BHBIRochester.org

Published Monthly

Vol 43/No 11

Av/Elul 5769

July 2009

 

Editor:  Stan Schaffer

Congregation Beth Hamedresh – Beth Israel

B U L L E T I N

 

August President’s Message

 

Friends,

 

It has been a busy month of July. Many of you will have noticed that our trees have been trimmed. You will also have seen the zoning sign posted on the front yard. Steve Teitel has prepared a proposal to the Historical Preservation Board for us to install a wheelchair lift or ramp. The Board meets to discuss our proposal on August 5th. Wish us luck.

 

Behind the scenes there has also been much activity and negotiation. During the coming year, our congregation will be sharing the part-time services of Rabbi Geoffrey Goldberg. Those of you who have attended our joint programs with Temple Beth David over the past two years will know Rabbi Goldberg as Beth David’s interim Rabbi. During the coming year, Rabbi Goldberg will officiate at 16 joint Beth Am- BHBI services. Beth Am has already elected him their Rabbi. I would like BHBI to do the same. To do so requires a congregational vote. That is why I am calling a Special Congregational Meeting for Sunday, August 9th, at 7:30 PM.  Please attend. As a special meeting there will only be one agenda item, so it should be short, but we need a quorum to conduct business so your attendance is very importance.  If you are not able to attend, you may give another member a proxy to vote in your place (no individual may hold more than 2 proxies).

 

In addition to hiring Rabbi Goldberg to officiate at 16 joint services during the year, we hope to have him officiate at other services from time to time as well.  As part of that effort, we are establishing a Rabbi Goldberg fund jointly with Temple Beth Am. Whenever the fund reaches a preset amount, we will be able to schedule an additional service with the Rabbi. Please consider donating to this fund.

 

We will be producing a Yizkor booklet jointly with Beth Am this year. The information about the booklet is not available as I’m writing this, so look for a special mailing.

 

Finally, I look forward to seeing you all at our joint picnic with Beth Am on Friday August 7th at Beth Am. In addition, once again this year we will have a barbecue dinner in early September to recruit new members.  It is tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 4th. Bring your unaffiliated friends to that one; prospective members can attend free of charge.  Remember to also tell them about BHBI’s free 3-month membership for new first-time members.

 

Enjoy the rest of your summer,

            

Leon Metlay

 

 

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON HIRING RABBI GEOFFREY GOLDBERG AS BHBI’S RABBI

 

Sunday, August 9th at 7:30 P.M.

 

Please attend this important meeting
BHBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS – AUGUST 2009

 

Friday

July 31

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Service at BHBI

       Light candles at 8:14 PM

Saturday

Aug 1

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Services                   Torah: Vaetchanan                                            

Sunday

Aug 2

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Friday

Aug 7

8:00 PM

 

 

5:30 PM

Joint Shabbat Evening Services with Temple Beth Am at Beth Am

      Light candles at 8:05 PM

 

Joint picnic with Temple Beth Am at Beth Am

Saturday

Aug 8

9:30 AM

Joint Shabbat Morning Service with Temple Beth Am at BHBI

                                                              Torah: Eikev

Sunday

Aug 9

9:00 AM

 

7:30 PM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

 

Special Congregational Meeting

Monday

Aug 10

7:30 PM

Monthly Meeting of the BHBI Board of Trustees

Wednesday

Aug 12

7:30 PM

Small Shul Collaborative Torah Study Session at BHBI

Friday

Aug 14

7:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Service at Heather Heights in Pittsford

     Light candles at 7:55 PM

Saturday

Aug 15

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service                      Torah: Re’ei

Blessing for the New Month                

Sunday

Aug 16

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Friday

Aug 21

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Service

      Light candles at 7:44 PM

Saturday

Aug 22

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service                       Torah: Shoftim

Sunday

Aug 23

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Friday

Aug 28

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Service

      Light candles at 7:33 PM

Saturday

Aug 29

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service                       Torah: Ki Teitzei

Sunday

Aug 30

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

 

TORAH STUDY

 

Join congregants from Temple Beth Am, Temple Beth David and BHBI for our monthly Small Conservative Shul Collaborative Torah Study session at BHBI on Wednesday evening, August 12th at 7:30 p.m.  The discussion is always lively and engaging!

 

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.

July 31-Aug 1

Av

Aug 7-8

Av-Elul

Aug 14-15

Elul

July 24-25

Elul

 

Haim Menachem Levy

Hyman Silverman*

Frank Carper*

Sarah R. Spector*

Samuel Gross

Abraham Heyman*

 

 

12

12

13

13

15

17

 

Bessie Gastel*

Rose T. Cohen

Jacob Osband*

Samuel Wechsler*

Ruben Klein*

Esther Marker*

Sarah Weisenberg*

Harry Eber*

Bernard W. Engel*

Rose Gordon

Paul Snyder

 

 

* Denotes name memorialized on BHBI Memorial Plaque

 

25

26

26

26

27

27

28

30

30

30

  1

 

Eva Lederman*

Albert Joffe*

Harold Krinsky*

Ethel Strom*

Tanya Yudelson

Harold Schulman

Celia Goodman*

Jennie Levinson

Esther Mandelbaum

Irving Mack*

 

2

4

4

4

5

6

7

7

7

8

 

Fran Dubin Gulack

David Nidetz

Anna Zakofsky*

Sylvia Album*

Morris Mittelman*

Isidor Hess*

Frumeh Hinensky*

Joseph Taub

 

 

10

12

12

13

13

14

14

14

 

August 7-8

Av

 

Phillip Boyarsky*

Jennie Braime*

Abraham I. Spector*

Alexander Aronov

Morris Ohl*

Sarah Applebaum Gastel*

Israel Osband*

 

18

20

20

21

21

22

22

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.

 

Yahrzeit Notices

 

By now everyone who is on the yahrzeit reminder list should have received information regarding notices for his or her loved-ones.  Hopefully the information we have is correct.  Please let Herb Spencer (334-7493 or hspence1@rochester.rr.com) or Stan Schaffer (473-8072 or stanschaffer@frontiernet.net) know if there are any additions, corrections or deletions to be made or if you are not getting a reminder and wish to do so.  Just a note that Herb currently sends out about 250 notices each year.  With the rising cost of postage each year it can become costly.  If you do not wish to receive some of these notices please advise us.

 

 

 

 

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 stanschaffer@frontiernet.net

THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

July 4

Leon Metlay and Nina Klionsky in honor of Elana Spezio

July 11

Phil and Annette Garver in memory of David Gordon

July 18

Jill Clark in memory of Irwin Bertman

July 25

Phil and Annette Garver in memory of Fannie Goldberg

 

MRS. ESTHER SOLOMON’S 103RD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

The family and friends of Rebbitzen Esther Solomon have invited our members to join them in celebrating Mrs. Solomon’s 103rd birthday.  The festivities will take place at the Atkins Center at the Jewish Home on Sunday August 9, 2009, from 1:00- 4:00 PM. Please join us in wishing her well.

 

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y YY Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

 

AMAZON.COM

The next time that you want to buy something from Amazon.com go to the BHBI web page at www.BHBIRochester.org and click on the Amazon.com link.  Each time you make a purchase after linking to Amazon.com from our web page, BHBI gets a percentage of the purchase.  Buy gifts or something for yourself or your family and support BHBI at the same time!!

 

MEMORIAL PLAQUES

Memorialize a friend or loved one by purchasing a BHBI memorial plaque.  For more information, contact Stan Schaffer at 473-8072 or stanschaffer@frontiernet.net

 

WITH THE HIGH HOLY DAYS COMING, Do You Know Anyone Who is Unaffiliated and Interested in Joining a Congregation?

Let them know about BHBI’s special free 3 month trial membership (available to prospective first-time new members only).  Have them contact BHBI at 244-2060 or BHBI@frontiernet.net and we will be happy to give them information about BHBI and this great offer!!

 

 

 

 

  

 

Alan P. Solow
Chairman

Malcolm I. Hoenlein
Executive Vice Chairman

Media Contact: Malcolm Hoenlein, 212-318-6111

STATEMENT BY CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS CHAIRMAN ALAN SOLOW AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN MALCOLM HOENLEIN ON ISSUES RAISED REGARDING CONSTRUCTION IN JERUSALEM

 

New York, July 21, 2009 … The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has long advocated and supported the unity of Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel.  As such, we believe that legal construction by residents of the city should be allowed as long as it is in keeping with the standards and requirements of the municipality and the national government.  We find disturbing the objections raised to the proposed construction of residential units on property that was legally purchased and approved by the appropriate authorities. The area in question houses major Israeli governmental agencies, including the national police headquarters. The United States has in the past and recently raised objections to the removal of illegal structures built by Arabs in eastern Jerusalem even though they were built in violation of zoning and other requirements often on usurped land. In addition to the Jewish housing, the project called for apartment units for Arabs as well. 

 

It is particularly significant that the structure in question formerly was the house of the infamous Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseni who spent the war years in Berlin as a close ally of Hitler, aiding and abetting the Nazi extermination of Jews.  He was also linked to the 1929 massacre in Hebron and other acts of incitement that resulted in deaths and destruction in what was then Palestine. There has been an expressed desire by some Palestinians to preserve the building as a tribute to Husseini.

 

As a united city, Jerusalem’s Jewish and Arab residents should be permitted to reside wherever legal and security requirements allow.  Hundreds of Arab families have moved into Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem and the same right should be accorded to Jewish residents in live where they choose in Jerusalem. To do otherwise would undermine and prejudge the status of the city.

 

No government of Israel has or can pursue a discriminatory policy that would prevent the legitimate presence of Jews in any area of its capital. 

 

The Conference of Presidents is the central coordinating body representing 51 national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern.

 

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
633 Third Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-318-6111  /  Fax 212-644-4135
Email: info@conferenceofpresidents.org
www.conferenceofpresidents.org

OFFICE:  The shul office is checked regularly for mail and messages.  The shul phone is 244-2060.  For urgent issues, call Steve Teitel at 473-5741 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 making 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.  A standard sponsored kiddush at BHBI costs just $40 while a larger enhanced kiddush is just $50.

 

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 Stan Schaffer at:   stanschaffer@frontiernet.net  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congregation Beth Hamedresh-Beth Israel

1369 East Avenue

Rochester, NY  14610