december 2009 newsletter - congregation beth...

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL

“A Family of Families” December 2009

Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00 am

Please come and join us.

CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES

Dear Friends: A British, Anglican clergyman named John Andrew Holmes, who lived about a century ago, once wrote the following quip:

“Never tell a young person that something can-not be done. God may have been waiting for centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.”

I suppose Food Fest is like that quote. After all, any objective observer might say “How could a congregation of only 210 or so families ever dream of pulling off such an enterprise?” The word “dream” is the key. Theodor Herzl once wrote that “if you want something enough, it is no dream.” A determined bunch of people can do remarkable things.

Or, think of Bar and Bat Mitzvah youngsters. More often than not, non-Jewish parents come up to me after a service and ask “How did you ever get a thirteen year-old to so something like that?” “It’s easy,” I reply. “We don’t ask. We simply expect them to do it, and, wonderfully, they rise to the occasion.” Individuals are capa-ble of incredible achievements, even if they don’t believe they can do so.

December is a great time to think about what we can do, even when we cannot see that there is a chance of succeeding. It’s dark outside, and our vision can be obscured. But our vision can also be enhanced if we turn our thoughts and images inward and look into ourselves. It is amazing how much positive work we can visualize if we stop looking at the dark outside and start look-ing at the shining light that is within each of us.

You don’t have to be a naive young man or woman to think creative, positive new thoughts. All you have to do is escape from the December doldrums of darkness and despair and think how much you can do, if only you will take a little risk and try. Who knows? God may be waiting just for you.

Kenneth D. Roseman, Rabbi

December

Friday, December 4 Shabbat Service

7:30 pm Saturday, December 5

Shabbat Service 9:00am


6:00 pm (Followed by Family Dinner)

Saturday, December 12 Shabbat Service

9:00am

Friday, December 18 Reform Shabbat Service

Traditional Shabbat Service (Racusin Chapel) 7:30 pm

Saturday, December 19 Shabbat Service

9:00am


7:30 pm Saturday, December 26

Shabbat Service 9:00am

Friday, January 1 Shabbat Service

6:00 pm

Saturday, January 2 Shabbat Service

9:00 am

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 Saratoga

Telephone-361.857.8181/Fax-361.857.8227 Email: [email protected]

Website: bethisraelcc.com

Rabbi Kenneth Roseman Debbie Bustillo, Office Administrator

Susan Martin, Corpus Christi Community Religious School Administrator

President….……….….….…………..…... ..Maury Wolfson First Vice President….……..…..……………..Suzy Hilliard Second Vice President……............………Rikki Schmitchel Secretary .…......…....…......…………………….Rona Train Treasurer………….….....…..…………………....Ed Mange Past President……………………...……….Andy Lehrman Sisterhood Co-Presidents…..........................Meredith Ryan Iris Karas Cofty President……..….................……....Meredith Hilliard Adult Education……….………………...…....David Jacobs Cemetery Co-Chairs.....................Robert Adler, Carl Kuehn, Gary Blum and Clara Braslau Ritual Committee Co-Chairs…….….......Andrew Sheinberg and Joe Loon Program Coordinator…………….……...… Meredith Ryan Membership Committee Chair….……………..Susan Martin Social Action Committee Co-Chairs. …...... Michelle Arevalo-Davila, Diana Stillman Dues Committee Co-Chairs..….………….…..…Ann Engel and Leslie Kane Building Chair…………………………...…...David Jacobs Grounds Chair………………………...….Rikki Schmitchel Fine Arts...............................Laurie Mintz and Ross Burney Webmaster.…………………..………….…….Jack Widder

PRESIDENT’S

MESSAGE

Dear Members of CBI,

I am writing this the week of Thanksgiving. I have just read an article in a magazine by a young Jewish author who remembers a Thanksgiving dinner at his Yiddish speaking grandparent’s home. It was his grandmother’s custom to put corn kernels on each family member’s plate. They then were instructed to put one kernel on the table for each thing they were thankful for at that time.

As the hour passed, I considered all the ways we have been blessed this year as a Congregation. We continue to be most fortunate to have a dynamic religious leader, we have a committed board of di-rectors, many new congregants, and Sisterhood’s successful and lucrative Food Fest.

I also personally have much to be thankful for this year and I hope each and everyone of you have much to celebrate.

Rosalyn joins me in wishing you a festive Hanukkah and a Happy New Year. Shalom, Maury Wolfson

A Code of Jewish Ethics: Volume 1 & Volume 2: You Shall Be Holy / Love Your Neighbor As Yourself by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin Telushkin, scholar, author, lecturer, teacher and rabbi is compiling this voluminous material in order to help Jews "become more honest, decent, and just people." Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle by Dan Senor, Saul Singer There is a great deal for America to learn from the very impressive Israeli entrepreneurial model... Start-up Nation is a playbook for every CEO who wants to develop the next generation of corporate leaders." (Tom Brokaw, special correspondent for NBC News, and bestselling author of The Greatest Generation) In the midst of the chaos of the Middle East, there's a remarkable story of innovation. Start-up Nation: is a timely book and a much-needed celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit. (Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay ) Bob Dylan: Prophet, Mystic, Poet by Seth Rogovoy Even after almost fifty years, the language of Bob Dylan's songs remains full of uncharted territory. Seth Rogovoy is uniquely qualified to examine the connections between Dylan's songwriting and the Jewish liturgy, and Prophet, Mystic, Poet helps fill in one more piece of an endless and endlessly fascinating puzzle. (Alan Light, former senior writer at Rolling Stone and frequent contributor to The New York Times) One Baby Step at a Time: Seven Secrets of Jewish Motherhood By Chana (Jenny) Weisberg One Baby Step at a Time is a collection of eye-opening personal essays, inspirational readings, and refreshingly honest interviews that will uplift, validate, and provide practical suggestions to improve the life of every Jewish mother. In this sequel to her critically-acclaimed book Expecting Miracles, author Chana (Jenny) Weisberg de-scribes the seven ancient Jewish secrets that have enabled Jewish women throughout the millennia to infuse their mothering lives with more happiness, fulfillment, and spirituality. Jews in America: A Cartoon History By David Gantz A unique presentation of the history of Jewish life and culture in the United States over the past 500 years Jews in America is a graphic history that uses the comic book format, an artistic expression as American as jazz, to depict five centuries of Jewish life in this country. With its blend of humor, history, and old-fashioned sentimen-tality, Gantz, an artist who has spent a lifetime using paper and ink to present social commentary and issues with wry wit, illustrates the prominence of Jews in American history from the time Columbus first set foot in the New World. Jews in America will appeal to readers from ages 12 to 120. American Jewish History, JPS Guide By Norman H. Finkelstein "Both Judaic studies collections and general-interest holdings seeking an accessible, warm history of Jewish events would do well with the colorful, concise American Jewish History." The Midwest Book Review, June 2007 "The perfect introductory survey of American Jewish history and a core addition to personal, academic, and com-munity library Judaic Studies and American History reference collections."Library Bookwatch, June 2007

Train Library

Come check out our new arrivals!

Corpus Christi Community

Religious School

Hebrew School will re-sume Thursday, December 3rd

Sunday School will resume Saturday, December 5th.

A Message from

the Family Corner

Hanukkah is here and the time

has come to celebrate the Fes-

tival of Lights. Please join us

on December 11th

at 6:00 for

services and then a fun and de-

licious Shabbat dinner.

We look forward to seeing eve-

ryone’s favorite Chanukkiah

light up the auditorium. Please

contact me if you would like to

help cook on the 11th

, or if you

have any questions.

Shalom,

Meredith Ryan

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES

Sunday School 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

December 6 & 13

Hebrew School

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm on Thursday December 3,10 &17

Religious School Winter break

December 20-January 3

From the Jewish Community Council JCC Members

Your new Jewish community directory & Cal-

endars are ready. Please stop by the JCC to

pick up your copy.

Additional copies are available for $18 each.

Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Long Term Health Care

Presentation by: Terry Silbernagel

Business Development Specialist

Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009 Time : 3:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m. Place: JCC

No Charge RSVP 855-6239

Chanukah Shopping Fundraiser JCC will be teaming up with Barnes and Noble for a Holiday Book Fair and Gift Wrapping event. Gifts, books, coffee or snacks purchased by our community family and friends, during the event will earn the JCC commission dollars. Please mark your calendars to do your Barnes and Noble Holi-day shopping between Thursday December 3rd and Sunday December 6th ...make sure you let the cashier know you are with the JCC

TRADITIONAL KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES SCHEDULED Once-a-month, lay members of Congregation Beth Israel conduct traditional Fri-day evening Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath) services in the Racusin

Chapel. These services last about 45 minutes; attendees often then join the rest of the con-gregation in the Sanctuary for the Rabbi’s sermon, the concluding parts of the service and the Oneg Shabbat. The mood of these services is relaxed and celebratory, and all are wel-come.

The schedule for the entire year is: We encourage you to enter these dates on your calendar now so that you will be able to attend these services when they occur.

December 18, 2009 April 30, 2010 January 22, 2010 May 21, 2010 February 19, 2010 June 18, 2010 March 26, 2010

FOOD FEST WAS AMAZING

By 4:45 PM, the line was already snaking out into the park-ing lot, and it did not stop until about 8:30! We dished out

cabbage rolls and split pea soup and matzah balls and corned beef and brisket and pickles to a never-ending procession of hungry neighbors and friends. And everybody was happy and smiling. A seasoned busi-ness executive said: “I’m just waiting for the wheels to fall off,” but they never did, thanks to superb organization and wonderful cooperation and spirit from many, many temple volunteers. It’s almost irrelevant how much money the Sisterhood netted from the event (and we certainly don’t know the final figures yet). We do know that food fest was an enormous success, and we express our deepest ap-preciation to everyone who had a part, whether one of the top leadership or one of the young people who walked around selling raffle tickets. You all did a fabulous job.

ADULT EDUCATION RETREAT SCHEDULED On Saturday, February 6, we shall gather at 10:00 AM at the Rockport Yacht Club for the first of our three learning sessions about the MAKING OF RABBINIC JUDAISM. Our guest speaker will be Rabbi Judith Abrams of Houston, a well-known and dynamic in-terpreter of the literature and history of the period from the destruction of the Temple in Je-rusalem to the publication of the Babylonian Talmud (approximately 70 CE to 600 CE). The documents of this period are often seen as arcane and difficult to understand, but Rabbi Abrams makes them come alive with her lively presentations, her delightful humor and her vivacious personality. We count ourselves enormously fortunate to have such a gifted scholar join us for our retreat and hope you will look forward to meeting her and learning from her. The retreat will continue Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Arrangements have been made for all meals and for lodging at the Hampton Inn in Rockport. Saturday eve-ning’s program is designed to produce smiles and fellowship; you won’t want to miss it! Scholarship funds are available to assist anyone who needs financial help in attending. A detailed flyer with reservation information will be mailed out soon. Meanwhile, mark your calendars and hold the dates. This is a special opportunity open only to members of CBI.

RABBI ROSEMAN IN THE COMMUNITY

Thursday, December 10, Rabbi Roseman has been asked to address the current group of Leadership Corpus Christi on the characteristics of his personal leadership style. Among other things that he will tell the class is that you have to believe in the mission of the group that you are trying to lead, enjoy doing what you are involved with and have a good sense of humor.

Wednesday, December 16, he will speak at Trinity Towers on Hanukkah. Earlier in the month, he and Phyllis will be at Temple Shalom in Dallas as one of featured speakers for the Temple Shalom Brotherhood’s tribute dinner to James Hogue, a dear friend of the Rosemans and a wonderful leader of the Dallas Jewish community.

SISTERHOOD CORNER

Foodfest has come and gone and what an amazing show of solidarity and support from the entire Jewish and Corpus Christi community. Iris and I would like the Jewish community to know that when you help with foodfest by donating your time, skills and/or money, you are helping Congre-gation Beth Israel as a whole. So far this year, Sisterhood has paid for a new condenser for the walk-in fridge, Sunday school curriculum materials, the ovens were fixed, and a commercial grade cuisinart was purchased for the kitchen. Last year, we purchased a new ice maker for the kitchen and wrote a check to CBI for $26,000. As you can see, all of the hard work that we put into Food-fest goes to improving CBI. As a sisterhood, we work hard together so that all can benefit.

Sisterhood has many different functions. One is the fundraising arm of the temple, the other is the social unification of Jewish women in our community. We view our social activities to be incredi-bly important. This month, we have planned a chartered trip to Houston. This trip is a fun way to get some holiday shopping in, eat some great Jewish Deli and view works of art at museums. More importantly, however is the opportunity for Jewish women to spend time together in a fun atmosphere. Outings such as this are incredibly important in helping to facilitate friendships and a sense of belonging in our small, yet vibrant Jewish community. This is an opportunity for us to rejuvenate after all of our hard work. Please join us as we embark on this fun-filled trip.

Shalom, Meredith Ryan & Iris Karas

Robin Adams Suzy Hilliard Renye Moskowitz Chris & Robert Adler Beatrice Hinojosa Sarah, Liv, & Julia Noble

Melissa Balkin Jana Hopkins Laura Noe Helen & George Barron Marla Householder Donna Normand

Terri Berry Dorothy Jessel Jeri Osberg Lois Blum Karen Kane Dolly Oshman

Rhonda Bornstein Ruth Kane Kymberley Oshman Eva Brown Iris Karas Phyllis Roseman Rachel Buck Jeri Kolpack Phyllis Rozen

Jeannetta Caplan Amy Krams Meredith Ryan Annette Cottingham Chris Kuehn Cathleen Sands Elisa & Rachel Cox Karleen Kusin Hilda Schechter Harriett & Dee Diaz Teresa Laser Rikki Schmitchel

Ann Engel Edy Laser Barbara Schwamb Polly Ettelman Dianne Lee Lisa Shain Elizabeth Falk Iris Lehrman Nina Shannon Carol Feferman Bobbie Leshin Carol & Jack Solovey Elise Geller Pam Leshin Diana Stillman

Leah Goltzman Yetta Leshin Catherine Susser Leslie Green Norma Levens Elizabeth & Jennifer Susser

Evelyn Greenberg Cindy Malowitz Marian Sussman, Maya & Ben Groner Marcia Marks Michael Hiatt Pat Harris Susan Martin Rona Train

Laura Hausman Amanda Mintz Millie Zalim Jaki Hausman Laurie Mintz

Thanks to all the Food Fest bakers who helped make this

year’s Sweet Shop a tremendous success.

UPCOMING SISTERHOOD EVENTS

Sisterhood Executive Board Meeting

Wednesday, Dec 2nd 12:00 @ JCC

Sisterhood Hanukkah Party Iris Karas’ House

TimeTo be announced

The Yellow Lily is the floral symbol

of gratitude, our theme for Sisterhood for this year.

Chelsea Eisenberg’s Class presented a play dealing with

their Torah Study

ANSWER TO NOVEMBER’S QUESTION Retama, ratama. Reminds us of Potato, patata. Whichever way you spell or pro-nounce it, we now have two of these trees planted on the east side of our sanctuary, next to the olives. In the Spring, they’ll burst forth with gorgeous yellow blooms.

Why plant retama trees? Because they are the south Texas equivalent of broom trees, and in the Bible a broom tree was supposed to be the burning bush. In our new landscape area, all the vegetation is taken, directly or indirectly, from the biblical narrative. Soon, we’ll have a writ-ten guide (largely prepared by students in our Religious School) that will help you identify the plantings, where they come from in the scriptural text and why they are out there. Here’s an easier question: What kind of tree is out there that connects with Psalm 137:2? Bet you can get the answer to this one.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2

Sisterhood Exec Mtg. 12pm @ JCC

3

Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm

4 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm

5 Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am

6 Sunday School 9:30am—12pm

7

8

9 CBI Board Meeting @ 7pm

10 Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm

11

Shabbat Service 6:00 pm Followed by Family Dinner Hanukkah 1st candle

12

Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am Hanukkah 2nd candle

13 Sunday School 9:30am—12pm Hanukkah 3rd candle

14 Hanukkah 4th candle



17 Hebrew School 4:30pm—6pm Hanukkah 7th candle

18 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm (Traditional Services held in Racusin Chapel) Hanukkah 8th candle


20 No Sunday School

21 22

23

24 No Hebrew School

25 Shabbat Service 7:30 pm Office is closed


27 No Sunday School

28 29

30 31 No Hebrew School

1 Shabbat Service

6:00 pm

Office is closed


December 2009

P E R P E T U A L YAHRZEITS

Sabbath of December 4th *Harold Robert Applebaum *Bruce Evert Bobys *Helen Bornstein *Maurice Cohn Rose Epstein Hans Eyck *Israel Ferszt Juliette Goldsmith *Harry Goltzman Benjamin Heller *Sam Isenberg *Martin Kridel *Lillian Prashner *Lillian Racusin *Arthur Roscoe *Bertha Wadel Samuels Barbara Rita Shimansky *Rachel Simon *William Simpkins *Kate Smith Susan Train Mike Wormser *Audrey Sharon Zane *Yehuda Zebaida Sabbath of December 11th Esther Applebaum Howard Balkin Irwin Bernstein *Grace Coin *Flora Daum *Annette Davis *Paul Gold *Leo Irving Goltzman *Dorothy Greene *Nison Grossman *Ella Deutsch Hausman *Jennie Hymans Idell Itkin Mary Shapiro Levinson

*Albert A. Lichtenstein *Gilbert T. Morris *Louis Racusin *Milton Silverman *Jacob Solinger *Isaac Solka Sabbath of December 18th *Jacob Bein *Dora Davis *Nasanel Grossman *Claire Haas *Aranka Kane *Simon Kannengieser *Charles Karren Hattie Kaufman *Anna Maizel *Kay Malka Mendlowitz *Jann L. Horner Miehl *Leon Newman *Fannie Passman Dr. Philip Rosenheim *Nate Shapiro *Tillie Sheinberg *David Solovey Bertha Train *Anna Veenik Sabbath of December 25th *Mr. Max Abrams *Helen Alexander *Sophie Wilma Dobrer *Rosa Drucker *Libby Isenberg *Jennie Karren *Fan R. Klein *Harry Klein *Ben Kolpack *Benjamin Laves *Bertha Liedeker *Louis Liedeker

*Jack Nebrat *David Lee Needleman *Jeanne Nisenson Joseph Primack *Rae Rosenberg *Minna Shwarz Susser Sabbath of January 1st William Adams *Scott Jeffrey Applebaum *Edith Braslau Werner Buchmann *Mr. Samuel Chitrit/Skala *Anne S. Dawson *Jake Goldstein *Mrs. Vivian Goodman Groner *Abe Heifetz *David M. Isenberg Forest Toby Levy *Fannie Maniloff *Gertrude Pashkoff Horace Simon *Mr. Herbert Train

The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Yahrzeit Donations In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Randy King Dave & Meredith Ryan Henry Roth Hausman Laura & David Hausman Sam Falk Edith & Robert Zinn Julius Racusin Milton Eidelberg Robert Racusin Irving Chafetz

Herbert Train Rona & LA Train

Cemetery Endowment Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Ada & Louis Leshin

Gertrude Pearlman Pearlie & Julius Leshin

Hebrew Rest Fund In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Dottie Heffler's Birthday Jerry & Elizabeth Susser Recovery of------------------------------------------------- From Al Geller Jerry & Elizabeth Susser

Mitzvah Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Marvin Unger Jay & Carol Ginsberg Irene Hausman Rose Falk Watel

Uncle Gunther Bill & Robin Adams Joe Bornstein Edith & Marvin Rubin

Olive Tree In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Joyce Clark Jan & Chuck Clark

Kari & Chad Greenway Stacie & Chad Clark

Toni & Jimmy Clark

Beth Barham Susan Barham

Oshman Family Foundation Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Dr. Joseph Oshman Jeanette Aleman

Don’t forget . .You can remember a friend or relative with a minimum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds support camp scholarships, education, cemeteries, fine arts, library, and building improvements,

to name a few. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the honored person or family. Please make checks payable to CBI and specify the fund. Call the CBI office with any questions.

The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Rabbi's Discretionary Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Joe Bornstein Helen Bornstein

Ruth & Hank Josephs Yetta & Marvin Leshin Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson

Louis B. Leshin Yetta & Marvin Leshin Penelope Levens Karen & Harold Kane

Steven & Dixie Oshman Helen Hoffman Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson In Honor of--------------------------------------------------- From Jerry Susser,Sam J. Susser Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson & Sam L. Susser For being inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame David Engel, recipient of Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson the Distinguished Citizen Award Dottie Heffler's Birthday Marvin & Yetta Leshin

Lorraine Hausman Donation------------------------------------------------------ From Ernest Saenz

Jeri Kolpack Recovery of-------------------------------------------------- From Al Geller Ruth & Hank Josephs

Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson Marvin & Yetta Leshin

Ruth & Joe Sheinberg Marvin & Yetta Leshin

Rabbi Weissman Memorial Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Rabbi Hyman Weissman Mrs. Mary Weissman Mrs. Abraham Weissman Phyllis Weissman

Seaside Beautification Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From Eli Berman Sylvia Rosenberg

Train Library Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------- From Louis Benjamin Finkelstein Rebecca & Maurice Schmidt

Ayala bar jewelry-

Made in Israel

Hanukkah gelt, dark & light chocolate

Happy Hanukkah!

All Hanukkah decorations at a bargain price!

Many more Israeli made items! Come have fun,

no charge for looking & maybe a little spending.

We have new items in the Judaica Shop

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78413

L’Dor VaDor Judaica Shop

Please call Clara Braslau @ 361-991-6798

december 2009 newsletter - congregation beth...

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