https://bnaibr.org SEPTEMBER 2021 / Elul—Tishi 5781/5782

ETERNAL LIGHT - SEPTEMBER 2021

From the Rabbis, the Staffs, the Boards of Trustees of Congregation B’nai Israel and Beth Shalom Synagogue,

and the Board of Directors of United Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge, we wish you a Happy New Year.

May 5782 bring you health & prosperity,

the joys of family and community!

L’shana Tova Umetukah!

לשנה טובה ומטוקה!

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I have some favorite English words that sound like Yiddish words, “far-flung” & “farfetched” are two of them. I have some favorite English words that are derived from Yiddish, for example the word “glitch.” I also like how some words from other languages have come into Yiddish, especially the word “bentch.” “Bentch” is from the Latin “benedictus” with both words sharing the meaning “bless”. I have heard people speaking about bentching after a meal, in other words saying the Grace after Meals, birkat hamazon. I have heard people saying it is time to “bentch licht,” meaning it is time to light the candles for the start of Shabbat or holidays. As a rabbi I

have had people ask me if they can “bentch gomeil,” which means that they are requesting the opportunity to say the public blessing of thanksgiving recited after one has been in danger. The Gomeil blessing is recited as part of the Torah service and involves the one who has been saved from danger reciting a blessing and the congregation answering them. While saying a blessing for those in need of healing, Mi Shebeirach, has become standard in Reform Jewish congregations in the last few decades, I have encountered request for to “bentch gomeil” very infrequently. I think that if we are going to ask for God’s healing blessings, it seems to me that the one who is healed after serious illness or the one who has survived a car crash or the ones who have survived a hurricane should have an opportunity to thank God for those blessings. It has been quite a week as we move on in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Thank God, we have made it through, and we are able to support each other, even as so much has been ever-changing and uncertain. As part of our Rosh Hashanah Torah service this year, I am going to add the opportunity for the entire congregation, in person and on Zoom to “bentch gomeil,” to say the prayer of thanksgiving for having made it through. I am adding this blessing inspired by Rabbi Bob Loewy’s response to Hurricane Katrina and Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell’s response to massive floods in her community. I hope that it is a very long time before any of us needs to offer this blessing again. Stay safe. L’shanah tovah u’metukah! May you have a good and sweet New Year! May 5782 be a year of health & prosperity filled with the joys of family & community. Rabbi Batsheva Appel

FROM THE RABBI

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Shalom! We would like to announce the results of the vote that was held on Sunday, August 22nd, regarding the possible unification of Beth Shalom Synagogue and Congregation B ’nai Israel. The votes have been cast and counted according to the requirements of each congregation. Beth Shalom Congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor Congregation B ’nai Israel voted overwhelmingly in favor Mazel tov! This is an amazing moment of transition for the Baton Rouge Jewish community, and now the hard work really begins. The Board of Directors for the new congregation will meet soon to start planning next steps, including the selection of its Executive Committee. The members of this new Board are Scott Berg, James Bullman, Lindsey Burton, Steven Cavalier, Heather Folks Givens, Julie Hoffman, Jak Kunstler, Mitch Rayner, Victor Sachse, Marc Sager, Harold Silverman, and Lindi Spalatin. There will be many decisions to be made and many opportunities for your involvement as the work of our new shared sacred community begins. Among the earliest and most important tasks will be selection of a name for the new congregation and establishment of a Rabbinic Search Committee. The unification of the two congregations will become effective January 1, 2022, and our hope is that the first Congregational Meeting will occur soon thereafter. We will continue to have shared worship and programs, in addition to the joint religious school, as the new congregation is created. Thank you to the Joint Synagogue Exploratory Committee, chaired by Barry Blumberg and Linda Posner for their more than two years ’ work. Their discussions and hard work paved the way that has now brought our congregations together to become one sacred community. Thank you to James Bullman, Steve Cavalier, Diane

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UNIFICATION VOTE MEETING

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UNIFICATION VOTE MEETING

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Dean, Mark Hausmann, Jak Kunstler, Susan Lipsey, Jill Roby Pike, and Robbie Rubin. Thank you to all those who were part of the task forces that prepared their reports and recommendations. You have laid the groundwork for the incoming Board of Directors. Thank you to the current Boards of both congregations for ensuring that their members fully participated in making this decision. Thank you to everyone who voted. We are on the brink of celebrating the Jewish New Year as we celebrate beginning a historic direction for the future of Jewish Baton Rouge. We will build our new community retaining the heritage and history of two strong legacy congregations as we look to the future. May 5782/2022 be a year of hard work, growth, harmony, and holiness for the new congregation that we are creating and shaping. We wish you and your family a L ’shanah tovah u ’metukah! A good and sweet new year! Andy Blumberg, President, Congregation B ’nai Israel

United Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge

Scott Berg

James Bullman

Lindsey Burton

Steven Cavalier

Heather Folks-Givens

Julie Hoffman

Jak Kunstler

Mitch Rayner

Victor Sachse

Marc Sager

Harold Silverman

Lindi Spalatin

BOARD MEMBERS

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Unification Vote Meeting - Celebration

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Sun Sept 12 3:00 pm Memorial Service at the Jewish Cemetery (1411 North Street)

Yom Kippur services are

RESERVED SEATING.

Please call the office (225-343-0111), email the office (office@bnaibr.org)

or go to the form listed in the weekly emails.

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Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9 - 30:20)

Friday, September 3 6 pm, Shabbat Service Multi-Access - in person and Zoom Rabbi Batsheva Appel

Saturday, September 4 10 am, Minyan (Zoom) 8 pm, Havdalah - Zoom Hosted by Esther & Victor Sachse

Vayeilech (Deuteronomy 31:1 - 30)

Friday, September 10 6 pm, Shabbat Shuvah Service Multi-Access - in person and Zoom Rabbi Batsheva Appel

Saturday, September 11 10 am, Minyan (in person) 8 pm, Havdalah - Zoom Hosted by Esther & Victor Sachse

Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1 - 52)

Friday, September 17 6 pm, Joint Shabbat Service (Multi-Access - in person and Zoom) Location: Kleinert Ave. property Rabbi Batsheva Appel

Saturday, September 18 10 am, Minyan (in person) 8 pm, Havdalah - Zoom Hosted by Esther & Victor Sachse

Sukkot Shabbat Chol ha-Moed

(Exodus 33:12 - 34:26)

Friday, September 24 6 pm, Sukkot Service Tailgate Multi-Access - in person and Zoom Rabbi Batsheva Appel

Saturday, September 25 10 am, Minyan (in person)

PRAYER

שבת שלום

The Temple office will be closed

Thursday, September 16, 2021

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Shabbat Minyan Saturdays - 10:00 am

Gary Weill Youth Room

This is a participatory service (no one is ever put on the spot) that includes worship, torah

reading, and spirited discussion. Services are held in the Gary Weill Youth; please enter through the side door near the back of the building. People are welcome to come at any time during the service, but if you arrive well after starting time and find the door locked, please call 225 572 -1508, and some-one will come to the door. We observe the CBI guidelines, and therefore, we will be requiring masks and physical distancing.

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OUR COMMUNITY

1 Ronen Hillman

3 Elijah Bender

4 Andy Blumberg

8 Diana Mann

8 Jack Kahn

8 Buster Kantrow

9 Lee Newman

11 Marc Sager

11 Rabbi Barry Weinstein

12 Chris Pike

12 Hamilton Shaw

14 Luke Shiroda

14 Rebecca Gottsegen

15 Gregg Lubritz

15 Judith Levy

16 Charles Hughes

16 Ann Dreyfus

17 Norman Schwamberg

17 Sidney Dreyfus

19 Gary Hirsch

20 Chris Adams

21 Ed Smith

23 Cathy Dardenne

24 Mal Corcoran

24 Brock Kantrow

24 Lauren Kaplan

24 Sarah Kaplan

25 Michael Kantrow

27 Alan Fishbein

29 Christine Weill

30 Justin Hillman

1 Maureen & Mal Corcoran

4 Stacy & Paul Dampf

2 Shoshanah & Beau Ferguson

2 Julie & Leonard Nachman

6 Deborah Sternberg & Michael Roth

23 Jean & Will Wilcox

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HIGH HOLY DAY SEATING

Due to COVID restrictions, seating will be limited and will be assigned Please put a contact name and indicate for each service how many seats are needed. We will be seating people by immediate family groups. Group size is limited to 10. Because of the complexity of assigning seats we will not be able to accommodate requests. Seats are first come. Send this form to the Temple office by email (office@bnaibr.org) or mail (3354 Kleinert Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. You can also complete this form online at https://bnaibr.shulcloud.com/form/HHD-seating-request.

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Friday Shabbat Services are multi-access (LIVE in the Sanctuary AND on Zoom)!

We are now three months after our reopening for worship services and things continue to change, sometimes rapidly. We are continuing to work with our Reopening Task Force on the guidelines for our community. We know that people have missed being present with each other in our Sanctuary. We also know that we need to be careful for each other because preserving our sacred community means taking measures for safety. We will continue to stream all services on Zoom when possible because we know not everybody will be able to return to the sanctuary. The guidelines that the Reopening Task Force determined based on our reopening plan have changed and are as follows:

• Worship will be held in the sanctuary, allowing for 6-ft social distancing of individuals and family groups

• Attendees will be required to wear face coverings • Attendees must verbally confirm to entry attendant that they meet other “non-symptomatic”

CDC criteria • Worshippers will be required to sign-in upon entering the building • Worshippers will be asked to use hand sanitizer • Worshippers will have the option of using their own smartphone or tablet for a virtual

prayer book or use a physical prayer book • No gatherings will take place after services • Any musician present on Shabbat will participate from the choir loft • Congregants will provide own kippot/tallitot as desired

There have been developments in the last week and we are asking our Re-opening Task Force to determine any changes that will made to our current guidelines in response. We are also beginning our plans for the High Holidays.

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2021—2022 Rel ig ious School

Facul ty

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR

JULIE TEPPER (RSDirector@bnaibr.org)

RABBI BATSHEVA APPEL

RABBI TERI APPELBY

HEBREW JEREMEY FINKELMAN

HEBREWLAND RALLA SHAW

PK-3 LEAD TEACHER HAYLEY ROYAL

MADRICHIM RIVER HUTCHISON

MOLLY DREZNICK

PK-4 LEAD TEACHER GARRETT BRANIS

MADRICHIM NOAH FINKELMAN

MANDY DREZNICK

KINDERGARTEN LILY TEPPER

W/ ISAAC ALTON

GRADE 1 LEAD TEACHER HANNAH GUIMBULLOT

MADRICHIM LAUREN KAPLAN

GRADE 2 HANNAH KAPLAN

GRADE 3 HANNAH ZIMMERMN

MADRICHIM SARAH KAPLAN

GRADE 4 MAGGIE MULLENIX

GRADE 5 JUSTIN HILLMAN

GRADE 6 MICHAEL TEPPER

GRADE 7 BRIANA MULLENIX

HISTORIAN/OFFICE HELP CANDICE HILLMAN

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A SWEET TEACHER ’S ORIENTATION!

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Welcoming the Living Waters When Hurricane Katrine hit New Orleans in August 2005, the flooding closed the only mikvah available to those of us who call Louisiana home. It has never been reopened. A core component of any Jewish community is a mikvah. Traditionally, a mikvah has been defined as “a pool of water,” some of it from a natural source. But another way to think of a mikvah is as “living waters,” and a spiritual resource for the community. The nearest mikvah which we can use currently is in either Houston or Atlanta. Over the last few years, the Louisiana Community Mikvah committee has been formed to remedy this lack and provide the Louisiana Jewish community with a much needed and desired mikvah. For generations, the mikvah was only used by women or those converting to Judaism. Over the last decade or so, and as society has progressed, the mikvah has become a place of spiritual renewal for those of all backgrounds, marking big events in their lives, or even smaller, private ones. The mikvah is a place where a person can be completely immersed in the presence of the Divine. It is a sacred space where you walk into the waters one person and walk out a completely different person. It is a cleansing of both mind and spirit. Each time a person decides to enter those waters, the experience is different and, in my opinion, never regretted. It takes the rush of everyday life, the spiritual schmutz, and the overwhelming transitions, and makes it all stop. Those precious moments in the waters, make the warmth of the Divine completely shine upon one. The Louisiana Community Mikvah will be open to men, women, all gender identifications, and anyone from the many expressions of Judaism. The only limitation is that any person who would like to immerse would need to be sponsored by any of the rabbis of one of our member organizations. While at first this may not be something that the majority of the Jewish community in the Baton Rouge area uses, I would hope that over time, its usage would increase as people realize the spiritual potential. As the building of the Atlanta mikvah strengthened their Jewish community, we are hoping the mikvah here will enhance and strength the Jewish communities in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and all of Louisiana’s Jewish members. Our deepest desire is for this mikvah to be a place of spiritual renewal, which will enhance and increase the spiritual connection to everyone’s Judaism. Currently, donations are made to the Jewish Endowment Foundations, c/o Louisiana Community Mikvah, 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 1040, Metairie, LA 70001. May this mikvah be a sacred, inviting space for each of us to immerse in the living waters from generation to generation. For further information, please feel free to contact me. Kindest regards, Joy Lewis joylewis3@gmail.com

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Zichronam Livracha May their memories be a blessing

YAHRZEIT לִבְרָכָה זִכְרוֹנָם

SEPTEMBER 3

Dora Binder Grandmother of Dore Binder

Frank Brookner Father of JoAnn Bender Grandfather of Ralph Bender

Anne Folks Step-mother of Chunky Folks

Ziggy Friedman Friend of David Kirshner

Marcus Hirsch Husband of Rachelle Hirsch

Harris Kaffie Uncle Celia Vine Strickler

Edward Samuel Klein Father of Anne Rotenberg

Debra Louise Lipsey Niece of Richard Lipsey

Martin Watsky Cousin of Mathile Abramson

SEPTEMBER 10 Jacob Martin Dampf Father-in-law of Aileen Dampf Grandfather of Jack Dampf Great-grandfather of Paige Wormser

and Paul Dampf

Alice Dupaquier Mother of John Dupaquier

Denna Ely Aunt of Lee Berg

Albert Fraenkel Grandfather of Albert Fraenkel

Felix Fraenkel Father of Albert Fraenkel

Otto Levy Grandfather of Ben Wormser

Bob MacDonald Father of Barbara Stockner

Leona Teller Mother of Rose Anne Suffrin

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YARHZEIT

SEPTEMBER 17

Joe Brooks Uncle of Rick Brooks

Mamie Cicero Mother of Mimi Weinstein

Jeffrey Elkind Brother of Karen Hirsch

Carol Lee Ginsberg Aunt of David and Mike Rubin

Lucille Henry Mother of Terry Howey

Bertha Stein Kaufman Grandmother of Bette Levine

Rose Leopold Aunt of Wendy Herschman

Aaron Levine Father of Bette Levine

Aaron Rosenthal Grandfather of Lynn Weill

Great-grandfather of David Weill

Abraham Schlesinger Jr Father of Elise Kaufman

Lail Shaw Father of Hamilton Shaw

Grace Wagner Aunt of Marc Samuels

SEPTEMBER 24

Will Binder Grandfather of Dore Binder

Lena Holtzman Brookner Mother of JoAnn Bender Grandmother of Ralph Bender

Darlene Daun Mother of Jennifer Cassin

Faye Davis Mother of Diane Mayer

Saul Grossman Father of Edie Bernard Grandfather of Ellen Sager

Julius Kaufmann Grandfather of Janet Black

Dorothy Felix Landry Grandmother to Jennifer Cassin

Thelma Langsner Aunt of Barry Blumberg

Byron Levy Husband of Carol Levy Father of Cindy Levy

Rosemary Gerson Levy Grandmother of Sherry Mayer

Benjamin Lopoo Grandfather of Sid Blitzer

Carrie Peal Grandmother of Lisa Binder

Isadore Peal Grandfather of Lisa Binder

Margaret Schuyler Grandmother of Matt Mullenix

Peggy Burkenroad Selber Mother of Patty Newton

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DONATIONS

General Fund

Cathy & Jay Dardenne: in memory of Aileen Dampf

Linda & Mark Posner: in memory of Insa Abraham

Judith & Robert Levy: in memory of Ben Levy

Judith & Robert Levy: in memory of Mary Louise Levy

Dinah & Jon Weil: in memory of our dear friend, Fran Edelman

Sissy & John Bateman: in memory of Frances G. Edelman

Cemetery Maintenance Fund

Zehnder Communications: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Kelly Lawrence: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Robin Keller: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Cazayoux Ewing, LLC: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Lynn & Felix Weill: in memory of Fran Edelman

Patricia Swenson: in memory of Frances Edelman

Lawrence W. Gilbert: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Craig Shultz: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Beth Swayne: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Jeremy Hunnewell: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Stephanie Funti: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Henry & Florence Chassaignac: in memory of Fran Greenberg Edelman

Allen Shai Gilad: in memory of Dr. Joseph and Fran Edelman

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Sunday, Sept 12, 2021 3:00 pm

The service will still be both in person & on Zoom. The link will be listed in the weekly

email and the High Holy Day email.

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DESIGNATED FUNDS

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The L’dor V’dor Legacy Society was established to grow the endowment to support Congregation B’nai Israel for generations to come. It is comprised of individuals who have made or have notified Congregation B’nai Israel of their intent to make a planned gift through their will or estate plans. Please return your information card to the temple office or fill out the form online at:

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HEALTH FIRST

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Andy Blumberg, President Jak Kunstler, Vice President

Scott Berg, Treasurer Heather Folks Givens, Secretary

Nicole Hazey Jack Isaacs Robert Levy Carol Newman Becky Ratcliff Victor Sachse Hamilton Shaw Lindi Spalatin Jamie Strickler

Nathan Levy, Men’s Club President Paige Wormser, Women of CBI President Charlie Roth, BaRFTY President

STAFF

Batsheva Appel, Interim Rabbi (rabbibsa@bnaibr.org)

Barry Weinstein, Rabbi Emeritus Julie Tepper, Religious School Director (RSDirector@bnaibr.org)

Cathy Duplechin, Office Administrator (office@bnaibr.org) James Hickman, Custodian

TEMPLE OFFICE VOLUNTEERS (TOV)

Edie Bender Robbie Rubin

MASKS REQUIRED WHEN ENTERING THE BUILDING.

Please do not come into the building if you are not feeling well!