RABBI’S MESSAGE - OCTOBER 2018

Congregation B’nai Harim Children of the Mountains

Congregation B’nai Harim, P.O. Box 757, Pocono Pines, PA 18350/ (570) 646-0100 http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org

NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2018/ VOLUME 24, ISSUE 10

PAGE ONE/B’NAI HARIM

The Sukkot season that just passed is one during which we reflect on the fragility of life and on its bounty. Watching the sukkah construction crew at work made me think of Abraham Lincoln’s saying, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” We were a house-committee united and our sukkah withstood wind and rain and stayed reasonably intact. It didn’t take a village, just a good-sized group of people with a goal. I recently read a wonderful tribute to a family group that had a goal. Our Weinberger family and the rest of their “clan” share a love of Israel and a deep motivation to honor

the memory of Ruth and Saul Weinberger. (You may recall that our sanctuary is named after Saul Weinberger). They decided to pool their resources in order to donate an ambucycle to Hatzalah. An ambucycle, as the name suggests, is a motorcycle equipped with life-saving equipment that can be used very effectively to get to the site of an emergency despite road congestion. I’m sharing the trib-ute with permission of Larry Weinberger as spokesperson for his whole family. But I’m doing this to entice others to think what they might be able to accomplish along with families or friends. We are, after all, part of something bigger than ourselves.

“Your ambucycle, donated in loving memory of Ruth & Saul Weinberger, is on the road and racing to people's aid in the fastest time possible. It has been assigned to Moshe Fromm of Ganei Tikva, a veteran United Hatzalah medic.

“Just yesterday at about 6:30 PM, Moshe had left work and was on his way to do some shop-ping when he was alerted to a man with severe shortness of breath. Already on your ambucycle, Moshe flicked on the red lights and siren and raced through the rush hour traffic to arrive at the ad-dress in an incredible 60 seconds! Grabbing his medical kit from the compartment, he ran into the home and found a 91 year-old man struggling to breathe. The agitated family members were astounded and relieved at the medic's rapid response.

“Although administering oxygen to the gasping patient may have seemed the obvious thing to do, the experienced medic was well aware that unnecessary O2 can actually cause harm. Moshe swiftly checked the man's blood oxygen level first, finding it within normal range. The volunteer then took a full set of vital signs, reassured the gentleman and inquired of the man's medical history from the family. As Moshe found no indications of serious illness, the seasoned medic surmised that the man's general unwell feeling had apparently caused him physical distress which had then snow-balled into a full-blown panic attack.

“Moshe spoke in a calm yet confident manner, explaining to the elderly gentleman that his self-induced hyperventilation was probably the cause of his acute symptoms. The medic gently guid-ed the man in relaxation breathing techniques which slowly improved his condition. Although the man was feeling much better by the time the ambulance arrived, the anxious patient insisted on be-ing taken to the hospital. Moshe briefed the crew, helped transfer the man to the ambulance and wished him a full recovery.

“The family profusely thanked the volunteer medic for his swift arrival and professional, car-ing treatment. Moshe bid them a good evening, hopped back on your ambucycle and drove off to begin his delayed shopping.

“May the wonderful lifesaving activities performed by this ambucycle be a great merit for Ruth & Saul Weinberger, as well as for the entire Weinberger family.”

And may this example inspire others to build something that will last.

Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - OCTOBER 2018 by Meredith Stempel

PAGE TWO/B’NAI HARIM

I would like to thank all past presidents for the superb job they have done. Having been a member of Con-gregation B’nai Harim almost from the very beginning I’ve witnessed the hardships and adversity you have endured and overcome. I know that at times it seemed like a thankless, frustrating position but know that you were and continue to be greatly appreciated. The building of the temple began with very modest plans: a donation of land and a relatively small budg-et. Thereafter it ballooned to several times the original budgeted amount with land that we had to pur-chase. One mortgage became two when it was learned that the rules changed and that commercial property had to have a paved parking lot. Despite what at times seemed like insurmountable obstacles, B’nai Harim persevered and grew. There were attempts to block the building of the temple. The township declared that there was an endangered spe-cies on B’nai Harim’s land. Just as we were about to hold our first High Holiday services the certificate of occupancy was delayed. You may ask -- and I’ve asked myself -- how I became president of Congregation B’nai Harim. The an-swer is very reminiscent of a childhood game: Tag, you’re it.

You don't have to know the words or the music. All you have to know is that your voice is im-portant. We rehearse once a month and sing during the next service. Even if you don't want to sing in a group during services, come sing together at practice! Choir Practice: Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15th

Choir Warm-Up: Oct. 13 and Oct. 27th

CALLING ALL WHO LIKE TO SING OUR CHOIR NEEDS YOU!

RABBI GERSHOM SIZOMU’S VISIT

Rabbi Gershom Sizomu spoke to members of Congregation B’nai Ha-rim and the community at 7 p.m. on August 22, 2018. He is the first native-born black rabbi in Sub-Saharan Af-rica, the chief Rabbi of Uganda and the first Jewish member of the Ugan-dan Parliament. He is the leader of the Abayudaya Jewish community, a 100-year-old community of approxi-mately 2,000 Jews who live among their Christian and Muslim neighbors in scattered villages in Eastern Uganda. He is a Senior Rabbinic associate at Be’chol Lashon, an American NGO that partners with the Abayudaya to improve health and economic devel-opment. Improved healthcare and community development provided by the Abayudaya Jews to their Christian and Muslim neighbors fosters good-

will and helps combat anti-Semitism. A focus on interfaith cooperation paved the way for Rabbi Sizomu’s election to the Ugandan Parliament. Dr. David Abramowitz, founder of the Dental Clinic in Nabugoye Village, met Rabbi Sizomu when he established the clinic and they became friends. When Rabbi Sizomu visits the U.S. he sometimes visits Dr. Abramowitz and this time when he visited David and Lori he said he would be happy to meet with all of us. We all enjoyed meeting him and hearing about his congregation.

Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum and Mark Silverberg.

PAGE THREE/B’NAI HARIM

HAVE WE MADE IT? by George Novick

Listening to Joe Lieberman’s eulogy for John McCain, I was struck by a strange feeling. Was the former Senator, Vice Presidential candidate in 2000 and potential candidate in 2008 telling us that it was possible to be an Orthodox Jew and hold high political office at the same time? Can these two seeming-ly divergent items be one? Evidently yes. Following Senator Lieberman was Henry Kissinger, a wielder of great power as Secretary of State in the Nixon and Ford cabinet. Kissinger is a non-religious Jew but still a Jew. Evidently it was okay for Jews to have extraordinary governmental and international power. Does this mean we have finally made it? Most American Jews born after the 1950s would answer that they are fully assimilated into our soci-ety. No position of power and trust is unattainable to them. I want to believe that my children and grand-children are and will continue to be an accepted part of society. I hope that our nearly 250 year experi-ment in democracy has done for us what we hoped it would. I want to believe it. HOW ABOUT YOU?

TIKKUN OLAM by Steven Levine

A special “thank you” to all our Temple members who schlepped shopping bags filled with food for our Kosher Food Pantry. I personally want to thank Jerry Goodstein for all his efforts in gleaning the shopping bags and delivering the foodstuff to the Food Bank in Scranton. The latest statistics show that unfortunately, the amount of homeless, vets, and needy in Monroe County has increased again this year. There is a desperate need for warm sweaters, pants, jackets and socks, especially for children since their numbers have grown

substantially. B’nai Harim is a station for RSVP’s HUGS (hats, clean underwear, gloves and scarves) Program and for the Mat Makers Program. Now it is most important that you add clothing to your plastic bag donations. Operation Chillout works diligently, dispersing these items to all those in need here in Monroe County and at Federation. Remember, as the weather gets colder the need gets greater.

Rabbi discussed our connections to Jews worldwide in one of her many wonderful ser-mons over the holidays. I’ll bet that you don’t know that you have a connection to the oldest continuously used synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. My Stepmother, Nina Henriquez Gruenberg, is the descendant of Levy Maduro one of Curacao’s first Jewish families. Curacao’s first Jews, 12 Sephardic families from Holland,

arrived in 1651. New Jersey Jewish News had a wonderful article on Curaçao’s Jewish History and Mikve’ Israel. https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/writers/lori-silberman-brauner/ Mikve’ Israel (MIE) has a sand floor. There are several explanations for the sand floor. One is that it symbolizes the Jews’ wandering 40 years through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land. An-other explanation is that the sand represents God’s prophecy to Abraham: “I will multiply your seed as the sands of the seashore and the stars in the heavens (Genesis 13:16).” Levy Maduro, who is quoted in the article, says, “Just like the descendants of Abraham, we are still here.” The last explanation comes from the fact that MIE, like other Sephardic temples, was founded by Sephardic Jews. During the Spanish Inquisition, Jews living in Spain and Portugal who remained were referred to as “Conversos” or secret Jews. They covered their synagogue floors to muffle the noise of prayer and avoid detection. So your connection… Every Passover I make Nina’s Garoza (Sephardic Charoses). It’s from MIE’s recipe book and it has been included in our Memories from Our Kitchen Cookbook. As they say in Curacao, “Escrito y sellado” - Written and Sealed – for a good year.

NETTING IT OUT by Honi Gruenberg

https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/writers/lori-silberman-brauner/

PAGE FOUR/B’NAI HARIM

GOLF OUTING AUGUST 2018

PAGE FIVE/B’NAI HARIM

DONATIONS

From: Stacy & Harvey Mitgang In memory of Stacy’s Father, Michael Bayer. From: Al & Dorothy Schips In memory of: 1. Al’s Mother, Lena Schips. 2. Dot’s Father, Samuel Strauss. 3. Dot’s Mother, Bessie Strauss. From: Florence Sweifach In memory of: 1. Her Father, Israel B. Fisch. 2. Her Brother, David B. Fisch. From: Marian Tabak In memory of her Mother, Lillian Blum. From: Stanley Kapitansky In memory of his Father, Harry Kapitansky. From: Barbara Kapitansky In memory of her Father, Abraham Thaler. From: Dorothy Jablonka In memory of her Brother, David Bernard Fisch. From: Meredith Stempel & Mikhail Levitin. In memory of Meredith’s Mother, Annette Stempel. From: Shelly Wismer In memory of her Grandmother, Becky Horn. From: Ira & Phyllis Miller In memory of Phyllis’ Father, Bion Fuller Paver. From: Lorraine & Stephen Schur & Family In memory of Lorraine’s Mother, Sally Wrubel. From: Dorothy Jablonka In memory of her Uncle, Samuel Spielvogel. From: Mikhail Zazovskiy In memory of his Mother, Roza Zazovskaya. From: Sam Neulinger In memory of his Mother, Netta Neulinger.

YAHRZEIT FUND

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New Members

William & Elizabeth Shaid

TEMPLE JUDAICA SHOP by Norma Krasne-Levine

BEAUTIFICATION FUND

Birthdays/Anniversaries/Yahrzeit Rememberances/Shabbat Dates and Film Festival information

- On page 6

From: Jim & Peggie Hannan To Ellen and Al Kagan - “We are thrilled for you at your beautiful new home. May every moment there be joyous. Congratulations!!"

KIDDUSH HOSTS

Kiddushes are such a delightful part of social-izing after a Saturday Morning service. We al-ways welcome hosts for our Kiddushes. The cost of sponsoring is $65.00 and includes bagels, cream cheese, coffee, tea, orange juice, milk and

all needed paper goods. Sponsors are welcome to supplement the Kiddush. To host a Kiddush, call Roberta Pineiro (570) 839-0107. October 13th - Rabbi Peg & Aaron Kershenbaum - In honor of

Aaron’s birthday October 27th - Maddy & Mel Mogel - Their farewell to B’nai

Harim as they move to Florida.

The Temple Judaica Shop is bursting with holi-day gift items. Come check out all the new good-ies we have to offer. Remember Jewish Book Month is here and Chanukah begins December 2nd this year. We have a wonderful selection of holi-day gift ideas. Save yourself the hassle of bucking the crowds in the mall. If you don’t see what you want, contact me and I will make every effort to

get what you want. The High Holiday gift items were sold before I even had a chance

to put them into the Gift Shop. Thanks to everyone who worked so

hard to make the High Holiday Services such a great success and so

meaningful. I will order roller skates for Honi for next year.

SAVE THE DATES

Mon., Oct. 1 - 10:15 AM - Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Serv. Wed., Oct. 3 - 10:30 AM - Take down Sukkah Sat., Oct. 13 - 9:00 AM - Religious School - 9:30 AM - Choir Warm Up 10:l5 AM - Services Sat., Oct. 20 - 10:30 AM - Choir Practice - 12:30 PM - Women’s Torah Sun., Oct. 21 - 10:30 - 1:15 - Engage Class Sun.,Oct. 27 - 9:00 AM Religious School - 9:30 AM Choir Warm Up 10:15 AM - Services

MEMORIAL BOARD

PAGE SIX/ B’NAI HARIM

If you take photos at any Temple func-tion, PLEASE send them to my e-mail leeron@ptd.net and identify the occa-sion and the faces. These photos make

our publicity more interesting to the community. Thanks, Lee Emerson

OCTOBER 4 Barbara Glazier 5 Samuel Spielvogel 26 TISHRI

7 Etta Kershenbaum 28 TISHRI 11 Sharyn Dockswell Etta Thaler 2 CHESHVAN 17 Sol Brown Louis Seger 19 Louis Detkin 20 Ann Heideband 24 Betty May 25 Sidney Goldman Rose Landau 27 Harry Mustokoff 31 Gertrude Kelmans

YAHRZEIT REMEMBRANCE

REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES BY ADDING THEIR NAMES TO OUR MEMORIAL BOARD— The cost for each plaque (one name per plaque) is $236. A minimum of $50 must accompany each request. The balance can be paid over one year for 1 or 2 plaques and/or two years for more than 2 plaques. For further information, please contact Stan Kapitansky, (718) 428-2140 or e-mail me at bspoco@verizon.net. Copies of the order form will be available at the temple, or you may download a copy directly from the web site. Stan Kapitansky, Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson

CELEBRATIONS

IF YOU TAKE PHOTOS

TREE OF LIFE

Dear friends! Every leaf on our beauti-ful Tree of Life is filled with your good news and events. It’s time to order a new batch! I am ready to take your

orders. Each leaf costs just triple Chai ($54.00) and will be engraved to your specifications. Please call Julia Shaykevich at (570) 620-0104 or contact her by e-mail at juliett72@yahoo.com to place your order.

ANNIVERSARIES

Last Name

First Name

Birthday Month

Birthday Day

Dottie Schips Oct. 6

Aaron Kershenbaum Oct. 9

Ira Miller Oct. 9

Harvey Mitgang Oct. 15

Joseph Bedrick Oct. 17

Ellen Kagan Oct. 26

Richard Miller Oct. 28

Sunny Goldfinger Oct. 29

William Shaid Nov. 2

Christina C. Rachlin Nov. 12

ADD’L GOLF OUTING - 2018

UPCUPCOMING SHABBAT DINNNERS

Allen & Phyllis Rubel Oct. 16

Friday, October 19th at 6:30 PM Friday, November 16th at 6:30 PM Friday, December 14th at 6:30 PM

PATRONIZE B’NAI HARIM’S ADVERTISERS YOUR PRINT PROJECTS ARE OUR PRIORITY

Let The UPS Store print your next project. No job too large or small - Newsletters, flyers, manuals

-A variety of finish options-

413 ROUTE 940, MT. POCONO, PA 18344 (570) 839-8010 (570) 839-8020

Store 5501@theupsstore.com

PAGE SEVEN/B’NAI HARIM

The Area’s Only Jewish Assisted Senior Living So Much Comfort So Close to Home

465 Venard Rd. Clarks Summit, PA 18411

Phone: 50-585-4400 Fax: 570-585-4500

Website: www.elangardens.org

JEWISH FAMILYSERVICES

Jewish Family Service is in need of Kosher food and toiletries marked with a recognized symbol. Please remember to bring a donation of at least one item when you visit the synagogue. All items

must be kosher, unopened and within the expiration date on the packaging. If each one of us brings one can or box of food each time we come to the Temple, it will make a real difference to the needy in our commu-nity. You can also write a check to “Jewish Family Service of Northeast Pennsylvania” and it will be delivered. It is also tax deductible. Thank you and keep up the great work. We hope you will continue to be generous throughout the year.

Jerry Goodstein

MISHEBEIRACH LIST

When putting a person onto the Mishebeirach List, it should be with person’s permission. Would the person like to be listed with their Eng-lish or Hebrew name? Please include a contact name and telephone number so that Rabbi Peg

may follow up with the person or with the member who placed the name on the list. Our policy now states that the list will be limited to members and their immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings and their spouses, children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses). Con-gregants are strongly encouraged to mention any person aloud at the appropriate time during the service, so we can pray for their improved health. REMEMBER TO HAVE THE PERSON’S NAME REMOVED, IF THE PERSON NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE ON THE LIST.

Our Yahrzeit list is open not only to those who have plaques, but to the entire congre-gation. This will allow you to remember your loved ones on their anniversary date.

The forms available at the Temple can be completed and returned directly to me. With this information, a reminder will be sent to you at the appropriate time, and the name of your loved one will be added to our kaddish list for that date. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at bspoco@verizon.net, 718-428-2140 or 570-646-4668.

Sincerely, Stan Kapitansky Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson

YAHRZEIT NOTIFICATION

In addition to the monthly newsletter, we publish a weekly online newsletter for all members with e-mail

addresses and Internet access. If you do not want to re-ceive email announcements or cannot access the Internet, please call Richard Feman 570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.

WEEKLY ONLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bethelparkumc.org/fileadmin/images/PrayerList1cl.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bethelparkumc.org/community/in_our_prayers/&h=828&w=1519&sz=72&hl=en&start=79&sig2=5YP4c0iYhd_dNxM_BSs2Ig&usg=__dvm9T7wHUpuFYZ_IYH

Congregation B’nai Harim

PO Box 757 5349 Pocono Crest Road Pocono Pines, PA, 18350

http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org

PHONE: Message Center (570) 646-0100

E-Mail:

rwbs@hotmail.com

DIRECTIONS Driving East on Route 940, turn right at the Pocono Pines traffic light at Route 423, continue on Pocono Crest road (formerly Sullivan Road) about 1&1/2 miles. Synagogue on left (before reach-ing 940). Driving West on Route 940, turn left at intersection of Pocono Crest Road (formerly Sullivan Road), and the Syna-

gogue will be on the right.(approx. 1/10th of a mile).

Next Board Meeting date: Sunday, October 21st at 9:30 AM. To be put on the agenda, contact Meredith Stempel at (570) 242-6244 no later than five days prior to the meeting.

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER

This is your newsletter, and we want your input. When

you have any news to share, please let us know so we

can publish it.

Deadline is the 20th of the month. News can be sent

(using WORD) to Paula Guenst at rwbs@hotmail.com.

The newsletter is published each month. Newsletter

subscriptions are available for $18 per year to non-

members of Congregation B’nai Harim. Please contact

Barbara Feman.

In addition to the monthly newsletter, we distribute

weekly online announcements to all members with

e-mail addresses and Internet access. If you have not

been receiving this please contact Richard Feman at

570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.

CONGREGATION B’NAI HARIM PO Box 757

5349 Pocono Crest Road Pocono Pines, PA 18350

RECURRING SCHEDULES Services Sat. 10:15 AM Shabbat Dinner Fri. 6:30 PM Religious School Sat. 9:00AM

PAGE EIGHT/B’NAI HARIM

Rabbi: Peg Kershenbaum Pres.: Meredith Stempel VP: Al Wismer Sec.: Carol Yates Treas.: Steve Bram Editor: Honi Gruenberg Member of the URJ - Union For Reform Judaism

The members of B’nai Harim are a very caring, close group but sometimes a member needs a little extra help. If you know of someone who needs a phone call or a visit, please either encourage them to call the Rabbi directly or email her yourself to let her know one of her congregants needs help.

DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FOR THE NOV. NEWSLETTER IS OCT. 20TH.

NEED SOME CHICKEN SOUP

NEED A CALL FROM RABBI?

KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES?

If you have recently moved, please send your new information to Honi Gruenberg at Gruenberg.honi@gmail.com. She will update the Membership list and generate a new list.

NEW ADDRESS?

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED