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� ere is a connection between Purim and Pesach. While the two holidays are actually one month apart on the Hebrew calendar, this year Purim begins on the last day of February at night and Passover begins on the last day of March during the day. � ere are traditions regarding drinking wine associated with each festival. On Purim, we are supposed to drink enough wine “Ad Lo Yada” which means, “until we don’t know the di� erence between the cursed Haman and the blessed Mordecai.” On Passover, during the Seder we drink from four cups of wine to recall the four di� erent phrases found in the Torah regarding God delivering us from Egyptian bondage. A � � h cup is the Cup of Elijah and no wine is taken from it. Both holidays take place in locations which are outside of Israel and are places where wars against the Jewish state have been launched even today, in modern times. At Purim, we are aware that it was ancient Persia, today known as Iran, that attempted to commit genocide against the Jewish community. During Passover, we read in the Haggadah of the story of the Egyptians who tried to kill all the male Jewish babies and then enslaved our entire people. Both holidays present men and women whose courage led to the victory of the Jewish people against our enemies. On Passover, it was the courage of Moses’ mother Yochebed who saved Moses’ life, along with Puah and Shifrah who saved the Jewish babies. Moses and his brother Aaron were, of course, the brave souls who confronted the Pharaoh to “let our people go.” During the reading of the Megillah, we learn of Esther who risked her life to save the Jews of Persia, and of Mordecai, her cousin, who de� ed the evil Haman and wouldn’t bow down to him. On Passover we eat baked goods, such as Matzah, which have no leaven to remember the haste in which we le� Egypt. On Purim, we eat Hamentashen or triangular shaped cookies to remember Haman’s hat, pockets and ears. A special book read only on Purim is Megillat Esther, the scroll of Esther, and the story of Passover is read at the Seder in a special manuscript called the “Haggadah.” On the morning of Purim we observe the “Fast of Esther” and on the morning of the � rst Seder we observe the “Fast of the First Born.” Both holidays teach us of the dangers of racism, bigotry, and hatred. Each holiday requires us to � ght for the principles of freedom and justice for all human beings. Purim and Pesach both encourage the full participation of children. On Purim, all the children dress in costumes and on Pesach, it is the children who ask “� e Four Questions.” God is not mentioned at all in the Book of Esther and Moses is only mentioned once in the Haggadah. As we gather in the synagogue to observe the festival of Purim on Adar 15, which falls on the evening of February 28th and continues on March 1st, and as we observe the First Seder on the evening of Nisan 15, which is the 30th of March, let us learn and observe the meaning-ful traditions and lessons of each holiday. � e Festival of Purim and the Holiday of Pesach have inspired our people from their inception. May they continue to have an impact on us today.

-Rabbi Stephen A. Leon

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I see great things when I look at B’nai Zion and, as my college economics professor taught, I am convinced that “what you foresee is what you get.” I can’t help it; I’m an incurable optimist who sees lots of positivity for B’nai Zion. Just look at what we’ve done so far in 2018 and you’ll agree that we’re on the road in the right direction. We’ve had some fabulous events recently – our Chanukah Celebration and New Member Welcome, the Chai Five Celebration and coming up immediately before this issue of the Messenger lands in your mailbox, the Most Marvel-Us Purim Celebration Ever. A huge thank you goes out to our members and supporters for making it all possible. � ere’s quite a bit more work to do to get us where we want to be as a synagogue, but once we get there we’ll be poised to maintain our position for the long term. Please help us keep the momentum going. We need your support with our � rst fundraiser this year: Best of the Old West Casino Night on March 24. Let’s � ll the room with people who love to socialize, to dance, to eat, to drink, to dress up in their Old West attire and, of course, who love to gamble. Invite your friends and family, your neighbors and co-workers. � ey’ll all have a wonderful time while supporting a good cause. A� er taking a break for a few years, we’ve brought back the Stock Portfolio Ra� e. Tickets are already available. � e drawing for the grand prize stock portfolio and several other prizes is on April 8. If we all buy one ticket and sell two, we’ll have reached our goal of selling 600 tickets. And, what’s more, we’ll be at 25% of the fundraising we need to enable us to move our dues cycle to January through December, rather than September through August. Louis Brandeis said, “Most of the things worth doing in the world were declared impossi-ble before they were done.” I remain con� dent that we will be successful.

-Debra Pazos

P.S. Stop by the o� ce and see our new electronic bulletin board!

Meet Avinoam Sapir Friday, March 9th, Saturday, March 10th, and Sunday, March 11th. Avinoam is an experienced, knowledgeable lay leader who may be � lling in at B’nai Zion as

we continue our search for a Head Rabbi. Join us at services to hear how beautifully he reads Torah and enjoy his insightful D’var Torahs.

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Passover is approaching along with all the tasks which accompany it. � is holiday allows us time to revisit our past as a Jewish people, as well as with our own families. Whether or not we complete all the holiday rituals, many do adhere to the traditional “diet.” In other words, our food selections become more limited, or do they? Commitment is a promise, obligation or dedication to a belief, object or person(s) which results as an adjustment in our behavior. During Passover, we may refrain from leavened bread and eat Matzah instead. � is demonstrates a “choice” made to follow customs, but more importantly, this act establishes a link between us and our ancestors. In this manner, the “diet” serves not only as sustenance but also provides meaningful memories. Likewise, B’nai Zion Sisterhood has also been able to create a rich 96 year history through the commitment of our members. We are grateful to all who dedicate themselves to continually help others. � ank you to the following women whose involvement in our recent Sisterhood Shabbat made it so special

Sara Scoggin Rose Kupfer Audrey Lavi Judy Weiser Felicia Rubin Jeanne Lipson Lupe Ramos Annabelle Wong Rosa Herman Linda Corral Sylvia Svarzbein Kristin Kimmelman Bernadine Belkin Beth Kurland Holly Hernandez Yoli Radcli� e Judy Grodin Marcia Schwartz Patty Hutman Sarah Williams Sandy Peitzer Joyce Lieb Jackie Zehden Dora Roe

With our members in mind, the spring programming schedule o� ers educational and social opportunities: March 8th 7:00 PM (International Women’s Day) and in recognition of that, we will sponsor “Life is Short – Eat Dessert First” (along with a speaker-led discussion) at B’nai Zion. April 25th 6:00 PM features a Book Review at Temple Mount Sinai. To prepare, you can begin reading “� e Book of Separation” by Tova Mirvis. May 6th is another entertaining � lm night at B’nai Zion, so SAVE THE DATE!! June 3rd 10:00 AM � nalizes the upcoming events with our Sisterhood-sponsored member appreciation co� ee. Sisterhood is committed to supporting our members, our youth and our congregants. � is promise, obligation and dedication has continued for nearly a century. Please join us and become involved to help make “her story!”

In Sisterhood

-Debbie Cohen

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Nothing To Do This Spring Break? Attention all USYers!!

Come with us to for an Unforgettable Shabbaton

Meet with old friends and make new friends from

Oklahoma Celebrate Shabbat with Las Vegas USYers and make

even more friends Explore the Mobster Museum and learn about the

Jewish ties to the Mob and its ties to the building of Las Vegas

See historic sites and landmarks Participate in a tikkun olam project at Veteran’s Village Visit with local politicians

For more information and to register, contact USY Advisor Erin Pazos – pazos.erin@gmail.com or text (915) 479-9920

This event is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish

Federation of Greater El Paso

Forever Friends, Fabulous Fun!

If you’re not already a member, join USY or Kadima now! Participate in our local events and activities! Join us for Southwest Region Conventions!

Kadima Konvention

5th-7th Graders 8th Grade Shabbaton

March 23-25, 2018

For more information, contact any USY Board Member or Erin Pazos, USY Advisor, at BZUSY@cbzep.org

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Bea Weisz Memorial Scholarship Fund

Applications are now being accepted for the Bea Weisz Memorial Scholarship Fund. Applications must be received on or before May 15, 2018 for distribution by August 1, 2018 It was the wish of Ms. Weisz that proceeds from the fund would be given to a needy and worthy Jewish college student(s) to enable him or her to pursue his or her studies Amount available for distribution is $6,584.00 For information, contact the Federation at 915-842-9554 The Beatrice L. Weisz Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in July of 2001.

Boy Scout Flag Service

Boy Scout Troop 613 of the Yucca Council appreciates your help

and support in promoting scouting.

In 2018 Troop 613 will be posting United States flags in the yards of residents desiring this service. The price of this service is $32.00 with the proceeds going to defray the costs for our scouts with summer camp and other outdoor scouting activities throughout the year. The flags will be posted in the front yards of participating homeowners on the mornings of the holidays listed below and taken down that evening. Dates of Service Holiday Monday May 28th Memorial Day Thursday June 14th Flag Day Wednesday July 4th Independence Day Monday September 3rd Labor Day

Call the Scoutmaster listed below to get started!

Name: Alan J. Cohen Phone: Home (915) 249-6505/Mobile (817) 800-0196 Flags and equipment provided by and remain the property of Troop 613

Aaron Wechter Memorial Scholarship Fun

Accepting applications for Fall 2018 semester

Aaron Wechter was a long-time philanthropist and leader in the Jewish and business community in El Paso, Texas. � e UTEP Memorial Scholarship was established in his name by his widow, Sylvia Wechter, and her family in 2014 to � nancially assist a worthy UTEP student interested in bettering the Jewish community of El Paso. Building upon Aaron Wechter’s legacy of communal involvement and dedication, Sylvia and her family continue to be major supporters of the El Paso community. Anyone interested in applying can contact the UTEP O� ce of Scholarships (call 747-5748 or email scholar@utep.edu) Completed application forms, with personal statements attached, must be received or postmarked no later than Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

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IT’S BACK B’NAI ZION’S POPULAR STOCK PORTFOLIO RAFFLE

Over the years, up to over 500 people have bought tickets at every raffl e and the last one was in 2009. Now, by popular demand, it’s back. Besides the raffl e winner, we will have runner-up prizes of weekend trips to Dallas Cowboys games, UTEP football and basketball tickets, and dinners at popular local restaurants. And here is how it works. Six blue chip stocks will make up the portfolio. They include McDonald’s, Microsoft, Apple, JP Morgan Chase and for the big one…the winner will be holding 8 shares of Warren Buff ett’s Berkshire Hathaway/B Stock. The portfolio was worth $10,000 when we bought it on January 22 and could easily grow to $12,000 when we close on Sunday, April 8, 2018. The money raised will be used to fund the Synagogue’s costs and to educate our children. One ticket will cost $100 and you can upgrade your odds by buying several tickets. In the past, we have had folks who bought as many as 10 tickets. If you buy 5 or more tickets, you get a 10% discount. For example, instead of $500, you’d only pay $450 for 5 tickets. You can purchase a ticket by calling the Synagogue offi ce at(915) 833-2222, calling Sam Kobren at (915) 584-0202 or e-mail tvsam@aol.com, or calling Sam Ellowitz at (915) 584-1305. Or contact any member of the Synagogue Board of Directors. Thank you for your support!

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Many thanks to the following members for sponsoring:

Saturday Kiddush Lunch2/10/18 Rita Slusser2/24/18 Linda & Art Corral - In memory of Olga & Marcel Rose and Valerie & Richard Lehr

Sunday Bagel Breakfast2/18/18 Richard & Eileen Armour - In honor of their special anniversary2/25/18 Martha & Cli� ord Eisenberg - In memory of Jack & Florence Morgan

Beautiful Flowers that adorn our Bimah2/09/18 Gary & Judy Weiser - In memory of Morris Galatzan2/16/18 Richard & Eileen Armour - In honor of their special anniversary2/23/18 Gary & Judy Weiser - In memory of Sig Weiser3/02/18 Gary & Judy Weiser - In memory of Irene Galatzan

Welcome New Members:Mauricio Lewkowicz

Ramon MestaHappy 1st Birthday

Samuel Natan Kimmelman

and Leah Wong

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3/01 Charles KovanKacy SpivackLitzy SotoSamuel Natan Kimmelman

3/02 Patricia SilosJacob Gonzalez

3/03 Aleeza KaplanJaiden Kimmelman

3/04 Leah WongJoni Superville

3/05 Ellyce KimmelmanElias Madero

3/06 Carolina MaldonadoCaptain Gabriel KoshinskyMicah GrodinMark Sidransky

3/08 Sylvia Svarzbein

3/09 Yolanda Castile

3/10 Donald ScharfGary WeiserSam Kessel

3/11 Noah BatkinJonathan Kaplan

3/13 Molly GoldbergIvan Lopez VieWendy Crabb

3/14 Benjamin LavisBrenda KuchinskySteve RubinJohanna BorkAllen Green

3/15 Hannah HaginsJudy GrodinErnest Eisenberg

3/16 Reva NathansonHelen EilandJudith Weiser

3/17 Herbert EhrlichWesley Lichtenstein

3/18 Robert Becko�

3/19 Harold PeitzerJ. B. Brown

3/20 Aaron KovanTobi BerryTi� any ShaouliDavid FertelZachery FrakerIsaac Weislow

3/21 Kimberly Brown

3/22 Michael KuchinskyRachel Warach Weiner

3/23 So� a KaplanMaria Dembovicius

3/24 Sara ScogginShane LipsonMichele NadlerSam KupetzGilberto Ureste, Sr.

3/25 Oliver Rosen� eldJorge Jr. PerezMarcia SchwartzFalynn Glickstein

3/26 Dr. Marc Zuckerman

3/27 Melinda Marcus

3/28 Craig AlpardTibor SchaechnerEmily FelsenLia Cohen

3/29 Moshe YardeniDonald Glickstein

3/30 Fi� Heller-KaimHolli BerryKate WarachAnthony Furman

3/31 Judi Lieberman

3/03 Dr. David & Cindy Metrikin

3/06 Jack & Ruja Cohen

3/08 Gerald & Stanlee Rubin

3/09 Sidney & Yolanda BlumLuis & Anabel Wong

3/14 Drs. Jorge & Elena Perez

3/16 Dr. Lawrence Lesser & Lauren Davis

3/18 Gary & Lisa Nadler

3/19 Mark & Patricia HutmanBryan & Joani Schonberg

3/21 James & Monica Kimmelman

3/22 Carlos & So� a KaplanAmit & Pollie Toren

3/24 Adam & Dana FrankClement & Amy MarcusMarc & Valerie Cloutier

3/28 Salomon & Shaya Holland

3/29 David & Eugenia KaplanManon & Ellen Daugherty

3/30 Art & Linda Corral

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William and Jessica Carvajal - In honor of your wedding anniversary from Louis & Miriam Rosenbaum

Sam Ellowitz - In honor of your birthday from Louis & Miriam Rosenbaum

Susan Eisen - In honor of your special birthdayfrom Cli� ord & Martha Eisenberg

Tanny Berg - In honor of your new granddaughter from Joyce Davido�

Jane Warach - In honor of your birthdayfrom Warren & Claire Pulner

Laura Tolentino - In honor of your birthday from Denise, Valerie and Raul Tolentino & Laura Escobar

Louis & Miriam Rosenbaum - In honor of your anniversaryfrom Tibor & Ann Schaechner

In honor of Rabbi Leon and Congregation B’nai Zion from Rose Pergricht

In honor of All the Ladies of Sisterhood from Mike Batkin

Mona and Howard Goldberg - In honor of the engagement of your son Brett to Melfrom Leslie and Robert Becko�

Nina and Fred Hirsh - In honor of their new grandsonfrom Leslie and Robert Becko�

Esther Kuchinsky - Wishing you a speedy recoveryfrom Eileen and Richard Armour

Miriam Rosenbaum - Get well soonfrom Claire and Warren Pulner

Sandy Watzman - In memory of your beloved daughterWith love Martha and Cli� Eisenberg

Brett Goldberg - In honor of your engagement

Ben Marcus - In honor of your engagement

Shea Marcus - In honor of your marriage

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Abe Aaronson Sandra Aaronson

Miriam Aaronson Sandra Aaronson

Mordecai Aaronson Sandra Aaronson

Sadie Aaronson Sandra Aaronson

Samuel ArmourEileen and Richard Armour

Manny Corral Richard & Eileen Armour Lester & Cherryll Lieberman

Hedwig Eichenwald Dr. Boris Kaim & Fifi Heller-Kaim

Lisa Foster Richard & Leslie Oti s

Mina GerfelSusie Schaechner

Abe Goldberg Sandy Dula and Family

Miriam Goldfarb Sandy Dula and Family

Carolyn Gopin Warren & Claire PulnerRuth Erlich

Erich Hirsch Arlene Feinberg

Pola Kimmelman Gil Kimmelman

Joe Krisky Ruth Erlich

Arthur Leeser Warren & Claire Pulner Lester & Cherryll Lieberman

Rachel Leon Dr. and Mrs. Jeff rey Spier Jeri Hallberg Sandy Dula and FamilyDr. Boris Kaim & Fifi Heller-Kaim

Elisa McKleroy Cliff ord & Martha EisenbergRichard & Leslie Oti s Susan & Steve Berdinis Adam & Dana Frank Mark & Dori Fenenbock Lester & Cherryll Lieberman Michael & Suzi AaronsonMr. & Mrs. Tony Furman & Family

Esther E. Mintz John & Debbie Johnson

Rose Naparstek Dorene Naparstek

Ruth Oppenheim Ruth Erlich Abraham Wernicky Jaime & Martha Rubinstein

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3/01 (14 Adar)Bob FurmanSheldon SchoenbrunLily LiebermanSondra CohenSamuel Frankel

3/02 (15 Adar) Henry Zucker

3/03 (16 Adar)Frieda MargolisLillian ShabotJoseph ChernoEvelyn KarnerDora ErlichDottie Rosen� eld

3/04 (17 Adar) Mordechai BorkIsaac Kishk

3/05 (18 Adar) Basirlay OvadiaWavis TwyfordHelen Becko�

3/06 (19 Adar) Rose ZlotnickLeon Tarlowe

3/07 (20 Adar) Elias CamhiBlanche Wechter

3/08 (21 Adar) Samuel LiebmanAbraham EhrlichRoslyn GoldenGladys SchecterJean Golden

3/09 (22 Adar) Otto Klein

3/10 (23 Adar) Jake LuskeyFred Davido�

3/11 (24 Adar) Baruch HolzerAlvin Cohen

3/12 (25 Adar) Armando Velez

3/13 (26 Adar) Fannie CharbitDina EisenbergLitman BrownAnnie Fox

3/14 (27 Adar) Domingo RuilobaYetta GoldbergEmma Fox

3/15 (28 Adar) Milton D. Feinberg

3/16 (29 Adar) Sadie Wolf LiebermanLouis LevyLouis LevittSamuel FeldmanSolomon FrankelFrieda KuchsChanna Wernicky

3/17 (1 Nissan) Della HirschCarl DeenerGussie Batt

3/18 (2 Nissan) Donna OvadiaJoseph LeonPearl Rosen

3/19 (3 Nissan) Irwin GrodinRosa Margolis KosbergPauline Blum

3/20 (4 Nissan) Benny FrankVivian SiegelJoseph Kuchs

3/21 (5 Nissan) Martha Bruder

3/22 (6 Nissan) � omas DulaDorothy GrosserSamuel Schmalholz

3/23 (7 Nissan) Gabriel GronichIna Kurland

3/24 (8 Nissan) Samuel GlicksteinMartin Schwartz

3/25 (9 Nissan) Eli WarachEugene Roth

3/27 (11 Nissan) Irwin CinofskyHelen FinkelsteinSundel LipsonSiggie Schlusselberg

3/29 (13 Nissan) Abraham FoxSalomon SmilovitzBrunia Weiss� eresa Pulner

3/30 (14 Nissan) Shirley KupetzJacob ZiinderHyman FelsenAlicia NadlerJennifer Lupien

3/31 (15 Nissan) Toby LeonGershon GottliebLarry ArmourHarold FoxAnn SeifAaron Enrique Margolis

3/11 (24 Adar) 3/21 (5 Nissan)