Published Monthly

BHBIRochester.org

Published Monthly

Vol 40/No 8

Iyar/Sivan 5766

May 2006

Editor: Stan Schaffer

Congregation Beth Hamedresh – Beth Israel

B U L L E T I N

May President’s Message

Friends,

No sooner are we finished with cleaning out the chametz, asking and answering 4 questions, retelling a fantastic story, drinking 4 cups of wine, watching an invisible guy sipping wine from a special glass, finding the afikomen and singing a song about a goat … do we start counting from 1 to 50.

Counting the Omer – that’s what the Torah tells us to do from the 2^nd day of Pesach to the day before Shavuot; fifty days of anticipation from flight from Egypt to receiving the gift of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. There has been much commentary over the centuries on why the wait was necessary. On a simple level, the best things are worth waiting for. If the Torah had been given on Pesach, we might have taken it for granted – as if we were entitled to it. Or even worse, in the euphoria of liberation – having just been freed from slavery – might the children of Israel have rejected the Torah as just a like replacement for the odious restrictions of slavery which the Egyptians had imposed on them? Fortunately, after nearly a two month journey in the quiet wilderness, with time to contemplate the wondrous events that had enveloped them - and alone with G-d - the children of Israel willingly accepted the Torah and covenant offered to them.

I’ve always thought that there is a parallel between Shavuot and Shemini Atzeret (the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly). Indeed Shavuot is sometimes called Atzeret (Completion). Shimini Atzeret follows the completion of Succot and the High Holiday season – a time when G-d, as a host who is reluctant to let his beloved guests depart, schedules one last gathering before bidding farewell. Shavuot similarly is regarded as the logical and necessary completion of Pesach – remember Moses always telling Pharaoh to let “my people go” so they can worship G-d in the wilderness. That act of worship and commitment occurs at Mt. Sinai.

Speaking of completion, the terms for our officers and trustees ends in May and the BHBI Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday May 21 at 7:00. This is your big chance to tell the officers how well or badly they have performed and to vote on a new slate of officers and trustees. The shul budget and financial condition will be presented and you may offer your own resolutions for vote by the congregation. Check your mail for a recommendation by the Board to amend to the Constitution to allow officers - except the president – to serve up to four consecutive 1 year terms. You may give another member a written proxy to vote for you; however a member may hold only 2 proxies for other members. Members must attend personally to count toward the quorum of 25 percent of membership required to hold the annual congregational Meeting. Please come and have your voice heard.

See you all at shul,

Harris Honickman

BHBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS – May 2006

Friday	May 5	8:00 PM	Shabbat Evening Services Light candles at 7:57 PM.
Saturday	May 6	9:30 AM	Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Acharei-Kedoshim
Sunday	May 7	9:00 AM	Service, Breakfast, Discussion
Monday	May 8	7:30 PM	BHBI Board Meeting
Friday	May 12	8:00 PM	Shabbat Evening Services with Congregants from Temple Beth Am at Beth Am Light candles at 8:05 PM.
Saturday	May 13	9:30 AM	Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Emor April and May Birthday and Anniversary Kiddush Following Services
Sunday	May 14	9:00 AM	Service, Breakfast, Discussion
Friday	May 19	8:00 PM	Shabbat Evening Services Light candles at 8:12 PM.
Saturday	May 20	9:30 AM	Shabbat Morning Services Torah: Behar-Bechukotai
Sunday	May 21	9:00 AM 7:00 PM	Service and Discussion BHBI Annual Membership Meeting
Friday	May 26	8:00 PM	Shabbat Evening Services Light candles at 8:19 PM.
Saturday	May 27	9:30 AM	Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Bamidbar Blessing for the new month
Sunday	May 28	9:00 AM	Service, Breakfast, Discussion

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION

Sunday, May 21st at 7:00 p.m.

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE ATTEND!

Members MUST in be in good standing in order to vote. You may bring your dues up to date at any time before the meeting – or at the meeting itself.

Please join us for our March, April and May Birthday and Anniversary Kiddush Following Shabbat Morning Services on May 13th

Birthday Celebrants

Marco Malka y Negri

Art Mercer

Jordan Paprocki

Rose Israel

Emily Fishman

Andrea Paprocki

Aaron Schaffer

Vivian Malka y Negri

March

Birthday Celebrants

Wilma Miller

Ken Traub

Alan Fishman Aviva Schaffer

Maxine Gold

Jeff Springut

Rise Levine

Aline Honickman

Philip Garver

April

Birthday Celebrants

Peg Toker

Sherman Kleinstein

Charles Levinson

Harry Rogachefsky

Karen Schulman

Marcello Malka y Negri

Anniversary Celebrants

Charles and Laura Levinson

Morton and Gloria Sarachan

Stan and Elaine Schaffer

May

THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS

FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL

April 1 The Congregation

April 8 The Congregation

April 15 The Congregation

April 22 The Congregation

April 29 The Congregation

TO OUR DONORS -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Sylvia Kowal

In memory of Harry Gordon

Phil and Annette Garver

In memory of Benjamin Ritter

Stan and Elaine Schaffer

In honor of Scout Shabbat

Paul and Cynthia Halpern

TORAH FUND

In memory of Rose Israel’s brother, Charles

Wishing Ben Hobel a speedy recovery

Charles and Laura Levinson

SAM MALINA MEMORIAL FUND

Esther Vogelstein

Israel Independence Day

This year, Israel Independence Day falls on Wednesday, May 3^rd. Rochester’s community celebration of Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha-Atzmaout) will take place that evening at Temple B’rith Kodesh, where celebrated Israeli singer, Liel, will perform. The event runs from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and admission is free. One of our congregants, Aviva Schaffer, will be in Israel this year on Yom Ha-Atzmaout. When she returns she will describe to us how Israelis celebrate their country’s Independence Day.

Lag B’Omer

As most of you know, we count the Omer to mark the 49 days (the week of weeks) from the second night of Pesach, our holiday of liberation, to Shavuot, our holiday of revelation. In the midst of the Omer comes Lag B’Omer, the one day during this period when one is allowed to wed or to celebrate other joyous events. Lag B’Omer, which falls on the 33^rd day of the Omer (May 16^th this year), marks the anniversary of the death of the great sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who authored the Zohar, the principal work of Kabbalah. In Israel, Lag B’Omer is marked by bon fires and song. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s burial place on Mount Meron in the Galilee attracts thousands and is the site of festivities and numerous bonfires on Lag B’Omer.

Proposed Synagogue Officers for 2006-07

President – Harris Honickman

First Vice-President – Steve Teitel

Second Vice-President – Leon Metlay

Treasurer – Ira Cohen

Financial Secretary – Art Mercer

Recording Secretary – Stan Schaffer

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.

May 5-6

Iyar

May 12-13

Iyar

May 19-20

Iyar

May 26-27

Sivan

Minnie Rothbard

Harry Cominsky*

Dr. Murray Cowen

Chasa Tillie Yablin*

Johanna Schild*

* Denotes name memorialized on BHBI Memorial Plaque

Haskell Isaac Smith*

Smauel Lederman*

Samuel J. Weisenberg*

Libbie Goldberg*

Samuel Gastel*

Pauline Hobel

Esther Leah Silverman*

Reuben Cohen

Leopold Beechbinder*

Charles Bertman*

Isadore D. Goldberg*

Harry T. Levinson*

Abraham Goldman*

Arnold Kauffman*

Samuel Schwartz*

Nathan Epstein*

Bessie Klein*

Rose Levin*

Esther Gertrude Schriba*

Morris Levine*

Ida Sherman*

Ann Alderman*

Sam Solomon

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.

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

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.

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

Can you think of an interesting melody to sing Adon Olam to? Try to test your musical knowledge and come up with one that is not yet on our website (www.BHBIRochester.org) – there are hundreds of melodies listed there, many of which can be downloaded from the site.

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