a poetry workshop by award-winning writer
TRANSCRIPT
Issue # 112 - Published 10 times per year January 2012 Tevet, Shevat 5772
A Poetry Workshop by
Award-Winning Writer Congregation Agudat Achim is
proud to offer an eight-week reading,
discussion and writing workshop for
poetry lovers and writers taught by
award-winning poet Susan Comninos. The class
will explore contemporary Jewish-American identi-
ties in poems by famous American authors.
Scheduled to start on Wednesday, Jan. 4, the
class will continue on Wednesdays, Jan 11, 18, and
25, and Feb 1, 8, 15 and 22. Susan will delve into
the work of Gerald Stern, Grace Paley, Matthew
Dican, Katha Pollitt and Mathew Zapruder. The
cost for the workshop is $65 per attendee.
Susan Comninos is winner of the 2010 Yehuda
Halevi Poetry Contest run by Tablet Magazine. Her
poetry has appeared in TriQuarterly, Quarterly
West, Lilith, Tikkun, Judaism, Midstream and the
Forward newspaper, among others. Last year, she
served as a judge for the Forward's Triangle Fire
Poetry Contest. Currently, Susan is a freelance arts
journalist for the Christian Science Monitor, Jewish
Daily Forward, and Albany Times Union.
She earned her BA in English from Cornell Uni-
versity, and an MFA in creative writing from the
University of Michigan, where she taught
"Introduction to Fiction and Verse Writing." Susan
lives in Guilderland.
Mery Gross Below is one of Susan Comninos’s earlier poems,
which first appeared in the winter 1996 issue of
Judaism.
A LOVE POEM
for my mother
Adonai of night and of flowers,
God of my life. I was not expected to be
beautiful. When flowers grew from my hands
I surprised everyone, but my mother.
In any language my name
means lily. Basin in a vase
or bath of rain, I have the same wholly American
whorls (fingerprints, curls) and features as when
my first-generation mother
invited me into being
her future. She asked and I answered
with a face like her mama's
michpoche, but with different colored
petals, my hair, oh my eyes.
-- Susan Comninos
Women’s Network Shabbat
Please join us on January 21st as over 50 women participate in the ser-
vice. A luncheon coordinated by Ruth Fraster will follow the service.
Why celebrate
120 years? This year, Congrega-
tion Agudat Achim
turns 120. As we have
done for past mile-
stones, we will engage in a year-long celebration of our past, present,
and future, as we look forward to our next 120 years!
The theme of our anniversary year is “Honoring our past. En-
suring our future.” It is my pleasure to introduce the logo for our 120 th
birthday. The logo was designed by the talented professional Walter
Boppert, who also designed our 120 Ways to Volunteer brochure. Wal-
ter worked closely with Henry Skoburn to come up with the winning
design. Thank you to Rabbi Ted for the Hebrew phrase that encapsu-
lates the English theme. Continued on page 2
2
President’s Column By the time you read this column, you will either be preparing to welcome 2012 or will have already celebrated it,
depending on the delivery date of this bulletin to your mailbox. As we enter into our 120 th year (1892-2012), I toast to
a wonderful new beginning at Congregation Agudat Achim, wishing us much success—growth, spirituality, and the
ability to engage our long-time and new members. Mazel Tov on reaching this milestone! I look forward to a year
filled with activities that honor our past and ensure our future, the theme selected by our 120 th Anniversary Committee
in collaboration with Rabbi Ted.
We couldn’t have introduced our 120th year better than with two of Rabbi Ted’s December classes—one on Jewish Ethics, cov-
ering such important topics as what makes us different from other ethical systems and ethics and priorities in tzedakah; and another
on teaching the Megillah trope to those interested in learning to chant the Book of Esther by March 2012. This class, taught jointly
with Steve Schmidt, continues on January 5, 12, and 26.
In December, we also celebrated Chanukah, first with a wonderful Women’s Network program for adults who are developmen-
tally challenged, coordinated by Ruth Fraster (Dec. 13), and then with our congregation at a Chanukah dinner (Dec. 20), coordi-
nated by Jack Mintzer and catered by “As You Like It.” The “AA Klezmer Kids” ensemble delighted audiences at both holiday
celebrations, led by conductor extraordinaire Joan Brown. A special thank you to the staff and volunteers who made both events
possible.
Our weekly online announcements were also launched last month through Constant Contact, an e-mail, marketing, social net-
working and surveying tool that allows organizations to more effectively communicate with the people they serve while sharing
information and promoting programs and activities. We are delighted to be on board with this cost-effective online resource and
plan to use it to enhance our online communication with congregants. Please note that printed announcements are still available at
the entrance of our sanctuary for those congregants who prefer information in print.
Lastly, I want to highlight the activities of our Social Action Chair, Randy Fox, who initiated a coordinated effort to collect hats
& mittens for local families in need. By the time you read this column, the items collected through our Hebrew School and our
members will have been delivered to families in need, through the "Adopt-a-Family" program run annually by the Schenectady De-
partment of Social Services.
May this year also show our neighboring community how caring our congregation is in recognizing their needs.
Mery Gross
Rabbi’s Column You will probably be receiving this as we come to the end of Chanukah. Over the last few years, a number of music
videos relating to Chanukah and other holidays have gone viral over the internet. These have come from groups such
as the “Maccabeats,” Yeshiva University’s male a cappela group, and the “Fountainheads” of Ein Prat, a mixed (male-
female, religious-secular) Israeli learning institution, which bills itself as the “The Israel Academy for Leader-
ship.” These videos are distinguished by their light, joyous quality, which celebrates not only the holiday but makes
Judaism seem fun and even hip. The Fountainheads particularly give a positive message about a Judaism accessible to those who are
not Orthodox. For my money, these presentations create a welcome counterbalance to better-known (at least to Americans) perform-
ances like Adam Sandler’s Chanukah song, which does evince ethnic pride but not the idea that Judaism might be something other
than comic relief. I believe that if Judaism is going to touch the upcoming generation of American Jews, we will have to tap into the
spirit of groups like the Maccabeats, The Fountainheads, and others. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to view some
of these videos at http://www.maccabeats.com/ and http://www.bogrim.org/thefountainheads.php. My family and I wish all of you a
happy and successful 2012! Rabbi Ted
Continued from page 1-Why celebrate 120 years? At last month’s 120th planning meeting, we had a meaningful discussion
about what our congregation means to our members, and why we should celebrate this
year. The stories were inspiring. Take Bud, who said “I can never repay what this syna-
gogue did for me on the day I laid my wife to rest.” He described as a miracle the comfort
he received from Reyut, which provided him with food for his wife’s shiva, and the con-
gregants who turned out in friendship for a man they had only known a short while. Or
Sara, whose family moved from a congregation where they had been members for years
without feeling part of the community, who was welcomed from day one at our shul, and
has been deeply involved ever since. Or Hillary, who made personal connections immediately, and was soon tapped to get in-
volved with the Carrot Festival, which she has been co-chairing for years. All of them found their niche at Agudat Achim. They
are the reason we celebrate milestones. Past president Susan Axelrod has said that the current generation of congregants is care-
taker for future generations, just as past generations were caretakers for this one. As Arnie Ritterband so ably put it, just as the
Jewish people have evolved since the days of Abraham, so has our congregation evolved, and will continue to evolve.
Please think about how you can make your membership in Agudat Achim more meaningful. Consider joining the plan-
ning committee for our 120th year. Our next meeting is Sunday, Jan. 22, 10:00 AM, at the synagogue. We love to welcome new
people to our efforts. Your co-chairs for the celebration are myself, Kathy Englebardt and Esta Skoburn. Share your ideas with
us. Join a committee. Save the date for our gala on Sunday, June 10. The theme is The Roaring 120’s. Onto the next 120 years
in strength! Jeffrey Handelman, Co-chair, 120th Committee
3
New Programming Committee Formed
As of this fall, the Adult Education Committee and the Jewish Year Committee have merged into a new single committee, the
Programming Committee. This committee will be responsible for both educational programs and programs that support ritual ob-
servances. Ritual events themselves are the responsibility of the Ritual Committee; events that combine ritual and program sup-
port, such as the Megillah reading at Purim, will be jointly organized by the Programming and Ritual Committees. The merger will
help with scheduling by making sure that educational programs and ritual-related programs do not conflict with one another, and
help coordinate educational offerings with upcoming ritual events. The co-chairs of the Programming Committee are Rob Fox and
Steve Schmidt. If you have any ideas for upcoming programs of either type, contact them and let them know what you'd like to do! Steve Schmidt
Religious School News—Many, many, thanks to everyone who helped make the Hanukkah season celebra-
tions so successful for the Religious School and the Congregation. Everyone was truly involved. It is this type of
ruach that makes Agudat Achim a unique Congregation and I enjoy being a part of it. I know that I cannot name eve-
ryone and will probably forget some people, but special thanks must go to our USY chapter and the Co-presidents
Molly Gavens and Olivia Frank for their participation at the dinner and the help with the dreidel competition. Thanks
also to the participants in the homemade Menorah contest; their creativity really shined. A BIG thank you to the Education Vice
President Susan Braiman, School Board Chair Jessica Friedman, our School Board members, Ellen Daviero and her kitchen crew, as
without their help, an event of this magnitude would not be so successful.
Kudos also go out to Joan Brown, Kaitlin Goldstein, and all the members of “AA Klemzer & Company”. Their music really
brightened up the evening. Many thanks to Jackie Rowen for taking the lead on the responsibility of having the students perform a
Hanukkah play this year and the rest of the teachers for helping her along. This dinner was truly something special and I hope those
of you that attended had as good a time as I did.
I look forward to 2012 as we continue to bring you the best programs for your school, your Congregation, and your family.
Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Jack Mintzer, Director of Education and Programming
Mama Doni December 3, 2011
4
WOMEN’S NETWORK NEWS
Each month, Women’s Network is featuring a piece of what we do, in the bulletin. This month, we asked
Sylvia Winer to share her experience to further illustrate what Women’s Network is about. I came to Schenectady in 1956. We had a two year old son at the time. Fortunately friends from our hometown
were members of CAA living in the area.
Our social life evolved from the synagogue and progressed to involvement with Sisterhood. I started in small jobs,
progressed to Secretary, Donor chairperson, etc. until becoming President when the synagogue was moving to Troy Rd.
However, my installation was on Nott Terrace.
I can honestly say these have been rewarding experiences for me and my family. Our best friends were found mostly
at CAA and continue until the present day, even though many have moved away we still are very much involved in each
others lives. Our children also made their friends here and continue those relationships although living in many diverse
places.
As the saying goes “you get out what you put in.” I can truly say I am happy with the life and connections I made
through Sisterhood/Women’s Network. Sylvia Winer
LEORA JUDAICA GIFT SHOP
Please take a look at the article immediately following these Women’s Network updates!
COLLEGE PACKAGES
Thank you to Este Sylvetsky and Ava Lubert for packing all of the Chanukah packages which were sent to our col-
lege students. They unexpectedly finished them by themselves, but thank you to all who planned to help! Stay tuned for
details about Purim packages!
CHANUKAH PARTY
We want to thank all who participated in making our annual Chanukah Party for the disabled who live in area group
homes such a success. Special thanks go to: Ruth Fraster for coordinating the event, Joan Brown for leading AA Klez-
mer and Company, all of our “Klezmer Kids,” all of the volunteers who helped decorate the room and prepare the food,
everyone who shopped for the gifts for the guests and to all who came to add ruach to a beautiful event! Each year, Agu-
dat Achim Reyut together with the Reyuts of Beth Israel and Gates of Heaven sponsor this party. It is a true team and
community effort and we thank all who were involved. Please take a look at the pictures from the party on the following
page.
BOOK GROUP
The Book Group will be meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11th at noon in the synagogue library. "The Finkler Question"
by Howard Jacobson will be under discussion. There is one copy of the book in the library. It may be taken out for 14
days. Please join us whether you have read the book or not. Also, stop by the library and see the number of interesting
magazines and publications that are there for your enjoyment and enlightenment. Please contact Ruth Fraster if you have
any questions.
WOMEN’S NETWORK SHABBAT AND TORAH FUND
Saturday, January 21st will be a special day for Women’s Network. Two of our biggest events of the year are occur-
ring on the same day, which is why they are being mentioned together here.
Saturday morning is our annual Women’s Network Shabbat celebrating the anniversary of the Women’s League for
Conservative Judaism, as well as the women of our synagogue. Over 50 women will be participating in the service,
which will be led by Rabbi Miriam. Thank you to Hildy Reich for chairing Women’s Network Shabbat, and to Ruth
Fraster for coordinating the fabulous luncheon that will follow. The entire congregation is invited to attend.
On Saturday evening, please join us for our annual Torah Fund program along with a wine and cheese reception at
the home of Mery Gross. Although we sell Torah Fund cards throughout the year, this is the main fundraiser that we do
for the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). We are excited to announce that Ariel Russo, a current student at JTS, will
be the guest speaker. Thank you to Cara Korn for chairing this event. Since we are holding this program on Saturday
night, it is open to the whole congregation. Please refer to the separate flyer in the bulletin for more details.
HEARTS AND HUMMUS
Hearts and Hummus is the annual Mitzvah project we do for Ellis Hospital. Each year, we stuff and sew heart-
shaped pillows for the cardiac patients at the hospital. More details about the event will be in the February bulletin; how-
ever, we would appreciate your help now if you have a sewing machine! Please contact Linda Shapiro at 382-8106 or
[email protected] if you are available to sew a few pillows. The thread and heart-shaped fabric will be provided.
Thank you!
MAH JONGG CARDS
It is time to order your 2012 card ($7 for the standard size and $8 for large print). Checks should be made out to
Women’s Network and mailed to Sara Gavens, 64 Victoria Ct., Niskayuna. Hillary Fink
5
Leora Judaica It has been very nice seeing so many of
you in the shop over the past couple of
months. I hope you enjoyed a Happy Cha-
nukah with family and friends.
I want to take this opportunity to thank
two wonderful volunteers who make them-
selves available to open the shop during religious school hours and
various events. Diane Frank has consistently helped out at the
shop since she resigned as gift shop chair many years ago and is the
person responsible for bringing in the lovely Bracha Lavee
prints. Cheryl Ratner has been able to fill in on short notice, has
enthusiasm and great ideas and even polished all of our beautiful
jewelry, which, by the way, is priced well below market value.
I would also like to welcome two women who have recently
stepped up to help out. Susan Axelrod, who with everything else
she is involved with in the synagogue, has offered to help in the
shop and will be called on when needed. As most of you know,
Arleen Brilliant has recently retired as synagogue administrator and
has offered to open the shop consistently on Tuesday afternoons
during Religious School hours. I look forward to working with
both Susan and Arleen and welcome others to join our group. We’d
like to be open whenever there is something going on in the build-
ing but need additional volunteers to make it happen. If you have
an appreciation for beautiful Judaica and enjoy talking to people,
Leora Judaica is a perfect place to spend a couple of hours. Your
time would be greatly appreciated.
If you are not available to shop when we are open, feel free to
call any of us at home to set up a time that is convenient for you.
Also, please visit our online Judaica shop at
http://agudatachim.judaicabeautiful.com
Lastly, if you are looking for something we don’t carry, please
let us know. We will be happy to look into the possibility of carry-
ing a new item or to place a special order. Remember, all proceeds
go directly back to our synagogue.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy 2012. I look forward to seeing
you soon. Este Sylvetsky, Gift Shop Chair
Your Synagogue Library News
Now that you are familiar with how to check out a
book, you might be wondering what books the library has
to check out. Below is a list of categories of books that
the library owns: Books pertaining to all of Dr. Berk’s lecture series,
Rabbi’s classes, other adult education class offerings,
and the synagogue book club books.
Jewish and Israeli History from the biblical times to the
present.
Jewish Fiction, including Yiddish Writers
Jewish Cooking, including our own Divine Kosher Cui-
sine Cookbook with thanks to the cookbook committee
for donating a reference and a circulating copy.
Jewish personalities from Golda Meir to Sandy Koufax.
Chumash and Tanach Commentary
Jewish Lifecycle Events
Shabbat and Holidays
Holocaust Your suggestions for
book and periodical pur-
chases count! If you
would like the library to
purchase a book, or sub-
scribe to a periodical
please leave a note for
the librarian with your suggestion in the return bin. A special thank you goes to Dr. & Mrs. Alan Posner
for continuing Sadie Schneider’s tradition of donating the
Pakn Treger magazine to the library!
Happy Reading!!
Lori B. Stein, Volunteer Librarian
December 13th Chanukah party for people with disabilities
6
ADULT EDUCATION FUND In memory of Harry Soffer Doris & Bob Pletman Roberta & Stephen Berk Betty & Murray Weissman In memory of Ida Belik Roberta & Stephen Berk In memory of Murray Weissman's brother Sam Lefkowitz In memory of our father, William Stewart Ann & Alan Posner ALAN WESTHEIMER EDUCATION
IN ISRAEL FUND In memory of my husband, Fred Westheimer Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer
ANITA MERIMS FUND In memory of Rebecca Rosenberg-Gudina Valentina & Yefim Khirge In memory of Victor Khirge Valentina & Yefim Khirge
CEMETERY FUND In memory of Basia Zugman Nelly & Vladimir Spigel In memory of Harry Soffer Elaine & Norman Sevits Patricia Seftel In memory of my beloved husband, Abe Family Judy Family In memory of my father, Leonid Tokarsky Alexander & Lilia Simkhovich
EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of Beatrice Merims Anita & Arthur Merims
ERIC BILGORE GOLD
YOUTH FUND In memory of Harry Soffer Lenore & James Jacobson z”l In memory of Irving Mark Lenore & James Jacobson z”l
GENERAL FUND In honor of Bill & Ellin Friedman's new grand-
son, Saul Friedman Victor & Joyce Poleshuck In honor of Gideon Schmidt's Bar Mitzvah Robin Lippman-Scharf & Ron Scharf In honor of Hillary Fink & Andy Gavens for
their hard work on the Carrot Festival
Robin Lippman-Scharf & Ron Scharf In honor of Ron's Aliyahs for the High Holidays Robin Lippman-Scharf & Ron Scharf In honor of the birth of Sam Lefkowitz's new
granddaughter Betty & Murray Weissman In loving memory of our father, Harold
Mickelson Roz & Hal Menter In memory of Abram Shpigel Betty Shpigel In memory of Blanche Moses Bobbie & Mark Moses In memory of Carl Kosden Ava & Richard Lubert
In memory of Dr. Harry Silver Cynthia & Clifford Tepper In memory of Dr. Nathan Kaplan Steven & Lorraine Hammer In memory of Felice Levine Doris & Bob Pletman In memory of Harry Soffer Elaine Stern Norman & Jerome Cohen Marsha & Murray Jaros Bette & Stuart Kraut Lois & Dick Mendelson Cynthia & Clifford Tepper Sam Lefkowitz Estelle Dwore Molly Sheriff Faith, Mitchell & Eric Silver In memory of Ida Belik Ruth Fraster Sam Lefkowitz Bette & Stuart Kraut Marsha & Murray Jaros Harriet Posner In memory of Ida Zugman Belik Sally & David Porush In memory of Lillian (Toots) Cohen Betty & Murray Weissman Vivienne Rubin Marilyn Sassi In memory of Louis Blatt Arleen & Mike Brilliant In memory of Mary Takiff Edith Takiff In memory of Minnie & Samuel Cohen Norman & Jerome Cohen In memory of my father, Meyer Lefkowitz Sam Lefkowitz
In memory of Edward Shapiro
Muriel & Wilbur Shapiro In memory of my husband, Rheba Rubins Rheba Rubins In memory of my parents, Rose Barsuk and
Abraham Chaim Davidovitz Anita Behn In memory of Sadie Schneider Norman & Jerome Cohen Mazal tov to Dr. Martin Farber for being rec-
ognized as a top Rheumatologist Roberta & Stephen Berk Speedy recovery to Stanley Kivort Sam Lefkowitz Todah Rabah to Anita Merims and Bill Fried-
man Arlene & Harvey Mendelson
HEALTH/ACCESSIBILITY FUND In honor of Harvey & Ruth Happ's 60th Anni-
versary Sylvia & Herb Winer In memory of Harry Soffer Ruth Fraster Sylvia & Herb Winer In memory of our father, Lazarus Goodheim Sylvia & Herb Winer
HOSPITALITY FUND Mazal tov to Carol & Barry Kline on the birth
of their new grandson, Logan Arlene & Harvey Mendelson Mazal tov to Ellin & Bill Friedman on the
birth of their new grandson, Saul Friedman
Arlene & Harvey Mendelson HUTTEN FAMILY MEMORIAL
FUND In memory of Maxwell & Sophie Hutten Marvin & Leah Cook JOSEPH COHEN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of Harry Soffer Elissa & Michael Freedman In memory of Lillian M. Cohen Doris & Bob Pletman LAURA SCHEINZEIT CEMETERY
BEAUTIFICATIONFUND In memory of Ida Belik Doris & Bob Pletman In memory of Laura Scheinzeit Jules Scheinzeit
PHILIP M. STARK
VISUAL ARTS FUND In honor of Eli Naparstek's engagement Valerie Stark In memory of Frances Stark Valerie Stark In memory of Harry Soffer Valerie Stark In memory of Philip Stark Valerie Stark
PRAYER BOOK FUND In memory of Marat Peselev Polina Peselev
RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND In honor of the birth of Carol & Barry Kline's
grandson, Logan Brett Kline
Susan & Steve Jarrett Mazal tov to our children Elizabeth & Yosi
Kohan on their new home Susan & Steve Jarrett Speedy recovery to Stanley Kivort Susan & Steve Jarrett In memory of Fay Siegel Martin Siegel In memory of Harold Lown Phyllis & Arnold Ritterband In memory of Harry Soffer Phyllis & Arnold Ritterband In memory of Mark Nevins Beth & Bob Nevins & Family In memory of my parents, Ida & Sam Levy Linda & Martin Birnby In memory of our mother, Claire Jarrett Susan & Steve Jarrett In memory of Sadie Schneider Susan & Steve Jarrett
We gratefully acknowledge these November contributions to our funds.
7
REYUT In honor of and in memory of Sadie Schnei-
der, who began and sustained Reyut for 30
years
Linda & Martin Birnby In memory of Harry Soffer Judy Family In memory of my parents, Ida and Sam Levy Linda & Martin Birnby In memory of my parents, Yetta & Max
Sternberg Lin Eisner In memory of your mother, Helen Satler Charlotte Saunders
SADIE SCHNEIDER ROSH
CHODESH LEARNING FUND In honor of Gyle BenAmi's Bat Mitzvah In honor of the wedding of Sharon Astyk
Woods & Eric Astyk Woods
By an Anonymous Donor In memory of Beatrice McComb Mary & Steven Greenfield In memory of Harry Soffer Roz & Yak Marx Julia & Joel Helfman In memory of Sadie Schneider Eugene Wachspress Nadia Leibovitz & Kenneth Sapire Kathy & Garey Marks Bruce & Carol Flax
November Contributions
Continued January Yahrzeits
January 1 -6 Mollie Gore, Mariya Yeretskaya, Nison Lown, Katie Lurie, Harry
Rotenberg, Ruth Silverberg, Samuel Sosensky, Merle Hertzman, Israel Lurie, Rose
Snyder, Barbara Storm, Beryl Cohen, Anna Cramer, Harry Glotzer, Morris Harris,
Fannie Mushkat, Isadore Solomon, Samuel Freedman, Jr., Harry Golub, Sidney
Lubert, Dr. Harry Miller, Rose Jaffe Salkin, Phillip Elansky, Miles Kraut, Sidney
Levine, Elsa Meyer, Rachel Milkewitz, Saul Schiff, Anna Seltzer, Jacob Takiff,
Joseph Dubinett January 7-13 Ella Cohen, Irving Dollinger, Pearl Epstein, Harry
Morris, Philip Rapp, David Chalfin, Abraham Cohen, Morris Cohen, Miriam Hal-
lenstein, Marga Kassimir, Lilyan Grosberg, Lena Karp, Henrietta Lifschitz, Israel
Mannesovitch, Esther Potkin, Ruth Zirin, Saul Chapman, Samuel Cohen, Annie
Friedson, Mort Lubert, Maurice Reichner, Noach Egert, Anne Gordon, Samuel
Kappel, Jack Sternbach, Marilyn Miller, Florence Pearson, Jeanette Gordon, Leo
Licht, Morris Smolky, Judith Engel, Jennie Zippin, Barry, Kathryn & Eric Gold,
January 14-20 Ann Lutzer, Morris Smith, Evelyn Dworsky, Jason Tepper, Pearl
Hallenstein, Augusta Englebardt, Abraham Gould, Ida Jacobs, Bernice Bezozi
Miness, Sarah Katherine Reynolds, Ann Zavod, Fay Bernstein, Solomon Friedman,
Leonard Grossflam, Jack Lefkowitz, Archie N. Lifset, Barnett Nathan, Arthur H.
Salden, Thelma Shwedel, Sylvia Sparagen, Sophie Fein, Eleanor Fink, Morris
Goldblatt, Fred Greenberg, Isadore Katt, Rosalie Marlowe, Philip Ratick, Samuel
Geller, Sidney Sahr, Anna Smolensky, Nathan Yulman, Sally Cole, Max Herman,
Benjamin Kaplan, Edith Pasler, Benjamin Sevits, Louis Siegel, Helen Smith, David
Terker January 21-27 Ada Adelman, Dr. Morton Gold, Morton Gold, Max Le-
vine, Morris M. Schatz, Freda Goldstein, Barney Kashdin, Isaac Lindy, Vic
Schoen, Sadie LeVine Olinsky, Helen Braunstein, Leonid Brusilovsky, Michael
Harris, Tillie Schiff, Frances Silver, Nathan Diamond, Henry Frank, Marc Gold-
stein, Etta Rein, Henry Schneider, Aaron Weiner, Bernard Winn, Bessie Amazon,
Paula Cohen Crane, William Schlar, Dorothy R. Segel, Sarah Stillman, Edith
Weissberg, Sarah Elizabeth Bernstein, Louis Buff, Louis Cohen, David Levy, Eva
Mickelson, Gertrude H. Siegel January 28-31 Rose Aberbac, Jonathan Barzach,
Myron Finkelbrand, Abe Hertzman, Bella Morris, Helen Nelson, Ray Rosenberg,
Pauline Schatz, Minnie Shapiro, Max Cornrich, Lillian Grossflam, Ray Hershman,
Ivan Margolin, Michael Naparstek, Frank Berkman, Joseph Levy, Meir Berkowitz,
Julius Dubester, Benice Bressler WITH OUR MEMBERS
Mazal Tov to Barbara & Bill Rowen, their grand-
daughter, Samantha Sorbo was Bat
Mitzvahed on December 10th.
Barrie & Mark Handelman on the Bar
Mitzvah of their grandson, Simon on
December 10th
Bill & Ellin Friedman on the birth of
their new grandson, Saul Friedman
Marilyn Silberstein, who is a Great Aunt
for the 3rd time. Her Great Niece,
Chana Apelbaum Gensberger, who lives
in Israel with her husband Moshav, had
their 3rd child, Batsheva.
Alexandra Schmidt who was just
Awarded the National Board Certifica-
tion in Middle School Mathematics.
We extend our condolences to
Lenore Jacobson and her family on the
passing of her husband James Jacobson
Snow Days The winter season is upon
us and sometimes we may have to
cancel an event or a class for your
safety. In case of bad weather, listen
to the church/synagogue/school cancellation an-
nouncements on 810 WGY, FLY92, The RIVER or
Television stations 6, 9, 10, 13 and 23. We also will try and send a
mass email announcement using Constant Contact; All closings will
be posted on the synagogue website at www.agudatachim.org. How-
ever with winter being as unpredictable as it is, I'd like to remind our
members to call ahead when the weather is bad.
Jack Mintzer
8
Brown & Brown ATTORNEYS AT LAW
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518-355-2595
www.nosalmemorials.com
We invite you to compare our prices,
quality and value before making this
lasting decision.
and
Meals to Go
382-7671
Need a Ride ?
If you would like a ride
to synagogue or else-
where, call Linda Birnby at 608-6083.
The sooner you let her know your
needs, the better chance she will have
of filling your request.
An Amazing Price of $20
per copy. Get
together with friends to pur-
chase a box of 6, pay for 5
and get the 6th book free!
Please contact the office if
you need another
120 Ways to Volunteer flyer.
It’s not to late too
complete it.
Offer ideas!
Inspire with your opinions!
Make your membership an active one!
9
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Friday evening 6:00 pm
Saturday morning 9:45 am
Saturday evening 6:00 pm
Sunday morning 9:00 am
Sunday evening: BY REQUEST
January 6,7 Vayechi
Candle lighting 4:24 pm
Shabbat ends 5:24 pm
January 13, 14 Shemot
Candle lighting 4:33 pm
Shabbat ends 5:32 pm
January 20, 21 Vaeira
Candle lighting 4:40pm
Shabbat ends 5:40 pm
January 27, 28 Bo
Candle lighting 4:49 pm
Shabbat ends 5:48 pm
Day Sun* Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
AM 9:00 6:50 By
Request
By
Request 6:50 By
Request 9:45
PM By
Request 5:45 5:45 5:45 5:45 6:00 6:00
*The Sunday morning schedule applies on Federal holi-days: Jan. 1, Martin Luther King Day, Pres. Day, Memo-rial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Dec 25. On other weekday mornings when Torah is read: Rosh Chodesh, Hol Moed, Chanukah, Israel Independence Day and Tisha B’Av. If you would like a Sunday evening minyan please call the office (393-9211) one week in advance.
MINYAN SCHEDULE
Congregation Agudat Achim United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
2117 Union Street, Niskayuna, New York 12309
www.agudatachim.org - 518-393-9211 - Fax. 346-6807 Rabbi Ted Lichtenfeld [email protected] 346-4740
Congregation Officers
President, Mery Gross [email protected] V.P. Andrew Gavens [email protected] com
Education VP, Susan Braiman [email protected]
Treasurer, Jeffrey Ellenbogen cobblestoneprop@gmail Secretary, Sara Gavens [email protected]
Women’s Network Chair:
Hillary Fink [email protected]
Committee Chairs:
Adult Education: Co-Chairs Rob Fox [email protected]
Steve Schmidt [email protected] Cemetery: Robert Feinberg 393-9659
DKC Cookbook:
Risé Routenberg [email protected]
Education Director
Jack Mintzer [email protected]
School Board: Chair
Jessica Friedman [email protected]
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coordinator
Este Sylvetsky [email protected]
Administrator:
Jeff Lurie [email protected] Secretary: Debbie Daley [email protected]
Bookkeeper: Glenys Mountford [email protected]
Catering Coordinator
Ellen Daviero [email protected]
Catering line: 382-7671
10
Congregation
Agudat Achim 2117 Union Street
Schenectady, NY 12309
PRESORTED
NON PROFIT
US POSTAGE PAID
ALBANY, NY
PERMIT NO. 223