Upcoming Events:

December

Virtual Lunch & Learn

with Rabbi Winnig

Wednesday, December 2,

9, & 16, 2020

12 noon

Reform Judaism Then &

Now: A Look at the Rise

of Reform Judaism

Details on page 14

This class will continue in

January for 3 sessions.

Virtual Tot Shabbat

with PJ Library

Saturday, December 5, 2020

9:00 am

Details on page 13

Virtual Sisterhood

Coffee Kvetch

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

10:30 am

Details on page 12

Virtual Confirmation

& Consecration

Sunday, December 13, 2020

5:00 pm

Virtual Community

Hanukkah

Celebration

Sunday, December 13, 2020

6:00 pm

Details on page 15

December 2020|Vol 85 No. 4 | Kislev—Tevet 5781

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CONGREGATION RODEF SHOLOM

1119 ELM STREET YOUNSTOWN, OH

PHONE: 330.744.5001

OFFICE@CONGREGATIONRODEFSHOLOM.ORG

WWW.CONGREGATIONRODEFSHOLOM.ORG

RABBI PAULA WINNIG INTERIM RABBI

SARAH WILSCHEK

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

AARON HIVELY PRESIDENT

ROBERT RAWL TREASURER

NANCY BURNETT SECRETARY

ARTHUR GREENBAUM PAST-PRESIDENT

DOUG ABBATIELLO

NEIL ALTMAN

BRIGITT BERK

SALLY BLAU CO-PRESIDENT OF SISTERHOOD

JASON BOSTOCKY

MILANA DIMENSTEIN

PHYLLIS FREEDMAN

BETHANY GOLDBERG

RON HEIMAN

TEDD KUNKEL

ALAN NATHAN

TOD NEWMAN

JANE POLLACK

KANDY RAWL CO-PRESIDENT OF SISTERHOOD

ALAN SAMUELS

WILLIAM TRACHTMAN

SAMIE WINICK

RABBI FRANK MULLER, D.D. RABBI EMERITUS

A Message from Our Interim Rabbi

Dear Friends, The prophet Zechariah, 4:6, said: “Not by might not by power but by my Spirit said the Eternal of Hosts.” This is the Haftarah that we read on the Shabbat of Hanukkah. These words by Zechariah reminded the Israelite people then and in our own day, that God is always there to guide and assist the world, even though we humans may think that we rule the world all on our own. These words of caution and hope in Zechariah are particularly appropriate for us as we prepare to celebrate Hanukkah this year for the two-thousandth one hundred and eightieth time. Hanukkah is not a Biblical holiday and therefore is one of the youngest of all Jewish holidays. Most of the younger ones are those driven by modern Jewish history like Yom HaShoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Hanukkah became a popular Jewish holiday throughout the ages largely due to its date and its proximity to other religious holidays that fall during the same time period, and due to its yummy foods and beautiful ritual of lighting the Hanukkiah. The story of Hanukkah comes to us from many sources, including the Apocrypha books of the Maccabees and the Roman historian Josephus. We learn about Hanukkah rituals in the Talmud, but our rabbis included the legend of the miracle of the oil rather than mentioning the successful Maccabean revolt against the Seleucids’ rule of Israel. By focusing on the legend of the oil, and by adding the words of the prophet Zechariah to the observance of Hanukkah, the rabbis made a clear point to focus on God’s actions, rather on the actions of the warriors. They downplayed the power and might of the Maccabees and instead focused on what inspired the Maccabees to take arms against Antiochus’ armies. The Maccabees not only target the Seleucids’ actions, but they also challenged those Jews who had accepted injunctions against Jewish practice and who had assimilated into the pagan practices and lifestyles of the oppressor Antiochus . The Maccabees challenged the people to stay committed to Jewish life and practices despite the allure of the Syrian-Greek life surrounding them. While they used physical means to overpower Antiochus’ troops, it was the spirit of their commitment to God and to Judaism that guided them. When they were able to repair the Temple and restore it, they

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celebrated and rejoiced, creating eight days of rejoicing, like the original days of dedication for the Temple and the festival of Sukkot. They rejoiced in restoring the Temple and being able to serve God as they had previously done. They could perhaps have chosen to celebrate themselves and their own successes, rather than creating a celebration to focus on God, but they did not, because they wanted to celebrate God’s power in protecting them and enabling them to succeed. Zechariah reminds us that while there are times when there must be physical confrontations and there are times when it is through our own hard work that we achieve, there are also times when we succeed and benefit from things in which we played no part. Hanukkah reminds us to use the power of God’s spirit imbedded in each of us to guide us, to strengthen us and to inspire us to acts of justice, decency, and goodness. This Hanukkah, let us celebrate the power of God’s presence in each of us and in our world and work together to repair our world so someday soon, we will all live in peace. Hag Orim Sameach, A Happy Festival of Lights to all!

Rabbi Paula Jayne Winnig, Interim Rabbi Congregation Rodef Sholom 330-719-3562 Rabbi@congregationrodefsholom.org

A Message from Our Interim Rabbi Continued

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A Message from Our Executive Director

In lieu of my message this month, I find it important to

highlight this letter regarding the plan to re-open

Congregation Rodef Sholom.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Hanukkah!

Sarah B. Wilschek

DECEMBER SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday, December 4, 2020 at 6:00 pm Torah Portion: Vayishlach | Genesis 32:4—36:43

Shabbat Service on Zoom with Rabbi Winnig

Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 10:30 am Torah Portion: Vayishlach | Gensis 32:4—36:43

Saturday Shabbat Service on Zoom with Rabbi Winnig

Friday, December 11, 2020 at 6:00 pm Torah Portion: Vayeshev, Genesis 37:1—40:23

Hanukkah Shabbat Service on Zoom with Rabbi Winnig

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 6:00 pm Torah Portion: Miketz, Genesis 41:1—44:17 Shabbat Service on Zoom with Rabbi Winnig

Friday, December 25, 2020 at 6:00 pm Torah Portion: Vayigash, Genesis 44:18—47:27

Shabbat Service on Zoom with Rabbi Winnig

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Look for an email each week to receive the link to the Virtual Shabbat Zoom

Invitation or contact office@congregationrodefsholom.org.

Yahrzeits

December 4, 2020 & December 5, 2020

December 11, 2020

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*Dr. Bertram Averbach Sidney Garwin Pearl Weingarten Mazer *Benjamin Spiegel

Zdenka Beltz Lillian Faye Glick *Emily Silverberg Mazer Sam Stein

Morris Bernstine *Donald Greenberg *Fannie Sigal Meritzer Morris Storch

*Eunice Gitlow Bishop Robert Harris *Bertha Breman Miller *Max Strovoff

*Aaron M. Bishop Perle Heiman Barbara Moss Jack Tamarkin

*Marian Bower Wilfred Hertz Don Nelson *Margaret Ungea

Abe Chait *Larry Heselov *Irene Randell Katie Vale

*Joseph Cohn *Mary Isroff Atty. Harry Rapport Else Waltner

Irving DeBroff Louis Kannensohn Israel Resnick *Morris Weicherz

Wanda Belle Della Penna *Anthony Kehn *Dorothy Robins *Lee Wilkoff

*Hattie Ephraim *Sidney Keyes, M.D. *Sara K. Rose Marion Winnig

*Urbana G. Escandon *Shirley Kohn *Abe Rosenbaum Gwen Winnig Rivkin

Fanny Finegold *Ben Laskin *Ann Speck Shagrin

Helen Freed Ben Lazar Ann Shapiro

*Myer Ackerman *Theresa Gluck *Dr. Samuel Sedwitz Henry Medvin

Muriel Altman Pearl Goodhart Ida Shantz*Hannah Newman

Nick Aulisio *Leona Goodstein Samuel Silverman*Jacob Oppenheimer

*Rose Bachman *Lillian Greenberg Marvin SimonHoward Probert

*Edwin Brody, M.D. *Hannah Greenwald *Max StahlShirley Rauch

*Max Brunswick Sidney Harris *Marvin Sussman*Libbie Bloch Roginsky

*Max Brunswick, Jr. Helen Lang Joan Teitelbaum*Mose Rosenbaum

Lynn Chentow Frieda Klatman Lawrence Helen WagnerAlex Rosenthal

*Sidney Davidow, M.D. *Jessie Ekker Levine *Sunny WaldmanRobert Routman

*Moses Ehrlich *Dorothy Levy Lillian Yarmy*Myer Sauer

*Elsa Friedman *Clarence Liebermann Dr. Milton YarmyHerbert Scharf

Abraham Funk *George Livingston *Tamara Beth Zlotnick*Mary Schlosberg

*Joan Gold Gaffin *William Lourie *Judge Julius ZlotnickJoan Schwebel

* Denotes permanent memorial plaque

In the rising of the sun and in its going down, We remember them

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, We remember them

* Denotes permanent memorial plaque

YAHRZEITS CONT.

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December 18, 2020

*Hyman Barr Jenny Goldstein Gefsky Ellen Milstein *Atty. Benjamin Roth

*Morris Bender *Henry Gluck *E. Tillie Mohilwesky Jean Scharf

*Hyman Chentow *Amelia Hamburger *William Nathan *Dina Aron Schulman

*Howard Cooper *Brian Elliot Kirchner *Marilyn Oyer Cheryl Sue Shapiro

*Lena Davidow *Etta Kirchner *Brenda Harris Pesce Gloria Sherman

Louis DeBroff Nathan Kirshenbaum Alayne Hartstein Riley *Rose Sigal

*Paul Dimondstein *Elizabeth Klatman *Sylvia Rothschild Rizika Morris Solomon

*Eva Arnoff Evans *Harry Kobacker *Thelma Robins Sidney Strasfeld

Harry Feld *Anna Koornich *Fredric Rose *Irene Abels Teles

Karolyn Feltenstein *David Kornhauser *Louis Irving Rosenbaum *Mollie Wayne

*Florence Fine *Etta Ralsky Leshner *Bertram Rosenbaum Mary Weiner

*Ruth Miller Fleck Alice Lev Evelyn Rosenberg *Mildred Wilkoff

Morley Frank *Sadye Loewit *Henry Rosenblum *Dr. Macey Wolf

*Helen Ackerman Shelly Gelbaum *Gazella Kranitz *Jeannette Rudolph

Rita Louise Altman Edwin Ginsburg Jack Lebby *Dr. Lewis Shensa

*Dr. David Bender *Nathan Glassman *Paul Levine *Dora Silverman

Margaret Blair *Susan Epstein Gluckman *Frieda Levy Sara Lee Simon

Lori Bolotin *Ray J. Gold *Bessie N. Levy Leona Stecker

Earl Manuel Chevlen Jeanette Hartzell Gold *James Meyer Libby Ellis Steinberg

*Pearl Barron Ehrlich *Ruth Goldberg *Maxwell Lustig Les Stasberg

*M. Jack Ehrlich *Louise Goldman *Bertram Lustig *Sophia Strassels

*Samuel Epstein *Albert Goodman Esther Mallen Joan Teitelbaum

Eva Epstein *Abe Harshman Harold Mehr Harry Weiner

*Samuel Fallenberg *Erma Hartzell *Nelson Mendelson *Samuel Weiss

*Samuel B. Friedman Clayton Hixson *Esther Rothman Randall Wilkoff

*Harry R. Gancfried *Rose Keller *Alan Gershon Routman

December 25, 2020

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2

Virtual Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Winnig

12:00 pm

3 4 Virtual Shabbat Service

6:00 pm

5 Tot Shabbat

9:00am

Morning Shabbat Service

10:30 am

6 7 8 Virtual Sisterhood Coffee Kvetch

10:30 am

9 Virtual Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Winnig

12:00 pm

10 First night of Hanukkah

11 Virtual Shabbat Service

6:00 pm

Hanukkah Virtual Bingo

7:00 pm

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13 Virtual Consecration, Confirmation & the Community Hanukkah Celebration

Service:

5:00 pm

Celebration: 6:00 pm

14 15 16

Virtual Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Winnig

12:00 pm

17 18 Virtual Shabbat Service

6:00 pm

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20 21 22 23 24 25 Virtual Shabbat Service

6:00 pm

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27 28 29 30 31 New Year’s Eve

December 2020

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Daily Hanukkah Torah Readings

The daily Hanukkah Torah readings connect our dedication to Judaism with the initial dedication of the Tabernacle in the wilderness when the heads of the 12 Tribes of Israel brought offerings.

On the first day, we read about the offering of the first tribe; on the second day the offering of the second tribe, and so on until the last day when we read of the offerings of the last five Tribes and the verse about lighting the menorah.

DAY 1: Numbers 7: 1-17

DAY 2: Numbers 7: 18-29

DAY 3: Numbers 7: 24-35

DAY 4: Numbers 7: 30-41

DAY 5: Numbers: 7: 36-47

DAY 6: Numbers: 28: 1-15

DAY 7: Numbers 7: 48-59

DAY 8: Numbers 7:54- Numbers 8: 4

Hanukkah, one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays, is a festive eight-day

celebration that for many people falls during the darkest, coldest season of the year. Also

called the Festival of Lights, the holiday brings light, joy, and warmth to our homes and

communities as we celebrate with candles, food, family, and friends. Light comes literally,

with the lighting of an additional candle each day, and metaphorically, through a newer

emphasis on charitable donations and a commitment to tikkun olam during the holiday.

Hanukkah (alternately spelled Chanukah), meaning "dedication" in Hebrew,

commemorates the victory of a small group of Jewish rebels (“the Maccabees”) over the

armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "rededication" of the

Temple in Jerusalem. Modern celebrations of Hanukkah focus on family and friends and

include the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah (also called a hanukkiyah); singing and

playing special songs and games (dreidel); and eating foods prepared in oil

including latkes, sufganiyot, bimuelos (fried dough puffs) and keftes de prasas (leek

patties).

Hanukkah | December 10—19, 2020

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Prayer - Study– Network– Get Connected! The future is ours to create!

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December 8th: Barb & Rick Fine (54 years) December 27th: Heidi & Chuck Hersh (47 years)

Renee & Sheldon Persky (7 years) December 29th: Barbara & Donald Werner (35 years)

December 9th: Shari & Ron Della Penna (36 years)

Danielle & Annetta Penix (9 years)

December 19th: Miriam & Barry Davis (44 years) December 30th: Ellen (Zlotnick) & Sasha Lamb (16 years)

November 11th: Rebecca & David Grossman (13 years)

MAZEL TOV TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS ON THEIR DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES:

Mazel Tov to the following members for a special birthday in December:

December 7th: Steven Scharf December 26th: William Kunkel

December 9th: Ken Miller December 29th: Inez Heal

December 18th: Jonathan Levy

Todah Rabbah ~ Many Thanks!

Todah Rabbah to Ellen Zlotnick-Lamb and Family for their generous donation of

miscellaneous Hanukkah items for the Temple!

Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov on the birth of Rory Nora Buckley born

on November 3, 2020. Rory is the daughter of

Jaclyn Schwartz Buckley & Joel Buckley of

Cincinnati. Grandparents are Claudia & Marvin

Schwartz, and first time grandparents, Mark &

Kim Shagrin Buckley. Great-Grandparents are

Madge & Clark Buckley and the late Norma & Joe

Shagrin.

TOILETRY PROJECT LITTLE THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Shampoos, conditioners, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, soaps, razors...small toiletries that you

might pick up in hotels when traveling would be so appreciated by those in need. I have been distributing baggies

filled with all of the above items to people at the Food Bank, Sojourner House, Homeless Shelters and others in

need. I will pick up at the following drop-off places: Jewish Community Center, Congregation Rodef Sholom,

Temple El Emeth, Ohev Tzedek, Universalist Unitarian Church and Churchill Methodist Church.

An easy way to help in a big way. Thank you so much. ~Linda Palumbo

TZEDAKAH CIRCLE Endowment Fund In appreciation:

By Mixon Ware

Samie Winick

The speedy recovery of:

Kay Tamarkin

By Myra & Bill Benedikt

Marilyn’s Mitzvah Meal Fund In loving memory of:

Marilyn Oyer

By Susie & Charlie White and All of the Kids

In loving memory of:

Harriet Hyman

By Barbara Kirkorsky

In loving memory of:

Ruth Miller Fleck

By Marilyn & David Miller

Sisterhood Fund In loving memory of:

Rebecca & Boris Dimenstein

By Milana Dimenstein

In loving memory of:

Robert Routman

In celebration of:

Harriet Bolotin’s Special Birthday

By Helen Routman

Music Fund In loving memory of:

Theresa & Henry Gluck

By Yetta & Paul Gluck

In memory of beloved mother:

Else Waltner

By Joyce Waltner-Barmak

In loving memory of:

Urbana G. Escandon

By Dr. Kathy Zoss

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund In appreciation:

By Jeannie & Gerald Peskin

In loving memory of:

Benjamin James Pokorney

By Susan Pokorney & Family

In loving memory of:

Pam Dutro

By Alyse Barr

In loving memory of:

William Lackey

By Susan Orlin & Robert Lackey

In loving memory of:

Jacqueline Steinberg

By the Steinberg Family

In loving memory of:

Wanda Belle Della Penna

Harry Feld

By Sharon & Ron Della Penna

In loving memory of:

Pearl Weingarten Mazer

Harold Mehr

By Lillian Mehr & Sons

In loving memory of:

Eva Epstein

By Nancy, Michael, & Alyse Barr

In loving memory of:

Ellen Milstein

Cheryl Sue Shapiro

By Mrs. Beverly Shapiro

Oneg Fund In loving memory of:

Esther Mallen

By Sandy & Gene Mallen

In loving memory of:

Joe Winick

By Samie & Alyson Winick

Morris Berkowitz Fund In loving memory of:

Joy White

By Linda & Dick Goodman

Social Action Fund In loving memory of:

Sigrid & Charles Southwood

By the Zlotnick-Lamb Family

In loving memory of:

Leona Stecker

By Judy & David Waldman

In loving memory of:

Jack Lebby

By Marvin Lebby

Hander Hall Fund In loving memory of:

Milton Hander

By Judy & Brad Levy

Tamarkin Chapel Fund In loving memory of:

Jack Tamarkin

By Doris Tamarkin

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c o n g r e g a t i o n

rodef sholom 1119 Elm Street

Youngstown, Ohio 44505

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Youngstown, OH

Permit No. 681

Current Occupant or:

Congregation Rodef Sholom would like to thank the following companies for their support

in helping to underwrite the cost of the bulletin. We are very grateful for their generosity.

SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE

Please contact the Temple office

at 330.744.5001 to help underwrite the

cost of the bulletin.

Our Star Sponsors