BHBIRochester.org

Published Monthly

Vol 40/No 7

Nissan/Iyar 5766

April 2006

 

Editor: 

Stan Schaffer

Congregation Beth Hamedresh – Beth Israel

B U L L E T I N

 

April President’s Message

 

Friends,

 

March was an event-filled month with Shabbat Across America, Purim, Small Shul Collaborative study sessions, and a stimulating talk on the Pesach Haggadah by Torah scholar, Rabbi Yosef Leibowitz. I was particularly struck by Rabbi Leibowitz’s suggestion that the meaning of Torah - and by inference also the meaning of life - were meant to unfold over time from its revelation to beyond our own time.

 

A key message of Pesach of course is ‘freedom’.  We must remember that it is not just a celebration of our liberation from Egypt three millennia ago, but also a mandate to liberate ourselves from the enslavement to the material world and its trappings of pursuit of pelf and power mentioned in our High Holiday services. Rabbi Leibowitz reminded us that the reason we eat unleavened bread on Pesach is not just because of the haste with which we left Egypt, but that leaven symbolizes a puffed up ego, an obsession with self that distracts us from the spiritual and the pursuit of holiness.

 

Removing chametz from our homes should motivate us to remove that which keeps us from a full relationship with our husbands, wives children, friends and G-d. The thoroughness of this search for and disposal of chametz should reflect our sincerity in renewing these relationships by putting away those things that weaken the bonds between us and those we love.

 

The Seder offers a wonderful chance to strengthen these bonds by reenacting the long ago drama of the exodus. At the Seder, let’s think of how we can increase the unity of our families and the bond between us and our friends.

 

Pesach starts at sundown on April 12.  Please see the on the next page for service times.

 

The Synagogue Council of Rochester (SCOR) has reconvened after a several year hiatus. We’ve already started to discuss ways to increase the synagogue voice in the community and to join in ventures that will benefit all the shuls. I will report our progress in the months to come.

 

Also, please put May 21 on your calendar. At 7:00 pm that evening we will hold our Congregation’s Annual Meeting. You will have a chance to vote for officers, the Board of Trustees and on motions of concern to all our members. Please come and have your voice heard.

 

See you all at shul,

 

Harris Honickman

 

 

 

BHBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS – April 2006

 

Saturday

Apr. 1

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service                                 Torah: Vayikrah

 

Sunday

Apr. 2

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast, Discussion

Friday

Apr. 7

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Services

      Light candles at 7:25 PM.

 

Saturday

Apr. 8

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service                                 Torah: Tzav

 

Sunday

Apr. 9

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast, Discussion

 

Monday

Apr. 10

7:30 PM

BHBI Board Meeting

 

Thursday

Apr. 13

9:00 AM

Passover Morning Services

 

Friday

Apr. 14

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Services

     Light candles at 7:33 PM.

 

Saturday

Apr. 15

9:00 AM

Shabbat Morning Services                                Torah: Chol Hamoed Pesach

 

Sunday

Apr. 16

9:00 AM

Service and Discussion

 

Thursday

Apr. 20

9:00 AM

Combined Last Day of Passover Morning Services with Yizkor with Congregants from Temple Beth Am at BHBI

 

Friday

Apr. 21

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Services

     Light candles at 7:41 PM.

 

Saturday

Apr. 22

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service                                 Torah: Shemini

Blessing for the new month              

 

Sunday

Apr. 23

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast, Discussion

 

Thursday

Apr. 27

7:30 PM

Small Conservative Shul Collaborative Joint Torah Study Session at BHBI

 

Friday

Apr. 28

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Services

     Light candles at 7:49 PM.

 

Saturday

Apr. 29

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service                                 Torah: Tazriah-Metzorah

 

Sunday

Apr. 30

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast, Discussion

 

 

 

 

Have a Happy and Healthy Pesach

 

Please join us for our special Pesach services on April 13th and 20th

 

THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS

FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

March 4                     Leon Metlay and Nina Klionsky in memory of Max Metlay

March 11                   The Congregation

March 18                   The Congregation

March 25                   The Congregation

                          

Would you like to honor or remember a friend or loved one?

Then why not sponsor one of our wonderful Shabbat kiddushim?

Contact Aline Honickman at 271-5145 for more information.

 

A special thank you to Janet Grable and Judith Mercer for preparing the special kiddush we had on Erev Purim.  Thanks also to Janet for the mishloach manot.

 

 

Remember: BHBI sells memorial plaques for very reasonable prices.  If you are considering purchasing a memorial plaque for a loved one, call the BHBI office or contact Stan Schaffer at the_schaffers@juno.com

 

YAHRZEITS

At the following Shabbat Services, we will read the names of our late loved ones whose Yahrzeits will occur on that Shabbat or during the following week.

 

March 30-April 1

Nissan

April 7-8

Nissan

April 14-15

Nissan

April 21-22

Nissan

 

Eli Gerber*

Bessie Friedman Reicher

Esther Rosenthal

Morris Sherman*

Jacob Shiffman

David Gross*

Gertrude Kleinstein*

Rachel Weinstein*

Flora Priceman*

Esther Bertman*

 

3

 

3

3

3

3

4

5

5

7

8

 

Seymour Ouzer*

Sadie Leitman

Morris Lipman*

Harry Veeder

Stanley Solomon

Helen Neiman Goldman*

Harry Toker

Leo Beechbinder*

Sol Levin*

Rose Jossem*

Minnette Taylor

 

10

11

11

11

13

 

14

14

15

15

16

16

 

 

Eliahu Louis Cohen*

Harry H. Levinson

David Morris*

Jacob Weinrib*

Beatrice Goldstein*

Benjamin Ritter

Yetta Levine*

 

 

* Denotes name memorialized on BHBI Memorial Plaque

 

18

18

20

20

21

21

22

 

Blanche Levitz

Louis Priceman*

Dorothy Riwkin*

Samuel B. Spiller*

Arthur Weinberger

Alexander Greenbaum*

Esther Gurian*

Ethel L. Goldstein*

Rose Lewis*

Hyman Rothschild*

 

25

25

25

25

26

 

27

27

28

28

29

April 28-29

Iyar

 

Louis Goldberg*

Louis Goldman*

Hyman Goldberg*

Morton Lewis

Albert Bernstein*

Harry Gordon*

 

1

3

6

6

7

7

We pray that our mourners will be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and that the memory of the deceased continues to be a blessing to all who knew them.

 

TO OUR DONORS -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

 

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Samuel Liberman, former Beth Hamedresh Hagadol President from 1935 onward

Erle Rappaport

In memory of Werner Schaffer

In memory of Betty Glaser

In honor of Hanni Metlay on her first aliyah to the Torah

Stan and Elaine Schaffer

In memory of Betty Glaser

Ira Cohen

In memory of Louis Gastel

Ruth and David Polur

In memory of Emma and Harry Aranow

Dennis and Aileen Kovel

 

TORAH FUND

In memory of Betty Glaser

Herb Spencer

In memory of Ernst Wallisch

Get well to Lenny Lutzky

Get well to Hynda Gillman

Charles and Laura Levinson

 

Would you like to have some fun?  Go to the BHBI website (www.BHBIRochester.org) and sing Adon Olam to several of the melodies that you can access from our site.

 

 

So far our TOPS Gift Card fundraiser has been quite successful.  Remember,

TOPS Gift Cards are now available through BHBI in $50 denominations. 

 

To purchase TOPS Gift Cards, contact Stan Schaffer

at 473-8072 or by e-mail at the_schaffers@juno.com

 


Passover Traditions

 

What is meant by chametz? Foods that are considered chametz cannot be eaten on Passover.  They include any food or drink made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn, rice or beans (for Ashkenazim).  Plates and utensils used during the rest of the year should also not be used during Passover since they are also considered chametz unless they are specifically kashered for Passover.  Finally, items that have been opened before Passover are considered chametz.  All chametz items should be stored away in areas that will not be accessed during Passover.  The chametz can then be sold before Passover begins to a non-Jew, who will symbolically return it to you after Passover.  Items with a letter ‘P’ next to the kosher hecksher on the label are kosher for Passover.

 

Bedikat Chametz (Checking for Chametz) On Tuesday evening, April 11th, it is traditional to search the home for chametz.  After all of the chametz is locked away, carefully hide some crumbs of bread or other chametz.  Then while holding a candle and a feather or a brush, say the blessing Baruch Ata Adonai Elohainu Melech Ha-Olam Asher Kidishanu B’Mitzvotav Vezivanu Al Biur Chametz.  Have family members search for the chametz and gather up all the crumbs.  Save the crumbs until the next morning, April 12th, when the chametz is burned and the blessing .

 

Would you like to sell your chametz before Pesach?  If so, complete the contract below and send it together with a donation to:                      Temple Beth El

                                                            139 S. Winton Rd.

                                                            Rochester, NY  14610

 

 

Dear Rabbi Field:

 

Please act as my agent for this sale of any chametz on my premises.  Enclosed is my contribution to sell my chametz.

 

Name__________________________________________________

 

Address_________________________________________________

 

Please make checks payable to Maot Hittim Fund (Passover supplies for the needy).


OFFICE HOURS:  The shul office is checked regularly for mail and messages.  The shul phone is 244-2060.  For urgent issues, call Harris Honickman at 271-5145 or Stan Schaffer at 473-8072.  You can also e-mail us at BHBI@frontiernet.net

 

WANT TO REMEMBER OR HONOR SOMEONE OR A SPECIAL OCCASION? 

Consider sponsoring a kiddush or make a donation to any one of our funds (General Operating, Kiddush, Library, Torah, Rabbi Aaron Solomon Scholarship, Our Youth, Special Events, or the Sam Malina Memorial Fund) please indicate which fund you would like your donation to go to and we will send out an acknowledgement card as you indicate and print an announcement in this bulletin.

 

BULLETIN CONTENT

What do you enjoy reading in the BHBI Bulletin?  Is there something that you would like added (or taken out)?  If so, please let Stan Schaffer know.  We always appreciate feedback.

 

DID YOU MISPLACE YOUR BULLETIN?

Don’t worry.  BHBI Bulletins going back several months can now be found on our web page: www.BHBIRochester.org

 

WANT TO GET YOUR BULLETIN HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS?  Consider having us e-mail it to you!  Contact Elaine or Stan Schaffer at:   the_schaffers@juno.com  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congregation Beth Hamedresh-Beth Israel

1369 East Avenue

Rochester, NY  14610