aaronion theyourself. let us know how it goes. rabbi alan shavit-lonstein...
TRANSCRIPT
Aaronion TEMPLE OF AARON’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
616 S. Mississippi River Blvd. • St. Paul, MN 55116-1099 (651) 698-8874 • www.templeofaaron.org
The
Vol. 86 • No. 6 February 1, 2011 27 Shevat, 5771
2011 Play Co-Chairs: Faye Feinstein and Lois Bloomberg
2011 Play Director: Aaron Liebo
Thursday, March 3
7:00 PM
Sunday, March 6
1:00 PM
Pre-Sale Tickets Are Available!
Sisterhood Gift Shop
Temple of Aaron Office
Youth Department Office
To Support the play please
refer to playbill ad
opportunities on the front
page of the website or
contact Youth Director
Robby Erlich.
Questions
Robby Erlich, Youth Director
651-698-8874 ext. 115
Saturday, March 5
8:15 PM
Temple of Aaron Youth Department Proudly Presents...
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From the Rabbi’s Desk . . .
One of the central values in Judaism is
caring for each other in times of need.
Hazzan Kowitz and I are able to practice
this frequently by visiting members of
the Temple who are in the hospital or in
nursing homes. But this opportunity is
truly available to everyone.
The mitzvah of Bikkor Cholim, of visiting
the sick, seems simple. All of us are
asked to bring comfort to those who are
ill simply by spending time with them.
Yet doing so can present some
challenges, both spiritual and logistical.
These challenges, however, can be
overcome, if we meet them head on.
How to Visit the Sick
Over the centuries, Jewish tradition has
focused our duty to visit the sick into
three steps. 1) Check to see if there are
any specific, practical needs that we can
meet. Often times, small gestures like
helping to get water, adjust a pillow, or
find a new book can have a powerful
impact. 2) Lift the person’s spirits.
Without ignoring the reality of being ill, it
is both possible and desirable to focus
on topics that are positive. We do not
ignore any pain, but we need not dwell
on it either. Remember, it is okay to
laugh in a hospital room. 3) Pray for the
person you are visiting. While clergy
specialize in it, all of us can pray. The
words are less important than the
intention. The traditional Mi Sheberach
prayer for healing is always an excellent
choice and can be used no matter the
type or severity of the illness. (You can
clip and save the boxed text of the
prayer found on this page.)
Before we seek to do any of these steps,
it is critical that when we enter a
hospital or nursing home room, we
introduce ourselves and ask permission
to visit. Being a patient puts one in a
very vulnerable position; and people are
walking in and out of the room all day.
By simply knocking and asking permis-
sion to visit, we show deep respect and
caring. Remember, we are visiting
people, not patients. The most important
role we fill when visiting is to remind the
person that they are not alone.
Spiritual Challenges
The fact that our tradition lays out such
clear guidance does not mean there are
no personal challenges to making these
visits. Visiting someone in the hospital
can make us uncomfortable; it can force
us to confront our own fears of illness,
or memories of loss. These are common
and understandable reactions, but
recognizing the good we do when we
visit hospitals and nursing homes can
help us overcome them. According to
the Talmud (Bava Metzia 30b) ―Whoever
visits the sick, removes 1/60 of their
suffering.‖ Just by being there, each and
every visit we make eases the burden by
a small amount, and brings them closer
to balance and healing.
Logistical Challenges
New privacy laws make it difficult to find
out who is in the hospital. Unless we
have a name, we cannot find a room
number. Even when a patient checks in
and specifies a synagogue, the hospital
sometimes does not inform us. (This
applies also to Sholom Home.) The only
reliable way for us to know when
members are in the hospital is for family
and friends to call the synagogue office
(651-698-8874) and give us the
information.
What You Can Do
The mitzvah of visiting the sick is not
reserved for clergy. While we have both
training and experience, we can always
use your assistance. With the guidelines
above, you can visit hospitals also. The
most important message of Bikkor
Cholim is that the patient is not alone.
The best way to let them know that is
with your presence.
In summary:
Let us know when friends and family are
in the hospital.
Don’t hesitate to make the visits
yourself.
Let us know how it goes.
Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein
651-698-8874, ext. 111
Being There
Start Planning for 2nd Seder
Tuesday April 19, 2011 Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein and Cantor
Kowitz will lead our 53rd Seder in Stein
Hall. Reserve a chair or a full table by
mailing in your check or calling with a
credit card. Adults are $34 ( non-
members $38 ). Children under 13 are
$18. Join us for a community seder and
enjoy our beautiful traditions with expert
leadership and participation by all
attending.
Mi Sheberakh /
Prayer for Healing
May the One who blessed our
ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel,
and Leah, bless and heal the one
who is ill: _____________ son/
daughter of ____________. May
the Holy Blessed One overflow
with compassion upon him/her, to
restore him/her, to heal him/her,
to strengthen him/her, to enliven
him/her. The One will send him/
her, speedily, a complete healing
— healing of the soul and healing
of the body — along with all the ill,
among the people of Israel and all
humankind, soon, speedily, with-
out delay, and let us all
say: Amen!
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Cantor’s Column
In my 25 years in the cantorate, I have
officiated and co-officiated many life
cycle events. Some have been very
joyous and some have been very sad.
I have learned much from many families
while officiating 100s of life cycle events.
The death of my father has taught me so
many things. It has made me aware,
once again, that time marches on and
we should try to, to the best of our ability,
appreciate each and every day that we
have with our parents, children and
loved ones. No matter what the age,
someone passes. It is always too soon.
There seems to always be unfinished
business. Things that we wanted to say
and didn’t say. Things we wanted to do
and didn’t do.
It has been an honor to be the son of my
father Irvine Kowitz. As I said in my
eulogy, he was a modest and unassum-
ing man. He was not flashy nor boister-
ous. He had a special way about him
through his humor and good nature. He,
like so many others of his age, was part
(Tom Brokaw of NBC News has stated) of
the greatest generation that has ever
lived.
Every loss in every family is a tragedy. It
has been my honor to be there for the
many families in our Temple of Aaron
family during your time of loss and need.
This time it is my turn to thank you for
being there for me and my entire family.
I’ve received dozens and dozens of
notes, contributions, emails and phone
calls expressing the condolences for the
loss of my father. I could not possibly put
into words my deep appreciation that I
feel for each and every one of you.
You’ve all touched my heart and my soul.
So let us now all recommit ourselves to
our friends and family to appreciate the
time we have with them and to tell them
how much we love and care for them.
Hazzan Mitchell D. Kowitz
651-698-8874, ext. 113
I Am So Grateful
We need to understand ―otherness‖
in order to more fully understand our-
selves and our own identities as the
world grows smaller and interaction
with other cultures becomes essential.
Israel’s place in the MidEast is an island
within a ―sea‖ of otherness. It can’t be
isolated or understood in a vacuum —
but an overall context. Our understand-
ing of complex issues in the region can
only be comprehended if we are more
familiar with this world.
The Bedouin — Called the ―most noble
of societies,‖ this semi-nomadic lifestyle
is centuries-old, yet faces the challenge
of modernity. Low overhead, lots of
fresh air, freedom of movement . . .
sound appealing?
The Communal Environment — The con-
cept of socialism swept portions of the
Middle East, notably Israel, at the end
of the 19th Century. The concept of the
collective farms, Kibbutzim and
Moshavim, is unique to the region.
Do we truly want to have everything
supplied for us?
The City in 2 Parts — Part 1: The notion
of city and urban society is entirely
different in the West than in the Mid
East. The Arab city had a mystique all of
its own, and for a reason. This changed
with the colonial invasion by European
society in the early 19th Century. Part 2:
On the other hand, the Israeli city model
is one that westerners feel the most
comfortable identifying with.
Master Educator Dr. Steven Derfler Will Lead a Four-Part
Series Entitled “From Spice Routes to Space Age —
Patterns of Living in the MidEast”
Sunday Mornings February 13, 20, 27 and March 6 — 10:30-11:30
FEBRUARY WEDDING
ANNIVERSARIES
We display every 5 years and all
anniversaries of more than 50 years
מזל טוב
50 Ronna & Tom Sherman
50 Marge & Lew Blustin
52 Ruth & Richard Schumeister
55 Shirley & Harold Schenker
57 Barbara & Ronald Harris
58 Harriet & Miles Lane
61 Sarah & Joe Eliezer
61 Rossy & Richard Shaller
Department of Youth Services
Robby Erlich Youth Director
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We had a fantastic January getting youth of all ages
and parents having fun!
The Temple of Aaron Youth Department is looking forward to a fantastic
February filled with awesome programming and a mega March with our
production of ―Back to the 80s,‖ our Purim Carnival and Kadima Kinnus!
We need all your support as we continue a successful year!
Save The Date!
Community 3rd Grade Shabbaton!
Join your friends from Beth Jacob,
Mount Zion and Talmud Torah on
February 25-26, 2011
Questions?
Robby Erlich, Youth Director
FEBRUARY
5 Kadima Kosher Cook-Off 6:30PM
6 Temple of Aaron Super Bowl Party at 5:00PM:
K-12th graders (K-8 need to be with adult)
11 Toddler-1st Grade Dinner- 6:30 PM
12 2nd-4th grade Lunch and Service-11AM
26 USY Goes Snow Tubing 7PM-10PM
MARCH
3 USY Play Thurs.-7:00PM
5 USY Play Sat. 8:15 PM (USY Night)
6 USY Play Sun 1:00 (Chaverim, B’resheet and Kadima)
11-13 Kadima Kinnus-Friday at 3-Sunday at 1PM
12-13 USY Lock-in 9PM-next day at 2PM
13 Pre-school Purim Assembly and Carnival 10:30 AM
*Look on Temple of Aaron website for flyers of all of our upcoming events!
Kadima Kinnus!
March 11—13
Hey 7th and 8th graders! Be sure not to miss this great convention
with all your Emtza region friends!
Be on the lookout for more information coming soon! Ezra Strohm, Matt Bernick and Alexis Burbul
take a break to smile for the camera during
“Back to the ’80s” play rehearsal!
5
Lilmod U’lilamed — “To Teach and to Learn”- Pirkei Avot
ללמד וללמדJunior/Senior Seminar: Israel style Our Junior/Senior Seminar has begun for the year and we are doing an intensive
study of Eretz Yisrael. This educational opportunity for our 11th- and 12th-graders is
taking place on Wednesdays in conjunction with our Honors and 7th grade programs.
We are taking a look at the people, culture, government, history, the Middle Eastern
conflict and much more. We have been working with our friends at UJFC and our part-
nership region in Israel to attempt to create a trip to Israel for our 11th- and 12th-
graders as well. This a unique opportunity for our teens here at Temple of Aaron to
participate in as they will meet with Israeli teens and families throughout the trip
learning and understanding about Israel though the eyes of our new friends there.
Here are the remaining dates for the class:
February 2, 9, 16, & 23 — March 9 & 16
See you in class!
Joshua Fineblum Director of Education
Midat Hachodesh:
Shalom Bayit The Jewish Concept Shalom Bayit,
literally meaning ―peace in the
house,‖ is one which is important in
Judaism. Today people have
expanded their thoughts on this
concept from husband and wife to
the relationships we form with
those around us. In building and
keeping healthy relationships with
family and friends, it is important to
put the needs of others in front of
ours at times. We have to always
think to ourselves: Does this really
matter that much to us? Is this
really worth the negative
interaction? It is so important to
understand that this concept is
directly related to the V’ahavta
L’reyecha Kamocha, Love your
neighbor as yourself, Leviticus
19:18. We should always be
mindful of the feelings of others
when rendering a decision that will
affect more than you. Have you
thought about others today?
Save the Date:
School Purim Assembly
March 13, 2011 — 10:45 AM Pre-Megillah Reading, Songs, Costume Parade and more…
Followed by Annual Purim Carnival
Thank You Todah Rabah תודה רבה Thank you (todah rabah) to those listed below who supported our
Yahrzeit Fund in memory of loved ones with donations of $10 or more December 2010 Kislev — Tevet 5771
Abelovitz, Martin
Alch, Sandra
Axelrod, Linda & Lenny
Barenbaum, Larry
Baskina, Ella
Besner, Rae
Blyakher, Sima
Braufman, Harvey
Davidan, Rozaliya
Divine, Arnold & Rae
Dreytser, Vladimir
Edelstein, Rebecca
Edelstein, Sandy
Eisenstadt, Linda & Larry
Engelbretson, Karen
Farsht, Steve & Stephanie
Feldman, Ben & Kayleen
Fleyshman, Yefraym
Flynn, John & Sue
Gak, Feliks & Vysotsky, Alla
Garelick, Eileen
Geller, Craig & Char
Geller, Rosie & Loren
Gerr, Teddy & family
Gleeman, Harriet
Glozman, Jacob & Irene
Goldberg, Richard & Gayle
Goldetskly, Bill & Burniece
Goldetsky Family
Goldman, Howard
Gordon, Herman
Hirsekorn, Fred & Barbara
Horowitz,
Leonard & Marilyn
Kanivetsky, Rozita
Kaplan, Suzanne
Kaster, Barbara
Katz, Connie & Harry
Klein, E. Gary & Marion
Knox, Marian & Naphtali
Kristal, David & family
Kurs, Arlene
Kushner, Rozaliya
Lane, Harriet & Miles
Levin, Jeanne & Albert
Levine, Allen & Nancy
Marofsky, Edith
Marsh, Herbert
Marvy, Florie, Bob & Family
Mastbaum, Millie
Meltzer, Rose & William
Miller, Marilyn
Olinova, Bella
Peilen,
Shelley, Bree & Luke
Peker, Busya
Pieser, Ben & Vicki
Prawer, Ken & Bonnie
Rafowitz, Sam
Rattet, Julian
Rein, Myndel
Rose, Gary
Rubenstein, Ada
Rubenstein, Bob
Sadoff, Ruth
Savage, Ronald
Schloff, Sandra
Schraber, David & Paula
Sevak, Delia & family
Shear, Bert
Sigal, Jody
Silverman, Morton
Simon, Jerome & Yetta
Smith, Ethel & Norman
Soroka, Tatyana
Stein, Lawrence
Steinfeldt, Sharron
Strickon, Beryl
Suponitsky, Yekaterina
Swartz, Helen & Don
Swartz, Susie
Tilsen, Sandra
Tilsner, Ryvelle
Toomasson, Judith
Tyszelman, Bonnie & Al
Udodovsky, Mira
Usem, Arnold
Vinitsky, Shirley
Ward, Hillard & Helene
Weil, Barb
Winthrop, Sonia
Wolkoff, Patty
Zats, Harold & Betty
6
Our deep and sincere
sympathy to the families
of the following members
who have passed away
Siffra Evans
Marvin Scherzer
David Raskin
Zelda Melemed
Dolores Gray
Memorial Plaque
Has Been Displayed For
Ivan Sanderson
תודה רבה
. . . to Anita Ernst, Burt Katz, Delia
Sevak and Betty Agranoff for labeling
over 1,100 January Aaronions we
mail to members throughout the USA.
. . . to Deborah Bachrach, Gary
Portnoy, for covering every morning
minyan during Ritual Coordinator
Larry Eisenstadt’s January vacation.
. . . to David Baldinger, for serving
as Hazzan during Cantor Kowitz’s
vacation.
. . . to Alan Divine, for covering several
evening minyans during Ritual Coordi-
nator Larry Eisenstadt’s vacation.
. . . to Robby Erlich and Josh
Fineblum for reading Torah during
Ritual Coordinator’s Larry
Eisenstadt’s vacation.
. . . to the sponsors of the 3 Lunch &
Learns in January 2011 with Rabbi
Shavit-Lonstein: 1)Gary and Roxanne
Portnoy; 2)Sue and Dave Rosner; 3)
Polly and Michael Saxon.
Mr. Barashi, an Israeli, is a clown who is
part of a medical team working with chil-
dren who are patients in the Hadassah
hospitals. A ―dream doctor‖ such as Dudi
integrates with the medical team at Ha-
dassah to help ease treatment for se-
verely sick children. He involves himself
to improve communications between the
child, the parents and the medical team.
The benefits of clown therapy are enor-
mous. Learn about his experiences and
Hadassah’s innovative program of bring-
ing the healing power of laughter to peo-
ple — young and old —with medical
needs in Israel and in other countries.
Admission: $10.00
Hadassah is also featuring their Centen-
nial Celebration rate for life membership
and associate membership. From now
through February 2 anyone who
becomes a Life Member of Hadassah
at the Centennial Celebration rate of only
$100 will have their admission charge
waived for this exciting event.
(Previously, life membership was $360.)
Or you may choose to make a gift of Life,
Child, or Associate Memberships in Ha-
dassah at the same $100 rate. Call the
Hadassah office at 952-924-4999 or
email the Upper Midwest Region at
[email protected] to take
advantage of this amazing offer!
Minneapolis and St. Paul Chapters of Hadassah invite you to:
“Hadassah, Healing & Humor” An Evening with David ―Dudi‖ Barashi
Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7:30 P.M., Sabes JCC Theater, Minneapolis
7
8
By Marian Hirschhorn Lestro, daughter
of members Inge and Gerry Hirschhorn,
reporting from Israel
It was a beautiful experience, and I’m
still processing all the sounds, sights,
smells, and feelings. We signed up for a
tour. Nazareth is crowded around
Christmas time.
Nazareth is a tangle of narrow streets,
not all of which have names. And today
more than other days, it was bustling
with pilgrims in addition to the locals.
The group walked down a main street
and narrow streets. They were all deco-
rated for Christmas, a treat to see here
as it is rare. We heard Christmas songs
in Arabic, mainly the same songs they
sing in America.
We came to a courtyard below the
Church of the Annunciation, where we
stopped to listen to Boaz. He threw out
many interesting facts, but they come
one after another, and it’s hard to retain
the information. Then there was one
song I had never heard before that was
very beautiful.
The Catholic Church of the Annunciation
is said to be at the location where the
angel Gabriel told (announced) to Mary
that the word would become real, that
she would have Jesus. The church is built
in layers. Down at the level of the court-
yard where we sat, there had been caves
at the time of Jesus, and the Jews of the
area lived in the caves.
Finally we went up to the church. We
entered the courtyard. It was decorated
with paintings and mosaics of the Virgin
Mary from many countries all over the
world.
When we went inside the lower floor of
the church, it seemed very simple, mainly
concrete, though the walls were
decorated. There was the cave that was
supposed to be Mary’s home. We went
upstairs, and there were more wall
decorations, but I was surprised that the
decorations were sparse compared to
the Basilicas of Europe.
Outside the church was a parade! It was
all the different youth groups. The best
part of the parade was several bagpipe
and drum bands common in the Arab
communities from the time of the British
mandate. You don’t usually associate
Arabs with bagpipes, but these groups
were good, precise in their marching.
I saw lights up ahead, and each time we
arrived to the lights there were more a bit
farther. We were led to Mary’s well, and
the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annun-
ciation, also said to be where the Angel
Gabriel announced to Mary the pending
birth of Jesus.
This church was much more richly
decorated, with chandeliers with the 12
apostles, paintings, mosaics....
Here starts the beautiful part. I loved the
service. It reminded me very much of
Temple of Aaron. I tried to take mental
notes to report back to Mom and Dad.
First, I’d like to distinguish between a
traveler and a tourist. A tourist tries to
adapt the local culture to himself. A
tourist looks at the locals like watching a
monkey at the zoo. A tourist stands on a
pew at church and takes pictures. A
traveler observes the local culture, and
fits in when he can.
We sat among people for whom this was
their normal church, and this was like
Rosh Hashana for them. They were
dignified and quiet, dressed nicely,
modestly, tastefully without any
ostentatiousness.
The church bells rang, echoing in the
stone space. We walked up the stairs to
the large room where mass took place.
The walls that were cement and plain
during the day were lit with soft blue
light, and it looked magnificent.
The service started with a procession of
the clergy and altar boys entering from
the back, like Mitch when he sings Hineni
on Yom Kippur. The priests and bishops
were dressed in white and gold robes,
like on our high holidays. The highest
ranking priest had a staff, like a shep-
herd’s staff with a cross on it. They car-
ried incense in it, like the spice in
havdalla. Then the congregation sang the
most beautiful song I had heard in the
lower courtyard.
At that moment, I felt closer to God.
There were speeches throughout the
night in Hebrew, English, Arabic, Spanish,
Italian, French, and German. In Hebrew,
they expressed the wish for peace in the
land and in the region.
One of the most moving moments was
when the highest priest spoke in Arabic.
I’m learning Arabic, but don't understand
much yet. At one point, I heard him say
Jews and Muslims, and then he said,
―Nachnu Wahad,‖ we are one. Here he is
addressing his congregation on the
holiest day of the year, and he had a
message of brotherhood and love.
There were many parallel things
compared to what we do at Temple of
Aaron. There were women on the bima,
nuns doing readings, as well as women
singing in the choir. There was a lot of
standing, like the amida, that proved too
much for many people, who sat down
after a respectable attempt.
Instead of the Shabbat Shalom kiss,
which is awkward and you have to be
quick to avoid, they have Signs of Peace.
You are to turn to your neighbor and wish
him Salaam. Ami and I were obviously
Israeli, yet the congregants turned to us
warmly and naturally and wished us
peace. You are always welcome at the
Basilica of the Annunciation.
We showed absolute respect, but there
were a few things we did not participate
in, as it would be Avoda Zara, worship-
ping a God other than God. We did not
kneel. We did not take communion. You
should have seen how orderly the line for
communion was! A polite, patient queue.
There was one part at the end that felt
foreign to me. They carried an icon, a
small wooden statue, of the baby Jesus.
Now I know they are not worshipping the
statue, it just represents the idea, but
from our cultural filter this is frowned
upon.
Overall, I left with a feeling of love in my
heart. The beautiful song, the warm
words reaching out to all men, the signs
of peace given to us… We left Nazareth
with a warm feeling in our heart, and a
deeper understanding of our Christian
brothers and sisters. We can be true to
ourselves, yet still appreciate someone
else.
Christmas Eve 2010 in Nazareth
9
Membership Committee Spotlight on . . . This month’s spotlight goes to Marsha
Schwartz.
Marsha grew up in Hibbing, MN. She
was 15 when she moved to the cities.
According to Marsha, the Temple of
Aaron has been a part of her family for
a very long time.
―My grandparents were members, my
mom was married to my dad by Rabbi
Cohen at the Temple of Aaron, and to
my stepdad by Rabbi Raskas. Maybe
that is why I feel so much at home here.
―Bat Mitzvah was not observed in small
towns when I was growing up. I did not
have the opportunity to become a Bat
Mitzvah when I was a youngster, so
when that opportunity became available
as an adult, I decided to go for it! I am
very glad that I did.‖
Marsha became an Adult Bat Mitzvah
at the Temple of Aaron in 1994. By the
end of her studies with Larry Eisenstadt
she had become hooked on Torah!
Marsha earned her Golden Kepah over
the next five years, studying while
caregiving for her family. She plans to
continue reading Torah well into the
next century.
Some of the things she enjoys are the
spirited discussions and community
sharing of the Talmud and Torah
classes over these many years.
The Temple of Aaron for me is:
―A place for comfort, a retreat from the
busy-ness of the week, a place to
socialize and catch up with my friends,
a house of study, and of course a place
to worship. Over the years I have found
that the more I attend services the
more it all means to me and the more
I want to attend! There is a particular
delight in being the 9th or 10th person
at a service and knowing that I helped
to make minyan so none of the prayers
would have to be left out!‖
One of Marsha’s passions is being
involved in the choir. She says that after
all these years of being enveloped by
the glorious music the choir produces, it
is fun for her to be on the inside helping
to make that music! She loves to attend
the Havdalah service.
Thank you Marsha for being a part of
our Temple of Aaron family!
— Jim Leventhal —
Marsha Schwartz
Johnson Hospice Care Agency
Ready To Help at Sholom
Community Alliance It is fully licensed to help patients
throughout the Twin Cities with special-
ized resources available to Jewish
patients and their families.
Hospice empowers individuals to live with
dignity and to live life to its fullest. It of-
fers terminally ill individuals an
alternative to aggressive curative treat-
ments. Care is focused on the person,
not the disease.
The Johnson Center on the Rossy and
Richard Shaller Family Sholom East Cam-
pus offers private suites designed specifi-
cally for hospice patients. The patient’s
primary care physician directs the hos-
pice care which is provided by specially-
trained professionals, clergy and volun-
teers through a unique interdisciplinary
team approach with the patient and fam-
ily as the center of care. Patients can
choose to remain at home - or wherever
appropriate care can be provided.
To learn more about the Johnson Hospice
Care Agency, call 651-328-2091 or
www.sholom.com/
Secular and religious leaders, journalists
with Middle East expertise, and nationally
-known speakers will address a wide
range of topics. Workshops and plenary
sessions will offer attendees a highly
nuanced understanding of the region’s
complexity, and will present divergent
voices to foster conversation.
Headlined by Rabbi Michael Melchior,
former member Ehud Barak’s cabinet,
and J.J. Goldberg, former editor-in-chief
The Forward. Other speakers include
Shahar Arieli, Deputy Consul General of
Israel; Tamar Arieli, Conflict Management
Program at Tel Hai College in Israel; Ofer
Ashkenazi, Israeli Professor in Israel Stud-
ies, U of MN; Steve Hunegs, Exec. Dir. of
JCRC; John Radsan, Law Prof. at William
Mitchell; Pastor Mac Hammond of Living
Word Christian Center; Rev. Tim Hart-
Andersen, Pastor, Westminster Presbyte-
rian Church; Ned Loabneh, an Arab-Israeli
businessman; Brett Cohen, Dir. Midwest
Region of StandWithUs; and Dan Garon,
founder, Gopher Israel at U of MN.
An Israel Fair will run concurrently with
workshops and plenary sessions and is
cosponsored by JCRC, American Jewish
World, Consulate Gen. of Israel Midwest,
and Ctr. for Jewish Study U of MN. Admis-
sion to all Conf. and Fair events is free.
Host is Mount Zion at 1300 Summit Ave.,
St. Paul, MN 55105. For info, contact
(651)698-3881 or [email protected]
An Israel Conference & Fair: (Re)Discover Israel Sunday, Feb 13 — 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Billy Elliot Actor Visits Rossy & Richard Shaller Family Sholom East Campus
Father Robb Zelonky joins volunteer Betty
Agranoff to sing yiddish songs while Jacob
rests his voice. A large crowd greeted actor
Jacob Zelonky on Thursday January 6,
2011. Touring with this 2009 Tony Award
winning musical, Jacob visits seniors in
each city as part of his bar mitzvah
preparation project.
10
Thanks to all who attended Dinner with
the Rabbi on January 18. It was a great
dinner with interesting conversation
building community.
Events
We have 2 programs on February 6: the
World Wide Wrap with morning tefillin
training in the Leifman Chapel and the
annual Super Bowl Party in Fink Youth
Lounge starting around 5 :00 pm. Future
programs under consideration are a Tim-
berwolves game, beer and wine making,
and Running with the Rabbi. Check the
Temple of Aaron Men’s Club Facebook
page for information for all of our events.
Purim Carnival Food Booth
The Men’s Club will be operating the
Food Booth at the Sunday, March 13,
2011 Purim Carnival. The David A. Berg
Family Endowment helps provide the
delicious food. If you would like to help
during this fun event, please call or email
me.
Men’s Club Shabbat
Men's Club Shabbat is April 8-9, 2011.
Matt Clark is coordinating participation.
To reserve your part in the service, call
Matt at 651-230-3723, or email him at
Purchase a Sukkah Panel
Make a lasting physical contribution to
the synagogue with the purchase of a
panel for the new Temple Sukkah. After
2009’s tragic but safe implosion, Men’s
Club purchased a new sukkah for 2010
and successfully started raising funds for
the new Sukkah placed in the Effress
Family Garden. The new 72 panel Suk-
kah is a modern, modular design which
is visible from the Leifman Chapel. You
can honor someone by purchasing a
panel for $100. We have sold 47 panels
to our generous supporters so there is
still time to help us with a donation.
George Bier is the fund raising chairman
and can be contacted at 651-690-1979
or via email: [email protected].
Membership Drive
I urge all males 18 and over to join us in
the Men’s Club and make a difference.
Membership envelopes are available in
the Leifman Chapel. We are only as
strong as our membership.
Sponsor a Breakfast
Opportunities for $125 sponsorship of
Sunday breakfast in Greenberg Room
after minyan are available. Morrie Katz
has successfully recruited breakfast
sponsors for years to solidify our Sunday
morning minyan. Call Morrie at 651-698-
1479 to reserve a Sunday.
Facebook Page and Google Group
The Temple of Aaron Men’s Club is now
on Facebook. Check out our page, learn
about us, and you will like what you see.
We also have a Google Group; email me
for more information.
If anyone has questions about any of our
activities, feel free to call Hugh at 651-
470-1694 or email [email protected].
Men’s Club Menschens - February, 2011 By Hugh Gitlin - Men’s Club President
Have You Recently Attended
the Musical ESL Service?
For ten years we have regularly revised
and refined the flow of our Friday night
Shabbat service to provide the moving
music and instruments that help mem-
bers relax while increasing spirituality
and participation.
Mollie Tankenoff was a well-known
caring figure in our community with a
love of music she readily shared with
many, many people. Gary and Marsha
Tankenoff and Jim and Paula Tankenoff
created the ESL Fund to honor the
memory of their mother in 2001 and
we are very grateful for their supportive
vision.
Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein and Cantor
Kowitz lead the Erev Shabbat Live
Service one or two times per month
eleven months per year. We take full
advantage of vocalists, clarinet, violin,
drum, guitar and keyboard. The energy
mixed with respectfulness, fun and
informality provide a very combination
of energy and spirituality that builds
community. Please look at your sched-
ule and plan to join us.
The Mystery for
Making a Minyan
For decades Jews in America have
talked about making a minyan.
Synagogues shift times, modify prayer
books, change room decor, serve food,
recruit a cadre of daveners, have guest
speakers and take other subtle steps.
We are searching for the plan that guar-
antees a solution. Some people remem-
ber the so-called good old days where
people in the neighborhood were called
at the last minute to make a minyan.
Today we continue to rely on each other
to attend to make a minyan for my
yahrzeit or my sheloshim period.
Let's be more proactive in 2011. Call
some friends when you are scheduled
for a yahrzeit. Call your friend and offer
to drive when he/she is observing the
sheloshim period. We will continue to
annually mail the 7,000 reminders for
yahrzeits, supply the service leader, and
open a relaxing Leifman Chapel. Let’s
solve the mystery by investing the
personal time to use the telephone to
connect with family and friends for
cooperative teamwork to build
community and form a minyan in
Leifman Chapel every day.
Board Approves Annual
Passover Fund
Temple of Aaron has effectively worked
for 100 years due to our members gen-
erosity with time, creativity, caring, spirit
and financial support. Passover means
religious freedom and support for the
Annual Passover Fund will provide more
financial freedom for the synagogue.
Please support this voluntary option at
$18 or more so we have the freedom to
help members with dues and/or tuition
in special circumstances. Our Board has
heard your firm and steady voice to
maintain our foundation of Shabbat and
daily services, educational programs for
children and adults, community building
programs, social justice programs, life-
cycle events, and maintain our beautiful
building 365 days per year.
11
Sisterhood News ―Memory: Did I Forget What You Said?‖ – Thursday, March 24 at Temple of Aaron,
Shayne Karasov, a health educator with Home Health Care Inc. will lead a discussion
on memory issues. A light supper will be served. Watch for more info.
* * * *
Join/Renew your Sisterhood Membership NOW! This wonderful family of women from
Temple of Aaron is involved in all aspects of our Temple; become a part of this vital
group. If you haven’t renewed your membership, please get your check in the mail
ASAP and send it to Linda Eisenstadt, 1077 Sibley Memorial Hwy., #400, Lilydale, MN
55118. Sisterhood holds monthly programs, runs the Giftshop, mails out Building
Fund Cards, has a Book Club, coordinates a Food Shelf, socializes with a Knitting
Club and much more. Questions regarding membership – call Membership Vice
President Roxanne Portnoy at 651-690-2232.
* * * *
Knitting Club - This group meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the
Temple Library. All levels are encouraged to come, chat and learn. Bring your own
needles and yarn. Feel free to come and crochet if that is your preference. What a
great way to warm up our fall and winter evenings once a month. Questions, call
Roxanne Portnoy at 651-690-2232.
* * * *
Regional Conference of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism – May 15-17,
2011 – sponsored by Temple of Aaron. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! This year’s theme:
―Celebrating Community: Woman to Woman.‖ Marcia Taple (651-688-3030) and
Barbara Gitlin (651-454-7908) are the local conference chairs. Contact them with
any program ideas or to volunteer for this event. We will be sponsoring a hospitality
suite at the airport Hilton and will be responsible in a variety of ways for making this
event run smoothly – GET INVOLVED!! Watch for more info to come.
* * * *
Building Fund Cards – What are they? Find out! These cards are always available for
all occasions. Using these multi-purpose cards directly benefits our beautiful building
and they are only a phone call away. NO shopping, no driving to the post office, no
stamps, no hassle. Questions, call Sis Goren at 651-686-0425 or Susan Kushner at
651-454-8336.
* * * *
Book Club – The schedule for the next five months is: Feb. 20 – Rich Boy by Sharon
Pomerantz; March 20 – Almost Home by Pam Jenoff; April 17 – Happy Marriage by
Rafael Yglesias; May 15 – Good for the Jews by Debra Spark; June 19 – The Big Kahn
by Neil Kleid. The group meets on the third Sunday of the month at The Highland Café
and Bakery in Highland Park at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the latest read. Questions, call
Teddy Gerr (651-405-6658) or Anna Specktor (651-454-4612).
* * * *
Food Shelf – Donations of food items may be dropped off at Temple of Aaron and
placed in the cart in the coat room. If you would prefer a monetary donation, send
your check, payable to Temple of Aaron Foodshelf, to Harriet Levy, 1826 Merlot
Curve, Eagan, MN 55122. Questions, call Harriet at 651-454-6829.
* * * *
Hamantashen Baking – BAKERS NEEDED! Come join your Sisterhood in the Temple
kitchen. It’s the season for Purim Hamantashen baking. Hamantashen will be avail-
able in the Giftshop and Kitchen for $12/dozen. This year’s Hamantashen choices
will be: fruit, poppy seed, chocolate and apricot with no nuts. Interested in volunteer-
ing to help in the kitchen?? Call Marcia Taple for more specific information regarding
dates and times at 651-688-3030.
SISTERHOOD GIFT SHOP
651-699-9192
New Tallitot
Yads
Giftware & Judaica
Shop Early - Shop Often!
We Gift Wrap!
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
& Bridal Registry
We now carry Michael Aram
Can’t Think of What to Buy?
We Offer Gift Cards!
Support Your Sisterhood Gift Shop
Support Your Synagogue
Open Hours:
Sunday 9:00 - Noon
Tuesday 10:00 - 2:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 1:00
and 6:00 - 8:00
By Appointment Call:
Marcia Taple / 651-688-3030
We Remember Irv Kowitz
We appreciate everyone who
was able to attend the
January 16 shivah in Capp
Lounge to honor Irv Kowitz.
Thank you very much to those
who also took the time to
bring baked goods to make
the shivah more welcoming.
Linda & Cantor Kowitz and the
entire extended family
appreciate your support.
Social Justice - A Volunteer Committee
12
When fire broke out on March 25, 1911,
hundreds of workers, mostly young immi-
grant women,
were trapped in
New York City’s
Triangle Shirt-
waist Factory.
Many exit doors
had been
locked, the ele-
vators failed, the
fire escape
crumbled, and
the fire depart-
ment’s ladders reached only to the 6th
floor. 146, most of them Jewish
immigrants, died in half an hour of
chaos, many by jumping to their deaths,
crashing to the sidewalk
in front of horrified
onlookers. In the after-
math of this disaster,
the owners, Max Blanck
and Isaac Harris, were
acquitted of responsibil-
ity by a jury, but immi-
grant women garment
workers across the city
built the ILGWU and
negotiated economic
and physical security,
while the city government enacted new
regulations about workplace safety and
inspection. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fac-
tory Fire became a major memorial day
in U.S. labor history.
This coming spring across the US,
there will be events remembering
and commemorating the one hun-
dredth anniversary of one of this
country’s worst industrial trage-
dies. Jewish Community Action,
together with a range of historical,
educational, labor, immigrant rights,
and social justice organizations, will
mark this centennial anniversary
with a series of events in March and
April.
Sunday, March 6th at 3:00 pm – John B.
Davis Auditorium at Macalester College -
Screening of 30 minute documentary
followed by a panel discussion
Sunday, March 27th at 2 pm
– Mount Zion Temple Jewish
Community Action Annual
Immigrant Freedom Seder
Join Jewish Community
Action and its allies in this
9th annual retelling of the
Passover story and our
ongoing struggle for immi-
grant and worker justice.
Jewish Community Action
will also produce a study
guide about these events and their
significance, which will be made avail-
able on a wide basis, and will have
several speakers available for presenta-
tions to schools, study classes, and
synagogues. We hope that many
congregations will make use of these
resources, particularly during Shabbat
on March 18-19.
For more information about JCA’s
―The Centennial of the Triangle
Shirtwaist Factory Fire‖ project, please
contact Lauren Bastien at
or call 651-632-2184.
The Centennial of the Triangle
Shirtwaist Factory Fire Then and Now: Immigrant Workers Seek Justice
Temple of Aaron member Doris
Rubenstein on Habitat build in
summer of 2010
It’s not too early to plan for Habitat
stint! In early March our commit-
tee, under the direction of SueEllyn
Flynn, will be setting dates for our
members’ participation in this
year’s Habitat for Humanity build in
St. Paul. Whether it is one day or
several, plan now to take a vacation
day(s) in late July or early August to
lend a hand to this worthy cause.
Of the many roles the synagogue can play in our lives, mutual
support is one of the most important. During lifecycle events,
we often note how good it is to share in our celebrations and
find support with each other in times of loss. Jewish values also
demand that we extend this support to each other during this
time of deep, national economic need.
Moses Maimonides, the great Medieval Jewish philosopher, put
it very clearly in his Mishne Torah. ―There are eight degrees of
charity, each one higher than the next. The highest degree,
exceeded by none, is that of the person who assists those in
need by providing them with a gift or a loan, or by entering
into a partnership with them, or helping them find work; in a
word, by putting them in a position where they can dispense
with other people’s aid.‖
As I outlined on the first day of Rosh HaShannah , the Temple
of Aaron is stepping up to do just that. There is a committee
hard at work to explore the ways we as a community can
provide resources and assistance, providing Tzedaka to the
Eighth Degree. Updates to come in the next Aaronion.
— Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein
Responding to the Financial Crisis
Proxy Vote Form for Members Unable to Attend
March 6, 2011 meeting at 10:00 am
PROXY for the Temple of Aaron Congregation
(This form approved by Board of Directors on October 19, 2010)
The undersigned, whose name is:
residing at:
being a current member in good standing of the Temple of Aaron Congregation,
hereby irrevocably appoints Temple of Aaron President Mike Saxon, with full
power of substitution, as his/her proxy to appear and vote in his/her name as
instructed below at the March 6, 2011 at 10:00 am, or any continuation or
adjournment thereof.
To approve the Restated By Laws of the Temple of Aaron Congregation as recom-
mended to the Membership by the Temple of Aaron Board of Directors by resolu-
tion duly adopted on October 19, 2010. Circle (or otherwise clearly mark) the de-
sired action:
YES, cast my vote IN FAVOR of adopting the new by laws as recommended
by the Board of Directors.
NO, cast my vote against adopting the new by laws.
Please complete this form with your name and address and either:
1. Print and mail it to Temple of Aaron, Attn: Proxy Voting, 616 S. Mississippi River
Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55116-1099;
2. Save the form as an electronic file, then attach the file to an e-mail message
that you send to [email protected] from your personal e-mail
account. Be sure to put By Law Proxy Vote in the subject of the email. The
electronic signature of your e-mail account will serve as your signature; OR
3. Hand deliver your completed ballot in person to the office at the Temple of
Aaron. Put the ballot in a sealed envelope marked Proxy Voting.
All proxies must be received by 10:00 am on March 6, 2011.
Proxies are valid for 11 months from the date of signature.
Signature
For questions or more information contact:
Ken Agranoff, Executive Director
Temple of Aaron
616 S Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55116-1099
651.698.8874
We Need Your Vote at
March 6 Meeting for
Bylaws Updating
At Temple of Aaron, we operate as a
nonprofit corporation under Minnesota
law. Our Bylaws are the rules by which
we govern ourselves as an organization.
On October 19, 2010, the Board of
Directors of Temple of Aaron completed
a comprehensive review and
restatement of the synagogue’s Bylaws
and voted to call a membership meeting
to approve the restatement.
The objective of this Bylaws restatement
is to:
Modernize our rules of governance,
but also preserve and reflect our
heritage
Simplify and clarify rules and
processes to make governance
easier and more understandable for
members and Board alike
Not be overly legalistic or prescriptive
unless necessary to comply with a
legal mandate or to avoid liability
Eliminate practices or requirements
that we don’t and won’t follow or that
create unnecessary or unreasonable
obligations or burdens
Be more inclusive and trusting
Continue what works, but codify such
longstanding practice in
understandable terms
The proposed changes require
membership approval. We will hold a
meeting at 10:00 a.m., March 6, 2011
to obtain approval by the membership
of the Restated Bylaws. The Board will
provide advance notice of the meeting
and a proxy process to submit votes
―absentee.‖ Watch for more details and
the official meeting notice in future
editions of the Aaronion and through
the synagogue’s other communication
media.
For more information, consult with
President Michael Saxon, Executive
Director Ken Agranoff, and/or members
of the Governance Committee —
Chair Rhonda Schwartz, Alan Bernick,
Mark Adelman, Cheryl Bier, Nathan
Maki, Julie Sander, and Andrew Katz.
Special thanks to Member Barry
Gersick, who conducted a legal review
of the proposed Bylaws. You can review
the proposed Bylaws, current Bylaws
and form of proxy required to vote in
advance on the website or contact the
office for copies.
13
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PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID Permit No. 1328
St. Paul, MN
Temple of Aaron 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55116-1099
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Bar Mitzvah David Townsend Haim, son of Susie and Ron Haim, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on February 25
and 26, 2011.
David is in seventh grade at Field Middle School, where he participates in basketball and concert
choir. He also enjoys singing, playing basketball, hanging out, and making videos.
David is a member of Temple of Aaron Kadima. He has designated Sha’arim for his tzedaka con-
tribution.
Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush refreshments will be sponsored by David’s grandmother, Fani Haim.
David Haim
The Temple of Aaron Board of Directors and Staff offer our deepest condolences
to Hazzan Kowitz and his entire family at the loss of his father Irv Kowitz.
We stand by you in support, just as you have stood by us throughout the years.
May God comfort you along with all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.