Blum and Clara Braslau Ritual Committee Co-Chairs…….……………….........Andrew Sheinberg and Joe Loon Program Coordinator……………………..…….……..……. Leslie Green Membership Committee Chair….……………………....…..Susan Martin Social Action Committee Chairs. ….............................................Jim Gold Dues Committee Co-Chairs..….………….……………...….…Ann Engel and Leslie Kane Building Chair…………………………...………………......David Jacobs Grounds Chair………………………………………..…Rikki Schmitchel Fine Arts.....................................................Laurie Mintz and Ross Burney Webmaster.…………………..………………...……….…….Jack Widder

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Members of CBI,

I want to express my genuine thanks and congratula-tions to Catherine Susser, Laura Hausman and the CBI Sisterhood for planning and conducting a most successful Food Fest. Their leadership and the Sister-hood’s commitment and work made the weekend an enjoyable experience for the entire Corpus Christi community. The food, desserts, raffle, auction, and vintage shop were all sensational winners. The suc-cess of Food Fest has a secret ingredient—the dozens of volunteers who work for weeks preparing and then making Food Fest a reality during that special week-end in November. The purpose, camaraderie and teamwork bring people together in a special way that bonds our CBI community closer each year. I cannot name all the volunteers without missing some; how-ever, I want each of you to know that the CBI Board of Trustees appreciates your giving of money and time to make this major event so successful. Speaking of time—I would be remiss in not taking this opportunity to suggest you commit some time to participating in CBI activities. I encourage you to commit to attending services once or twice a month, participate in the Saturday study group, volunteer in the library or attend the 92nd Street Y live presenta-tions via satellite. While these activities can add to our personal growth and spirituality they also provide a wonderful opportunity for congregants to socialize and become a closer families of families. Shalom, Jim Gold

RABBI TO BE BUTT OF MANY BARBS AND JOKES - January 29th, 2012

The Brotherhood of Temple Shalom in Dallas has per-suaded Rabbi Roseman to be the “roastee” at their annual fun-filled evening and roast on January 29th. A large crowd of his former congregants, friends from Dallas and a dele-gation from Corpus Christi will be present to rake him over the coals, tongues firmly in cheeks and malicious grins spreading widely across every face.

You might ask: “Why would our rabbi submit to such an ‘honor’?” Aside from having the opportunity to see lots of good friends and turn red with embarrassment, he will share the Brotherhood’s wonderful tradition. Half of the net pro-ceeds of the evening are allotted to the honoree for distribu-tion to the charity of his choice. Rabbi Roseman has elected to give his portion of the profits to the Greene Fam-ily Camp, the one Jewish institution that serves children from both Texas congregations with which he has been as-sociated.

Everyone at CBI will be receiving an invitation. Even if you don’t plan to fly up to Dallas, you can still send an an-ecdote (or maybe an antidote) along with your reply card. We are proud that Temple Shalom remembers Rabbi Rose-man with such fondness that they are honoring him in this way.

Happy Hanukkah

FAMILY CORNER

Shalom CBI Congregants,

Now that Food Fest and the Thanksgiving holiday are behind us, it's time to gear up for our Chanukah festivities!!! I have to admit, this is one of my favorite Jewish holidays ... and what better way to celebrate then being all together at our next Family Shabbat Dinner on Friday, December 16th. Bring your appetites and menorahs with you as we all light up the night together!!!

I will be busy in the kitchen making oodles of potato latkes and a full dinner to go with them. I will be needing extra help in the kitchen to prepare the many latkes for all of us to enjoy, so please consider lending a hand with this project.

Can't wait to see ALL of you and break bread together again,

Leslie Green Programming Director

email: shanacal@stx.rr.com phone: (361) 452-1902

Corpus Christi Community Religious School

Susan Martin, Director

Although school will not be in session during Hanukkah, classes will be discussing the holi-day and making Hanukkah crafts. I hope eve-ryone will enjoy the time off resting, spend-ing time with family and friends, and having fun! Shalom! Susan

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES

Sunday School 10:00—12:00pm

December 4 & 11

Hebrew School

4:30 pm—6:00 pm on Thursdays December 1, 8, & 15

SISTERHOOD REPORT

While we have not finished tallying the numbers, I can tell you that our 25th annual Food Fest was another huge success. I hope all of you had a chance to par-take of this event. For those of you who attended “thank you”. If you were not there, we hope to see you next year.

We are now switching gears and planning some excit-ing events for the coming months. Stay tuned for de-tails as plans are being formulated.

Just a reminder, if you haven’t paid your membership dues for Sisterhood, please contact Natalie Honig-baum. She will be happy to forward the information for new membership or renewal. We would love to have you as part of our group.

Here’s wishing you and your family a Happy Chanu-kah from the Women of Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood.

Thank You  We would like to once again express our sincere gratitude to the many volunteers who helped make the 25th annual Food Fest such a success. We were amazed by the endless hours of time that so many of you generously put forth as well as the hard work and enthusiasm showed throughout the weekend. We had a great time and are so pleased to have been able to help the congregation in this meaningful way. We are so blessed to have this tight-knit community and we look forward to many more Food Fests!

Sincerely,

Catherine and Laura

From the Jewish Community Council

HANUKKAH BEGINS TUESDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 20 Dust off your hanukkiyot and get them ready for Tuesday night, December 20. That’s when you should be lighting the first candle of Hanukkah this year. Count out your candles to be sure you have enough. What’s enough? You’ll need 44 candles if you light the right number each night of the festival. If you don’t have the right number, our Sisterhood Gift Shop can supply you with a wide variety of styles and colors of candles. We’ve got plenty in stock. Remember the secret of lighting. You fill the candle holders starting on the right side of the Hanukkiyah, plus of course a shamash (helper) for each night. But you light the most recent

candle first; that’s the one on the left. So, the rule is: fill from right to left, but light from left to right. It’s simple, once you get the hang of it. Where in the Bible do you find a description of Hanukkah? Trick question. You don’t find it in the Bible because the text of the Hebrew Scriptures has nothing that was written after about 200 B.C.E., while the events that Hanukkah commemorates occurred about thirty-five years later (from 167 to 165 B.C.E.). In those years, a vassal state of the Romans called Seleucids (They lived in what today we know as Syria.) had invaded Judea and had conquered the Temple. Instead of destroying it, they converted it to the worship of their own idols, and they tried to force the Jews to bow down to their gods. Mattathias the Hasmonean, a major leader of the Jewish community, refused, and he and his sons went off into the Judean hills to conduct a guerilla war against the interlopers. Two-plus years later, they prevailed, against all odds. It is possible that the Seleucids had to withdraw their troops and use them to defend their territory elsewhere; we just don’t know the details. In any event, the Hasmoneans (or Maccabees as we often call them) came back to Jerusalem, purified the Temple and restored it to the worship of the God of Israel. We know a great deal about these events from a book written by Flavius Josephus about two centu-ries later. Josephus was a general in the Jewish army in their war against the Romans that began in 66 C.E. In 68, he calculated that the Jews were going to lose badly and that someone had to record all the history of that time. He left the army and became a historian, writing, among other books, The Wars of the Jews. In that book, he told the story of the Hasmoneans, at least as it had been passed down to him by prior generations. The one thing that Josephus does not mention is the miracle of the oil that lasted eight nights. We have no written evidence of this wonder-story until the time of the Babylonian Talmud, about the sixth century, roughly seven hundred years after the events themselves. Is the story the creation of an imaginative later writer? Did it really happen? Who cares? The real message of Hanukkah has little to do with this miracle of long-burning oil and a great deal to do with religious freedom and the right of each group to worship God in the style that they think is proper. What we hope we remember is that the war against the Seleucids was the world’s first struggle for religious self-determination and freedom, something we enjoy today, something which we must do everything we can to protect against inroads from those who would take it away from us.

Lighting the Hanukkah Candles

Light the first Hanukkah candle on Tuesday evening, December 20. Here’s the simple rule for how to do it right. Place the first candle on the right side of the Hanukkiyah (a menorah, but with nine branches, not seven). Use the shamash (servant candle) to light it. On the second night, add a candle to the left of the first one, but light the newest candle first, then move to the right and light the older one. With each successive night, add to the left, but light to the right. Got it? Good!

There are three blessings to be said on the first night of Hanukkah, then two on all subsequent nights.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kidshanu B’mitzvotav V’tzeevanu L’hadlik Ner Shel Hanukkah. We praise You, Adonai, our G-d, Ruler of the universe, who has made us holy through commandments and ordained that we kindle the Hanukkah lights. Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, She-ah-sah Neeseem Lavoteinu Bayah-meem Haheym Baz’man Hazeh. We praise You, Adonai, our G-d, Ruler of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time in the year. And only on the first night, we say: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, Shehecheyanu Vekeeyemanu Vehigeeyanu Laz’man Hazeh. We praise You, Adonai, Our G-d, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us in life and sustained us and permitted us to reach this joyous time. The Rabbi, Officers, Board and Members of Congregation Beth Israel join in wishing each other a very happy and joyous Hanukkah.

Don’t forget . You can remember a friend or relative with a minimum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds support camp scholarships, education, cemeter-

ies, fine arts, library, & building improvements, to name a few. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the honored person or family. Please make checks payable to CBI and specify the fund. Call the CBI office with any questions.

The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions High Holyday Appeal

Donation----------------------------------------------------- From Suzy & John Hilliard

Laura & David Hausman

Mitzvah Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Bette Solovey Susan & Bill Martin

Robert McReynolds

Mille Zalim

Rosella Hollingsworth Susan & Bill Martin

Oshman Family Foundation Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Bette Solovey Oshman Family

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Mel Klein on his nomination for the Jeri Kolpack

position of Vice-Chair of the Board of Visitors

In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Bette Solovey Jeri Kolpack

Jeannie Trimyer

Bette Solovey Solovey Family

Donation----------------------------------------------------- From Richard & Beatrice Hinojosa

Arturo Hinojosa

Laura & David Hausman

Rabbi Weissman Memorial Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Rabbi Hyman Weissman Phyllis Weissman

Tracy Braslau Youth Memorial Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Helen Goodman Marilyn & Irving Braslau

Bette Solovey

In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Engagment of Todd Davis to Mali Picus Marilyn & Irving Braslau

Marriage of Andrea Zane to Blake Feinman

Yahrzeit Donations In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Morris Liedeker, Sr. Morris Liedeker, Jr.

Blanche Sheiness Joyce & Herschel Sheiness

Marvin Sheiness

Aron Golden Evelyn Greenberg

Jeno Meister Edith & Ted Mason

Joseph Newman

Eli Berman Sylvia Rosenberg

Rose Axelrad Dorothy Jessel

Blanche Sheiness Mr. & Mrs. Marc Sheinesss

Marvin Sheiness

Hattie Abrams Ann & David Engel

William Simpkins Barbara & Jerry Silverman

Irving ChaFetz Rona & LA Train

Cemetery Endowment Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Louis B. Leshin Yetta & Marvin Leshin

General Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Bette Solovey Jim & Annette Cottingham

Doris Katz

Willy Kuehn

Karen & Harold Kane

Ann & David Engel

Roslyn & Maury Wolfson

Rosella Hollingsworth Robin & Bill Adams

Recovery of--------------------------------------------------- From

Rose Garza Elizabeth & Ray Falk

In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Henry Roseman on his Bar Mitzvah Roslyn & Maury Wolfson

For their tremendous time & Ann & David Engel

effort to make this Food Fest

an amazing success:

Catherine Susser, Laura Hausman,

Pat Susser, Chip & Barb Schwamb,

Rikki Schmitchel, Debbie Bustillo,

Shelly Jacobson, Judy Itkin,

Susan Martin, Amy Krams

Clara Braslau, Ray Briones,

Julia Noble, Chris & Robert Adler

Jill Jacobs & Natalie Honigbaum

P E R P E T U A L YAHRZEITS

Sabbath of December 2nd *Harold Robert Applebaum *David Blair *Milton Eidelberg Rose Epstein Hans Eyck Ida Mann Falk *Sam Falk *Dora Fenig *Israel Ferszt *Sarah Goodman *Dave L. Greenberg *Martin Kridel Jack Marks *Gertrude Pearlman *Lillian Prashner Juan Rodriguez, Sr. *Bertha Wadel Samuels Barbara Rita Shimansky *Rachel Simon *William Simpkins *Kate Smith Susan Train Mike Wormser Sabbath of December 9th Irwin Bernstein *Bruce Evert Bobys Cora Carrillo Juliette Goldsmith *Dorothy Greene *Nison Grossman *Jennie Hymans *Max Orshanski *Lillian Racusin *Richard Rocklin *Arthur M. Roscoe Philip Seldin Gregory Silberman *Barry Waldman *Martha Wilson *Yehuda Zebaida

Sabbath of December 16th Howard Balkin *Maurice Cohn *Grace Coin *Flora Daum *Paul Gold *Harry Goltzman *Claire Haas Benjamin Heller *Sam Isenberg Hattie Kaufman Mary Shapiro Levinson *Albert A. Lichtenstein *Jann L. Horner Miehl *Gilbert T. Morris *Fannie Passman Philip Rosenheim *Jacob Solinger *Isaac Solka *Morris Stein Bertha Train *Audrey Sharon Zane Sabbath of December 23rd *Helen Alexander Esther Applebaum *Jacob Bein *Joseph Bein Janie M. Carrillo *Annette Davis Judith Goldsmith *Leo Irving Goltzman *Ella Deutsch Hausman Idell Itkin *Aranka Kane *Fan R. Klein *Harry Klein *Ben Kolpack *Benjamin Laves *Bertha Liedeker *Jack Nebrat *Louis Racusin

*Nate Shapiro *Tillie Sheinberg *Milton Silverman *David Solovey *Minna Shwarz Susser *Anna Veenik Sabbath of December 30th William Adams *Scott Jeffrey Applebaum *Dora Davis *Anne S. Dawson *Sophie Wilma Dobrer *Rosa Drucker *Jake Goldstein *Nasanel Grossman *Abe Heifetz *David M. Isenberg *Simon Kannengieser *Charles Karren *Rachel Levinson Forest Toby Levy *Louis Liedeker *Anna Maizel *Kay Malka Mendlowitz *David Lee Needleman *Leon Newman *Jeanne Nisenson Joseph Primack Robert Racusin *Rae Rosenberg Horace Simon Nathan Stillman

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

Hebrew School 4:30-6:00

2 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm

3 Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am

4

Sunday School 10:00-12:00

5

6

7

8

Hebrew School 4:30-6:00

9

Shabbat Service 7:30 pm

*Traditional Service in Racusin Chapel

10

Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am

11

Sunday School 10:00-12:00

12 13

14 CBI Board meeting @ 7pm

15

Hebrew School 4:30-6:00

16

Shabbat Service 6:00 pm Family Dinner 7:00 pm

17

Shabbat Service 9:00 am

Torah Study 11:00 am

18

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

Winter Break

19

20 Hanukkah 1st candle

21 Hanukkah 2nd candle

22

NO HEBREW SCHOOL

Winter Break

Hanukkah 3rd candle

23

Hanukkah Shabbat Service 7:30 pm

*office is open

1/2 day

Hanukkah

24

Shabbat Service 9:00 am

Torah Study 11:00 am Hanukkah 5th candle

25

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

Winter Break

Hanukkah 6th candle

26

*office is closed

Hanukkah 7th candle

27 Hanukkah 8th candle

28

29

NO HEBREW SCHOOL

Winter Break

30 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm

31 Shabbat Service 9:00 am

Torah Study 11:00 am

December 2011

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78413

L’Dor VaDor Judaica Shop

Call Clara to set an appointment at 854-6798

Need a gift or something for

Hanukkah, we’ve got it! Menorahs, Candles, Gelt, Dreidels, Gifts and more,

all in time for the holidays.

Family Shabbat Dinner Friday, December 16th

Service @ 6pm Dinner to follow

Bring your appetites and

menorahs with you as we all light up the night together!!!

For more information:

Leslie Green Programming Director

email: shanacal@stx.rr.com phone: (361) 452-1902