1836 Rohrerstown Road Lancaster, PA 17601 office@tbelancaster.org 717-581-7891 www.tbelancaster.org

Volume 71, No. 9 MAY 2019

Mission Statement The mission of Temple Beth El is to pro-vide a house of Conservative Jewish worship which fosters spiritual fulfill-ment, Jewish theology, life-long Jewish education, and community support throughout the cycles of the seasons.

Board of Directors Co-Pres. - David Ehrlich & Gary Kogon 2nd VP - Steve Gordon Secy - Harold Koplin Treasurer - Samantha Besnoff Financial Secy - Linda Hutt

Lynn Brooks, Bob Brosbe, Abshalom Cooper, Sue Friedman, Yitzie Gans, Arne Ostroff, Dolly Shuster, Earl Stein & Marc Weiner Sisterhood Rep. - Joan Goldman Rabbi Daniela Szuster & Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky Principals - Rabbi Daniela & Rabbi Rami Men’s Club - Steve Kleinman Sisterhood - Sisterhood Board Membership - Susan Friedman

Inside this issue: Rabbi’s Message 2&3 Principal’s Message 3 President’s Message 4 Congregant of the Year 2019 7 Our Temple Family 8 Sisterhood Donor Event 9 Calendar 10

Candle Lighting Times

May 3 7:44 PM May 10 7:51 PM May 17 7:57 PM May 24 8:04 PM May 31 8:09 PM

MAY EVENTS May 5 FOOD FESTIVAL May 9 Sisterhood Donor Event @7:00 PM May 14 Executive Committee meeting @7:00 PM May 19 Last day of Sunday school May 20 Temple Board meeting @7:15 PM May 23 Ethical Life Course @7:15 PM - 8:45 PM May 27 Memorial Day Schedule of Shabbat Services

May 3 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors needed

May 4 Torah Reading:Ahare-Mot 9:30 AM May 10 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors needed

May 11 Torah Reading:Kedoshim 9:30 AM May 17 Shabbat Services NOAM DIGIULIO BAR MITZVAH Weekend sponsors Maya Greenshpan & Marco Digiulio in honor of Noam’s Bar Mitzvah

May 18 Torah Reading: Emor May 24 Shabbat Services Weekend sponsors needed

May 25 Torah Reading: Behar May 31 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors needed June 1 Torah Reading: Behukotai

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 2

B”H

Honoring Jewish Mothers

Rabbi Daniela

Szuster

“Moshe calls his mother and asks, “How are you?” “Not too good”, Hetty says. “I’m feeling very weak”. “Why, mother?”

Hetty says, “Because I haven’t eaten in twenty-three days”. Moshe replies, “That’s terrible, mother. Why haven’t you eaten in twenty-three days?

Hetty answers, “because I didn’t want my mouth should be filled with food if you should call!” “What is the most common disease transmitted by Jewish mothers? Guilt” “-What is a genius? -An average pupil with a Jewish mother.” On Sunday, May 12th we will cele-brate Mothers´ Day. Thus, I would like to share with you in this note some thoughts about Jewish moth-ers who lived during different his-torical times. The first mothers of our people were the matriarchs Sa-rah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. The first three women suffered greatly

because until a miracle happened for each, they were all sterile. Finally, the four were all able to become mothers. Much can be said about their sterility and the sterility of other women in the Bible. Among other things, we can say that while many women may suffer from not having children, they especially found it hard to cope with this. Clearly this can be understood from Rachel’s words to her husband Jacob, "Give me children or I'm dead" (Bereshit 30: 1). Rashi explains this verse: "From this we deduce that one who does not have children is con-sidered to be dead."

In Biblical times and in later times too, one of the few roles open to women in society was the role of mother. Women dedicated their lives to raise their children and they had no other place in the public sphere. So, what could a woman do without children? Nothing, it was as if she had no reason to exist. In this matter, our matriarchs suffered greatly. Unlike that time, today we know that women can have other roles, develop their capabilities and skills in other areas and not just in the domestic one. Our matriarchs, together with our pa-triarchs, were the ones who started a new path in history, giving birth to the monotheistic tradition and to the Jew-ish people in general. No doubt they are a examples and role models for our lives in different ways. It is there-fore important to include our matri-archs in our daily prayers, whenever we mention our forefathers, as many Jewish communities do. In the Torah we find many teachings of the Jewish mothers. For example, we have Rebecca, a mother, who fought for her son Jacob to be the heir and successor of the tradition that

Abraham began. We have Yocheved, mother of Mo-ses, who risked her life to save her son, enabling him to get to be the leader of the people of Israel and deliver them from slavery. Undoubt-edly, both Yocheved and Rebeca, and many other mothers were true he-roes for our people. Jewish mothers have had an im-portant place in the Jewish education of their children. A paradigmatic ex-ample of this role is the women who lived in the time of the Inquisition. As you know, at that time many Jews who, through some form of coercion had to convert to Christianity, were monitored and controlled by the Ho-ly Inquisition, evaluating their loyalty to the Church and tracking if they continued with their rituals of their former faith. That is why the “Crypto-Jews” behaved in public as Catholics, and in their homes, secret-ly, they kept some Jewish traditions. This is where women, according to several historians, had a central place in education. With no schools, syna-gogues, rabbis and teachers; all chil-dren learned l from their mothers at home. It is not a coincidence that the sages determined that if the mother is Jewish, the child is Jewish. In the modern era, we have the fa-mous figure of the Yiddishe Mama. Like the jokes that I mentioned earli-er, many stories and tales have been written and published in which the stereotypical Jewish mother is shown as being overprotective and tries to control the lives of her children. Where does this stereotype come from? It occurs to me to say that giv-en the fact that our people have experienced so many situations of

(Continued on page 3)

MESSAGE FROM RABBI DANIELA

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 3

discrimination and persecution, Jewish mothers created defensive methods and ways to protect their children from all adversity outside their homes. Since the independence of the State of Israel, many Jewish mothers have had to mourn their young sons killed in different wars and terrorist attacks. In our tradition, we have the figure of the matriarch Rachel weeping for the children of Israel. In the Book of Jeremiah, there is a powerful description of our matri-arch Rachel: “Thus, said the LORD: A cry is heard in Ramah— Wailing, bitter weep-ing— Rachel weeping for her chil-dren. She refuses to be comforted for her children, who are gone.” (Jeremiah 31:14) Our mother Rachel cries for all the Jewish chil-dren who were killed and uprooted from their homes. In the Book of Proverbs, we have the famous chapter which speaks of Eshet Chail, the virtuous woman, a text that is sung at Shabbat dinner (excerpts): "Who can find a virtuous woman? For it is more precious than jewels [...] She opens her hand to the poor and extends her arms to the needy. She does not fear for his home because of the snow, because all its members are dressed in crim-son wool. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and a benevolence lesson is taught by her tongue [...] She oversees the activities of her household and never eats the bread of idleness. Her chil-dren rise up and honor her; her hus-band also praises her: 'Many daugh-ters have amassed achievement, but you surpass them all’. False is grace and vain is beauty, God-fearing woman, she is worthy of praise. Give her the fruits of her work and may her own deeds praise

(Continued from page 2) her in the gates. " (Proverbs 31) Let’s honor during Mother’s Day Jew-ish mothers from the past and the present. Let’s appreciate the great efforts and sacrifices they have made throughout history.

May God guide us to follow their les-sons in the way they protected and educated their children.

I hope that, despite the fact that times have changed, we can appreciate the values, spirit, identity, courage, com-mitment, loyalty and wise teachings our mothers have given to us.

Let us tell you about what happened

with our Religious School during April.

We had the month-ly Tot Shabbat and Junior Congrega-tion services. We

also had a Kabbalat Shabbat led by the students on Friday, April 5th. It is so important for the students and their families to attend services! This mes-sage is especially significant for the students who are getting ready for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, but also for younger (and older) children, this is still true. We encourage parents to attend our weekly services more often.

We continued with our new program named “Parent-Child Text Study.” This class aims to bring together parents and their children and gives them the opportunity to learn traditional Jewish texts together. We will soon tell you more about this program.

The high point of the month of April was the Model Seder, on April 14th. We had a beautiful Passover table and a great snack, prepared by Maya

Greenshpan and Lee Franklin. Thank you very much to both of you!

We went through the Haggadah, ex-plaining all the steps and the most important texts and rituals. The stu-dents had plenty of opportunities to ask questions and learn. Each class presented one of the sections of the Haggadah. Tzedek Class (K-4, Morah Lynne Harlacher) explained the meaning of Ma Nishtana and sung it beautifully. Mitzvah class (5-8, Morah Becky Rhoads) humorously present-ed the section called Pesach, Matza Umaror. Hebrew High Class led an activity based upon Dayeinu, that taught us to be thankful for the blessings in our lives, including for those we could not live without. For the snack and the searching of the Afikoman, we were joined by the monthly Gan Class (pre-K, Morah Arielle Felberg). We all enjoyed it very much.

After the Model Seder, Robin Adler came in and led a project organized by Jewish Family Services. The stu-dents decorated and wrote good wishes on bags filled with Passover items, which were donated by Tem-ple’s members. Many students vol-unteered to deliver these bags the same day, in the afternoon, together with their parents. The bags were delivered to 14 people who live alone or are homebound. This was a great experience for our students.

Looking forward to another month of great learning and good moments together,

Rabbis Daniela & Rami Principals of TBE Religious School

PRINCIPALS’ MESSAGE

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NOAM DIGIULIO BAR MITZVAH MAY 18, 2019

Noam is an seventh grader at Wheatland Middle School in the School District of Lancaster. He plays the Cello at the school's or-chestra, and has recently received his black belt in Taekwondo. But Noam's greatest passion is art. He draws and paints in different media, and dreams of going to art school one day. For his Bar Mitzvah project Noam wanted to do art with chil-dren with disabilities, so he started volunteering at Lancaster Pediatric Specialty Care in January. He has been going there every Friday after school. This has been an amazing experience for him, and he has been deeply inspired by the children and caregivers at the facility. He is excit-ed to share more details with the congregation during his Bar Mitzvah celebration on May 18th.

MY BAR MITZVAH PROJECT

For my Bar Mitzvah Project, I will make a raffle in which all the money collected will go to The HealthWell Foundation. That is an organization that gives grants to people that can’t pay their medical bills because health insurance is not enough for them. I want to donate the money to them because just like they think, I don’t think that anybody should be sick with a life-threatening illness just because they can’t afford a cure.

The raffle will take place from 4/16/2019 to 6/30/2019. One ticket is $10, two are $18, and 5 are $40. The winner will receive a $100 gift card for Amazon. If you want to buy either come on Sunday or contact my par-ents.

Thank you! Uriel Pavolotzky

Dave Ehrlich Gary Kogon

We wish to let you know that Janet will be leaving Temple Beth El on May 3. The decision was made to restructure the office position and create two positions, an Office Administrator and Office Ac-countant. The people filling these posi-tions are Rich Repkoe and Ashley Mo-yer. Both have started at Temple Beth El and Janet is working with Rich to ac-quaint him with the operations and ac-tivities in the office.

We thank Janet very much for her many years of dedicated service to Temple Beth El and our congregational family. We wish her the best in the years ahead.

Welcome to Ashley and Rich. We look forward to working with you. Dave & Gary

UPCOMING LIFE-LONG LEARNING EVENTS AT

TEMPLE BETH EL

Thursday, May 23, 7:15 PM Surrogacy and the Ethics of Rela-tionships, led by Rabbi Daniela Sunday, June 2, 10:00 AM Better than Normal? The Ethics of Enhancement, led by Rabbi Rami

BULLETIN DEADLINE

The deadline for JUNE’S bulletin

is Wednesday, May 15

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ORDER KIPOT FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Kipot are available to order in many different styles and fabrics. They are imprinted inside with names and dates. Order for weddings or Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Orders take approximately 6 weeks. Contact Joan Goldman for more in-formation. Samples are available. Order through the temple gift shop and it’s one less thing for you to do!

WINE CELLAR CLOSING As you may have heard, the Sister-hood Gift Shop will no longer be selling wine. Due to the wide avail-ability of kosher wine elsewhere, our sales were not sufficient to maintain an inventory. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Wine Cellar over the years.

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 5

Food Festival 2019 Artists/Crafters Update Just a reminder that once again this year we will have wonderful artists and crafters in our building at the Food Festival. All of our vendors are artists and crafters, and they will be selling original work – we do not rent space to commercial vendors. There are many spring reasons to purchase unique gifts – graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. – When you purchase from our vendors and they exceed their space rental price, a percentage of the sale goes to the temple. So support the temple and enjoy great items for your home or for gifts! Be a temple supporter! Don’t forget about our Raffle Table – the vendors each contribute to our table and we anticipate additions in-cluding – Prima Tickets, EPAC Tickets, a signed Shuk Shuglie framed print, etc. – There will be great vari-ety! If you visit the vendor rooms – just visit and get your paper entry marked in each – you can enter a raffle to win a basket full of prizes! No charge to enter – just walk into the rooms! (We hope you will then stay and take a look!) This is free. No purchase is necessary!! New Vendors This Year Include: (successful vendors from past years are returning too! – 27 in all!!)

Jewelry and leather art

Glass blown jewelry

Abstract acrylic art

New sea glass jewelry

Beaded jewelry

Acrylic accessories

New handmade cards

Wrap jewelry

Imagine Goods – articles made by victims of human trafficking (a worthy cause to support!)

Calligraphy

Fused glass items

Jewish Family Service of Lancaster with Congregations Shaarai Shomayim and Degel Israel and Temple Beth El

Tuesday, May 7, 2019 through Monday, May 13, 2019

Matthew 25 Thrift Shop, a beautiful not-for-profit thrift shop in Lititz, has been supporting JFS of Lancaster for many years. This is our fourth annual clothing drive to help support them. Please bring gently used clothing of all sizes to Temple Beth El between May 7, 2019 and May 13, 2019. It is important that the clothing you donate be clean, not dated or in need of mending, and can be worn imme-diately with pride. Clothing should be folded and placed in bags or boxes, and placed in the bin near the Temple Office Receipts will be available. Please contact jfshelps@jfslancaster.org with questions.

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 6

Passover Project a Success

Matzoh, Macaroons and Mitzvah

On Sunday, April 14, immediately after the model seder, the religious school students helped to make our homebound residents and those liv-ing alone to have a brighter day. This year, with the encouragement of Rabbis Rami and Daniela, six families agreed to deliver the Passover gift bags and pay a visit to the recipients at the same time. The students were given the gift bags with labels naming the individuals who would receive them. They wrote holiday messages on the bags, signed their names and filled them with matzoh, macaroons and/or candy. The bags were then distributed to those delivering, along with a very brief bio of the person so they would know a little about to whom they were delivering, and to form a basis for conversation. The children’s eyes lit up when they got the names of specific people, and they were truly excited to be visiting. What a great mitzvah they were do-ing!! Thirteen people were visited by these joyful children and their par-ents. In addition, we distributed 4 Giant gift cards, courtesy of Jewish Family Service of Lancaster, and we provid-ed food for a full Passover seder meal to one family. Thank you to all who donated the items to this worthy project. They were greatly appreciat-ed! Chag Samaech!! Robin Adler, Chesed Committee Chair

*****

*****

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 7

JOIN US ON

FRIDAY, JUNE 7th AT 7:30

WE HONOR TEMPLE BETH EL’S

CONGREGANT OF THE YEAR 2019

BECKY RHOADS

Come help us celebrate BECKY’S HONOR at a special oneg

following services on JUNE 7TH.

*If you would like to make a donation in Becky’s honor,

please wait until you receive the invitation in the mail. Thank you!

CONGREGATIONAL THANKS

Thank you to the members of our temple family who remembered our 37th anniversary on April 4. We ap-preciate your kindness and the love-ly Sisterhood greeting added to the joy of our day. We are grateful to you all! Carolyn & Steve Kleinman Our sincere thank you to our Tem-ple Beth El family for the Shalach Manot greeting we received for Pu-rim. We enjoyed the taste of the holiday that it brought to us in Flori-da. Thank you also to the many mem-bers of the Packer, the Deliverers and the Senders committee who made it all possible. Sincerely, Helene & Len Kallman

Thank you to the Temple Beth El Sis-terhood and the members of the con-gregation for the delicious haman-tashen and other goodies for Purim. The shelach manot was deeply appre-ciated and reinforced the wonderful memories of my time with Temple Beth El. Rabbi Geoffrey Goldberg Many thanks to our Temple friends for the Shalach Manot gift box we re-ceived in plenty of time for Purim. It is so nice to be remembered! Eve & Walter Kamlot Dear Rabbis, Friends & Family of Tem-ple Beth El, Thank you so much for your Happy Birthday wishes. I truly appreciate your friendship. Sincerely, Bev Sideman

Eli and I spent Purim in Israel, one of the most enjoyable holidays to spend there! We returned to be with family here for Pesach and found our Shalach Manot gift box waiting for us. Believe us when we say it was the only food in the house! Thank you for continuing to remember us! Wishing everyone a Zissen Pesach, Marcie & Eli Natan Many thanks to everyone who was so kind to send the Shalach Manot package to me for Purim. It meant more than you know to be remem-bered. I appreciate your thoughtfulness so much! Happy Purim to all! Phyllis Baronfeld

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 8

ANNIVERSARIES & BIRTHDAYS MAY

Anniversaries 17th Fran & Bill Rayner 28th Catherine & Adam Levine 28th Sherry & Arne Ostroff 28th Cindy & Michael Pavlica

LANDMARK 23rd Nina Shapiro & Barry David (20 yrs) 27th Abbey & Arnie Harris (40 yrs) 30th Pam & Ken Lessans (20 yrs) Birthdays 1st Meital Pavolotzky 3rd Helene Kallman 6th Chava Kogon 7th Lynne Harlacher 8th Tana Dardik 8th Ethan Levine 9th Michael Gleiberman 9th Lloyd Goldfarb 11th Alan Glazer 12th Elliott Rubin 13th Danielle Buffa 13th Miriam Lerner 13th Sandy Weekes 13th Ruth Wunderlich 14th Arnie Harris 14th Jerrold Harris 16th Thomas Armstrong 17th Rory McCormick 20th Steve Gottlieb 23rd Aidan Thorpe 26th Dave Ehrlich 29th Judy Anthony

MONTHLY YAHRZEIT LISTING

Yahrzeit begins the evening before the day listed. The names of departed loved ones are memorialized at Shab-bat services the week prior to the yahrzeit observance. Saturday, May 4 Scott Lerner Grandfather Earl Stein Brother Chuck Paul Sister Sunday, May 5 Michael Gleiberman Sister Monday, May 6 Eli Natan Sister Tuesday, May 7 Steve Kadushin Cousin Wednesday, May 8 Gary Kogon Aunt Alan Manheim Mother Friday, May 10 Evy Epstein Son Tana Dardik Mother Eileen Lewis Mother Sunday, May 12 Stewart Abowitz Grandmother Evy Epstein Uncle Monday, May 13 Deborah Stein Husband Sam Taub Father Wednesday, May 15 Jill Sherman Father Saturday, May 18 Deb Armstrong Grandmother Shayna Manheim Father Sunday, May 19 Francine Koplin Uncle Paul Gottlieb Uncle

Tuesday, May 21 Marcie Natan Mother Deena Hertz Father Wednesday, May 22 Chris Brooks Father Thursday, May 23 Caryl Buffa Grandfather Zvi Naveh Father Saturday, May 25 Robin Adler Mother Sunday, May 26 Deb & Thomas Armstrong Son Ruth Wunderlich grandfather of Jenelle & Dustan Steve Rubin Father Elliott Rubin Father Wednesday, May 27 Melanie Fleischmann Mother Melanie Fleischmann Father Eve Kamlot Mother Sunday, June 2 Becky Rhoads Father Wednesday, June 5 Shellie Gordon Mother Thursday, June 6 Diane Penchansky Father Friday, June 7 Joan Weiner Step-father Joan Samitt Mother

ONEG & KIDDUSH SPONSORS NEEDED

We need monthly and weekend sponsors for the month of May. Weekend sponsors $60.00 Monthly sponsors $100.00 Please contact the Temple office if you would like to be a sponsor.

KLEHR CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE READING GROUP - 2018-2019

645 College Avenue @7:00 PM

All readers welcome! Feel free to invite new readers!

May 16, 2019 Pumpkin Flowers, by Matti Fried-man

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 9

SISTERHOOD FUND *Sisterhood Fund cards are now $3.50

If your last name begins with A-M, please contact DEENA HERTZ at Sis-terhoodFundA-M@tbelancaster.org If your last name begins with N-Z, please contact BEV RUBIN at Sister-hoodFundN-Z@tbelancaster.org IN HONOR OF Abbey & Arnie Harris - birth of 4th grandchild, Jonah Aaron Randi & Steve Jacobs Nina Shapiro & Barry David Sheila Cohen - new home Robin Adler Deena & Alan Hertz Linda & Gordon Hutt - Allison’s en-gagement to Will Robin Adler Jan Gitomer Rabbi Daniela, Rabbi Rami, Donna & Bob Brosbe, Linda & Gary Kogon, and Maya Huber’s 9th birthday Terry Gottlieb & Larry Lesh, Maya’s grandparents IN MEMORY OF Marion Steingart Birnbaum Marjorie & Bob Ruder

RABBI’S DISC. FUND office@tbelancaster.org

IN MEMORY OF Pearl Taber, Ralph Pologe, and Rose Pologe Lori & Ralph Taber

YAHRZEIT FUND

IN MEMORY OF

Avernus S. Lyon & Max May Nadine Lyon Charles, Faye & Steven Markoff Eva Dunie Joan & Beryl Sherman Frances Schulman Shellie & Steve Gordon Stanley Solodky Marilyn & Jay Reichenthal

David Gleiberman - father of Paya Palchuk Paya & Boris Palchuk Donation from Jeff Edelson & Dolly Shuster in memory of Jeff’s father, Albert Edelson

SISTERHOOD’S DONOR EVENT -

PAINTING POTTERY!

Please join us for a fun evening where we can select pottery pieces

to paint, and nosh on delicious desserts, snacks, wine and iced tea.

Thursday evening, May 9, 2019 @7:00 PM

Jen’s Pottery Den - 711 Olde Hickory Road, Lancaster, PA

The donor campaign mailing will be coming soon.

Please consider supporting our donor campaign, and help

Sisterhood as we support our synagogue, in many ways.

All women who make a donor pledge, at any level, are invited to

join in on the pottery painting fun. All our pieces will be glazed by

the studio, and will be ready for pick up shortly after the event.

Fabulous selections to choose from, and each woman will pay the

glazing fee for her specific pottery.

Please mark your calendars for May 9th, for a great night of

socializing and creating a lovely pottery piece, at the same time!

Joanne Goldfarb & Michele Matlin, Donor co-chairpersons

Volume 71, No. 9 May 2019 Temple Beth El Page 10