BHBIRochester.org

Published Monthly

Vol. 46/No 3

Kislev-Tevet 5772

December 2011

 

Editor:  Stan Schaffer

Congregation Beth Hamedresh – Beth Israel

B U L L E T I N

 

December President’s Message

 

Friends,

 

The leaves have come down – and perhaps even gotten raked! – and as the weather changes we begin the long haul into winter.  But if you find that the cold and the grey is getting you down, there is one place to go where it is always warm and bright – Shabbat services at BHBI!  Our furnace and our ruach are sure to warm both body and soul and the sit down kiddush luncheon provides both good food and good companionship.  So if it has been awhile since you last came to Shabbat services, why not give it a try? 

 

This month, as we close out the secular year, we will have our annual Chanukah Party and Dinner.  As in the last few years, we will be joined by our friends from Temple Beth Am.  The celebration will take place Sunday, December 25th, starting at 5 pm, with candle lighting (bring your own menorah!) at 5:30.  A dinner of soup, salad, latkes, blintzes and dessert will follow at 6 pm.  There will be songs and games for all ages, so you want to be sure not to miss the fun!  Reservations are due by Tuesday, December 20th, so please be sure to either (i) mail in the reservation form found on page 5 of this bulletin, (ii) e-mail us at BHBI@frontiernet.net, or (iii) leave a message on our office answering machine 244-2060.

 

If you take a moment to read the history page of our shul website, www.BHBIRochester.org, you will see that this is a very special year for our Congregation.  It is the 100th anniversary of the founding of Beth Hamedresh Hagodel, one of the two synagogues that merged to form present day BHBI.  To celebrate, we will be having a special 101st Anniversary Party to be scheduled sometime this coming spring.  It will be an event you won’t want to miss.  So keep an eye out for further details to be announced here in the coming months.

 

Finally, on a sad note, our long-time member, Wilma Miller, who lived in Princeton, NJ for the past few years, has passed away.  Our sympathy goes to her family and friends.

 

See you in shul,

  

Steve Teitel

 

HAPPY CHANUKAH

 

BHBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS – DECEMBER 2011

 

Friday

Dec 2

7:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Service at Heather Heights in Pittsford

     Light candles at 4:17 PM

Saturday

Dec 3

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service    Torah: Vayeitzei                                                                                         

Sunday

Dec 4

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Friday

Dec 9

8:00 PM

 

Joint Shabbat Evening Service with Temple Beth Am at Beth Am

     Light candles at 4:16 PM

Saturday

Dec 10

9:30 AM

Joint Shabbat Morning Service with Temple Beth Am at BHBI  

                                             Torah: Vayishlach                                                                                               

Sunday

Dec 11

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Monday

Dec 12

7:30 PM

Monthly Meeting of the BHBI Board of Trustees

Wednesday

Dec 14

7:30 PM

Small Conservative Shul Collaborative Torah Study Session at BHBI

Friday

Dec 16

8:00 PM

 

Shabbat Evening Service

     Light candles at 4:17 PM

Saturday

Dec 17

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service    Torah: Vayeishev  

Sunday

Dec 18

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Friday

Dec 23

8:00 PM

Shabbat Evening Service

     Light candles at 4:20 PM

Saturday

Dec 24

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service     Torah: Miketz.   Blessing of the New Month.

Sunday

Dec 25

9:00 AM

 

5:00 PM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion.  

 

BHBI/Beth Am Joint Chanukah Party at BHBI with candle-lighting and songs at 5:30 followed by dinner and games

Friday

Dec 30

8:00 PM

Joint Shabbat Evening Service with Temple Beth Am at BHBI

     Light candles at 4:25 PM

Saturday

Dec 31

10:00 AM

Joint Shabbat Morning Service with Temple Beth Am at Beth Am   

                                              Torah: Vayigash

 

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!! 

 

SMALL CONSERVATIVE SHUL COLLABORATIVE TORAH STUDY

The December Small Conservative Shul Collaborative Torah Study session will be held Wednesday, December 14th at 7:30 p.m.  Come join the lively discussion.

 

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!

 

GET YOUR CHANUKAH GIFTS AT AMAZON.COM AT SUPPORT BHBI AT THE SAME TIME!

Why not contribute to BHBI while making on-line purchases?  It’s easy to purchase gifts on-line at Amazon.com and support BHBI financially at the same time.  Just 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.  The more you buy in this way, the more BHBI makes!

 

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.

 

AD SPONSORS

We are always looking for additional businesses that are interested in placing an ad in the BHBI Bulletin.  If you know of someone whose business or company may be interested, contact Stan Schaffer at 473-8072 or by e-mail at stanschaffer@frontiernet.net

 

EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Super Sunday – December 4th – Please be generous when you get your Super Sunday call from a Jewish Federation volunteer on Sunday, December 4th.   If you’d like to help as a volunteer, call the Federation at 461-0490 or go to the Federation web site at www.jewishrochester.org.

 

The Great Chanukah Giveaway – December 11th – Stop by Barnes & Noble at Pittsford Plaza from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the PJ Library Great Chanukah Giveaway. There will be lots of activities and performances for kids.

 

A Conversation with Inspiring Women – Building and Sustaining Strong Jewish Community – Dec. 15th at 7:30 p.m. - This panel discussion, to be held at the JCC, will focus on Jewish women and community leadership.  A dessert reception will follow. Please RSVP on the JCC web site, www.jccrochester.org.

 

RECIPE FOR LATKES

Makes approximately 12 palm-sized latkes

Shred the potatoes and onion into a large bowl. Press out all excess liquid.(if using a food processor, use the chopping blade for 2 or 3 seconds after pressing out liquid to avoid stringy fly-aways). Add eggs and mix well. Add matzah meal gradually while mixing until the batter is doughy, not too dry. (you may not need the whole amount, depending on how well you drained the veggies). Add the baking powder, salt and pepper and mix well. (Don't taste the batter -- it's really gross!). Don't worry if the batter turns a little orange; that will go away when it fries. Heat about 1/2 inch of oil to medium-high heat. Form the batter into thin patties about the size of your palm. Fry batter in oil. Be patient: this takes time, and too much flipping will burn the outside without cooking the inside. Don’t fry too many latkes at once – doing so will cause them to absorb all of the oil. Flip when the bottom is golden brown.

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.

December 2-3

Kislev

December 9-10

Kislev

December 23-24

Kislev - Tevet

December 30-31

Tevet

 

Meyer Kovelski*

Nathan Bernstein*

Beatryce Cohen*

J. Louis Shapiro*

Feist Hess*

Eleanor Teitel

Fannie Titof

Dr. Mark Blue

Wolf Schild*

Rachel Olkes*

 

  7

  9

  9

  9

10

10

10

11

12

13

 

Jack Soble *

Edward M. Hart

Rose Alderman*

Hyman Ring*

 

14

19

20

20

 

Emma Aranow*

Karen Cohen

Morris Kanthor*

Morton Fink*

Belle Lipsky

Abraham Weinstein*

 

*Denotes name memorialized on BHBI Memorial Plaque

 

28

28

  3

  4

  4

  4

 

Abraham Stolnitz*

Barbara Bertman*

Sigmund Traub*

Miriam Jossem*

David Goodman*

Selma Kauffman Lansky*

William Silverstein*

Maurice Bloom*

Manuel Miller*

 

  5

  6

  6

  7

  8

  9

10

11

11

 

 

December 16-17

 

Kislev

 

Ida Bobb

Sarah Hoffman*

Hyman Snyder*

Michael Miller*

 

24

25

25

27

 

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

 

A CHANUKAH JOKE

A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Chanukah cards.
She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Chanukah stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denomination?"
The woman says, "Oh my G-d. Has it come to this? Give me 6 Orthodox, 12 Conservative, and 32 Reform."

 

THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS

FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER

November 5

Ira Cohen in memory of Dianne Hooker

November 12

The Congregation

November 19

The Congregation

November 26

Katie Metlay in honor of Leon Metlay’s birthday

 

 

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 Stanley Toker

Peg Toker

 

In memory of Paul Israel’s father, mother and brother

Paul and Rose Israel

 

In memory of Louis Gastel

Ruth Polur

 

HIGH HOLY DAY APPEAL

Malcolm and Annette Weinberg

Phil and Joanne Katzman

 

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BHBI/Beth Am Chanukah Dinner Reservation Form

Sunday, December 25th at BHBI

Be sure to bring your menorahs!

 

5:00 P.M. – The party begins

5:30 P.M. – Chanukah candle-lighting followed by songs

6:00 – Dinner and games

Cost: Adults: $12, Kids ages 12 and under: $8, Family Max: $36

Bring a friend!!

 

Name: ____________________________________________________________

 

Number Attending: _____________Adults; ___________Children Under 12

 

Amount Enclosed: $________

 

Please send your reservation form to BHBI, 1369 East Ave., Rochester, NY  14610 to be received no later than December 20th.

 

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 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