CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL

Adar-Nissan 5777 | March 2017 BULLETIN

RELIGIOUS SERVICES March 2017

Friday, March 3 5:30 PM Nosh Tot Shabbat Hosted by 1’s 6:15 PM Shabbat Evening Service

Saturday, March 4 8:45 AM Torah Morning Study 10:00 AM Shabbat Morning Service B’nei Mitzvah | Austin Raben & Blake Raben

Friday, March 10 5:30 PM Nosh 6:15 PM Shabbat Evening Service

Saturday, March 11 8:45 AM Torah Morning Study 10:00 AM Shabbat Morning Service 12:00 PM Simchat Shabbat 5:00 PM Megillah Reading, Purim Party

Friday, March 17 5:30 PM Nosh 6:15 PM Shabbat Evening Service

Saturday, March 18 8:45 AM Torah Morning Study 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Service Bar Mitzvah | Benjamin Freeman 11:00 AM Shabbat Morning Service Bar Mitzvah | Harrison LaBell

Friday, March 24 5:30 PM Nosh 6:15 PM Shabbat Evening Service Saturday, March 25 8:45 AM Torah Morning Study 10:00 AM Shabbat Morning Service Bat Mitzvah | Madeline Garber

Annual Purim Spiel

Food & Festivities

Megillah Reading

Dancing & Green Screen

Dress as your favorite historical or Purim character and

help us ‘rap’ up Purim - Hamilton-style!

Join us for the (mostly) faithful, family-friendly

re-telling of the Biblical story of Esther.

5:00 pm

2016-2017 Board of Directors

Due to HIPAA Laws, our clergy and staff are never notified by hospitals, hospices or rehabilitation centers of births, illness or deaths. Please help us stay informed by calling the office with

this important information.

First-graders at Congregation Beth Israel’s Haberkorn Religious School plant a new etrog tree in their Evanne Copland Kofman Biblical Garden in advance of Tu B’Shevat.

Biblical garden aims for authenticity JANET PEREZ | Special to Jewish News |

Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2017 6:00 pm

You won’t find wildflowers, prize-winning roses or neat hedges at the Evanne Copland Kofman Biblical Garden at Congregation Beth Israel. What the garden grows is much more profound – a glimpse into the natural world of the Bible. “People think of gardens and they think of beauty,” said Donna Harris, who along with Beth Waldinger tends the garden. “But in Bible days, the garden was mainly for yielding herbs and fruits and shelter. The trees themselves are very beautiful, but the garden is not like a thing of beauty with flowers blossoming at all times. It definitely replicates what our ancestors went through.” The idea for the garden began not long after Congregation Beth Israel moved to its current location in 1997. The synagogue’s rabbi at the time, Rabbi Kenneth Segal, put congregation member Richard Zonis, an ear, nose and throat doctor, in charge of creating the garden. A generous donation from the family of Evanne Copland Kofman in her memory helped to fund it. Zonis created the garden layout, selecting stones obtained locally, but that are reminiscent of the stones in Israel. Paths made of the same stones are laid out to traverse the garden, intersecting at where there used to be a small pond. The stones were also used to build a bench and a low wall surrounding the garden. There are no gates. “Dr. Zonis led us through the garden in February 2012,” said Waldinger. “He had tended this garden for 12 years. It had been almost dormant for three years, but it was our interest in gardening that drew us to it. Unfortunately, Dr. Zonis died six months after we took over the garden. We didn’t know he was ill, but we like to think he was thrilled that they had found somebody to take over this project that he had devoted his heart and soul to for years.” Harris and Waldinger starting by cutting and trimming the vegetation, as well as draining the pond, which had become overrun by papyrus and bulrushes, posing a possible danger to visitors. The pair planted another papyrus plant, this time in a container to keep it from running wild.

Among the 25 plants and trees that can be found in the garden are an acacia tree, Aleppopine tree, aloe plants, apricot tree, carob tree, ebony tree, senna bush, pomegranate tree, and a Phoenician rose bush that was originally imported from England by Zonis. Harris and Waldinger hope to plant a new fig tree and replace the weathered informational plaques by the notable plants. “Dr. Zonis was really interested in getting the authentic plant species that scholars thought were mentioned in the Bible,” Waldinger said. The duo love to show off the garden and are quick to warn visitors that what they see may not look beautiful, but many of the biblical stories behind them are. For example, wood from the acacia tree was used to build the Ark of the Covenant and the senna bush has been identified as the most likely candidate to be the Burning Bush. “It’s ugly, it’s scraggly, but it has beautiful yellow blooms in spring,” Waldinger said. Harris and Waldinger especially enjoy teaching children about the garden. Harris created a complete Bible Garden curriculum that can be used year-round. The curriculum includes a scavenger hunt that helps youngsters familiarize themselves with the garden’s plants. “It’s brilliant to show the kids how their ancestors lived and what they needed to sustain themselves, like making paper from the papyrus leaves, or making baskets and even shoes,” Waldinger said. “Everything had to be useful as medicine, food, shelter, clothing. It’s more purposeful than beautiful.”

Gail Baer President

Jacki Cohen Vice President

Robin Roeder Treasurer

James Levy Secretary

Jay Stein Immediate Past President

Wendy Carriere Board Member at Large

Steve Bressler Laura Drachler Julie Hymovitch

Jennifer Garber Dr. Benjamin Harris Jessica Langbaum

Carol Seidberg Sheri Sender Alan Roga

Honorary Life Board Members

Fran Frazin Steven J. Haberkorn Sol Moretsky

Carol Reynolds Sheldon Roth

Madeline Garber Maddie will become a Bat Mitzvah on March 25

th. Maddie is the daughter of Jennifer and Stuart

Garber and the granddaughter of Susan and Dr. Alan Garber and Nancy and Paul Gitelson. Maddie

has a younger sister, Melanie. Maddie is in the 7th

grade at Rancho Solano Preparatory School. Her

best subject is English Literature and her favorite subjects are science English Literature. Maddie’s

hobbies include rock climbing, reading, playing sports and spending time with friends and family. For

her mitzvah project, Maddie partnered with Yashar Lachayal to raise money for Mishloach Manot baskets for soldiers in the

IDF. She also volunteered at Mom’s Pantry, a local food bank.

March Anniversaries (Years Married)

Jason & Joy Bidnick 24

Andrew & Julianne Birdt 20

Barry & Robin Brody 32

Amanda & Micah Brooks 3

James & Diane Condo 12

Richard & Stacy Cooper 16

Mark & Abby Curtis 32

John & Candice Erlick 31

Ramon & Marilyn Fierro 42

Nathan & Diana Fihn 45

Craig & Michelle Ganz 14

Jay & Trudy Goldman 27

Michael & Debra Kasen 17

Bradley & Lise Klein 26

Kevin & Jessica Langbaum 12

Marc & Lynn Lerner 23

Roy & Dawn Meshel 15

John & Lisbeth Nye 15

David & Karen Polen 22

Terry & Deb Rochford 28

Sheldon & Madeline Roth 14

Eugene & Marlene Shapiro 64

Paul & Dana Trenter 20

OUR TEMPLE FAMILY

Mazel Tov

Austin Raben Austin Raben will become a Bar

Mitzvah on March 4th

. Austin is the

son of Lisa Raben and Jeff Raben and

the grandson of Judi and Bruce Raben

and Gayle and Jeffrey Borovay and

great grandmother Lila Borovay. He

has a twin brother, Blake. Austin is in 7th

grade at Pardes

Jewish Day School. Austin’s best subject is math. His

hobbies include camping, archery, and Minecraft. For his

mitzvah project, Austin volunteered with Better Together,

Moriah, and completed Boy Scout Service projects.

Benjamin Freeman Benjamin Freeman will become

a Bar Mitzvah on March 18th

.

Benjamin is the son of Michele

and Richard Freeman and the

grandson of Faith Garrison,

Sanford Freeman, Donna & Paul

Lance, Tish and Warren Goodwin. Benjamin is in 7th

grade at

Basis and enjoys history. His favorite subject is Spanish. His

hobbies include creating and building things and flying his

drone. For his mitzvah project, Benjamin volunteered at

Natural Restoration which restores and removes garbage

from public lands in Arizona.

Blake Raben Blake Raben will become a Bar

Mitzvah on March 4th

. Blake is the

son of Lisa Raben and Jeff Raben

and the grandson of Judi and

Bruce Raben and Gayle and Jeffrey

Borovay and great grandmother

Lila Borovay. He has a twin brother, Austin. Blake is in 7th

grade at Pardes Jewish Day School. His best subject is

history. His hobbies include baseball and Boy Scouts. For

his mitzvah project, Blake volunteered with Better Together,

Moriah, and completed Boy Scout Service projects.

Harrison LaBell Harrison LaBell will become

a Bar Mitzvah on March 18th

.

Harrison is the son of Ariella

and Steven LaBell and the

grandson of Annette

Kanshepolsky, Dr. Jose

Kanshepolsky, Shelley and Fred LaBell. Harrison is in 7th

grade at Cocopah Middle School and enjoys math & STEM

lab. His hobbies include guitar, legos, digital design, and

playing Pokemon. For his mitzvah project, Harrison has been

working with Power Paws by raising awareness, collecting

donations and puppy petting.

Welcome New Members

Irwin & Pamela Pasternack

Jennifer and Kimberly

ADULT EDUCATION FUND

AMDUR VOLUNTEER FUND

BABY BASKETS FUND

CARING COMMITTEE FUND

BANDLER ART ROOM FUND

BUILD-A-JEWISH LIBRARY FUND

CAROL & KENNETH SEIDBERG

SUMMER-IN-ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In honor of birth of Petra Reynolds By: Carol & Ken Seidberg In memory of Irene Lowy By: Carol & Ken Seidberg

CAMP DAISY AND HARRY STEIN

CAPITAL FUND

CAMP DAISY AND HARRY STEIN FUNDRAISING

CAMP DAISY AND HARRY STEIN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In memory of David Kaminsky By: Hillary & Harry Kaminsky In memory of Robert Berger By: Hillary & Harry Kaminsky

LINDA & STEVE BANDLER CAMP STEIN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

CAROL & DAN REYNOLDS CAMP STEIN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In honor of birth of Petra Reynolds By: Hillary & Harry Kaminsky

AL & FRAN SACHS CAMP STEIN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

CAMP SIMCHA FUND

CBI STAFF DEVELOPMENT FUND

CEMETERY FUND

CHANEN PRESCHOOL FUND

In memory of Etta Boshes By: Jeanne & Steve Chanen

CHANEN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DAVIDSON CHILDREN’S LIBRARY FUND

DIANA & RON LEEDS & FAMILY

CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND

EVANNE COPLAND KOFMAN

BIBLICAL GARDEN FUND

FEFFER LIBRARY FUND

FRAZIN FAMILY FUND

In memory of Beatrice Frazin By: Fran & Larry Frazin In memory of Burton Kruglick By: Fran & Larry Frazin

HAPPY OCCASION FUND

THE STEIN FAMILY MIKVEH FUND

KOL ISHA FUND

MAGDA & ERNEST WILLINGER YEAR

IN ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

MAYA SCHULDER YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND

MEMORIAL FUND

In memory of Lucille Axelrod By: Joanne & Jerry Gordon In memory of Shirley Lebovitz By: Magda Willinger In memory of David Snider By: Burton Snider In memory of Elaine Simon By: Linda & Franklin Simon In memory of Esther & Adolph Milder By: Roma & Raymond Wittcoff In memory of Jeremy Werl By: Roma & Raymond Wittcoff In memory of Doreen Cohen By: Natalie Katz In memory of Bernard Kaminitz By: Renee Kaminitz In memory of Estelle H. Green By: Betty Rotenberg In memory of Sherri Sperber Moore By: Janice Sperber In memory of Esther Berman By Hope & Randall Levin In memory of Edna Stein By: Stacy & Bruce Horowitz In memory of Annette Karp By: Renee Kaminitz In memory of Yetta Abramowitz By: Rosalyn Abramowitz

MENSCH NIGHT OUT FUND

MERCAZ ISRAEL CENTER

MITZVAH PROJECT

MUSIC FUND

PRAYER BOOK FUND

PLOTKIN JUDAICA MUSEUM FUND

In memory of Lillian Goff By: Dr. & Mrs. Benjamin Harris In memory of Lillian Goff By: Dr. & Mrs. Murray Hollenberg

RABBI KAHN’S DISCRETIONARY FUND

RABBI KELLER’S DISCRETIONARY FUND

RACHAMIN

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL TEACHER FUND

TORAH COMMENTARY FUND

WELCOME HOME PROJECT FUNDS

TRIBUTES Donations received after February 10th

will appear in the April issue of the bulletin.

Our Condolences to… It is with deepest sympathy that we

note the passing of:

Burton Kruglick

Father of Jaque, Janis and Arthur

Irene Lowy

Mother of Paul Stark (Charlee Geisler)

David Shapiro

Our thoughts and prayers are with

the families.

SINAI MORTUARY

Congregation Beth Israel Member 39 years

The Valley’s Only

Jewish Funeral Home

602-248-0030

Jonathan Perlman Ray Perlman

cypresshomecare.com

10 Years | Simchat Shabbat Did you know that February was Jewish Disability

Awareness and Inclusion Month?

You may also be interested to know that

Congregation Beth Israel is celebrating our 10th

year

of partnering with the Council for Jews with Special

Needs to provide a monthly community-wide,

inclusive and uplifting Shabbat service.

Simchat Shabbat is led by our Rabbis and Stacy

Rosenthal and open to all – typical or disabled.

Please join us.

It is truly one of our most joyous programs!

Future dates of Shimchat Shabbat Services

March 11 | April 8 | May 6

Creative Aging Classes

JFCS Storytelling Class at CBI JFCS is offering fun, stimulating and exciting classes in

the Arts for those 60+

Storytelling Classes at CBI

Mar 2, 9,16, 23, 30 & Apr 6, 10am-Noon

CBI is partnering with Jewish Family & Children’s

Service in Creative Aging classes –

starting Thursday, March 2 and will focus on Story

Telling, which incorporates both creative writing and

performance. Register : www.jfcsaz.org/creativeaging