BHBIRochester

BHBIRochester.org

Published Monthly

Vol 45/No 9

Iyar-Sivan 5771

June 2011

Editor: Stan Schaffer

Congregation Beth Hamedresh – Beth Israel

B U L L E T I N

June President’s Message

Dear Friends,

With this first message in my new term as President of our Congregation, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for your confidence in electing me once again to lead our Congregation. I would like to express my sincere thanks to my immediate predecessor, Leon Metlay, for the great job he has done these past two years. We all know that BHBI would not be BHBI without Leon, and we are all greatly indebted to him for the timeless effort he expends serving the Congregation in so many different roles. I would also like to thank all of you who have agreed to serve as officers and board members for the upcoming year. Together let us all work to continue BHBI’s tradition as the warmest and friendliest synagogue in town!

The month of June will start off with one of our three major festivals, Shavuot, commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. We will initiate our celebration of the holiday together with our friends from Temple Beth Am with a dinner on Erev Shavuot, Tuesday evening, June 7, at 6:30 pm at BHBI followed by a service, dessert and a trivia quiz, and a study session. The dinner is open to all members of the community, so why not invite a friend and help introduce them to our congregational family? They are guaranteed a good time and a delicious meal! Please see the reservation form on page 5 of this bulletin for information about the reservation deadline and cost of the dinner. Our schedule of services for the entire Shavuot holiday are listed in the bulletin’s calendar.

As we move forward we can be proud that our congregation has remained stable, both financially and in terms of membership, over the last several years. Yet challenges are always lurking around the corner. Let us all work to strengthen and build our congregation for the future. If you have friends who are unaffiliated, or shul shopping, please bring them along to Shabbat services or one of our other shul functions. They will get a warm welcome and will be able to see the many advantages that a small but dedicated synagogue has to offer. Please be generous when we have our annual High Holiday Appeal, and at other times when you wish to celebrate a simcha or remember a loved one. But most importantly, please be generous with your own time. Make the effort to come to services a little more often, or join one of the many committees that are vital to the everyday functioning of the congregation. As always, I welcome your input and suggestions. You may contact me at any time either by email (stte@pas.rochester.edu) or by phone (473-5741).

See you in shul,

Steve Teitel

BHBI Joint Shavuot Dinner with Temple Beth Am at BHBI

Tuesday, June 7^th at 6:30 p.m.

Followed by a service, dessert and a trivia quiz, and a Shavuot study session

Invite your friends!

See page 5 for more details

RSVPs by phone, by e-mail or by postal mail are due by Sunday, June 5^th

BHBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS – JUNE 2011

Friday	June 3	7:00 PM	Shabbat Evening Service at Heather Heights in Pittsford Light candles at 8:26 PM
Saturday	June 4	9:30 AM	Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Nasso
Sunday	June 5	9:00 AM	Service, Breakfast and Discussion
Tuesday	June 7	6:30 PM	Shavuot Dinner at BHBI followed by service at 7:45, dessert and trivia quiz and study session Light candles at 8:29 PM
Wednesday	June 8	9:00 AM 8:00 PM	Joint Shavuot First Day Service with congregants from Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth David at BHBI Joint Shavuot Erev Second Day Service with Yizkor together with congregants from Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth David at Beth Am with Rabbi Goldberg officiating
Thursday	June 9	9:00 AM	Joint Shavuot Second Day Service with Yizkor together with congregants from Temple Beth Am at BHBI with Rabbi Goldberg officiating
Friday	June 10	8:00 PM	Joint Shabbat Evening Service with congregants from Temple Beth Am at Beth Am Light candles at 8:30 PM
Saturday	June 11	9:30 AM	Joint Shabbat Morning Service with congregants from Temple Beth Am at BHBI Torah: Behaalotchah
Sunday	June 12	9:00 AM	Service and Discussion
Monday	June 13	7:30 PM	Monthly Meeting of the BHBI Board of Trustees
Friday	June 17	8:00 PM	Shabbat Evening Service Light candles at 8:33 PM
Saturday	June 18	9:30 AM	Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Shelach
Sunday	June 19	9:00 AM	Service, Breakfast and Discussion
Friday	June 24	8:00 PM	Shabbat Evening Service Light candles at 8:35 PM
Saturday	June 25	9:30 AM	Shabbat Morning Service. Torah: Korach Blessing for the New Month.
Sunday	June 26	9:00 AM	Service, Breakfast and Discussion

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!!

FROM THE RABBI’S DESK

RABBI GEOFFREY GOLDBERG

June 2011

Mizmor shir le-yom ha-Shabbat…

What is the connection between Psalm 92 and Shabbat? There is no clear-cut connection. During the period of the Second Temple each day was assigned its own Psalm which was sung by the Levites as the sacrifices were being offered. A listing of the Psalms is given in the Mishnah (Tamid 7:4), but with no explanation. Later the Psalms were transferred to the Synagogue, and prefaced by the words, “This is the Psalm that the Levites would recite on such and such a day in the Temple” (ha-yom yom rishon, sheni, etc.). The recitation was thus a beautiful reminder of the Temple service.

In the midrashic literature there is an attempt to explain why the particular Psalms of the Day were chosen, not always with great success:

What is recited on Sunday? What is recited on Monday?....“What is recited on the seventh day? Mizmor shir le-yom ha-Shabbat.” — the day will be entirely Sabbath, in which the there will be no eating or drinking, no business dealings, but the righteous will sit with their crowns on their heads and imbibe the splendor of the Sabbath like the ministering angels” (Avot D’Rabbi Natan A 1).

In other words, Psalm 92 was not for the Sabbath, the seventh day, but for the Great Sabbath at the end of days. Shabbat is seen as a foretaste for the world to come. With its description of a perfect world in which the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked punished, Ps. 92 will be sung at that time.

Another interpretation connects Psalm 92 with Adam, who first recited it. Adam was created on Friday and, according to rabbinic interpretation, was banished from the Garden of Eden before the beginning of Shabbat. That evening, the first evening in his life, when he saw the light vanish and the darkness grow, Adam feared that this was God’s punishment upon him. He feared that the world would always be dark. In the morning, when the sun rose, he realized that this was a natural phenomenon. He rejoiced and brought an offering to God. At that time, according to the Midrash, “three groups of ministering angels descended with lutes, lyres, and all kinds of musical instruments, in their hands. Together with Adam they san a song of praise: A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath, it is good to give thanks unto the Lord…..proclaiming Your live each morning” (Avot D’Rabbi Natan A 1).

Psalm 92 is one of the most beloved of the Psalms. It has been beloved of hazzanim throughout the ages, and in modern times Jewish composers have frequently composed setting of parts of it or the entire Psalm. Louis Lewandowski, the great nineteenth-century German-Jewish composer created at least 6 settings of it for hazzan and choir, including the melody of tzaddik ka-tamar which we and countless other synagogues sing. Salomon Sulzer, the great hazzan in Vienna, invited Franz Schubert to set the Hebrew words to music, to which he agreed.

Even if the Psalm appears to have no direct connection with the Sabbath, I would like to suggest that its mood and structure fit that of the Sabbath perfectly. Just from the aspect of form it has a beautiful structure. It has an opening section of four verses, a middle section of longer and shorter verses, and then a closing section, again of verses. The content and moods expressed in the Psalm reflect the three divisions. The opening section expresses a mood of thanks, joy and gratitude which is expressed through song and instrumental music. The middle section deals with the perennial issue of why the wicked flourish in the world and the deeds of the righteous seemingly are not rewarded. But the Psalmist is confident that in the final scheme of things, justice and righteousness will prevail. And so the final four verses express this confidence and trust; our good deeds will bear their fruit and the world will make sense. The opening verses of praise and the final verses of confidence are thus entirely appropriate for the Sabbath.

One final comment. The rabbis noticed that in Psalm 92 God’s name occurs seven times. The Talmud connected the Psalm to the seven berakhot of the Amidah recited on the Sabbath (J. Ta’anit 65c). The number seven is, of course, symbolic of wholeness and perfection. Surely another reason for reciting the Psalm 92 on the Sabbath.

Rabbi Geoffrey Goldberg

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.

June 3-4

Sivan

June 10-11

Sivan

June 17-18

Sivan

June 24-25

Sivan

Sam Dubin

Nathan Epstein*

Bessie Klein*

Rose Levin*

Esther Gertrude Schriba*

Morris Levine*

Ida Sherman*

Ann Alderman*

Sam Solomon

Max Atkin*

Bessie Eber*

Max Vogelstein

Benjamin Weinrib*

Sarah Osband*

Jessie Stolnitz*

Harry Strauss*

Minnie Strom*

Theresa Meyer Block

Anna Whalen

Rose Sallerson*

Janet Riwkin Glaser*

Evelyn Goldman Kauffman*

Louis Maltinsky*

Sadie Stolnitz*

Katherine Weinrib*

Lyons I. Jossem*

Zus Kaminnik

Esther Senzel*

Sarah Rebecca Gerber*

Minnie Marcus*

Nathan Yablin*

Fannie Warnick*

Louis Sanow*

Ada Gordon*

Stella Getz*

Mary Goldman*

Betty Newell*

Eva Wasserman*

Isadore Goldman*

* Denotes name memorialized on BHBI Memorial Plaque

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.

MEMORIAL PLAQUES

You can memorialize a friend or loved one by purchasing a BHBI memorial plaque. Our memorial plaques are very reasonably priced. For more information, contact Stan Schaffer at 473-8072 or stanschaffer@frontiernet.net

THE RABBI FUND

Contributions to the Rabbi Fund enable us to engage Rabbi Goldberg to lead additional services at BHBI during the year. Whenever the funds in the Rabbi Fund reach a predetermined level, we will schedule an additional service with Rabbi Goldberg. To contribute to this purpose, please send a check in to BHBI with a notation that the contribution should be used for the Rabbi Fund.

BHBI WEB SITE

Have you checked out the BHBI web site lately? If you haven’t there is a lot that you’re missing. The web site at www.BHBIRochester.org provides information about many aspects of our congregation, lists the BHBI calendar, has electronic versions of this and previous bulletins going back several years, has an extensive history of our congregation along with historic photos, includes photos from several BHBI dinners, picnics and other special events, and has the unique Adon Olam Songbook with information on over 100 melodies for Adon Olam.

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

TO OUR DONORS – THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Benjamin Ritter

Stan and Elaine Schaffer

RABBI FUND

Phil and Annette Garver

THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS

FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

May 7	Harris and Aline Honickman in memory of Beverly Honickman
May 14	Cathy Block in honor of Winston Block’s 69^th birthday and Phil and Annette Garver in memory of Harry Gordon
May 21	Jill Clark in memory of her grandfather, Sam Gastel and Leon Metlay and Nina Klionsky in memory of Nina’s grandmother, Marion Klionsky
May 28	Stan and Elaine Schaffer in honor of their 20^th wedding anniversary

GOODSEARCH.COM

Goodsearch.com is an on-line internet search program that pays non-profit organizations like BHBI a fee every time someone uses their search service. Go to www.goodsearch.com, enter the search term that you want and put in BHBI on the line where it says Who Do You Goodsearch For? BHBI will benefit from each search you make!

AMAZON.COM

Why not contribute to BHBI while making on-line purchases? 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 price. Buy gifts or something for yourself or your family and support BHBI at the same time!!

EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Hear about Israel in a New Middle East with special guest Joel Mowbray at the Jewish Federation’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday June 15^th at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El. The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by a dessert reception.

The Rochester Jewish Film Festival will be held in July. Get your tickets now at the JCC or on-line at rjff.org

Join Us for the BHBI Shavuot Dinner

Tuesday, June 7^th at 6:30 p.m. followed by an Erev Shavuot service at 7:45 p.m., dessert and a trivia quiz at 8:05 p.m. and a short study session following the service.

Cost of the Dinner: $12 for adults, $8 for children ages 12 and under, $36 family maximum.

RSVP by Sunday, June 5^th by calling BHBI at 244-2060 and leaving a message, by sending in this reservation form so it is received by June 5^th or by e-mailing Steve Teitel at stte@pas.rochester.edu

Payment may be mailed to BHBI, 1369 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14610 or dropped off just before the dinner.

Names of those attending: __________________________________________________

# of adults attending: _______ # or children ages 12 and under attending: _______

Amount enclosed: $_________
OFFICE: The synagogue office is checked regularly for mail and messages. The synagogue 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, Rabbi Fund 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 years 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