BHBIRochester.org

Published Monthly

Vol. 51/No 4

Tevet-Shevat 5777

January 2017

 

Editor:  Stan Schaffer

Congregation Beth Hamedresh – Beth Israel

B U L L E T I N

President: Leon Metlay                    First Vice-President: Paula Bobb                       Second Vice-President: Stan Schaffer

Treasurer: Ira Cohen                       Financial Secretary: Harris Honickman             Recording Secretary: Nina Klionsky

 

January PresidentÕs Message

Friends:

 

We have come to the end of a challenging year, and we look forward to another challenging year. All around I'm seeing articles about the famous artists, actors, sports figures, etc., who died in 2016. In our own congregation, we lost two of our past presidents, Laura Levinson and Janet Grable. I wrote something about them in my September message. They were brought to mind again by the Chanukah Party. We had the party jointly with Temple Beth Am again this year. The dinner was orchestrated by Steve Teitel ably assisted in cooking by Judith Mercer, Paula Bobb, and Esther Vogelstein, with setup by Ronna Marsh, Nina Klionsky, and me, and cleanup by Judith Mercer, Stan Schaffer, Elaine Schaffer, Nina Klionsky, and me. Everyone had a great time at the party, but, for the first time in many years, we missed Janet's signature cake. Janet would always come up with a delicious and very original decorated cake for the party. This year we had pie and ice cream. It was delicious, but not the same. Is there anyone in the congregation who feels an urge to express themselves through cake decoration? We would like to talk to you.

 

The only event of Jewish religious significance during the month of January is coming up on the 8th. It is the Fast of the 10th of Tevet. It commemorates the date on which the Babylonian army arrived to lay siege to Jerusalem. Jerusalem held out for two and a half more years, before falling on the 9th of Av. According to tradition the day is also used to commemorate the death of Ezra the Scribe and the translation of the Tanach into Greek. In modern-day Israel, the Chief Rabbinate declared that the 10th of Tevet is a day of General Kaddish. People who don't know the date of a relative's death (for instance, of Holocaust victims) say Kaddish and light Yahrzeit candles on that day.

 

On the fast day, eating and drinking are prohibited from dawn to dark, but there are no other prohibitions. If you are sick, you don't have to fast, even if it's not a life-threatening illness (just in case you were wondering). There are some extra selichot prayers to add to the service. We'll be having a service on January 8th, with no breakfast to follow. There are a couple of calendrical anomalies related to this fast. In our current fixed calendar, it never falls on the Sabbath, but it is the only fast that can fall on a Friday. Before the calendar was fixed, it could fall on the Sabbath, and when it did, the fast was observed (even as we do for Yom Kippur). When the fast falls on a Friday, the fast continues until the Sabbath kiddush is recited (you normally wouldn't start the Sabbath hungry from fasting.)

 

I'm going to leave you with a mystery. Most histories place the siege of Jerusalem as starting in 588 BCE and culminating with destruction in 586 BCE. This seems to agree with the Babylonian chronicles. However, some Jewish sources say the siege actually started in 425 BCE. Why is this? Where did those 163 years come from? I'm sure the answer exists somewhere, but I just haven't looked in the right place yet. If you know the answer, please let me know.

 

Have a great January.

 

Leon Metlay

 

SUPER SUNDAY IS COMING UP!

Sunday, February 12th has been selected for the Jewish FederationÕs Super Sunday fundraising event. The Federation is looking for volunteers to help on February 12th. If you would like to volunteer your time at the Super Sunday event, contact the Federation at 461-0490.    


BHBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS – JANUARY 2016

Sunday

Jan 1

9:00 AM

Service and Discussion

Saturday

Jan 7

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service       Torah: Vayigash

Sunday

Jan 8

9:00 AM

Service and Discussion

Monday

Jan 9

7:30 PM

BHBI Board of Trustees Meeting

Friday

Jan 13

7:00 PM

Joint Shabbat Evening Service with Temple Beth Am (at TBK Room 103)

Saturday

Jan 14

9:30 AM

 

Joint Shabbat Morning Service with Temple Beth Am at BHBI        

                                                Torah: Vayechi

Sunday

Jan 15

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Wednesday

Jan 18

7:30 PM

Small Conservative Synagogue Collaborative Torah Study at BHBI

Saturday

Jan 21

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service       Torah: Shemot

Blessing of the New Month

Sunday

Jan 22

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

Saturday

Jan 28

9:30 AM

Shabbat Morning Service       Torah: VaÕeira (Shabbat Rosh Chodesh)

Sunday

Jan 29

9:00 AM

Service, Breakfast and Discussion

SHABBAT CANDLELIGHTING TIMES

Friday, Jan. 6 – 4:32 PM

Friday, Jan. 13 – 4:40 PM

Friday, Jan. 20 – 4:48 PM

Friday, Jan. 27 – 4:58 PM

 

MAKE YOUR PURCHASES AT AMAZON.COM

AND SUPPORT BHBI AT THE SAME TIME!

Why not contribute to BHBI while making on-line purchases? ItÕs easy to make purchases 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!        

 

FIGURING OUT THE JEWISH CALENDAR

The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning that months are based on lunar months, but years are based on solar years. The calendar year features twelve lunar months of twenty-nine or thirty days, with an extra lunar month added 7 times every 19 years (in years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 19) to synchronize the twelve lunar cycles with the longer solar year. The beginning of each Jewish lunar month (Rosh Chodesh) is based on the appearance of the new moon. Although originally the new lunar crescent had to be observed and certified by witnesses, the moment of the true new moon is now approximated arithmetically as the molad, which is the mean new moon to a precision of one part.

The mean period of the lunar month is very close to 29.5 days. Accordingly, the basic Hebrew calendar year is one of twelve lunar months alternating between 29 and 30 days.

In leap years, an additional month, Adar I (30 days) is added after Shevat, while the regular Adar is referred to as "Adar II." The insertion of the leap month mentioned above is based on the requirement that Passover—the festival celebrating the Exodus from Egypt, which took place in the spring—always occurs in the [northern hemisphere's] spring season.

 

 

DONATIONS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

 

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Louis Gastel

Ruth Polur

In memory of Tanja Block

Cathy Block

In memory of Emma Aranow

Eileen Kovel

 

HIGH HOLY DAY APPEAL

Peg Toker

THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS

FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

December 3

Katharine Metlay in memory of her mother, Fannie Titof

December 10

Steve and Ruth Teitel in memory of SteveÕs mother, Eleanor Teitel

December 17

Leon Metlay and Nina Klionsky in honor of HannahÕs birthday, 23 on the 23rd!

December 24

Jill Clark-Foulkes in memory of her aunt, Barbara Bertman

 

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!

SMALL CONSERVATIVE SHUL COLLABORATIVE TORAH STUDY

This monthÕs Small Conservative Shul Collaborative Torah Study session will be held at BHBI on Wednesday, January 18th at 7:30 p.m. at BHBI. Come and bring your friends. Everyone is welcome! If you havenÕt attended before, give it a try – you will definitely enjoy the lively discussion.

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

The Jewish Federation is hosting Saturday Night Live, an evening out for kids ages 5-12, at the JCC on Saturday, January 7th from 5:00 – 8:30 pm. Tickets are $25 per child, $15 for JCC members. For information, contact Joy Getnick at 461-2000 x239 or at jgetnick@jccrochester.org

 

Families with young children are invited to join the PJ LibraryÕs Big Splash Pool Party at the JCC on Sunday, January 8th from 3-5 pm. Events include free swim from 3:00-3:20, pool games from 3:20-4:00, snacks, songs and Storytime from 4:00-4:30 and a raffle from 4:30-5:00. The event is free for all families.

 

The JCCÕs Jewish Film Festival will screen the film Rosenwald on Sunday, January 15 at 5pm at the JCCÕs Hart Theater. Aviva KempnerÕs Rosenwald is the incredible story of Julius Rosenwald, who never finished high school, but rose to become the President of Sears. Influenced by the writings of the educator Booker T. Washington, this Jewish philanthropist joined forces with African American communities during the Jim Crow South to build over 5,300 schools during the early part of the 20th century. The film screening is free and open to the public.

 

 

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.

January 6-7

Tevet

January 13-14

Tevet

January 20-21

Tevet

January 27-28

Shevat

 

Selma Kauffman Lansky*

Rebecca H. Nussbaum*

William Silverstein*

Maurice Bloom*

Sadye Abelman*

Sol Lazarus*

Fannie Osband*

Joseph Morris*

Celia Suskind*

Dora Rogovin*

 

  9

10

10

11

12

12

13

14

14

15

 

Nathan Goldberg

Fannie Sablowsky*

Philip Sanzel*

Joseph Schiff*

Hannah Senzel*

Louis Bernstein*

Carl Kleinstein*

Rose Needler*

Estelle Hirsch*

Shie Schnidman*

Anna Buff*

Benjamin Dvorkin*

 

 

16

17

17

17

17

18

18

18

19

19

21

21

 

Goldie Simon*

Leah Keyfetz*

Esther Sanzel*

Samuel Meilstein*

Ida Boyarsky*

Philip Hershkowitz

Jack Glazer

Joe Lazarus*

 

 

 

23

24

24

26

27

27

28

28

 

Jean Spencer

Morris Weinstein*

Etta Levinson*

Ida Silver*

Sidney Appelbaum*

Jacob Komenski*

Gidda Strauss*

Morris Suskind*

 

*Denotes name memorialized on BHBI Memorial Plaque

 

1

2

4

4

6

6

6

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.

 

MEMORIAL PLAQUES

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

 

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

CEMETERY PLOTS

Did you know that BHBI has designated sections at Stone Road, Britten Road and Mt. Hope Cemeteries and that we sell cemetery plots? If you would like more information, contact Steve Teitel.

BHBI WEBSITE

Have you checked out the BHBI web site lately?  If you havenÕt there is a lot that youÕre 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.

 

JEWISH TRIVIA

Which 2 of the following famous entertainers were Halachically Jewish from birth? See page 6 for the answer.

a. Elvis Presley     b. Frank Sinatra     c. Kirk Douglas     d. Charlton Heston

JCC

 

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017
Hosted By: Evan Dawson + Adam Chodak

Celebrate the all new JCC! The annual JCC gala supports the JCCÕs diverse programming that promotes health, nourishes cultural enrichment, and fosters a love of learning.

2017 HONOREES:
Dave Rogachefsky: Tikkun Olam Award
Josh Weinstein: Young Leadership Award
CJS Architects & LECESSE Construction: Community Partnership Award

 

Event Details:

7 pm

Hors DÕOeuvres

Sushi Bar

Open Bar

 

8:30 pm

Dinner

Awards

 

10 pm

After Party (incl. Entertainment, Munchies and an Elaborate Dessert Reception)

 

Contact the JCC to reserve your spot today!

OFFICE:  The synagogue office is checked regularly for mail and messages.  The synagogue phone is 244-2060.  For urgent issues, call Leon Metlay at 271-2945 or Stan Schaffer at 473-8072.  You can also e-mail us at BHBIRochester@gmail.com

 

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 Fund, Kiddush Fund, Harry Rogachefsky BHBI Building Fund, Torah Fund, Rabbi Aaron Solomon Scholarship Fund, Special Events 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?  DonÕt 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  

 

TRIVIA ANSWER: (a) Elvis Presley and (c) Kirk Douglas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congregation Beth Hamedresh-Beth Israel

1369 East Avenue

Rochester, NY  14610