June 2015 Sivan/Tammuz 5775

Rabbi Senter’s Office Hours

Wednesday 10:00am-5:30pm

Thursday 10:00am-3:00pm

Friday 9:00am-1:00pm

Sunday 9:00am-12:00pm

From the Rabbi’s Study…

As I pen these words I am completing the first year of

my tenure at Temple Israel. In some ways the time has

flown by. It is hard to imagine that a year has passed

since our moving trucks arrived in New Hampshire. My

garage is still half full of boxes that are yet to be

unpacked. This being said, Elissa and I feel that Temple

Israel is our home. While we intellectually understand

that this has not always been the case, we feel as if the

Temple Israel family has always been part of our lives.

Our comfort is due to the way in which you (the TIP

family) have welcomed us into your hearts and homes.

It can only be described as a warm welcome embrace.

This is the reality of our Kehilah Kedosha (sacred

community). Being an outsider at Temple Israel is a

very temporary state of being. Our strength is found in

our ability to embrace and welcome people to

our Kehillah.

Visitors often comment about the warm inclusive

nature of our community. Temple Israel should be

proud of this reality. As other communities talk about

becoming a welcoming and inclusive community we

can be proud of the fact that we have a culture that

facilitates a welcoming and inclusive environment. It

seems to be part of our DNA.

There is a danger in articulating this reality without

words of caution. Temple Israel is one of the most

welcoming and inclusive congregations I have ever

encountered. This being said, we can not allow

ourselves to become complacent in this reality. The

demographics of the Jewish community are constantly

in a state of flux. This is particularly true of

the Seacoast Jewish Community. We need to be ever

sensitive to the needs of the people who come through

our doors as well as the greater community.

May we as a community continue to embrace the

diversity of the people we are blessed to encounter.

AED Orientation Lesson Tuesday, June 2nd, 6pm after minyan

Nancy Mae Shaines Library

Presents: Deli Man Movie & Dinner Thursday, June 4th, 6pm Dinner, 7pm Movie

Kvetcher’s Club Open House Sunday, June 14th, 9:30am

Bar Mitzvah of Ryan Trotsky Saturday, June 20th, 9:30am

Board Meeting Tuesday, June 16th, 7:00pm, Board Room

In doing so we bring to fruition the vision of our

Holy texts "My house will be a house of prayer for

all people." (Isaiah 56)

Thank you for the privilege of serving such an

amazing congregation.

With Torah blessings, Rabbi David Ross Senter

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Tuesday Afternoon 5:30pm

Friday Night 7:30pm

Saturday Morning 9:30am

Followed by Kiddush Luncheon

By Fran Berman

At this year’s Annual Meeting, on May 18, Temple

Israel took a few important steps to move into the

future. We voted in new officers for the Board of

Directors, adding David Olken as VP ritual, Sam Berg

as VP education, Mel Prostkoff as recording secretary,

and Matt Herman as financial secretary. These

individuals have volunteered to spend their time and

talent to make sure Temple Israel grows and prospers

over the next few years. I was honored to be elected

President and look forward to leading the board and

the congregation as we grow from strength to strength

during the next two years. The members of the Board

will continue working to develop leadership skills

through United Synagogue’s Sulam for Current

Leaders program this year.

The congregation also voted in some bylaws changes

that the board has spent many hours formulating and

discussing, under the leadership of Board member-at-

large Alan Lincoln. Among other things, these changes

bring Temple Israel more in line with the principles

and practices of the Conservative movement in Juda-

ism and clarify board and committee responsibilities.

On behalf of the board, I want to thank the congrega-

tion for supporting our efforts to make our bylaws

more closely reflect our core principles and practices.

We also honored a few individuals for their service to

Temple Israel by presenting them with certificates of

appreciation. Please take a moment to thank these

folks when you see them -- without them, our syna-

gogue would not be the well-run, active place that it is.

David Bachrach, outgoing VP education, for helping TIP

continue to be a learning congregation during the recent

leadership transition in the religious school.

Amy Borne, Sisterhood president, for her leadership in

revitalizing our women's organization.

Noa Bourke, school director, for her boundless enthusiasm

for the Hebrew School students and her school leadership.

Maury Friedman, z”l, for the many carpentry projects he

initiated and completed for the Temple over the years.

Amy Hyett, outgoing recording secretary, for keeping an

accurate record of board activity.

Brian Hyett, for exemplary volunteerism in his dedication

and service to the Temple and Brotherhood.

Alan Lincoln, Board member-at-large, for his tenacious and

thoughtful work on the bylaws revision.

Sandy Roberts, outgoing immediate past president, for his

many years of service to the temple on and off the board.

David Schwartz, outgoing financial secretary, for his service

on the board and within the Temple Israel community.

Ira Schwartz, Board member-at-large and Endowment

chair, for his unswerving dedication to overseeing the temple

endowment and for helping bring the Holocaust Torah to

our synagogue.

Rabbi David Senter, for outstanding contributions and

leadership within the Temple, Board, Hebrew School and

the community.

Elissa Senter, for sharing her talents and enthusiasm with

the Temple community in her many roles.

Barney Share, outgoing president, for leading Temple Israel

through many difficult transitions over the past two years.

Al Spaien, for his many, many hours spent making sure the

temple was open, available, and running smoothly.

Many other congregants went out of their way to serve

the community in the past year -- too many to name here.

I hope we can all take inspiration from the efforts of those

around us and join with them in building a stronger, more

vibrant Jewish community in the year ahead.

Thank You from Al Spaien

While still feeling the spirit and camaraderie of the

Shang–Chai Shindig, I would like to take this

opportunity to thank everyone that had a hand in the

planning, preparing, and executing of a wonderful

evening that brought our community together. I am

sorry that I can’t thank each of you by name individu-

ally but I don’t know the names of everyone that gave

of their time and effort to make the evening a success.

Rather than leave anyone out THANK YOU ALL for

making the evening enjoyable and successful.

It is always great to be together with friends and

neighbors for simchas. I enjoyed every minute of it, but

did feel a bit uncomfortable in a role I am not used to,

being the honoree. Thank you all for the honor and

thank you all for making me part of the community.

To those of you that wanted to be there but had other

commitments, I certainly understand since it is family

that originally brought me here.

~Al

Save a Life: AED Orientation

As part Kendall Lamm's bat mitzvah project Kendall

identified a program through the State of New

Hampshire for the purchase of an Automated

External Defibulator (AED) at a reduced price for

non for profit institutions. After presenting her

research to the Temple Israel Board of Directors and

securing funding from the generous Grant of the

Mackles Family in memory of Charlotte & Louis

Mackles, she ordered the AED, facilitated its

installation and has organized a class to orient all

members of Temple Israel on how to use the AED

now installed and located in the first floor lobby

next to the entrance of the social hall.

Please attend a 45 minute orientation on AED use:

Tuesday, June 2nd, 6:00-6:45pm, Schmooze

(immediately following minyan)

Presenter: Bill Wood, Preparedness Coordinator

NH Bureau of EMS, (603)223-4228

William.Wood@dos.nh.gov

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Bar Mitzvah of Ryan Trotsky

Saturday, June 20th, Temple Israel Sanctuary

My name is Ryan Trotzky. I am in the 7th grade at Berwick Academy in

South Berwick, Maine. My hobbies include soccer, basketball, lacrosse,

skiing and mountain biking, and I enjoy spending time with family and

friends. Judaism is important to me because it is something I share with

my family, and its traditions and celebrations bring my family together.

For my Bar Mitzvah project I am organizing a fundraiser at school to raise

money to help buy school supplies for children in Ghana. During the

school year, we had a visitor from Ghana who ran an orphanage and a

school. When I learned of the conditions and lack of resources of the

school, it had quite an impact on me, and I knew I wanted to help. In

becoming a Bar Mitzvah, I have realized that it is important to look

beyond oneself and to appreciate and contribute to the world around us.

DUES PAYMENTS Please remember to send in your dues before year end. All payments were due by May 30th, 2015.

If you are not sure if you have a balance, please contact the Office and Alissa Holmes can assist

you. 603.436.5301 x10

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Access Sports Medicine

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Nancy & Melvin Alexander

Leslie & Matthew Allen

Mickey Allen

Sara & Ian Arnold

Elyse & David Bachrach

Jan & Jim Bailey

Rhonda & Russ Bernstein

Fran Berman

Blueberry Bay Farm

The Borne Family

Paula & Stuart Boxer

Bob Bradbard

Gail Bradbard

Shelley Brass

Cabot House

Cindy & Bob Chaikin

David Cline

Club Boutique

CycleFierce

Jennie & Peter Dinnerman

Carmen Duran

The Early Learning Center

Helena & Richard England

Susan & Roger Epstein

Espresso Dave’s

Esta

The Face Cafe

Barbara Fein

Rhoda & Fred Feldman

Deb & Bert Freedman

Selma Freedman

Bea Friedman

Ellen Fineberg & Vince Lombardi

Shirley & Elliott Fishbein

Naomi & Arnold Fishbein

Marianne & David Forman

George & Phillips

Alissa Gold

Marge & Bob Goldberg

Susan & Michael Golden

Diane Goulston

Great East Butcher Company

Lorrie & Dick Grossman

Richard David Grossman

Helen Hanan & Mel Prostkoff

Marsha & Ben Herman

Alissa & Steve Holmes

Lydia & Josh Howard

Amy & Brian Hyett

Estelle Israel

Nancy & Andrew Jaffe

Mark Jacobs

JD Howard Dental, LLC

Brenda Johnston

The Juicery

Evelyn Karu

Arline Koiles & Izzy Bratter

Ken Kowalchek

Steve Kahan

Elaine & Shel Krasker

The Lamm Family

Frances Lampert

Robin & Wayne Lehman

Barbara Levenson

Dana & Shaula Levenson

Donna & Stu Levenson

Deborah Levine

Renee Levy

Carol & Alan Lincoln

Adina & Allen Linden

Marilyn & Alvin Mars

Mezzanine Catering

Evelyn & Michael Miller

Sally, Israel & Ron Mirsky

Geraldine Mittelman

Harold & Gloria Moldoff

Pat Moreinis-Dodge

Mulhern & Scott, PLLC

Mybreastcancersupport.org

Nancy Mae Shaines

Library Committee

Carmen & Gregg Pollack

Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center

Cori McGrath, Olde Port Properties

Monika & David Olken

Bernice Richman

Sandy & Helaine Roberts

Roberts Law Office

Chris & Rachel Robie

Nancy Rosen

Marlene & Alan Rubin

Allison & Howard Rubin

Laura & Michael Rubin

Rob Ruben & Anne Caplin

Joanne Samuels

Jennifer & Peter Sebeny

Diane & Barney Share

Laura & Ron Sher

Jennifer & MJ Shoer

Rabbi & Elissa Senter

Jennifer & Ira Schwartz

Renee Silverman

Paula & Karl Singer

Michael Singer

Gloria & Harvard Sitkoff

Nancy & Zachary Slater

Kristine & Thomas Slater

Eve Spaien and Family

Gail Spaien and Family

State Street Discount

Dena & Jeffrey Stern

Susan Spaulding Stewart, Realtor

The Spring Event Committee

Lisa Stewart-Krutter

Temple Israel Brotherhood

Temple Israel Gift Shop

Julie Whitehouse

...and many anonymous friends

LEAF ON THE TREE OF LIFE IN HONOR OF AL SPAIEN

As part of Al Spaien’s special tribute, a leaf on the Temple Israel Tree of Life in the sanctuary has

been purchased and inscribed by the event committee. Look for it over the next month when you join

us for services. Many leaves are still available if you interested in commemorating a special occasion.

Thank You to All Who Helped Make This Year’s Spring Event

& Tribute to Al Spaien a Great Success!

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Convocation was a success, with the third graders receiving

their suddurim from their teachers who kvelled about their

accomplishments. Well done Kitah Gimmel!

Sixth graders took over the leadership role for the Temple

Israel religious school. They were given a blessing by the

graduating 7th graders. Teachers for the class presented each

child with a chumash. These will be well used in their coming

b’nai mitzvah year.

We want to extend a big congratulations to Sarah Hoskin.

Sarah was recognized by her peers as a leader in her values

and learning. She exemplifies the qualities we strive to teach

to all of our students. Sarah is a leader with her peers and the

younger students. Mazel tov!

A big thank you to all the kids who participated in the annual

t-shirt design competition. Kudos go to Elias Matso—this

year’s winner!

Convocation also served as an opportunity to thank two

amazing parents who supported the school this year. Lydia

Howard worked with other volunteers and children and made

over 900 hamantaschen this year!!! Extend our thanks to her

before she moves to Florida. We will miss her very much and

send her all of our love and hope the family makes new

friends down south.

Alice Ehrlich was also recognized for going above and

beyond helping the school. Subbing in classes, transporting

kids, shopping for supplies, setting up for events, and being

the go-to person for every need -- she has been a tremendous

blessing to our school!

Thank you Alice and Lydia!

We are planning several school events in June, July and

August for kids in grades 3-7. Stay tuned for dates!

There will be a one hour Shabbat morning program with

stories, and Shabbat appropriate games on May 30th, June

13th, July 11th and August 22nd for kids in current grades

K-2. We will be in the library from 10-11.

Please let Noa know if you will be attending any of

these dates.

L’Shalom,

Noa Bourke 6

7th Grader Elias Matso with his

winning t-shirt design!

This past month the children of the Early Learning

Center were busy preparing for the upcoming

holiday of Shavuot, which is celebrated on the sixth

day of the month of Sivan, corresponding this year

to May 24th. Shavuot was first celebrated in ancient

Israel as a pilgrimage festival, when newly harvested

barley and wheat, and the first fruits of the season

were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. After the

Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, the nature of

Shavuot began to change, and is now associated with

the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount

Sinai, which also occurred in the month of Sivan, seven weeks after

the Exodus.

There are many mitzvot and traditions associated with Shavuot (in

addition to reading the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth), one

of which is bringing food to those in need, Hazan et HaKol. Our field

trip to the Seacoast Family Food Pantry and delivery of a wagonload of

non-perishable food, fulfilled this mitzvah, and was an eye opening

experience for the children. Another Shavuot tradition is decorating the

Synagogue (or our classroom!) with flowers and greenery. The children

had lots of fun mastering the art of flower arranging with neon yellow

forsythia and sweetly scented cherry and lilac blossoms. We also eat

dairy and food “shaped” like the Torah, since “the words of the Torah

are as a nourishing as milk and as sweet as honey.” And you can just

imagine the fun the children had making homemade blintzes slathered

with Nutella! Lastly, the children painted walking sticks for our very

own hike to Mt. Sinai (which was actually Four Tree Island), where we

were joined by the Israelite people, (actually our families), for a

wonderful celebratory picnic (with “first fruits” of the season and our

blintzes, of course)!

As our year comes to a close, Elian and I bid farewell to six graduating

students and one who will be living abroad. We are proud of all of our

preschoolers, for each has acquired social, emotional and academic

skills, and a strong foundation in Jewish traditions, holidays and

values. May our children continue to grow in strength

and go forth into the world forever doing deeds of

loving-kindness.

Thank you to all of our preschool families for the gift

of your children, and thank you to Elian Tackeff, my

amazing assistant.

L’Shalom,

Laura

Laura Sher Director, ELC

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Ritual

It is an exciting time to be a member here at

Temple Israel! I’m honored to serve as the

incoming VP of Ritual and look forward to working

with Rabbi Senter and the other members of the

committee, including our new President and former

VP Ritual, Fran Berman, who have worked so

diligently in past years. As a member for over

twenty years I have come to realize this is a special

place. We are big enough to be a full service

congregation, but small enough to have room to

allow everyone a role for meaningful participation.

Come join us for a Tuesday afternoon Minyan and

D’rash with the Rabbi, or visit on a Shabbat

morning and stay for a hearty Kiddush and visit

with friends and fellow congregants. Please send

me any comments, questions or suggestions that

you would like the committee to discuss. If you

prefer to give your feedback in person, our next

scheduled meeting is Wednesday, June 3rd at 7pm. I

look forward to working with you to help make our

congregation a place we can all comfortably call

our spiritual home.

L’Shalom, David Olken

Seacoast Family Promise

Our Seacoast Family Promise crew is doing great,

having just finished one host week in May and

looking forward to another one starting June 7. We

could still use a couple more volunteers to help us

serve dinner and stay overnight with the homeless

families at First United Methodist Church in Ports-

mouth. The commitment is only about six nights

per year! Also, a volunteer training (offered only

twice a year) is coming up on June 7 in the after-

noon, conveniently located at South Church in

Portsmouth. If you've never been to a training, or

haven't been in years, please try to attend. For more

info about the training or new volunteer opportuni-

ties, please contact Margie Wachtel at

may12@comcast.net or 603-498-0473. Finally,

Seacoast Family Promise would like to thank the chil-

dren of Kitah Gan, and their teacher Elissa Kaplan

Senter, for collecting $102 in tzedakah for SFP. About

half of the money was given in quarters, which will be

given to the guests to use when they do their laundry.

Sisterhood Come join us for Hadassah 101 on Sunday,

June 14th from 10am – Noon. Where: The home of

Brenda Johnston, 10 Glendale Road, Rye. Come learn

more about Hadassah and their “Every Step Counts”

program. Please bring comfortable walking shoes for

a stroll on the beach across from Wallis Sands.

RSVP to Shelley Brass at brassun1@comcast.net or

603-431-8207.

Adult Education:

Ancient Hebrew for Everybody

Temple Israel is offering a summer Introduction to

Hebrew Alphabet and Reading class. The Hebrew

“alef bet” is the oldest alphabet in continuous use and

can be used for reading ancient and modern Israeli

Hebrew, as well as Yiddish and Aramaic. Tuesday

evenings, June 9th - August 11th, 6:00-7:15 pm in the

Library at Temple Israel. Students will learn to read

the Kaddish, the most used prayer in Jewish life, in

Aramaic. The public is encouraged to participate,

especially teenagers.

Tuition is $35, including the textbook. For more

information, contact instructor Kathryn Mulhearn at

isogloss@outlook.com. To register, contact Temple

office at templeoffice@templeisraelnh.org or 603-436

-5301 x10.

This course is a prerequisite for the Biblical Hebrew

Reading and Grammar Course starting Sept. 2015.

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT

David & Michelle Baer, Marilyn Gorman & Rosilyn

Steinberg in memory of their father Charles Gorman,

Gloria Turner in memory of her father Julius

Applebaum, Bert & Deb Freedman in memory of his

brother Mark Freedman and in memory of Jim

Leavitt, Gloria & Harold Moldoff in memory of her

grandmother Molly Fisher, Elaine Krasker in memory

of her grandfather Samuel Shapiro

RABBI’S FUND

Joan Hankin in memory of her mother Ida Gersh,

Mikahil Klarov, Howard & Janice Steinberg, Joanne

Deutsch in memory of her father Walter Mayer, Sr.,

Ronald & Arlene Pinkus in memory of Rabbi

Chaim Gershon Freidlin, Alissa & Steve Holmes in

appreciation for their son Tyler’s Bar Mitzvah

LIBRARY FUND

Eleanor & Eugene Schaffer in memory of Maurice

Friedman, Bernyce Goodman in memory of Max

Soldon, Frances Lampert in honor of Al Spaien,

Arnold & Naomi Fishbein in honor of Al Spaien

TZEDAKAH FUND

Diane Goulston in memory of Rosalyn Schwartz,

Phyllis Heilbronner in memory of her beloved

husband Hans Heilbronner and her mother in law of

blessed memory Helen Heilbronner, Goldie Fink in

memory of her husband Herman Fink

CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND

Arline Coles in memory of Jim Leavitt, Elliot &

Shirley Fishbein in memory of his brother Jerome

Fishbein, Arline Coles in memory of her husband

Morris Coles

PRESCHOOL DONATION FUND

Robert & Judith Weisner in memory of Eva Weisner,

Selma Freedman in memory of her son Mark

Freedman, Selma Freedman at time of yahrzeit and in

honor of Al Spaien

KIDDUSH FUND

Myrna Promer & Robert Weisner in memory of their

mother Eva Weisner

June 5th 8:00pm

June 12th 8:05pm

June 19th 8:07pm

June 26th 8:08pm

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Get Well: to Mary Rottenberg & Ronald Meenes

KVETCHERS CLUB

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY JUNE 14TH, 9:30AM

Like to chat, complain, kvetch — join with the

kvetchers, Sundays at 9:30am in the Schmooze.

Come for an open house on the 14th and see what

we’re all about. For more information contact Irwin

& Audrey at 603-436-5096 or akmann@comcast.net.

If you know of a member of

the community who could use

financial assistance, please call

the Rabbi at (516) 450-5117

and leave a message with contact

information. We can provide

short-term help for utility bill

payments, etc. and all will be

kept in the strictest confidence.

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1 Arthur Taube, Nancy Mae Shaines, Sophie Levin

2 Judith Norin, Nathan Lorde, Max Bradbard

3 Milton Rosen, Goldie Freedman

4 Harry Olken

5 May Tetenman, Shirley Katz

6 Maurice Yoffee, Rabbi Goldin

7 Hilda Dearborn

8 Irving Shoer, Ruth Levin, Harold Fluster, Stanley Allen

9 Miriam Rosenberg, Shelley DelGaudio, Muriel Leavitt

10 Herman Wilson

11 Philip Halprin, Theodore Lang

12 Henry D. Freaman, Irwin Benjamin

13 Charles Slome

14 Dorothy Berlin

15 Harry Teitelbaum

16 Meyer Liberson

17 Robert Levy, Mary Goodman

19 Ethel Shapiro, Mandel Shoer, Nathan Feldman

20 Lizzie Weiner, Raymond Katz, Philip Weinberg

21 Michael Anthony Smith, Phillip Moldoff, Evelyn Paul

22 Beatrice Lisagor, Sam Fisher, Herman Windt, Ann Bradbard

24 Elizabeth Pinn, Evelyn Poster, Edward Shaines, Molly Singer, Susie Seidner

25 Adele Goodman Hoeflich, Ethel Gold

26 Fae Briskin, Rose Lang, Dora Vetstein

27 Lionel Levitt, Fannie Green, Isaac Shamash, June Dinnerman

28 William Kline, Barney Levenson, Frieda Schertz

29 Maude Bierhans, Ted Johnston

30 Fannie Zeidman, Benjamin Gurtman, Annie Klaiman

June Yahrzeits: Sivan 14 / Tammuz 13

Memorial Lights

Remembering our dear departed

is an important Jewish tradition.

A beautiful way to memorialize

our loved ones in perpetuity is

with a plaque in our sanctuary.

Memorial plaques can be

reserved or ordered for $250.

When you are observing a

family member’s yahrzeit,

please be aware that you are

welcome to say Kaddish not

only at the Friday night or

Saturday morning service,

but also at the Tuesday

minyan at 5:30pm.

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OFFICE HOURS

Monday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Tuesday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wednesday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Temple Israel 200 State Street

Portsmouth, NH 03801

603-436-5301

Temple Israel Portsmouth Board of Directors

Term Length Term End

Fran Berman, President 2 years 2017

Barney Share, Immediate Past President 2 years 2017

David Olken, VP Ritual 2 years 2017

Robert Bradbard, VP House 2 years 2017

Sam Berg, VP Education 2 years 2017

Mel Prostkoff, Recording Secretary 2 years 2017

Matthew Herman, Financial Secretary 2 years 2017

Howard Rubin, Treasurer 2 years 2017

Sue Goldin, Director 3 years 2018

Amy Hyett, Director 3 years 2018

Stephanie Ilberg-Lamm, Director 3 years 2017

Alan Lincoln, Director 3 years 2017

Ira Schwartz, Director 3 year 2017

Jennifer Sebeny, Director 3 years 2017

Harvard Sitkoff, Director 3 years 2017