1

The SPIRIT of Beth Israel Congregation - Chester County, PA SEPTEMBER 2018 ELUL 5778 - TISHREI 5779

9/1 8:00PM Selichot Service w/ Choir 9/4 7:30PM Sisterhood Meeting 9/9 7:30PM Erev Rosh Hashanah Service

9/10 9:00AM Rosh Hashanah Service 9/11 9:00AM Rosh Hashanah Service 9/11 7:30PM Board Meeting 9/16 9:45AM Tashlich @ Marsh Creek 9/16 1:00PM Kever Avot 9/18 6:30PM Kol Nidre Service 9/19 9:00AM Yom Kippur Service 9/21 6:30PM Community Shabbat Dinner 9/23 6:30PM Sukkot Dinner 9/27 7:00PM Interfaith Panel 9/27 7:30PM Sisterhood Book Group

HaRuach

Inside HaRuach Rabbi’s Desk ........................... 2

President’s Article .................... 4

Sisterhood ............................. 5

Religious School ....................... 7

Preschool & Kindergarten ........... 9

Celebrations .......................... 11

Calendar ............................... 14

Todah Rabah .......................... 17

Yahrzeits .............................. 19

2

From Rabbi Cutler’s desk

As we wake up every morning, as we drive to and from work, as we work out at the gym, and as we go throughout our days, what do we often hear? Music! Music serves distinct purposes in our lives. Music causes an emo-tional reaction; it can cause a feeling of joy or invoke a memory. Music can bring people together physically, mentally and emotionally. This can range from providing a soundtrack among a group of friends to creating a crowd at a rock concert or inspiring a sense of nationalism in millions of people. Music helps people move through their day and through special occasions in their lives.

Because music is so emotionally charged, it becomes a hot button issue, especially in the role of worship. Music can bring back fond memories of one’s childhood such as sitting next to a parent during High Holiday ser-vices and listening to a cantor from the ‘old world.’ For someone listening to a musical piece who does not understand the Hebrew, it can invoke a moment of joy because music transcends the language barrier. Just listening to music can transport an individual be-yond the present world to a transcendent place. At the same time, music can become a barrier because it is so individual. If the music that is being sung and/or played has no connection to someone, it falls flat as the music does not connect emotionally with the soul of the person.

Throughout my tenure as rabbi at Beth Israel, (3 years), the one hot button issue is the role of music in worship specifically the choir. I have heard the entire range of comments from: “the choir is the most inspirational part of the service and Beth Israel itself”, to “I will only come when the choir sings”, to “I will never show up to services when the choir is singing”, to “the choir is about performance and not participation” and everything in between. This issue is one of the most highly charged controversies for Beth Israel.

During the year, people have choices: to come to a Friday night service when the choir is singing or to come to a Saturday morning service which is traditional and mostly in Hebrew or to come to a Friday evening service without music. But when it comes to the High Holidays, there is no other option to the type of service one can attend. In addition, it is the most well attended ser-vice. Music becomes the central touchstone of taste and controversy. As I have heard time and time again: “You can’t please everyone.” There will be those who do not like the role of the choir and others who love the choir, and comments that go on ad infini-tum.

The High Holiday service is not about pleasing because pleasing is about invoking an emotion and stopping there. Invoking a pleasant emotion is not the purpose of the service. It can be nice, however, the service including the music, sermons, the readings, the space you sit for self-introspection is a vehicle to ultimately change one’s behavior. And the service is but one of many ways to produce change including reflection, personal prayers, reaching out to the people we hurt throughout the year, reconciling differences and hurt, looking at our flaws, etc. Music during the service is but one aspect of the overall purpose of the High Holy Days. If we focus on the music and nothing else, then what was the purpose of the entire experience? Just to pro-duce a good feeling?

Continued next page

3

Continued Rabbi’s

However, worshiping through music changes and transforms us. It inclines our hearts to God in ways other forms can’t accomplish. Worship strengthens us, builds us up, and even restores us. Thus, music is taken very seriously at Beth Israel. When we gather as a ritual committee to dis-cuss the High Holidays, music is at the top of the agenda. It is difficult to navigate the style and type of music because of the conflicting viewpoints. First and foremost, my goal for the role of music in worship, is to empower members of Beth Israel. This year the entire service on Rosh Hashanah evening and morning first day, Yom Kippur evening and morning will be led by individuals from the choir and Robin. We are blessed with many talented singers and director. They have been putting in hours and hours of practice time. The result is each choir member feels invested in the congregation. It is a sense of pride and accomplishment. Second is to create a holy space for self-introspection. Music creates that atmosphere, to sit in a moment of self-reflection. Third is to feel part of the greater community by singing along with the choir, to participate, not just listen to a performance. We on the ritu-al committee try to seek that balance, to create a space for sitting and listening and times for singing. Of course, it doesn’t always work because of individual tastes, memories, emotions, pleasures, etc. Personally, I find the music of the Beth Israel choir transformative. It creates a sacred and transcendent place for me during worship. Music for me is a bridge that connects the earth to the heaven and we meet God in the middle of that bridge. The service doesn’t always speak to me and there are times that I need help. Music can and does help me to connect with the Holy. It becomes a moment of prayer. Once again, as we approach the High Holidays, the issue of music, and specifically the choir, comes to the forefront. There is no overarching solution on how to bridge the variety of feel-ings. However, it is most important to understand that by attending services the goal is not to find a sense of pleasure, but to change yourself, teshuvah, to reflect on your deeds this past year, and to make amends. Second, understand and accept that there will be some musical pieces that will be stirring and others that you will dislike. There will be others who will find some pieces meaningful that you don’t. Third, to understand that music supplements your transformative process and cannot be an end but only a means. Finally, to recognize the pro-cess of empowerment, all those individuals who have put many hours to learn and to sing their individual parts and, as a whole, now feel invested in Beth Israel, part of the greater communi-ty. Because of that we have a stronger Beth Israel. It fulfills one of my goals to create as many opportunities to empower lay congregants to take charge, to feel invested, and to create a fu-ture. A final note: be understanding and patient and appreciate the difficulty it takes to build a bridge between earth and heaven.

I want to wish everyone a L’shana Tovah – a happy and healthy New Year – 5779.

Shalom, Rabbi Jon

4

President’s Collage by Halle Schonherz (and Family)

5

Sisterhood The Sisterhood elves have baked the delicious dairy (real butter yeah!)

Apple-Honey cakes for all of our congregants to take home and enjoy. Roz Cohen has filled 2 giant freezers with her delightful, delicious, and decadent desserts as well as breads and chal-lahs. The china coffee cups and saucers are stacked and ready for use. The hand embroidered Sisterhood remembrance tablecloths have been ironed and on display along with our photo al-bums for you to view and remember longtime friends and good times. The tables will soon be set up and festively decorated. Flowers were purchased, soon to be delivered and on display for all of us to enjoy. It’s just another exceptional High Holiday season at Beth Israel. Thank you sis-ters* for all that you do to make this time of year special for all of us. I look forward to seeing you all at Sisterhood’s Erev Rosh Hashanah elaborate Oneg as well as our colossal Kiddush luncheons on Monday and Tuesday. Enjoy your dairy apple honey cakes.

L’Shana Tovah , Deborah

*best sisters ever Thank you for all your help getting BICC ready for HH 5779 Phyllis Barnett Elaine Bran Cindy Blair Miller Roselyn Cadoff Roslyn Cohen Maxine Endy Linda Glazer Roz Goldstein Michelle Harbold Barbara Hendel Linda Jacowitz Barbara Kramer Cassandra Lam Jody Reinbold Joanie Sharp Heather Simon Hanya Simon Sydney Simon Marcy Zeichner Sharon Zislis

6

Havdalah

Happening

Saturday evening, August 4, Beth Israel was treated to a fascinating study session, What Next? Jewish Perspec-tives on the Afterlife by visiting Rabbi Linda Henry Good-man, Emerita Brooklyn’s Union Temple. Hosted by the Sisterhood’s Adult Education Committee and the Pearl Endy Adult Education Fund, over thirty members and guests, first partook of delicious goodies, drank cham-pagne and schmoozed. New members mingled with some regulars, and old friends were able to catch up. What a great night. Rabbi Linda opened up a world of unan-swered questions and stimulated so many to think about the topic, start looking into it, and questioning their ques-tioning. The source sheet went from biblical to historical to rabbinic literature and included medieval, kabbalistic thought, and the contemporary spectrum. Rabbi Linda gave us recommendations for further reading. Comments were effusive in praise for this program and they gave us hopes that we will be able to continue, from time to time, more Havdalah Happenings like this. Stay tuned!

7

Religious School Chai-lights

by Joanie Sharp

Welcome back to a new school year, and our “Alef to Tav” experience! We are so excited to see everyone again and embark on new discoveries, traditions, and to build upon our love of Judaism.

Our first Wednesday class for 3rd-7th graders is Sep-tember 5, 4:15 PM – 6:00 PM.

Our first Sunday Religious School is September 16. We will meet at Marsh Creek State Park from 9:45 AM -10:20 AM for Tashlich ceremony with our Beth Israel

community. At the conclusion of the ceremony (around 10:20 AM,) Please drive to Beth Israel, where a light breakfast & coffee will be served, teachers will be introduced, and students can them proceed to classes.

Please plan to remain for a short parent meeting after our breakfast, when the children are in their classes. Since we will all be participating in the Tashlich ceremony, I thought it would be a nice idea to give some background for this Jewish New Year ritual…

Tashlich, the Symbolic Casting Off of Sins A Rosh Hashanah ritual for the whole family

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Jews traditionally proceed to a body of running water, prefer-ably one containing fish, and symbolically cast off their sins. The Tashlich ceremony includes reading the source passage for the practice, the last verses from the prophet Micah (7:19), “He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

Selections from Psalms, particularly Psalm 118 and Psalm 130, along with supplications and a Kab-balistic prayer hoping God will treat Israel with mercy, are parts of Tashlich in many communi-ties.

History of Tashlich The custom developed around the 13th century and became widespread despite objections from rabbis who feared superstitious people would believe that Tashlich, rather than the concerted effort of teshuvah (repentance), had the power to change their lives. Religious leaders were par-ticularly opposed to the practice of tossing bread crumbs, representing sins, into the water, and even shaking one’s garments to loosen any evil clinging to them was discouraged.

Superstitious rites most likely did influence ceremony. Primitive people believed that the best

way to win favor from evil spirits living in waterways was to give them gifts. Some peoples, in-

cluding the Babylonian Jews, sent “sin‑filled” containers out into the water. (The Talmud de-

scribes the practice of growing beans or peas for two or three weeks prior to the new year in a

woven basket for each child in a family. In an early variation of the Yom Kippur kaparot ritual,

the basket, representing the child, was swung around the head seven times and then flung into

the water.) Kurdistani Jews threw themselves into the water and swam around to be cleansed of

their sins. Continued next page

8

Chai-lights continued

The Symbolism of Water To make the practice symbolic rather than superstitious, the rabbis gave it ethical meaning. Through Midrash, they connected the water with the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. When Abra-ham was on his way to sacrifice Isaac, they said, Satan (which could be understood as the voice inside Abraham telling him not to kill his beloved son) tried to stop him. When Abraham refused to heed his voice, Satan became a raging river blocking Abraham’s way. Abraham proceeded nevertheless. When the water reached his neck and he called out for God’s help, the waters im-mediately subsided.

Water was also seen as symbolic of the creation of the world and of all life. Kings of Israel were crowned near springs, suggesting continuity, like the King of Kings’ unending sovereignty. Since the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel each received revelation near a body of water, water was seen as a place to find God’s presence. As the element of purification, water also represents the op-portunity to cleanse the body and soul and take a new course in our lives. (Later rabbis contin-ued to protest the ritual, on grounds that it encouraged new sins by creating a social situation where people could gossip, and men and women mingle, as Isaac Bashevis Singer’s story “Tashlich” illustrates.)

Although the rabbis preferred that Tashlich be done at a body of water containing fish (man cannot escape God’s judgment any more than fish can escape being caught in a net; we are just as likely to be ensnared and trapped at any moment as is a fish), since this is, after all, a sym-bolic ceremony, any body of water will do, even water running out of a hose or a faucet.

If the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, Ashkenazi Jews [Jews of European descent] do Tashlich on the second day (so as not to carry prayer books to the water, which would vio-late Sabbath laws). Sephardic Jews [Jews of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent] per-form the ritual even on the Sabbath [as do several liberal Jews]. The ceremony can take place any time during the holiday season through Hoshana Rabbah at the end of Sukkot.

Sisterhood is proud to again to participate in Boscov’s

Friends Helping Friends fund raiser on

Tuesday, October 16th.

Coupons are available for purchase in the BICC

office or the Lounge. $5.00 /coupon.

Good for 25% off everything all day in every department.

Email sisprez2018@yahoo.com to get a coupon mailed to your home

If you spend $20 with 25% off you save $5, the coupon pays for itself!!!, keep spending keep

saving 25%, Chanukah is early this year, plan ahead!

such a deal!

9

Why Attend a Jewish Preschool? There are so many choices for preschool and daycare, so why do so many parents choose to send their child to a Jewish preschool? For those who are Jewish, it is an opportunity to re-connect with their Judaism. It is not atypical for people to leave the Synagogue after their Bar or Bat Mitzvah and re-connect when they have children. We cover the Jewish holidays throughout the year. It is a very comfortable approach at the

preschool level and people are not “embarrassed by their lack of knowledge”. We celebrate Shabbat. They meet other families who are Jewish. We teach the blessings and say them over our snack each day. We help bring Judaism into their home and perhaps back into their life. We provide resources and programming. For those who are not Jewish, it is an opportunity to learn about Judaism through their children. They learn about the Jewish holidays. They experience Shabbat. They learn the blessings because their child teaches them the prayers of the snack.

Whether or not you are Jewish, the children learn how to become moral human beings. The way we coach the children through their daily experiences in the classroom. How we model appropriate behavior in the way we speak to each other and how we act to-

ward everyone. The emphasis on helping others. We talk about and verbally reinforce how to help their

classmates. We must respect ourselves, others and our belongings. When you are surrounded in this type of atmosphere and you that the adults are there to help you be a kind individual, the children thrive. They feel loved, inspired, safe and happy. The values portrayed and all of the opportunity to practice become a part of who they are and how to act at an early age. For all of the above reasons, that is why people choose a Jewish preschool. All of us here at Beth Israel Preschool and Kindergarten are thrilled to have the opportunity to help both children

and their parents on this journey.

Preschool & Kindergarten News by Adrianne Liebman

10

NAVIGATING THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes)

Judaism centers around time and seasons which determine our rituals and celebrations. The Jewish calendar dates back to creation so that the year we are about to end is 5778 CE, while the secular (Gregorian) calendar dates back to the common era. Moreover, the Jewish calendar is based on a 29.5 day lunar cycle with a leap year as needed. Each month has a Hebrew name which doesn’t always co-incide with the names of the secular months.

On the Jewish calendar there Is a holiday each week starting at sundown on Fridays and ending with the Havdalah service on Saturday night – our Shabbat, a sanctified time. There is a holiday each month at the time of the new moon, called Rosh Chodesh. Our festivals (Sukkot, Passover, Shavuot) coincide with the full moons. The dates of some of the Jewish holidays are determined by Torah. Other holidays were developed during the Rabbinic period and dated according to events in history. (i.e. Chanukah, Purim) Still others are fairly modern (Tu B’Shevat and Tisha B’Av).

In this and future articles, we will examine the cycle of time on the Jewish calendar. This month we will look at Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah & Sukkot and their relationship to each other.

ROSH HASHANAH/YOM KIPPUR: It is customary on the Saturday night prior to Rosh HaShanah during the month of Elul, to have a service of forgiveness to set the tone for the holidays and become familiar with the musical themes. During the month of Elul many synagogues blow the shofar to set the tone for the holiday. Rosh Hashanah always falls on the on 1 Tishrei and 2 Tishrei. The date of this holiday is determined by verses 23-25, Leviticus 23. The words Rosh HaShanah mean head of the year. Most of you are familiar with the tradition of having a festival meal with two round challahs, dipping apples into honey, blowing the shofar, and eating pomegranates. This holiday prepares us for repentance and is followed by Yom Kippur on the 10th day of Tishri; a day of fasting and prayer as ordained in the To-rah, Leviticus verses 26-32. Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement, of course, is a time we fo-

cus on repentance and a fresh start In our lives.

The days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are known as Yomim Norim, Days of Awe, and during this period we review our deeds during the past year and ask forgiveness from those we may have of-fended. This is a time of serious introspection. The prayer book for these holy days is referred to as a Machzor and contains unique liturgy reflecting the theme of repentance and forgiveness. This is an opportunity to turn around, return to our goals, and start anew.

SUKKOT: Following Yom Kippur by five days is Sukkot. This is a week- long biblical holiday that cele-brates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the protection G-d provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt. We celebrate Sukkot by dwelling in a foliage-covered booth (known as a Sukkah) and by waving the lulav branches while holding the large citron called the Etrog. Sukkot is a joyous holiday for adults and children who construct and decorate the sukkah and share meals in it with friends and community and maybe even deceased ancestors.

SIMCHAT TORAH: The last two days of Sukkot are Shemini Atzeret, Eighth Day of Assembly, and Simchat Torah. Most Jewish adults remember joyfully parading around the synagogue while people sing, dance, wave flags and carry Torahs. This is the time when we rejoice in the Torah and start the Torah cycle over by reading from the very end of the scroll (Deuteronomy) and then from the begin-ning (Bereshit) It is customary for Jewish people of all ages to stand under a large tallis and recite the Torah Aliyah blessings. This holiday is not biblical in origin, but rather was conceived during the Baby-lonian exile around 1000 BCE when reading the Torah in cycles began. It is notable that there are 52-54 parashot (portions) of Torah in the annual cycle so that the reading of the entire scroll takes a year, from Simchat Torah to Simchat Torah of the next year. Yizkor is recited on Yom Kippur day as well as on one of the last two days of these two holidays.

Ann Greenstein

11

Daniel Zebrowski 9/1 10th Michael Cohen 9/2 Linda Glazer 9/2 Laney Spear 9/5 Sarah Steen 9/5 11th Molly Scott 9/6 21st Isabella Blom 9/10 1st David Stern 9/10 17th Harold Glazer 9/12 Lee Weintraub 9/12 Jacob Egger 9/13 2nd Phyllis Barnett 9/14 Marc Richman 9/14 Michael Stern 9/14 Charlotte Kramer 9/16 1st Joshua Stern 9/20 11th Herbert Cadoff 9/22 Ben Schifter 9/22 9th Nate Schifter 9/22 9th Robert Greer 9/23 Rachel Ressel 9/24 19th Beatriz Perez 9/25 David Resnik 9/25 Jacob Dinerman 9/27 14th MacKenzie Blom 9/28 4th Adrianne Liebman 9/29

Steven & Nancy Goldberg 9/1 45th Stuart & Elaine Bran 9/8 50th Mike & Jaimee Helbein 9/17 29th Stuart & Kathryn Solomon 9/18 13th Oleg & Amy Levin 9/22 16th Lisa & Harry Leff 9/28 32nd

LACHALL, COHEN & SAGNOR

H. MICHAEL COHEN Attorney at Law

Tel. (610) 436-9300 144 West Market Street Fax (610) 696-7962 West Chester, PA 19382-2985 Email: mcohen@lcslaw.com

12

Sisterhood Adult Education Fall 2018

Sunday, October 14, Allan Endy

will present a program on, “The

Boy from Brooklyn: George

Gershwin.” Sisterhood will serve

George’s favorite snacks and eve-

ryone is invited.

Future programs include Fred Blum, President of the Philadelph-ia Jewish Genealogy Society to take place at a local restaurant. More on the date, venue and din-ner cost later. Everyone is invited to this program.

Please welcome one our new member, DONNA ROSEN. Don-na grew up in southern New Jer-sey, lived in Media for 25 years, and currently resides in Chadds Ford. She has one married son and Miko, a 1 ½ year old Shih Tzu. Donna has an artistic flare enjoying paint-ing, and attending music concerts. She is look-ing forward to involvement with the synagogue and is already a member of Beth Israel’s Sister-hood and a participant in Rabbi Jon’s Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class. Donna previously worked in commercial real es-tate and was a insurance underwriter for 15 years. She now has her own business in Phoe-nixville called: Heartfelt Healing. (www.DonnaRosen.net) She is an Integrated Nu-trition Health Coach and author who works with the client’s entire environment, focusing on any-thing that affects the client’s wellbeing. She is a registered hypnotist, a Reiki Master, and is a dis-tributor of Young Living Oils. Donna regards this is an exciting time in her life as she experiences many changes. She is pleased to be in a business that fulfills her passion for

helping people.

HELP SISTERHOOD HELP OUR COMMUNITY

Sisterhood does little things that affect the local community in a BIG way. We collect; used eye glasses and frames to donate to the Lyons Club, toiletries and gently used children’s books for the to Mitzvah Circle Foundation. In October, we will begin our clothing drive. Please look for future information. Please bring in all your donations and place them in the big wooden box in the lobby. Nonperishable food items should also be put there. In addition, we hope to reach out to local shelters for women and children by making “Linus no-sew fleece blankets and knit/crocheted scarves for the homeless clients. At the next Sisterhood meeting on 9/4/2018 we will distribute a list of projects so that you can indicate your desire to participate in them or you can add your own ideas. Making blankets and scarves can be done as a group outside of regular meeting time. Also, please think about volunteering to transport collected items to Mitzvah Circle Foundation once or twice a year. There will be a sign-up sheet for that as well. Ann Greenstein (greensteina123@yahoo.com)

13

Join us for a delicious, Break the Fast Buffet

Wednesday Evening, September 19th

Immediately after the sounding of the Shofar, approximately 7:30 PM

Lox, bagels, kugels, salads, desserts, the best Mac ’n’ Cheese and lots of other good stuff to eat!!

Please e-mail your reservation to Michelle Harbold (mharbold@aol.com) by 09/12/18

Send checks, payable to Beth Israel Sisterhood, along with this form by

9/14/18

to Michelle Harbold, 654 Perimeter Drive, Downingtown, PA 19335

Any questions, please call Michelle at 484-883-3594.

If you would like to attend, but cannot due to financial difficulties, Please email/call Rabbi Jon at rdcjec@gmail.com or 610-458-8550.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: _____________________________________________________________

Phone Number ______________ Email _________________________________

Adults ___ x $13.00 = _____

Children ages 7-12 ___ x $8.00 = ______

Children ages 4-6 ___ x $4.00 = _____

Children ages 0-3 ___ Free

Total = ________

14

September 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 9:30 AM Shabbat service 8:00 /Selichot Service Program w/

Choir

2

3

4 9:00 AM BIP: 1st Day

7:30 PM Sisterhood

5 4:15 PM Religious .School One+ 7:15 PM Choir

6 6:30 PM Ritual Committee

7 7:30 PM Shabbat Services

8 9:30 AM Shabbat Service

9 NO SCHOOL 7:30 PM Erev Rosh Hashanah Service & Oneg

10 NO BIP

9:00 AM Rosh Hashannah Service

10:30 AM Jr. Congregation Young Children’s Services

11 NO BIP

9:00 AM Rosh Hashannah Service

7:30 PM Board Meeting

12 4:15 PM Religious School one+ 7:15 PM Choir Practice

13 7:00 PM BIP: Back to School Night– 2 Day classes

14 7:30 PM Shabbat Services

15 9:30 AM Shabbat Service

16 9:45 AM Tashlich at Marsh Creek

10:30 AM 1st Day Religious School

11:00 AM Programming

1:00 PM Kever Avot

17 9:30am BIP: Welcome Meeting 7:00pm BIP: Back to School Night-3,4 & 5 Day Classes Only

18 11:15 AM BIP: Early Dismissal 6:30 PM Kol Nidre Service

19 NO SCHOOL

9:00 AM Yom Kippur Service

10:30 AM Jr. Congregation & Young Children’s Services

20 9:00 AM BIP: Kidstuff Fund-raiser

21 6:30 PM

22 9:30 AM Shabbat Service

23 NO SCHOOL 6:30 PM Sukkot Under the Stars Dinner

24 9:30 AM Sukkot Services

25 26 4:15 PM Religious School one+

5:00 PM Sukkah Rel Sch Pizza in the Hut

7:15 PM choir

27

7:00 PM Interfaith OPEN Panel Discussion 7:30 Sisterhood book group

28 7:30 PM Shabbat Services

29 9:30 AM Shabbat Service

4:00 PM Open Sukkot at Rabbi & Thierry

30 9:30 BI exec

9:45 AM RS (K-Confirmation)

9:45AM Pre-K Parent workshop

6:00 PM Yizkor

15

October 2018

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 6:30 PM Simhat Torah Service w/Choir

2 9:30 AM Simhat Torah Service

7:30 PM Sisterhood Meeting

3 4:15 PM RS “One Plus”

7:15 PM Choir Practice

4 6:30 PM Ritual Committee

5 BIP: Kidstuff Orders Due

7:30 PM Shabbat Services

6 9:30 AM Shabbat Services

7 9:45 AM RS (K-Confirmation) 11:30 AM Programming Committee Meeting

8 9 7:30 PM Board Meeting

10 9:30 AM BIP-PTO Parent Coffee Meeting

4:15 PM RS “One Plus”

7:15 PM

11

12 7:30 PM Religious School Family Shabbat Service 7:30 PM Shabbat Services

13 9:30 AM Shabbat Services Life Long Learning

14 9:45 AM RS (K-Confirmation)

10:00AM Sisterhood Break-fast with Rabbi

15 9:30 AM BIP-Parent Coffee Meeting

16

17 4:15 PM RS “One Plus” 7:15 PM Choir Practice

18 6:00 PM Adult Education Genealogy 7:00PM RS Committee Meeting

19 6:30 PM

20 9:30 AM Shabbat Ser-vices

21 9:45 AM RS (K-Confirmation)

9:45 AM RS Pre-K Parent Workshop

9:15-9:45 Pre-K family Chat & Chew

22

23 7:00 PM BIP: Literacy Night & Book Swap

24 4:15 PM RS “One Plus” 7:15 PM Choir Practice

25 26 7:30 PM Choir Shabbat Service

27 9:30 AM Shabbat Ser-vice

28

9:45 AM RS NO CLASS

Cohen Fund Trip

29 7:30 PM Sisterhood

30 31

9:30 AM BIP: Halloween Parade- 3 & 4 Day, Fantastics Fives & Kindergarten

4:15 PM RS “One Plus”

16

The Flip Side of Tzedakah is Chesed. “Tzedakah is the gift of money or its equivalent. But sometimes that is not what we most need. We can suffer emotional as well as physical poverty. We can be depressed, lonely, close to despair. We may need company or comfort, encouragement or sup-port.” These, too, are human needs, no less real. That is what chesed is about: emotional support, deeds of kindness, love and compassion.” It includes hospitality to the lonely, visiting the sick, comforting the bereaved, raising the spirits of the depressed, helping people through crises in their lives, and making those at the margins feel part of the community.” It is tzedakah’s other side.

“Tzedakah is done with material goods; ·chesed with psychological ones”, time and care. “Tzedakah is practical support, chessed is emotional support. Tzedakah is a gift of resources, chessed a gift of the person.” Chesed can right wrongs and influ-ence the course of fate. “The Judaic vision is the dream of a society based on chessed, society with a human face, not one domi-nated by the competition for wealth or power.” Tzedakah (pursuit of justice through the act of giving) combined with chesed, cre-ates society as extended family. “A community based on chesed is a place where everyone feels honored” and everyone feels at home.

BIC5 is also about both Chesed and Tzedakah. We give food, toiletries, gift cards to those in needs. However, we als need to build upon the Chesed component by joining together to care for each other in our Beth Israel community. To make this task less burdensome, we need 6 more volunteers to serve as Friendship Team Leaders, serving as liaison to the 14 members on their teams. This will involve about 4 hours of time per year. Paraphrased from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, www.RabbiSacks.org/TenPaths

Please e-mail Ann at greensteina123@yahoo.com to express an interest.

HELP PROVIDE NONPERISHABLE FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED

As we begin the Jewish new year, it is a tradition to collect boxes and cans of food to be for the local food pantries.

Think of that great meal you had last night or the delicious cooling desserts you shared with friends and families this summer. Now think of the many people in Chester County who barely have enough food to sustain themselves or re-main healthy. The situation is tragic; it is real, and help is needed. PLEASE BRING A FOOD ITEM WITH YOU THE NEXT TIME YOU COME TO SYNAGOGUE . Donations are welcome all year, but we hope to complete our holiday food drive by September 15 so we can display our beautifully wrapped baskets during the holiday services.

Ann Greenstein, BIC5

17

Todah Rabah Tzedakah is a mitzvah, a unique privilege granted to every Jew.

Remembering friends and family in this manner is an appropriate way to show our feelings towards both our loved ones and our community.

Building Fund In memory of Gary’s grandmother, Eva Braverman From Gary and Susan Levin Choir Fund To Rabbi Jon Cutler and Thierry Steenberghs, In honor of their son’s wedding From Roz & Allan Cohen, and Ivy, Jon & Jakey Egger To Robin and Jerry Napiecek, In honor of their wed-ding anniversary From Roz & Allan Cohen, and Ivy, Jon & Jakey Egger To Rabbi Jon Cutler and Thierry Steenberghs, In honor of their son’s wedding From Barbara and Irv Hendel Thank you to all who sent cards and Leagrams celebrat-ing our 70th wedding anniversary From Eva and Martin Skolnik Cohen Fund Thank you to Roz Goldstein and Tony Dyckman for their outstanding kindness From Sigrid Rosenthal Yahrzeits In memory of Dr. Charles Goldring From Edward and Doris Goldring In memory of Morris Wattenmaker From Fred and Barbara Wattenmaker In memory of his sister, Ruth Goldberg From Edward Goldring In memory of her cousin, Edith Riebman From Doris Goldring

Sisterhood Yahrzeit Floral Fund In memory of Gary's mother, Sylvia Levin From Gary and Susan Levin In memory of Heidi’s Aunt, Hilde Corper From Heidi Strauss In memory of Heidi’s Aunt, Alice DeJoung From Heidi Strauss In memory of Heidi’s grandfather, Ferdinand Strauss From Heidi Strauss In memory of Heidi’s grandmother, Freida Strauss From Heidi Strauss In memory of Heidi’s Father, Kurt Strauss From Heidi Strauss In memory of Allan’s mother, Pearl Endy From Allan and Maxine Endy In memory of Rochelle’s father, Leonard Rabin From Rochelle Rabin To David Gold, in memory of your husband, James Yiaski From Allan and Maxine Endy Pearl Endy Education Fund From Sigrid Rosenthal

Sisterhood once again, cordially invites all members and guests of Beth Israel to our

lavish Oneg immediately after services on Sunday evening, September 9, and a Kiddush Luncheon on Monday afternoon, September 10, and Tuesday afternoon September 11. Enjoy delicious treats as you catch up with old friends and make new ones. It will be the social event of the New Year. We look forward to seeing you there.

18

19

Yahrzeits

Observed on 31 Aug/1 Sept David Hipschman 9/1 Elul 21 Max Tucker 9/1 Elul 21 Frieda Friedman 9/2 Elul 22 Julius Gordon 9/2 Elul 22 Marlene Greenspan 9/2 Elul 22 Harry Riebman 9/2 Elul 22 Dr. Julius Margolis 9/3 Elul 23 Israel Gottlieb 9/6 Elul 26 Maxine Greenburg 9/6 Elul 26 Simon Cohen 9/7 Elul 27 Miriam Feldstein 9/7 Elul 27 Sylvia Levin 9/7 Elul 27 Fagele Wajsfelner 9/7 Elul 27

Observed 7/8 Sept David Babouri 9/8 Elul 28 Carlyn Jacobs 9/8 Elul 28 Jacob Marcus 9/8 Elul 28 Max Mulnik 9/8 Elul 28 Herman Gordon 9/9 Elul 29 Jerome Grossman 9/9 Elul 29 Helen Pechin 9/9 Elul 29 Isadore Braveman 9/10 Tishrei 1 Jerome Frankel 9/10 Tishrei 1 Julius Fleisher 9/11 Tishrei 2 Samuel J Halpren 9/11 Tishrei 2 Ann Hirsch 9/11 Tishrei 2 Leonard Rabin 9/11 Tishrei 2 Fred Reisenbach 9/11 Tishrei 2 Jack Dreyfuss 9/12 Tishrei 3 Joseph Segal 9/12 Tishrei 3 LeRoy Stein 9/12 Tishrei 3 Jack Suss 9/12 Tishrei 3 Newton Block 9/13 Tishrei 4 Ida Kauffman 9/13 Tishrei 4 Harold Schwartz 9/13 Tishrei 4 Seymour Gottlieb 9/14 Tishrei 5 Herman Kravitz 9/14 Tishrei 5 Richard Weller 9/14 Tishrei 5

Observed on 14/15 Sept Bernice Beck 9/15 Tishrei 6 Bernard Braveman 9/15 Tishrei 6 Evelyn Hillman 9/15 Tishrei 6 Maurice Osser 9/15 Tishrei 6 Oscar Margolis 9/16 Tishrei 7 Morton Riebman 9/16 Tishrei 7 Jean Endy 9/18 Tishrei 9 Sadie Epstein 9/18 Tishrei 9 Beatrice Wexler 9/18 Tishrei 9 Milly Behrend 9/19 Tishrei 10 Hilde Corper 9/19 Tishrei 10 Alice DeJoung 9/19 Tishrei 10 Hinda Gerstenfeld 9/19 Tishrei 10 Raphael Gerstenfeld 9/19 Tishrei 10 Hyman Orshansky 9/19 Tishrei 10

Observed on 14/15 Sept Ferdinand Strauss 9/19 Tishrei 10 Frieda Strauss 9/19 Tishrei 10 Eva Suss 9/19 Tishrei 10 Rebecca Goldstein 9/20 Tishrei 11 Kurt Strauss 9/20 Tishrei 11 Andre P. Talis 9/20 Tishrei 11 Harry Blair 9/21 Tishrei 12 Sophie Gottlieb 9/21 Tishrei 12 Norman Riebman 9/21 Tishrei 12 Theodore Savitch 9/21 Tishrei 12

Observed on 21/22 Sept Esther Dinerman 9/22 Tishrei 13 Freda Ostroff 9/22 Tishrei 13 Helene Bran 9/23 Tishrei 14 Sylvan Kauffman 9/23 Tishrei 14 Beatrice Zislis 9/23 Tishrei 14 Marilyn Matsil 9/24 Tishrei 15 Bertha Riebman 9/24 Tishrei 15 Solomon Fanaroff 9/25 Tishrei 16 Walter Miller 9/25 Tishrei 16 E. Alfred Goldstein 9/26 Tishrei 17 Irving Lipshutz 9/26 Tishrei 17 Joshua H. Barron 9/27 Tishrei 18 Molly Elden 9/27 Tishrei 18 Wallace Ohlstein 9/27 Tishrei 18 Pearl Endy 9/28 Tishrei 19 Lena Hipschman 9/28 Tishrei 19 Marian Israelson 9/28 Tishrei 19 Bertha Mondschein 9/28 Tishrei 19

Observed on 28/29 Sept Barbara Katz DeLisi 9/29 Tishrei 20 Ethel Kauffman 9/29 Tishrei 20 Matthew Prince 9/29 Tishrei 20 Bessie Weiss 9/29 Tishrei 20 Joseph Israelson 9/30 Tishrei 21 Leonard Halpern 10/1 Tishrei 22 Morris Kotofsky 10/2 Tishrei 23 Ginger Leff 10/2 Tishrei 23 Ruth Levithan 10/2 Tishrei 23 Carolyn Rubenfield 10/2 Tishrei 23 Frieda Schonherz 10/2 Tishrei 23 Dorothy Strauss 10/2 Tishrei 23 Morris Wigman 10/2 Tishrei 23 Lewis Goldman 10/3 Tishrei 24 Samuel Orshansky 10/3 Tishrei 24 Morris Segal 10/3 Tishrei 24 Dr. Leon Braverman 10/4 Tishrei 25 Abraham Duitch 10/4 Tishrei 25 Barbara Ann Kulp 10/4 Tishrei 25 Andy Rudnick 10/4 Tishrei 25 Max Kizner 10/5 Tishrei 26 Gisella Lion 10/5 Tishrei 26

20

HaRuach

BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION of CHESTER COUNTY

385 Pottstown Pike (Rte. 100)

Eagle, PA

P.O. Box 678

Uwchland, PA 19480

(610) 458-8550 biccsyn1@gmail.com

www.bethisraelpa.org

Rabbi — Jon Cutler BOARD OF DIRECTORS President — Halle Schonherz Executive Vice President — Neal Stone

Vice President, Finance — Stuart Miller Vice President, Program — open

Secretary — Roz Goldstein Treasurer — Stuart Miller

Immediate Past President — Mark Segal

MEMBERS John Barnett Cindy Blair-Miller Nadine Dinerman Larry Faden Linda Glazer Ann Greenstein

Michelle Harbold Deborah Kaplan Morris Kauffman Robin Kerollis-Napiecek Mandy Scott

Gary Levin Terry Myers Joanie Sharp Heather Simon Steve Simon

Martin Skolnik Marcy Zeichner Paul Zislis Drew Weintraub Rob Greer

TRUSTEES

Ed Margolis Jeff Pickholtz Don Suss

Pre-School Director — Adrianne Liebman

Religious School Director — Joan Sharp

Office Administrator — Bernice Gause Music Director — Robin Kerollis-Napiecek

HaRuach Editor—Deborah Kaplan Sisterhood President—Deborah Kaplan

Men’s Club Co-Presidents-Terry Myers, Steve Simon

See up-to-date Calendar on www.bethisraelpa.org for highlights