VOLUME 57 EDITION 7

1 March 2015

10 Adar 5775

Congregation Sha’arai Shomayim Founded 1844

Springhill Avenue Temple

The Temple Bulletin

springhillavenuetemple.com

We are coming together as a caring, inclusive community united in a common commitment to Judaism and to

furthering our spiritual growth. We desire to do this recognizing that worship of God, study of Torah, caring for the

Jewish people and our community, are central to our being as a Reform Jewish congregation. With these principles

as our foundation and guided by a historic past, we anticipate our future, one of continual lifelong self-renewal.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

Friday, March 6 6:00 p.m. Purim Shabbat Service

Purim Celebration with dinner and a play

with the Congregational Choir

Friday, March 13 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service

Cantor is with us

Saturday, March 14 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Morning Shabbat Service

Cantor is with us

Friday, March 20 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service

with the Congregational Choir

Friday, March 27 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service

Birthday Blessing for Vi Hirsch

Torah Selection:

Exodus 30:11 – 34:35

Haftarah – I Kings 18:1 – 39

ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP

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FROM THE RABBI

his Friday the Temple will celebrate the

joyous holiday of Purim during our Shabbat

Services at 6:00 p.m., followed by a festive

dinner. Our volunteer choir will present “Megilla

on the Roof,” entertainment for families,

something you do not want to miss!

Living in Mobile, I never cease to be amazed at

the relationship between Mardi Gras and Purim.

The themes of kings and queens, frivolity,

costumes, and merriment seem so similar.

Purim reminds most Jews of the evil Haman, a

man who wished to destroy the Jewish people. He

was foiled in his attempt by the beautiful Queen

Esther and we celebrate the play upon fate when

the one who would have done the destroying is in

turn destroyed. It means a great deal to us

because we have each seen in every generation

would-be Hamans rise up against the Jewish

people.

The fun and frivolity of Purim and the Mardi Gras

season at first glance seem quite innocent. The

true Haman is lurking just under the surface in the

form of prejudice.

The Haman is found in the racial bigotry that is

still a part of the Mardi Gras season. The

segregated crews, the segregated parades, the

white king and queen and the black king and

queen, the white society balls, and the black

society balls, all teach us that Haman lurks right

under the surface of Mardi Gras and is visible to

those who would open their eyes.

What is more, as I write this, Alabama is deeply

divided by those who would not recognize the

authority of the Federal courts, insisting that one

set of laws apply to some people, but not to gay

and lesbian couples in our state. Haman lives in

prejudice based upon sexual orientation, just as it

does in racial prejudice. Haman lives in the scowl

of Alabama’s Supreme Court Justice, who would

have Christian fundamentalism be the rule of law.

If we silently condone these attitudes, are we not

allowing the Hamans of today to flourish? The

time has come for us to open our eyes to Hamans

within our own midst.

As we prepare to celebrate our joyous Jewish

holiday of Purim, may we also reflect on our

silence. If we do not speak out today, who will be

there to speak out for us in the future?

Rabbi Donald M. Kunstadt

The Rabbi Search Committee – Update

From Committee Chair, Aaron Solomon

Update from the Search Committee –As a follow up to my last correspondence, we have been

in contact with three (3) rabbinic students, all of whom will be ordained this spring. Being as our

initial contact was brief, we held full-fledged interviews that were scheduled for the week of

February 16th, which the Committee hosted via Skype. I believe that these interviews were very

beneficial, as even if they do not produce a candidate, they served as good practice for our

Committee. Please reach out should you have questions regarding our progress; otherwise, I will

update you further in the very near future. Regards,

Aaron Solomon

T

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FROM OUR PRESIDENT

amellias, Japanese magnolias, and azaleas,

all have one thing in common in our

incredible city of Mobile - they signal the

transition from winter to spring. This time of

year begins a show of beauty approaching our

Temple from the west on Springhill Avenue.

Maybe on your next trip to Temple, take a few

extra minutes to enjoy; it might make the drive

to Temple more of a pleasurable experience

than a purpose of transportation. As with the foliage in Mobile, I appreciate the

congregants who give so much to Springhill

Avenue Temple. We are fortunate to have

some very caring members. I want to openly

thank Nate Ginsberg who has been by my side

during my short term as President. Nate has a

sense of commitment that goes beyond “the

drive to Temple.” He knows and does the

deeper part of being not just a member, but one

who is there for every call to duty and often

times makes that call himself.

Jack Friedlander is another member who

appreciates “the drive to Temple.” He has been

available for some of the most difficult

decisions that our congregation has had to

make and I thank him for his dedication and

support. Iris Klein has been involved in so many issues

over the years that I have found it difficult not

to call on her frequently. Her level of

understanding goes way beyond “the drive to

Temple.” She has been there to support me and

the congregation in a very deep way and I

thank her. There are many congregants who know “the

drive to Temple” is more than just that. So to

those who may be new to the concept, maybe

think about it as you are on your way to

observe, practice, work, learn, socialize, and

teach. It’s not just about getting there, but the

approach and the journey as part of your

experience.

Alan Goldberg, President

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

By Susan Thomas, Archivist

am happy to announce that most of our

archival materials are now safely back into

our Archives here at the Temple. Over 100

boxes of documents, books, memorabilia, etc.,

were stored off-site in a secure facility

following the December 2012 tornado. Now

that most of the repair work has been

completed on the building, the archival

contents were returned to the Temple last

month. I plan to spend the next few months re-

arranging, organizing, and cataloguing the

recently-returned documents. This is an

exciting process as I am always discovering

new and interesting items that I did not

previously know were in our collections.

Now that our Archives are fully-functioning, I

want to encourage you to send me any

newspaper clippings, programs, certificates, or

other documentation related to achievements of

you or your relatives. For example, the

Archives keeps on file any notices or

announcements regarding congregants’

weddings, births, graduations, confirmations,

deaths, etc. If you have any such items, please

send copies to the Archives. As much as possible, I plan on working at the

Archives for a few hours each Monday and

Wednesday morning. If you need information

from the Archives or have any questions about

our holdings, please either call me at the

Temple on those mornings or contact me by e-

mail at susanthomas1744@comcast.net. I look

forward to working to improve our Archives

C

I

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and to make our collections more accessible to all of you.

Sign up for the Best Summer of your Life

at Henry S. Jacobs Camp!

Programs for Every Child

Scholarships Available for First-Time

and Continuing Campers

Plan now for a great Summer Experience! Due to the generosity of an

anonymous donor, Temple youth will be able to receive a $1,000 incentive

grant for Camp tuition for first-time campers and $500 for continuing campers.

These funds are in addition to the first time campers scholarship program of

$1,000 from the Goldring Family Foundation.

Contact Henry S. Jacobs Camp, 3863 Morrison Road, Utica, MS, (601) 885-

6042,

fax: (601) 885-6269, Website: jacobs.urjcamps.org

Mobile Area Jewish Federation Annual Meeting

Sunday, March 8th at 12:30 p.m.

Ahavas Chesed Synagogue Please RSVP by February 27th

(need headcount for caterer).

Telephone: 343-7197 or email to majf123@bellsouth.net

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CONTRIBUTIONS

A plaque has been placed in honor of Lowell Friedman’s 85th birthday from his loving wife In honor of Lowell Friedman’s birthday – Laura & Walter Levy, Sandra & Harvey Gandler,

Amy & Jack Friedlander, Jean Fry, Pauline & Michael Brown A speedy recovery for Max Mutchnick – Harriet & Bill Kahn In memory of Amy Wood – Deborah & Alton Sack In memory of Carolyn Metzger – Gail & Peter van Oosten In memory of Tini Appelman – Gail & Peter van Oosten In memory of David Conrad – Diane & Alan Franco In memory of Susan Sparks – Nancy & Richard Hill In memory of Ed and Edna Cooper – Martha & G.B. Kahn In memory of Sara Friedlander – Mary Ann Friedlander In memory of Joe Stern – Mary Ann Friedlander In memory of Giberdo Anaya – Iris & Nate Ginsberg Rabbi’s Appreciation Fund – Ceresa & Paul Frenkel Temple General Fund – Stacy Goode, James Perry Cemetery Fund in memory of Becky & David Friedlander and Jacob & Cyril Rich –

Dr. Gary & Jenny Rich

YAHRZEIT

It is a true Mitzvah to honor those whose memory we hold dear by attending services on the Shabbat Yahrzeit

(year’s time), joining your congregation in reciting Kaddish, and the giving of charity in their memory.

March 6 Rose Saks, Hyman Berkower, Cecile Olensky Mishkin, Lawrence Fetterman, Hank Becker,

Sam Edelbaum, Milton Leigh, Albert Metzger, Maury Friedlander, Lorene Frenkel

March 13 Salomon Friedman, Lillian Holberg, Fannie Salmon Whitehead, Annette Loeb, Gladys Fried,

Jacob M. Buchman, Abe Lewis, Florence Millstein, Sam Millstein, Henna Aronson, Jean Jacobs

March 20 Sylvia Raymon Fleisher, Maurice Garb, Narka Lang Fuller, Joe Passero, Sol Stern, Janette Gardberg,

Cheri Ann Silverman, Florence Kaplan Bloom, Catherine Papouchado, Sophie Yassem

March 27 Herman Vogel, Abe Hyman, Richard Mintz, Thelma Renaud, Jack Carlie, George Kunstadt,

Allen C. Nadler

April 3 Gussie Axelrod, Melvin Bauer, Raymond S. Schear, Susan Tema Gardberg, Louis Raymon,

Carolyn Silverman

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FROM OUR SHALIACH, ARAD LERNER

ugust 3, 2010 is a date I will never

forget. It was the day I joined the

IDF.

It is hard to put into

words the entire

process of joining

the IDF, because it

is not just acts that

are involved in this

entire life changing

experience. There

are a lot of people

involved and a lot of

feelings and

thoughts; some of

which began from

the day you were

born and, for some,

an important factor

in deciding whether

to bring a child into

this world.

Growing up and as a

child you don’t

think about it a lot, not until maybe

towards the end of the 11th grade, when

you get your first summons for a physical

exam and other cognitive tests. Then it

hits you all of a sudden and then people

around you start to ask when do you recruit

and where. My father always joked (really

wishing it were true) that I was going to

the IDF orchestra to play the triangle.It

becomes the main issue of your life.

Everything happens so fast and then you

just find yourself standing on that bus

platform surrounded by your friends and

family and hearing

your name over the

speakers. Everyone

is crying around you

and it seems so

normal. No one is

protesting or asking

why.

I must say that at first

I went to combat not

because I was a

Zionist, but because I

wanted to check my

physical and mental

boundaries. But

throughout the

service, by walking

all over that land, I

fell in love with Israel

and her beauty. I

understood the

importance of what we are doing and kept

in mind all of those who did it before me.

Remembering that they are the reason I am

here and now it is my turn to protect my

family, my friends, and my country.

I would like to thank the Mobile Area

Jewish Federation for bringing me here.

MAZEL TOV! to Amelia (Amy) Holberg and Major Gregory

Postal, M.D. on the birth of their son Asher Gabriel Postal born February 2, 2015 at the

Martin Army Community Hospital (Ft. Benning, Georgia). Asher is the nephew of

Jordan Holberg. The proud grandparents are Bob and Elaine Holberg and his great-

grandmother is Amelia (Mimi) Holberg.

A

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Springhill Avenue Temple’s

Purim Celebration

Friday, March 6 – 6:00 p.m.

with a Special Purim Play

“MEGUILLA ON THE ROOF”

with songs reminiscent of the music from

“Fiddler On The Roof”

Don’t miss the Special Musical Purim Spiel

Also, a Purim dinner hosted by

the Religious School and catered by Tyner’s

The Purim dinner is free of charge, but for planning purposes, please be

kind enough to RSVP by February 24th

Please email or call the Temple office to make your reservations

(478-0415 or secretary@springhillavenuetemple.com)

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The Springhill Avenue Temple Sisterhood Annual

CORNED BEEF EXTRAVAGANZA Tuesday, March 17, 2015

*¼ lb. corned beef sandwich on Jewish rye bread

*Kosher dill pickle

*New York style cheese cake

*Bag of chips

*condiments

PREPAID orders only – order deadline is March 10th.

For More Information call or email:

Springhill Avenue Temple at 478-0415

secretary@springhillavenuetemple.com

1769 Springhill Ave., Mobile, AL 36607 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Order Form

I would like to order:___Corned Beef Sandwich Box Lunches

@ $10.00 each = _______ (total enclosed)

Please Make Checks Payable to: Springhill Avenue Temple Sisterhood

Orders can be picked up at Springhill Avenue Temple (10:30 until Noon)

OR DELIVERED (only for orders of 10 or more) Name of Business and Contact:

___________________________________________________________________

Pickup or Delivered? __________________________________________________

Delivery Address:_____________________________________________________

Zip Code:________ Phone Number: ______________________________________

Email Address for confirmation: _________________________________________

Name of Temple Member who sold this order: ______________________________

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Traditional Passover Seder Friday, April 3, 2015

5:30 p.m. Shabbat Service 6:00 p.m. Seder

hosted by the Springhill Avenue Temple Sisterhood and Men’s Club

RESERVATIONS ONLY

Brisket and cheesecake with traditional Passover dishes.

$35.00 - Temple Members; $40.00 - guests; $20.00 - children under 13.

You can make your reservations by mailing your check made payable to Springhill Avenue Temple; calling the Temple Office

(478-0415) for credit card charges or email secretary@springhillavenuetemple.com

The deadline for reservations is Wednesday,March 25th!

Passover Memorial/Yizkor Service

Friday, April 10th 10:30 a.m.

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Religious School with Arad making a "rosh deshe"(grass head or chia head in

American) to celebrate Tu B’Shevat!

Photos courtesy of Arad Lerner Top photo – Dori Small, Ruthie Touchton, Connor Furman,

and Jay Handmacher

Middle photo – The Solomon boys – Abe and Joe

Bottom photo – Ruthie Touchton

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March Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday To ...

1 Kay Friedlander 7 Brian Rich 17 Bryan Maisel 23 Violet Hirsch

2 Penny Adamo 8 Gary Gamble 17 Margaret Moore-Nadler 25 Elliot Borak

..2 Kathyrn Denson 9 Matthew Kessler 17 Doris Claire Stein 25 Amelia Miller

2 John Zelnicker 9 Wendy Solomon 18 Amy Friedlander 26 Mary Green

3 Arthur Denson 11 Hanna Garden-Monheit 18 Jill Friedman 27 Drew Gottleib

3 Naomi Gardberg 11 Phillip Hyman 19 Christine Hill 27 Michelle Schjott

3 Mitchell Lawley 13 Georgina Hall 19 David Loeser 28 Celia Mutchnick

3 Daniel Toubiana 13 Elaine Holberg 20 Gilbert Laden 29 Josh Lansky

5 Christine Conrad 13 Barbara Lawley 21 Jennifer Gamble 29 Joseph Mishkin

5 Jennifer Feibelman 13 Darlin Tolpin 21 Jaxon Hall 30 Benjamin Holberg

5 Todd Rich 14 Jeff Fink 21 Robert Hyman 30 Abigal Klein

6 Danielle Appelman 16 Jerry Silverstein 21 Joanna Kessler

6 Miller Eberlein 16 Arielle Singh ` 22 David Furman

6 Edith Misrok 17 Maxwell Lansky 23 David Cherniak

Happy Anniversary To ... 5 Dana & Nathan Handmacher

5 Katie & John Webster

9 Joy & Jonathan Gardberg

10 Melanie & William Susman

17 Diane & Alan Franco

24 Nancy & Richard Hill

26 Audra & Adam Sack

28 Lisa & Eric Lansky

April Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday To ... 1 Jennifer Aronson 15 Susan Friedman 27 Marc Miller

1 David Schjott 15 Michael Rosenbaum 28 Alexis Goldberg

3 David Stein 15 Sharon Sokol 28 Shirley Silverman

4 Jordan Holberg 16 Robert Kahn 29 Michael Friedlander

4 Tara Holberg 16 Lisa Van Beuren 29 Brian Mishkin

4 Cecile Spain 16 Jan Yellin 29 Stanley Small

5 Thomas Kessler 17 Katherine Barkin 30 Frank Anderson

5 Sherry Mutchnick 19 Gary Rich

6 Robert Holberg 20 Bettina Prager Happy Anniversary To ... 7 Rose Brunson 20 Daniel Tolpin 10 Katherine & Richard Pearl

7 Warren Koffler 20 Elizabeth Zimmerman 17 Ellie & Cole Appelman

8 Cory Garfunkel 24 Shari Green 20 Ellen & Buzzy Zivitz

9 Paul Frenkel 25 Jacob Friedlander 22 Claris & Sam Feibelman

9 David Gardberg 25 Robin Mishkin 23 Tonia & Jerry Silverstein

10 Melville Sternberg 25 Odette Sternberg 29 Pauline & Michael Brown

11 Barry Silverman 26 Debra Krulewicz

13 Meryl Harris 27 Jim Denson

13 Steven Zimmerman 27 JoAnne Fusco

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Donald M. Kunstadt, Rabbi J. Michael Pereira, Second Vice-President

Alan Goldberg, President Aaron Solomon, Treasurer

Alan Hirsch, First Vice-President Liz Fry, Secretary

CALENDAR Torah Study – Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. March 4, 11, 18, and 25 Adult Religious School – Sundays 10:30 a.m. March 1, 15, and 22 Hebrew School – Sundays 8:30 a.m. March 1, 15, 22

Friday 4:00 p.m. March 6

(no classes March 29 or April 5) Religious School – Sundays 9:45 a.m. March 1, 15, 22

Friday 5:00 p.m. March 6

(no classes March 29 or April 5) Friday, March 6 6:00 p.m. Purim Shabbat Service and

Purim Celebration with dinner and a play Sunday, March 8 12:30 p.m. Mobile Area Jewish Federation Annual Meeting

Ahavas Chesed Synagogue

(more details on page 3) Tuesday, March 10 Deadline for Corned Beef Lunches

(Order form on page 8) Tuesday, March 17 Sisterhood’s Corned Beef Extravaganza

Pickup/Delivery Day Wednesday, March 25 Deadline to RSVP for the

Traditional Passover Seder for Friday,

April 3rd (more info page 9)

THE TEMPLE BULLETIN (USPS-

966-900) is published monthly by

Springhill Avenue Temple,

1769 Springhill Avenue

Mobile, AL 36607.

“Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile,

Alabama.” POSTMASTER:

Send address change to:

1769 Springhill Ave.

Mobile, AL 36607