March April 2014 Adar I Adar II Nisan 5774 The Star

Highlights:

Book Group March 4

Torah Study March 8

Purimshpiel March 16

Israeli Pot Luck May 2

Raise the Roof Gala

May 10

Blackledge Music

May 18

Newsletter of Temple Beth Torah Wethersfield, CT Vol. 17 No. 4

PURIM!!!!!! We are now at the end of Adar I, to be followed by Adar II because, during this Jewish leap year, Adar is a double month so as to let time catch up with itself—the solar calendar with the lunar. Adar being an invitation to really let one’s hair (or what’s left of it) down and be unabashedly silly (mi she nihnas adar marbim besimhah / “Those who enter Adar increase joy”), two months of Adar in a row is like a double shot of espresso (or whisky), if espresso (or whisky) were giggle juice. Have you ever been uncontrollably, unstoppably happy? My current spiritual discipline is to watch every episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” in order on Netflix. I am doing this because I need the laughs. Carl Reiner, a nice Jewish boy, created that show. He had written for Sid Caesar (the late and the great), another Jewish “King of Comedy. As I watch those classic episodes, along with the melancholy sensation I experience in thinking about that priceless bygone golden comedic era come a huge number of side-splitting belly laughs, something I don’t experience much in today’s more intellectually parsed, ironically bracketed and bitterly cynical entertainment climate. When was the last time you had a pie thrown at you? Or just experienced goofiness?

Message from Rabbi Riemer

Here’s my theory of moshiah-zeit—the vision of Messianic Days: the Messiah is a comedian. (We know that God is a practical joker—could this absurd world be possible otherwise?) They used to say “the son of David [i.e., the Messiah] will come only in a generation that is either altogether righteous or altogether wicked” (Rabbi Yohanan, in Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a). I think that has got to be wrong; it’s time to give such grandiose moralistic rhetoric the hook and, to the tune of catcalls and rotten tomatoes, unceremoniously yank it offstage. Instead, the Messiah will come only in a generation that has lost its sense of humor and needs to rediscover that healing divine trait—without which we are not truly made in God’s image and not capable of fulfilling the Holy Blessed One’s plan for us. Such rediscovery will occur precisely (with perfect split-second comic timing) when The Greatest Comedian in the World stumbles (we can hope, on a banana peel) onto the stage of human history and into public consciousness and gives our laughter back to us. Our Purim celebration, complete with Megilah reading and Purimshpiel, will be on Sunday, March 16. Admission is free as long as you remember to bring your funny-bone! Hag Same’ah! Happy Purim! Rabbi Seth

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Message from the Co-Presidents Hello All, We have had a very snowy start to 2014 but it did not deter us from enjoying several fun-filled events at TBT. Our TBT Tu B’shvat Seder (Jewish Arbor Day gathering) was held right after Shabbat Services on Friday, January 17th. We had a wonderful turnout! Debbie Ehrlich, Susan James, Stan and Gloria Zwirn, Rita and Harold Nevins, Nancy Stillman and her son, Ian, Ruth Brainin, Moshe, Jacob, and Samantha Sondik, Karen Klein, Cecile and Barry Bronfin, Susan and Jonathan Reuben, Carol Gershenson, myself and of course, Rabbi Seth, all shared in a wonderful and fun-filled evening. Thank you all for participating in another successful TBT Tu B’Shvat Seder!

Book Club and Torah Study continue to be enjoyed by all. Thanks to several new folks who attended the February Torah Study, we had an excellent turnout. I think the addition of Brunch after Torah Study has enticed many people to come and share in the interesting and informative morning led by our own Rabbi Seth! Lots of excitement and activity is in store for us in the coming months. Please mark your calendars for these special events: The next meeting of the TBT book group will be on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:30 PM. The book "My Promised Land: the Triumph and Tragedy of Israel" by Ari Shavit, will be discussed. Bert and Jeanne

Kvell Corner of Pride

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GOLDEN BOOK In Memory of JOAN BERG By Shelley & Michael Barker By Cecile & Barry Bronfin By Barbara & Neale Dobkin By Ivan Finkle By Judy & Marty Gold By Andie & Barry Goldberg By Deb Ellenberg Gray & John Gray By Pauline & Dennis Kuklis By Ina & Frank London By Rhoda & Fred London By David Israel, Paul Blumberg & Adam Goldman By Karen & Neil Moss By Clare & Sandy Mozes & Cousin Carol Soller

By Diane & Michael McGrath By Madelyn & William Nawrocki By Rita and Harold Nevins By Ruth & Harold Ossher By Sheldon Richman By Mira & Barry Schlein By Marcia & Herbert Slotnick By Lisa Tagliaferri and Family By Selma Rudnick Waters By Elayne Cantor & Paul Bayer By Ellen M. Linger HELPING HANDS FUND In Memory of JOAN BERG By Kathi & Eliot Mag By AZ & Evelyn Soforenko By Debra & Joe Hammer

Woodcock will host Book Club. Their address is 36 Valley Brook Road, Rocky Hill, CT. Please RSVP to them at 860-529-7575. Our Purimshpiel and Megilah reading (silly skit and Purim story) will take place on Sunday, March 16th at 11:00 am right after Religious School. Please bring your family and friends and join us in a raucous and fun-loving celebration! If you would like to participate, please contact Susan Reuben. Our Israeli emissaries, Shaked and Aviya, will be visiting at Religious School, Sunday, March 23rd. Anyone interested in visiting with them is welcome to attend! Our Israeli Pot Luck Supper will be held on Friday, May 2nd, immediately following Shabbat services which will begin at 6:30pm. Our Israeli emissaries, Shaked and Aviya, will be

our guests. They will be sharing with us their experiences growing up in Israel. Please check your TBT email blasts for the menu choices and contact person. Helene Rosenblatt’s musical group Blackledge, Inc. will be having a concert at TBT on Sunday, May 18th at 2:00pm. A reception will follow. The finalized date for our “Raise the Roof” Gala is set for Saturday, May 10, 2014! So pull out your hats, scarves, boots, and mittens to brave the winter weather and join us at TBT. The friendliness and camaraderie of our TBT family will warm your hearts and souls! Think warm. Spring arrives on Thursday, March 20th! Sallyanne and Barry  

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Raise the Roof fundraiser Dear  TBT  Community,  

 We  are  planning  our  Raise  the  Roof  Gala  for  Saturday,  May  10,  2014.    All  who  have  participated  at  the  Bronze    level  and  above  will  be  invited.    Your  donation  will  be  celebrated  in  these  categories:  $5,000-­‐$10,000   Platinum   AZ  and  Evelyn  Soforenko  $1,000-­‐$4,999   Gold   Cecile  and  Barry  Bronfin  

Judy  and  Marty  Gold  Harriet  and  Leo  Rosen  

$500-­‐$999   Silver   Kathi  and  Eliot  Mag  Ellen  Sue  Moses  and  Mark  Gould  Helene  Rosenblatt  James  Tauber,  MD  

$250-­‐$499   Bronze   Carol  Ann  Gershenson  Marlene  and  Lou  Grower  Maureen  and  Ralph  Horowitz    Karen  and  Bob  Klein  Rhoda  and  Fred  London  Susan  and  Jonathan  Reuben  Sallyanne  and  Barry  Scott  Karen  and  Gerald  Waltman  

$1  -­‐$249   Contributor   Joan  and  Jerry  Berg  Ruth  Brainin  Alice  Burstein    Dorothy  L.  Daley  Sherley  B.  Dobkin  Mara  S.  Dresner  Marlene  Ellenberg  Sara  and  Matthew  Forrest  Ed  Guzy  Debra  and  Joe  Hammer  Irene  and  Richard  Lagan  Steve  Leon  Marcus  Insurance  Paula  L.  Polivy  Darcy  and  Fred  Searle  Craig  T.  Smith  

 It  is  not  too  late  to  attend  as  our  fundraising  is  ongoing.    Please  search  your  piggy  banks,  empty  your  pockets,  check  under  the  couch  cushions,  and  send  whatever  you  can  to  TBT  as  soon  as  possible.      The  generosity  of  our  contributors  has  been  overwhelming.  We  thank  you  again  for  your  continued  generosity  and  support  of  Temple  Beth  Torah.    Shalom,    Sallyanne  and  Barry  Scott  Co-­‐Presidents  Temple  Beth  Torah  

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Temple Beth Torah 130 Main St.

Wethersfield, CT 06109 (860) 529-2410

Rabbi Seth Riemer (860) 665-8014

sethriemer@aol.com

Co-Presidents: Sallyanne and Barry Scott

Co-Vice Presidents: Kathi and Eliot Mag

Treasurer: Alice Burstein

Recording Secretary: Carol Gershenson

Corresponding Secretary: Rhoda London

Trustees Nancy Stillman, Diana Heymann

Committees: Memorial Park

Harold Nevins, Karen Klein Building

Harold Nevin, Scott Guay, John Hinze, Ernie Ferrebee,

Bert Woodcock, Michael Suconick Publicity

Neil Gordon, Debra Ehrlich TBTeens

Jan Wahnon & Torah Ferrebee

Education Cecile Bronfin, Bert and

Jeanne Woodcock Membership Karen Klein Star Editor

Susan Sackler Reuben Website

Deb Hammer Ways and Means

Judy Gold, Andie Goldberg, Neil Gordon, Mira Schlein, Rhoda

London, Phil Lohman High Holidays

Cecile Bronfin, Barry Schlein, Mira Schlein, Kathi Mag, Carol

Gershenson, Sallyanne and Barry Scott, Eliot Mag

Grounds Kathi Mag

Nominations Cecile Bronfin

TempleBethTorahWethersfield.org

School Calendar and Challah Schedule March 2 Evans 9 Lev 16 Poland Purim 23 Guay Israel Emissaries 30 Latorra April 6 Sondik 27 Evans May 4 Lev 11 Poland 18 Guay June 1 Latorra 8 Sondik 15 Evans

Oneg Schedule All of the members will be given an assigned date to sponsor the Oneg following Friday night services. Check our website www.templebethtorahwethersfield.org to see when your date is. If the date conflicts with your schedule, you can swap dates with someone else. Thank you, everyone, for your cooperation.

Board Meetings The board meetings are scheduled for Mondays, March 10, April 7, and May 12. The annual meeting is on June 9. The meetings are all at 7:30 pm and are open to Temple members in good standing. Israeli Emissary Visits They will be visiting our School on Sunday, March 23, 9-11 am. They will return for our Israeli Pot Luck, on Friday, May 2, 6:30 pm

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TEMPLE BETH TORAH 130 Main Street

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Got Shopping cards? Do you shop at Stop and Shop or Big Y? We will be ordering shopping cards soon. If you would like some, send a check payable to the Temple to Susan Sackler Reuben along with a note saying what you would like. You pay the face value and the Temple gets some needed funds. Send your request along with your check, payable to the Temple, to Susan Sackler Reuben