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Old News
Chanukah Traditions
It is that time of year again. The first Chanukah candle will be lit on December 7, and Jews throughout the world will celebrate the Festival of Lights. Families join together to eat, play, give gifts, visit, to continue family traditions and to begin new ones. At Temple Israel, we will continue our tradition of offering a Chanukah dinner, prepared by the men of our community, and we will also begin a new tradition at services that evening.
Details of the dinner are included in this bulletin on the reverse of the calendar “pull out” page. Make your reservations early! This well attended event is always fun and delicious. Don’t forget that you can also do a mitzvah when you attend by bringing donations for the Social Action Hat and Glove Drive to the dinner.
After dinner, plan to stay and participate in a very special Shabbat service. It is customary to hold a Consecration ceremony for children who have turned five and have begun their religious education. We think it is important that the children know that the whole community celebrates them, and so we have moved the Consecration service to the evening of the Chanukah Dinner. This year, we will be consecrating Josie Slovut and Kearra Thimm. They, and their families, will be honored to have you attend.
This year, we have added another blessing to our Shabbat service after the dinner. The young people who will be Bar and Bat Mitzvah this year, along with their families, will dedicate themselves to the upcoming year of study and preparation. By pairing this ceremony with the Consecration service, we are joining the generations in a meaningful way to both young and old. Chris King will be working with the families to prepare for the dedication ceremony, and again, your presence will be a blessing to all involved. Those beginning their Bar/Bat Mitzvah studies this year are Danielle King, Jacob Kayes, Daniel Weinstein and Laurel Bergal.
As a special treat, our Religious School children, under the direction of Stephanie Love, will be singing some Chanukah songs during the service.
Duluth Publisher Donates Books to Temple Israel Community
At a time that coincides with the close of Jewish Book Month and the beginning of Chanukah, Jim Perlman's Holy Cow! Press will donate approximately 250 copies of Ruth F. Brin's poetry anthology, HARVEST: Collected Poems and Prayers, to the Temple Israel congregation. Ruth F. Brin, who was born in 1921 and lives in Minneapolis, was one of the liturgical pioneers of the post-World War II era. Today it is difficult to find a Reform, Conservative, or Reconstructionist prayer book or anthology that does not include her writings. HARVEST: Collected Poems and Prayers brings together her writings from nearly 30 years and represents Brin's wide-ranging search for the power and meaning of prayer. A revised edition of HARVEST was published in 1999 by Holy Cow! Press.
You may pick up your complimentary copy of the book at the Chanukah dinner or contaction Jim Perlman to receive your copy.
This gift is intended to celebrate the lifeworks of Ruth F. Brin and to honor Rabbi Amy Bernstein, who always finds a place for poetry at the altar of our faith.
December Temple Notes
Social Action Service
Come and Join Us for a Social Action Service in conjunction with the Family Service on Friday, December 3, 2004
at 5:30 pm. The Service is sponsored by the Temple Israel Social Action Committee.CHUM Holiday Concert
The ninth annual CHUM Holiday Benefit Concert,“Reflections”, is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church The Three Altos, Rabbi Amy Bernstein and Bill Bastian are planning an inspiring program. Come celebrate and rededicate yourselves to serving those in need.The Temple Israel Annual Meeting, with elections, acceptance of the 2005 budget and a soup and salad lunch, will be held on Sunday, December 5 at 11:30 am.
Middle Eastern Dance for Women will meet from 7:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday, December 6 in the Overman Hall at Temple Israel.
2004 Young Adult Reunion Service Friday, December 24, 2004 8:00 pm
The Friday Night Service Committee invites those college age or older young adults who attended Temple Israel Religious School to participate in this special service. Please contact Roger Pellett at 728-5662 or rogerandlydia@charter.net for details.
Hat and Glove Drive
Help warm the less fortunate during Chanukah
Adult Gloves, Infant and Toddler Mittens, Hats, Scarves, Handwarmer Packets. Bring new items to Temple Israel at any time or you may bring them when you come to the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 5 at 11:30 am or to the Chanukah Dinner on Friday, December 10 at 6:00 pm. All items will be donated to CHUM. Sponsored by the Social Action Committee.Chanukah Hay Ride
You are invited to a Chanukah Hayride hosted by draft horses Tracy and Sydney on Saturday, December 11, 2004 from 2-4 pm (with the help of Stephanie Love and her husband Blake Cazier). The cost is $5 per person (or $25 for families of 5 or more), and includes a hay or sleigh ride (depending on snow conditions), hot cocoa, campfire and camaraderie! Bring a snack to share, warm clothes for winter weather, including your winter boots and hat, and we’ll provide the rest (including sleeping bags and blankets to keep the chills away, a place to warm up if you get cold, and your favorite Jewish camp songs). Stephanie and Blake live about 15 miles north of Duluth near Island Lake (about a 30 minute drive). Sign up by the end of the Chanukah dinner on Friday, December 10 so we know how much cocoa to make! Call Stephanie at 391-0147 or Don Ross at 724-8857 if you have questions or need more information.
Directions: Take Rice Lake Road (Highway 4) north from Duluth. At the Gnesen Convenience Store (on left), the road will make gentle S curves. You will see the Gnesen volunteer fire and EMS building on the left. Turn left onto Datka Road (Normana Rd. ends at Highway 4 where the Datka Road begins, which is a dirt road). Travel 1 mile (west) and take the first right (still Datka Road), where you will see a sign that says “children, dog team, horses on road.” You will travel across the snowmobile trail. Park in the landing on the right before fire number 4757 (if you go through a gate, you have gone too far).
Support Jewish Roots for Youth
Temple Israel will be sending a group of young people to New York City this coming June as part of their Confirmation experience. The trip centers on visits to a number of Jewish sites in Manhattan and Brooklyn. As you can imagine, this is a costly endeavor. This particular group has already held two book fairs and a Subway coupon book sale, but additional activities are planned. There are a number of ways you can help:
*When you make contributions honoring members of our community or loved ones in other locations, consider donating those funds in their names to the Jewish Roots for Youth account.
*Attend the group's major fundraiser, a dinner prepared by Chef Jeff, and a silent auction on March 26 (Purim).*Consider donating quality items to our silent auction. If you do so before December 31, 2004 you can write off those donations on your 2004 taxes! Contact the Petersen-Perlmans at 724-1653 if you'd like more information.
*Read upcoming bulletins for information about tickets to the dinner and buy them from one of the young people going on the trip.
*Order your Purim Hamentaschen in February and March for a Purim delivery date.
A report at the recent URJ meeting at OSRUI emphasized that young people who participate in Jewish camp, trips to Israel and Jewish-centered cultural events such as this one are more likely to cement their lifelong commitment to Judaism. Help reinforce our kids' Jewish identity by supporting their fundraising efforts for this experience.
Website Update
Our website, templeisraelduluth.org, went “live” in December 2003. The High Holiday period this year seemed like a good time to take a look at the site and see how it is working and if any changes should be made. We found some pretty interesting statistics.
Since it opened last December, the site has had a total of 42,442 “hits”. That does not mean visits. It means when someone types in a search, we get listed as an option that might meet their needs. We have had 1,515 actual visitors since we opened, and 238 of those were between Sept. 12 & 22. Of those who visited us this September, 112 came in “through the front door” or by searching for us by name; 42 skipped the home page and went directly to /serviceshighholidays, and 51 skipped the home page and came in at /about us. Up to Sept 16 this year, 16 people accessed our site through a Rosh Hashona search; three searched for Andrew Niemeyer, 1 was looking for Rabbi Amy Bernstein, and five were searching for other congregants by name.
To us, this means that people are using the website to get the information they need. Some are visitors or new to the area, some are just looking for information, others are our members who may find the website more convenient than the bulletin for gathering information and remembering calendar dates.We are pleased to have so many guests!
We are also planning to make a few changes to the website appearance. The home page will have a few cosmetic changes and some access points will be updated.
We always welcome your comments or questions about the website.
You can communicate directly with Dave Vosen, our webmaster, at webmaster@templeisraelduluth.org.
Jewish Book Month
We are called "the people of the book", and so it is only fitting that we have a month devoted to books. Traditionally, Jewish Book Month takes place the month before the first night of Chanukah! It is fitting that a month that emphasizes the light of learning should lead directly into the Festival of Lights, a holiday about freedom.
Here at Temple Israel, we celebrate books and learning year round. Our library is well stocked with books for children and adults, and well tended by librarian, Michael Grossman. Stop by during Religious School, and he will be happy to help you select a book. Don Ross also maintains an extensive book collection in his office. If you are in the building almost any week day, you will find a group of people in Don's office, studying Hebrew, Torah, ritual, and almost anything else they read. They are continuing a long Jewish tradition of studying in community, not reading alone, but talking about what they have read. According to a professor of Religious Study at Arizona State University, studying as a group shows a constant renewal of vitality, and for many of us, the meaning of what we have read emerges only in discussion. It is interesting that this tradition of ours has become mainstream as book groups have grown in popularity.
Our own Temple Israel book group will celebrate Jewish Book Month with the reading of “A Literary Murder” by Batya Gur. The Book Club meets on Sunday, November 21 at 5:30 pm for a potluck supper and discussion at the home of Jim Perlman.
We will also honor Jewish Book Month at services on November 19 when Hadassah will sponsor the service. Deborah Petersen-Perlman will review “The King of Children”, by Betty Jean Lifton. It's a book about a doctor/orphanage director from Warsaw during the first half of the20th century, popularly known as Janusz Korczak.
November Temple Notes
Temple Israel Gift Shop
The Gift Shop is now open on Sundays and Wednesdays when the Hebrew and Religious Schools are in session.
We have many great GIFT items and New Items are arriving weekly.
Linda Glaser’s books will be on Sale beginning in November
The Temple Israel Gift Shop and Brochins Gift Shop from Minneapolis are offering a special shopping opportunity. Brochins will be bringing items for sale that complement our own stock on Sunday, November 21, 2004 during Religious School. A percentage of Brochins sales for that morning will be given to Temple Israel.
Mark your calendar for a morning of Chanukah shopping.
All articles for the Jewish Fellowship News, including Campship Thank You’s, are due in the Temple office by Wednesday, November 24.
The Temple Israel Book Club meets at 5:30 pm on Sunday, November 21 for a potluck supper and discussion at the home of Jim Perlman. The book is “A Literary Murder” by Batya Gur.
Middle Eastern Dance for Women will not meet in November.
The next meeting will be from 7:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday, December 6 in the Overman Hall at Temple Israel.
We’re Talkin’ Super Bowl!
Mark your calendars now for:
Temple Israel’s Annual Super Bowl Party Sunday, February 6, 2005 Festivities start at 4:30 pm
Bring the entire family and your favorite Super Bowl recipes to share. Enjoy kosher hot dogs, dips, chips and a variety of delicious foods as we watch the game on the Temple’s “Giant Screen TV.” Or simply celebrate the end of the football season! Bring your favorite beverages to share with family and friends. More details in next months Bulletin!
CHUM Holiday Concert
The ninth annual CHUM Holiday Benefit Concert,“Reflections”, is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church (The Coppertop). Rabbi Amy Bernstein and Bill Bastian are planning an inspiring program with performers from throughout the community. Come celebrate and rededicate yourselves to serving those in need.
The Temple Israel Annual Meeting
The Temple Israel Annual Meeting with elections and acceptance of the 2005 budget, will be held on Sunday, December 5 at 11:30 am.
Temple's First Annual Beach Sweep
The Beach Sweep on September 12 was a big success. We had an impressive turn out of 62 people.
We walked down from Temple to the Rose Gardens and Leif Erikson Park collecting litter along the way. It was uplifting to start the New Year with a tzedakah project of cleaning up our Temple neighborhood. It felt even more significant knowing that we were part of an international effort to clean up the shorelines of the world. In the past 17 years, over 5 million people around the world have participated in Beach Sweeps. Now Temple is part of that.
We wish to thank Religious school students, teachers, parents, and principal, Dusty teens and parents, The Social Action Committee, and other members of the Temple who all pitched in.Thanks to the Great Lakes Aquarium for organizing the Duluth Beach Sweep and for providing plastic bags and gloves.
It was inspiring to see our congregation enthusiastically working together on this project. The kids ran around the park having a great time while picking up litter. Everyone had fun while they got the job done.
We estimate that we collected about 75 pounds of litter.Linda Glaser
Purim Extravaganza hosted by JRY
Jewish Roots for Youth (JRY) families are planning fun-raisingwith their families this year. JRY will host a Purim Extravaganza on Saturday, March 26. Mark your calendars.This is a family event that you’ll be kicking yourself if youmiss. It will include a sumptuous gourmet dinner by Chef Jeff, a silent auction, hamantaschen sale, and costume contest. Plus a great crowd—all your temple friends will be there.
The funds raised will help make it possible for JRY teens to travel to New York where they will deepen their connection to their Jewish roots. They will tour Ellis Island, and visit Jewish museums and synagogues, not to mention the quintessential Jewish experience of eating in a real New York deli. Meanwhile, watch for Chef Jeff’s upcoming menu for the Purim Extravaganza and for further news about the silent auction.
When you make a donation in someone’s honor/memoryconsider donating to the JRY Fund. Help our temple youth experience their Jewish roots at Katz’s deli.
DuSTY News
Thank you to everyone who donated food to the food drive over the High Holidays! We collected 1,421 pounds of food to donate to the CHUM Emergency Food Shelf. A special thanks goes to Neil Glazman for bringing his van and giving his time to help bring the bags of food to CHUM.
DuSTY members will be leading the family service on November 5th. The service will be followed by a dairy potluck supper. All are welcome to attend. Feel free to bring food to share for the dinner, or just come for great food!
If you have high school-age children please encourage them to attend Fall Conclave. It is being held in the Twin Cities November 19-21. DuSTY advisors, Jill Cornwell and Teddy Goldfine, as well as Rabbi Amy will be attending. We would really like to have a huge DuSTY turnout for this event, so please try your best to attend. For more information contact Jill Cornwell at home.
~Ana G., DuSTY President
URJ Regional Biennial
Do you want to help Temple Israel or do you want to just change your life? No matter how you answer that question, you should consider attending the upcoming URJ Regional Biennial that will be held November 4 through 7, 2004 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. For the first time ever, this meeting will be a combined session with the Great Lakes Region of the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ). This larger gathering will bring our best National Scholars, Theologians, and Musicians; and will offer great opportunities to learn, sing, worship, and schmooze late into the night with fellow Jews from our Region. If you enjoyed the National Biennial, youíll love the Regional Biennial to be held in the more intimate setting of the Olympia Hotel /Convention Center. Registration and other details will be forthcoming but the reserve the dates NOW! If you would like more information contact Willie Portilla at his home number or email.
October & September
Open Doors…Open Minds…Open Doors...
Over the last forty years, Jews and Christians have worked together to transform Christian-Jewish relations. Despite remarkable progress, Jews and Christians still have far to go to fully realize the partnership we desire. Through communal study, dialogue, and a renewed dedication to our shared goal of mutual understanding, we hope to open the doors between our communities even more widely.
Open Minds...
The central tool of Open Doors, Open Minds is a series of discussion guides designed to enable Jewish and Christian adult learners to come together for conversation and study. The goal is both profound and simple: As more Jews and Christians continue to learn about and from one another, understanding and appreciation can replace xenophobia and misunderstanding. This program will also help participants understand how their faith is actively lived—to grasp how beliefs and doubts make us the individuals we are.
Synagogues & Churches Studying Together
Rabbi Amy and Pastor Kathy Nelson will teach a course entitled Open Doors Open Minds beginning Oct 26. We ask that you commit to the entire series so that we can create an atmosphere of real trust that we may experience real interfaith dialogue. All classes meet Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30. Our final class will meet on, and be a celebration of the last night of Channukah. Dates for the class are Oct 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 30 & Dec 14. Call Kathy to register.
Vocolot Is Coming To Duluth!
Vocolot is an internationally know women's a capella ensemble from California that performs original music with a universal heart, Jewish soul and social conscience. They bring a joyous fusion of folk, jazz and cantorial vocal traditions into the contemporary a capella world. They sing in English, Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish and Arabic, blending lush harmonies, soaring melodies and global percussion in both original works and new renderings of ancient songs and texts.
Their Director, founder and primary composer is Cantor Linda Hirschhorn. She composed several of the pieces (Circle Chant, Yesh Lanu Koach, Rosh Chodesh) that our own Temple Israel Singers perform on a regular basis. We were lucky enough to have her come and spend an evening singing with us a few years ago and since then Linda and Casey Goldberg, Temple Israel Singers, director, have been trying to find a way to bring the whole group to Duluth, and they've finally done it!
Vocolot will be appearing as part of the 2004 - 2005 season at the Sacred Heart Music Center on October 15 at 8:00 pm. The Temple Israel Singers along with Steve Goldfine & Ilene Levin are partial sponsors for this program - That's how much we wanted them to come!
As the performance is a Friday everyone can come to the concert. Tickets are on sale now in the Temple Israel office, at the Electric Fetus downtown, or by mail no later than one week before the event at: evening, the Board has agreed to conduct the October 15 service at 5:30 pm so that everyone can come to the concert. Tickets are on sale now in the Temple Israel office, at the Electric Fetus downtown, or by mail no later than one week before the event at: evening,
Sacred Heart Music Center
201 W. 4th St.
Duluth, MN 55806
www.sacredheartmusic.org
Ticket prices are $20 - advance,
$22 - day of show.
Samples from Vocolot’s CDs can be heard at www.jewishmusic.com.
Don't deny yourself the pleasure of hearing one of the finest contemporary Jewish music ensembles in the world.
Questions? Ask Casey Goldberg
Open Discussion of Political Campaign Issues
Wednesday, October 20, 2004, 5:00PM
Temple Israel Overman HallImportant High Holiday Information
The High Holy Days are less than a month away! If you have been asked to do something during either Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur services and have any questions at all about that, please call Kathy at the office or Mike Grossman at home or work. In order to hold up before the congregation some of the people who inspire and serve us, or to whom we would like to extend our support, we will again have several "group" aliyot.
This article is to notify members of the following groups that will be called to the Torah during the coming High Holiday services. If you are a Jewish adult member of one of these groups, remember to wear a tallit and a kippah and join the group in the recitation of the Torah blessings.
Rosh Hashana, First Day 4th Aliyah - People who have recovered (or are recuperating) from a health crisis in the past year. On behalf of the congregation, the Ritual Committee wishes to acknowledge your struggles and celebrate your return to (or towards) health.
6th Aliyah - Hebrew and Religious school teachers from the past and coming year. On behalf of the congregation, the Ritual Committee wishes to appreciate your selfless dedication to, caring for, and educating of our children and their families.
Yom Kippur, Morning Service 6th Aliyah - Congregants who have lost loved ones in the past year. On behalf of the congregation, the Ritual Committee wishes to extend sympathy for your grief and support for the life transitions accompanying your recent loss.
If you have grown children who will be visiting during the High Holidays and would like them to receive honors during the services, please let the Ritual Committee know. We will do our best to fulfill your wishes. You can call Kathy at the office or me at home.
Mike Grossman, for the Ritual Committee
Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
The nationally acclaimed Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program will be coming to our schools and community in September. Presentations will be given to students in the Duluth public high schools and Marshal School on September 28th and 29th. All congregants are invited to attend a free Yellow Ribbon presentation at Duluth Central High School on September 28 at 7:00 PM. You will learn about the signs and symptoms of depressive illness, the risk factors and warning signs for suicide, and how to persuade and refer someone to get help. In addition, there will be a mental health resource fair held in the commons area before and after the program.
Consider these statistics: In Minnesota, 45% of students in grades 6, 9 and 12 report thoughts of suicide. Suicide attempts are the number two cause of hospitalization in Minnesota. Suicide is the fastest growing killer of youth in America today and growing at the highest rate among our 10 to 14 year-olds.
Education, communication and outreach can save lives. Everyone should know these facts:
1) Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide
2) Depression is a medical disease that is treatable
3) Suicide is preventable. Effective suicide prevention requires a community effort.
Anyone can help save a life.For more information contact Judy Gordon, Yellow Ribbon Committee Chair
Silver Memorial Lecture ’Children of Abraham’
The Ida & Arthur Silver Memorial Lecture Series will co-sponsor ‘The Children of Abraham Project,’ on September 19, 2004, from 1 to 3 pm.
The Children of Abraham Project is a powerful new peace initiative that utilizes the creative arts of drama, music, improvisation and interactive dialogue. The internationally acclaimed Mosaic Youth of Detroit, Michigan, is led by founder and creative director Rick Sperling, executive producer Brenda Naomi Rosenberg, playwright Rachel Urist and a cast of Christian, Muslim, Jewish teens and young adults.
"The Children of Abraham" play will be presented on Sunday, September 19, 2004, 1 to 3 pm., at the Mitchell Auditorium on the campus of Saint Scholastica College, 1200 Kenwood Avenue, in Duluth. The performance and interactive dialogue is sponsored by a gathering of community groups, including The Ida & Arthur Silver Memorial Lecture Series, The Arrowhead Interfaith Council, the UWS Interfaith Council, UMD, the College of Saint Scholastica, The Islamic Center of the Twin Ports, and members of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities.
For more than two months, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian teens from metro Detroit came together to discuss their lives, their fears, and the possibility of peace between their three religious groups. The results of those powerful conversations are more than a new play..."Children of Abraham" is a ray of hope. This fictional retelling, inspired by the story of Abraham and his two sons Issac and Ishmael, provides a framework for exploring the bonds that bring these religions together and the conflicts, which keep them apart. From the unique viewpoint of young people, new light is shed on these centuries-old issues.
"The Children of Abraham" play is a creative response to show how it is possible to break down the long standing barriers of prejudice and hate. The play and dialogue will give us the opportunity to bring together audiences of both teens and adults in our community, as well as to lay the groundwork for sustained interfaith dialogue. We will be bringing together congregations of Christian, Muslim, and Jews, most meeting for the first time to see the performance, and through interactive dialogue, to experience how reconciliation and peace between all Abraham's children is possible.
For tickets, please contact the Mitchell Auditorium Ticket Office at 723-7000. The suggested donation for tickets is $10, and all are welcome. A limited number of tickets will be available through the Temple Israel office--please contact Kathy at 724-8857.
For additional information, please visit www.arrowheadinterfaith.org
Beach Sweep
The Greening Committee of Temple Israel's Social Action Group is organizing a Beach Sweep on Sunday, September 12. Unlike the Blood Drive, this is something everyone can do! A quick, easy, and fun tzedakah activity with instant results. Sunday School children and families will participate as part of Sunday School. DuSTY will participate as well. Everyone else is encouraged to attend so that it can be a real community building activity. We’ll meet at Temple at 10:00 am and walk down to the Rose Garden and Leif Erickson Park collecting litter along the way. Plastic gloves and bags will be provided by the Great Lakes Aquarium. (This is part of a National Beach Sweep.) Hope you can come!
THANK YOU BLOOD DONORS Congratulations, 22 of you (ages 20 to 76) showed up on 7/21 to bare your arms and give the ‘gift of life’. At least 54 individuals will be helped from the blood collected!
Embroidered Tablecloth
Jack Seiler has been printing names on the "Embroidered 'Names' Tablecloth" and Dorothy Slonim has been embroidering them onto the cloth. Check out the tablecloth to see if your name is on it. If it's not, you can add it for just $5.00 per name, ie. mom, pop and two kids - $20 Temple Israel Gift Shop
The Gift Shop
The Gift Shop will be open during Hebrew and Religious School on Sundays beginning September 12, from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and Wednesdays from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. We have many styles of paper products (plates, napkins and cups) for those Rosh Hashanah picnics. A variety of items for hostess gifts are also available. Check out our Clearance Display for great buys! Volunteers needed---join us on Sunday September 12 at 9:30 am as we start planning for the Chanukah Season. For suggestions or special requests, please call Emma Ross.
Silver Memorial Lecture
"Welcoming the Stranger: Stories from the Bible" Sunday, April 17, 7:00 - 9:30 pm at Temple Israel
"Welcoming the Stranger: Stories from the Bible" is the title of the 2005 Silver Memorial Interfaith presentation, to be held at Temple Israel. The event will feature internationally known Jewish storyteller Diane Wolkstein, accompanied by three local storytellers, from the African American, Anishinaabe and Scandinavian/Russian communities. A panel discussion and interfaith dialogue on sacred storytelling will follow the presentations.
Through the generosity of the Warren Silver family, the annual Ida and Arthur Silver Memorial Lecture was established in 1982 to encourage interfaith dialogue. All presentations are free and open to the public. Please join us for a reception in the Overman Hall following the program. This event is co-sponsored by the Arrowhead Interfaith Council and the Kaplan Fund.
Local clergy and teachers are invited to participate in a storytelling workshop with Diane Wolkstein, on Monday, April 18, 2005 from 10:00 to 11:30 am at Temple Israel. Registration is limited to 30 participants. Call the Temple Israel office at 218-724-8857 by April 10, 2005 to register.
You can learn more about
Diane Wolkstein at www.dianewolkstein.com
Second Night Passover Seder
Why is this night different from all other nights?
• Because on this night, we celebrate the Second Passover Seder at Temple Israel, not in our own home.
• Because on this night, we celebrate the Second Passover Seder with our extended Jewish community, not just our own family.
• Because on this night, we invite many friends and guests to our Second Seder, not just a few.
• Because on this night, someone else does the cooking and clean up.
The answers to this Passover question may not be traditional. But what is Tradition? Something you start and then continue. The Second night Seder at Temple Israel has become our Tradition.
Temple Israel is hosting the Second Night Passover Seder on Sunday, April 24, 2005 at 5:30 pm in the Overman Hall at Temple Israel. A traditional meal of baked chicken, roasted vegetables, soup, salad, dessert and beverage will be served. For those of you who are vegetarian, a vegetarian meal will be available. When you make your reservation let Kathy know your preference. The cost for the meal is $14 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. Please mark your calendar and remember RSVPs are necessary.
We will use the new “The Open Door Passover Haggadah" for the Seder. Please remember that Temple does not own any copies of this Haggadah for members use; attendendees will have to supply their own copy. If you don’t own this Hagaddah and would like to purchase one or more, contact Don Ross. The deadline to order a copy is April 7. The price is $13.00 per book, if we order 15 or more copies. There will be a limited number of Haggadot for sale at the Seder.
Please call Temple Israel at 724-9957 by Wednesday, April 20 to make your reservation.
This and That
On April 22, in honor of Earth Day, the Social Action Greening Committee will conduct a service with an environmental focus. There will be a speaker from the local environmental group “Eagle”. The speaker will present some simple things we can do in our daily lives to improve our lives and help the environment.
Camp Scholarship Awarded
The Eldot Committee, and the Ruth and Robert Karon Youth Fund, is pleased to provide camp scholarships each year. This year, the scholarships were awarded to: Missy Baddin, Reuben Shapiro, Danielle King, Bria Abeles-Allison, Alex Bergal and Lauren Bergal. All of these students will attend Herzl Camp this summer.
Jewish Roots for Youth will also receive a monetary contribution for their upcoming trip to New York.
Prayer Books
April begins our four-month long Friday Night Prayerbook tryouts. In April we will use the Reform prayerbook, Mishkan T’filah. Then in May we will pray from the Reconstructionist Prayerbook, Kol Haneshemah. June and July will repeat April and May, respectively, and in August we will decide. Please come to Friday Night Services to experience the two prayer books and lend your voice to our decision. During the tryout time, please write, e-mail and verbally give feedback to the Rabbi, me (Mike Grossman), or other members of the Ritual Committee.
Ritual Committee
It is possible that we may lose something that is a precious part of our heritage, and potentially a precious experience for any and all of us. Let me explain:
It has always been our practice to hold services on the last days of the three major festivals when Yizkor is said. This is a practice that traditional Judaism has observed for at least a thousand years. At times of joy, we remember those we love who have departed. In addition, those who are in mourning get a chance to recite Kaddish - if we get a minyan. By attending Yizkor services, we remember and honor those we have loved, we support those in our community actively mourning a loss, or we ourselves may have another opportunity to express our mourning in context of community by reciting Kaddish.
We’re beginning to discuss ending the practice of Yizkor because attendance is so iffy. Sometimes we may not have any mourners and other times we may have mourners, but no minyan. Since these services frequently fall on weekday mornings, this isn’t so surprising. But for the person who takes off from work to recite kaddish or be part of the minyan, it is disappointing. As this happens more often, we begin to ask ourselves, “How much longer...?”
The Ritual Committee can only recommend whether we will continue Yizkor services. We can’t decide whether they will be attended or not. That comes only from the individual decisions of each member’s heart. To that end, I want to share a few things that I think are distinctive and important about this religion, this set of values, this culture we share:
We maintain our identity and our cohesion through our memory. Collectively, in our services and holidays we remember our ancestors and their stories (Mi Chamocha, T’filah). For the individual, Judaism has put great thought into preserving each person’s memory by the institutions of Kaddish, Yahrzeit, Yizkor.
Judaism believes in the power of doing good. I’m reminded of the classic psychology experiment where people are told to put on a smiling expression, whether they felt particularly happy or not. Of course, those observing the person felt a lift by seeing a smiling face, but amazingly, the person who was simply arranging the muscles of their face into a smile felt happier as well! Judaism holds that when we do a mitzvah, we benefit, as well as do the recipients of our good deed.
Judaism is based on community. Of course, community is important for continuity, supporting each other, maintaining our collective responsibilities. Last week at Shabbat morning services, I was listening to the amazingly beautiful harmonies around me as the congregation chanted the prayers. I realized that these harmonies would be impossible if there was only one person praying. I was aware of the spiritual implications: there are certain resonances that are impossible without others, without community. I suddenly realized more deeply the wisdom of the Rabbis of old who mandated the quorum of a minyan for Jewish prayer. They understood that some spiritual experiences are simply not possible outside of community; I hope each of you will allow yourself to be open to those resonances, those harmonies that can only happen when we celebrate, grieve, and worship in community.
If we don’t individually take these responsibilities and opportunities, the chance to do so will disappear.
Life House Prom
The Life House prom is fast approaching on Friday, May 20, 2005. The Social Action Committee is gearing up to help young people who frequent the Life House have a graduation experience that our own children take for granted.
We need the participation of a wide number of congregants and friends to make this the successful event it was last year. Call me by April 15 if you can provide any of the following, or can help us make connections to obtain them:
*Food: main dish, side dish, appetizer, or dessert
*Donations for flowers, hair-do’s or photography materials
*Nail and make-up sessions
*Use of tables and chairs and/or van delivery
*Music DJ
*Photographer
*Decorations
*Clothing racks
*Clothing donations
*Girls: prom dresses
*Boys: suits, ties, shoes, dress shirtsCall or email John ASAP if you can help, at 349-5109 cell, johns@bondmn.com or sillanpa@cp.duluth.mn.us
You are invited to the next Social Action meeting at the home of John and Toby Sillanpa on Sunday, April 3, 2005 at 11:00 am. RSVP to John or Toby at 728-6233.
Todah Rabbah
Our sincere thanks to Joan Bischoff for her generous donation to the Ida Cook Hebrew School Endowment Fund in memory of her husband, Egal Feldman. We are establishing the Egal Feldman Teacher Education Scholarship that will provide an opportunity for additional learning opportunities for our teachers annually. We agree with Joan that this is a most fitting memorial to man who was an exceptional teacher.
Thank you to the Berman family for using some of the remaining funds in the Berman fund to purchase a new snow blower and new vacuum cleaner for Temple.
Jewish Roots for Youth
Every other year, for the past twelve years Jewish Roots for Youth has taken a group of local 10th and 11th graders to New York. Their experience includes an intense exposure to Jewish life in a very different setting than that to which they are accustomed. Excerpts from a student essay, reinforces why we continue to fund this important endeavor!
Adam A.
A New JewMany kids terrorize their Sunday school teachers, but there was one who has remained a legend for being the greatest horror of all, and that kid, sadly, was me. … I always hated being forced to go. However, my opinions on being a Jew changed about a year and a half ago. I had agreed to go on our youth group’s biennial trip to New York City. The trip ended up being the most fun I have ever had. But the fun I had on the trip wasn’t the only reason I look so fondly upon the experience; it was also when my Jewish Heritage became an integral part of my life.
Growing up in Duluth, I did not see much diversity in Judaism. … I had only seen a small slice of Judaism before going on the Youth Group trip to New York City.
On the trip, we went to Crown Heights, a section of town that is full of Ultra-Orthodox Jews called the Lubavitch. We had a chance to talk to a Lubavitch Rabbi about his beliefs, which was incredibly interesting. I had been developing a large interest in the study of religion and philosophy, so this meeting was absolutely perfect. I was able to talk to a man so knowledgeable about the beliefs of his people and learn so much about a different style of Jewish practice. Another enlightening experience I had when we were walking in the streets of Crown Heights was when I realized, for the first time in my life, that I was in an environment where there were more Jews around than gentiles. One feels very different when surrounded by others that share a very common heritage. At Crown Heights, I felt very Jewish for one of the first times in my life. I love being a Jew.
Later during the trip we had the chance to go to the Holocaust Museum. However, this was not something I was looking forward to. … I was a completely different person from the moment I entered to the time I left the museum.
The artifact in the Museum that had the most profound affect on me was a trumpet. The plaque under it said that it was played by a member of the Inmate Orchestra at Auschwitz, and the owner had survived because he played in the orchestra. I am a trombonist, and music is a huge part of my life, so I was very touched that even in the horrors of a concentration camp someone could survive just because of music. I felt so connected with all of those who had died. Many of them had probably played some of the same pieces of music that I have. I’m sure many of them had my taste in food. And many of them were distant relatives, being that I am a descendant of Eastern European Jews.
All my experiences on the trip made me realize that I am a Jew, and I love being one. Since the trip, I have become a new Jew. Everyone at my Synagogue is surprised that such a terror turned into someone who really cares about his faith. I am even planning on going to rabbinical school after college. I think that the Youth Group trip to New York City really brought me back to Judaism and I am grateful that I went.
Mazel Tov
To Rebecca L, who has been chosen Siren, Wisconsin School Class of 2005, Salutatorian. Rebecca is also Siren’s student of the week.
To Ana G, who is the recipient of a Whiteside Scholarship.
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If you have a child that is graduating this spring, please call Kathy in the temple office and let her know. We will recognize graduates in the May bulletin.
Library Work Wanted
To work on all aspects of running the Synagogue library. Sunday mornings when Religious School is in session, other times possible. For more information, contact Mike Grossman.
February
Hadassah Dinner
Coming on June 1. Hadassah will hold a dinner and installation of its new president, Judith Karon. The guest speaker will be Leah Reicin. Reicin is a member of the National Executive Board of Hadassah and currently hold the portfolio of Youth Aliyah. Reicin is a brilliant woman and dynamic speaker. Watch for more information.
Jewish Fellowship News
Articles for the next Jewish Fellowship News are due to Joanne Sher by Wednesday, June 2.
The Carl & Lee Barry Story
Our Temple community has been privileged to enjoy Carl's help for 36 years, first at the old Shul on 4th street and after 1972 at our current facility. Carl and Lee met in 1946, the year Carl got out of the military, on a blind date arranged by Stan Oreck. They were married in 1950. Many years later Lee, who worked as an X-ray supervisor at St. Mary's for 47 years, began to help Carl with his work at Temple. Now, after so many years, they are trying to retire.
Both Carl and Lee grew up in Duluth. Carl's family lived on the Central Hillside. Lee started life as Leona Wargin. She attended St. Scholastica and began work at St. Mary's in 1947, retiring in 1994. Lee has one sister. Carl came from a bigger family with two brothers and three sisters.
Carl worked at a block and cement plant as well as a short stint at St. Ann's doing custodial work. He met Harry Bergal through a friend and began working at the old Shul on 4th Street in 1968. Carl came to Temple Israel when the Temple was reorganized and opened as the merged home of the Reform and Conservative Congregations. Our building had previously served as a Jewish Community Center, with the current Overman Hall functioning as a gymnasium.
At the old Shul, Carl alternated between the dirty job of tending an old boiler and a cleaner job of serving food at Kiddush Lunch and Onegs. The old boiler consumed thick #5 fuel oil that required heat to make it burn and it acted up fairly often. In 1972 Carl joined Bill Pulaski as the caretaker of Temple Israel. Water damage caused the old gymnasium floor to be removed, and the stage was lowered. Work at the old Temple building was a seven day a week job with many key holders required to help clean up and shut down lights.
Over the years the food became more involved, going from hard rolls and herring to our current full course meal and multi-layered desserts. Numerous rabbis and cantors have come and gone, each with their own style and needs. Carl trained Marko when he arrived some years ago and helped him acquire a boiler license.
Carl and Lee have enjoyed taking trips in their motor home, which they recently sold after 23 years. They've also enjoyed bowling. Lee loves to knit and many people have enjoyed her blankets. She loves to read and prefers mysteries. They continue to enjoy their home on Hillcrest Drive in Piedmont Heights, but complain that things are getting "pretty built up." Even though they've "retired", they will be back next weekend to let Marko have a weekend off until an unknown "new" person can be hired and trained in.
On behalf of the Board and all the members of Temple we say Thank You for all of your efforts and for the countless things you've done to make our lives easier. Please join us for a farewell "Thank You Party" on Saturday, June 5 following the service at the Kiddush Lunch.
JRY Park Point Rummage Sale
Jewish Roots for Youth will hold a fund raising book sale Friday, June 11 at the Park Point Rummage Sale. JRY will be at the Wallerstein's garage. Please bring your books, tapes, CD's and DVD's to Temple and place them in the collection box BEFORE June 4. No textbooks, encyclopedias or magazines please! Your contributions helped to raise over $800 last year. Thank you for your support.
Exploring Jewish Values
"Love and Awe"Thursday, June 17 at noon with Rabbi Amy Bernstein. What values do you want to pass down to your children from the Jewish tradition? What guidance do our texts offer us to help us in our daily lives? Bring your own lunch (if you wish) and your questions. Eat, schmooze and learn.
Welcome Summer Visitors
Please join the Temple Board in welcoming back our summer visitors to the Temple community. In appreciation of those who expand our congregation during the summer months, the Board will sponsor an Oneg in their honor after the service on Friday, June 25. All are encouraged to attend!
Temple Book Club
The Temple Book Club will meet on Sunday June 27 at 5:00 at the home of Jim Perlman. There is no book to read this time!! We are meeting to pick the books and dates for next year. Please bring book titles you woule like to share and your calendar! If you have not attended before, this would be a great time to check us out. Bring a dish to share and enjoy the stimulating conversation, good food, and good friends.
The family of the Rev. Arthur Foy says thank you!
Dear Members of Temple Israel:
God bless you all for the generous support that you have extended to my family and me during the most devastating time in our lives. Thank God for friends who know the power of prayer, and a God who can provide comfort when everything else fails. Your kindness is so heartwarming; please accept my extreme gratitude for blessing my family and me.
January
IN THE MERRY MERRY MONTH OF MAY "It's May, it's May, the merry month of May," says a song from the show Camelot. May in the Northland brings spring - the snow is finally gone, the trees are budding, flowers are starting to bloom, and there are special services and events at Temple Israel almost every week! Mark your calendars now because you will not want to miss any of these activities.
Honoring The Peacemakers
Men As Peacemakers' annual "Celebration of Community Peacemakers" will honor Gary Gordon on Sunday, May 2, 2004 at 2:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1710 East Superior Street, Duluth.
This year's recipient of the Adult Peacemaker award is Gary Gordon. Gary was chosen by Men As Peacemakers in recognition of his work with the Compassionate Listening Project, which promotes peace in the Middle East. He is also being honored for his local efforts to create dialogue between the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities.
The idea behind the awards is to set aside a time when the local community gathers to recognize and honor the peacemakers. The event is usually well-attended, and will include local dignitaries, and the Temple Israel Singers. Please plan to attend to honor Gary and the other award winners. Nominations have been made in three categories including Youth Peacemaker, Adult Peacemaker, and Organizational Peacemaker.
Family Shabbat Service
On Friday, May 7, we will have our regular Family Shabbat Service. This service has continued to grow in popularity as families of all sizes and description, come at 5:30 for a service that includes "camp" music and a story that always seems to have a message for the adults even more than for the children. Services finish by 6:30, there is no oneg, and many people go off to eat together in homes or restaurant. Join us any first Friday of the month.
"COMING HOME"
a benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity will be held on Saturday, May 8 at 7:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. It will feature Rabbi Amy Bernstein, the Temple Israel Singers, Bill Bastian, the duo of Betsy Husby and Sasha Chernyshev, Sara Thomsen, and the Highland String Quartet with Steve Highland, Betsy Husby, Olga Chernysheva and Ron Kari. Mayor Herb Bergson will be the emcee. Refreshments will be served following the concert. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets will be available at the door or in advance by calling 727-1262. The event is sponsored by St. Andrew's-by-the-Lake and St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Youth Education Closing Service
Friday, May 14 will be the Youth Education Closing Service. All the children who are in the Temple Israel Religious School and the Ida Cook Hebrew School will participate in this special service. We are very proud of our children, and hope that many of you who do not have children in our school will come to share our naches. PLEASE NOTE - THIS SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 7:00 p.m. to accommodate younger children. The service will be followed by an Ice Cream Social and oneg. The Kabbalat Shabbat previously scheduled for this date has been cancelled but will be back the second Friday in June. On Saturday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m., there will be a 1998/99 B'nai Mitzvah Reunion.
Temple Rummage Sale
Rummage Sale - Sunday, May 16 The Temple Israel Rummage Sale will be held on Sunday, May 16 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and on Monday, May 17 from 9:30 am to noon. Set up for the sale will start at 9:30 am on Thursday, May 13. Set up usually takes all day and runs into the evening, so please stop by and help with sorting if you can. There are sign up sheets at Temple so please sign up to help. Rummage sale items can be dropped off at Temple two weeks prior to the sale. Remember no electronic items will be accepted and items should be clean and in good working order. Religious and educational texts will not be accepted and any books will be donated to the Jewish Roots for Youth Book sale.
Hadassah Shabbat
The Hadassah Shabbat will take place on Friday, May 21. Each year, members of Hadassah participate in a Shabbat service which highlights the work of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. Itai Tennenbaum, Minneapolis Shaliach, will be the guest speaker. Itai was born in Tel Aviv and served in the Israeli Army as a tank commander during the 1982 Lebanon War. Since 2000, Itai has been touring the U.S. giving lectures about Israel, including the Mideast Conflict, the media coverage, history of Israel, and more.
Confirmation Service
We have traditionally held Confirmation on the Shabbat closest to Shavout. This year is no exception. Shavuot will be May 26-27, and our Confirmation services are Friday, May 28. The students, Corey F., Misha K., Abbey L., Leah P., Charlotte H., and their parents, invite you to join them for this special moment in their lives.
Memorial Service
Monday, May 31 is Memorial Day. A Memorial Service will be conducted by Don Ross at 11:00 am followed by the VFW Honor Guard at Shaara Tzedek Cemetery on Stebner Road at 11:15 a.m.
Updated September 6, 2006
Temple Israel Duluth
1602 East Second Street, Duluth, MN 55812
(218) 724 - 8857 Fax 724 - 2560