Congregation Brith Sholom President: Ron Ticho rabbi: Michael singer

Rabbi emeritus: rabbi Allen Juda

Volume XXX No. 5 ~ May 2019 Nisan 5779 ~ Iyar 5779

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

CONGREGATION BRITH SHOLOM

BETHLEHEM, PA 18017

Tel: 610-866-8009

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

All information must be received in writing or copy ready by the 15th of

each month. Any article received after

the deadline will be published in the

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FROM THE RABBI

Sharing God’s Gi s as the Key to Happiness “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the Lord am your God” (Parshat Emor Levi cus 23:22)

A few years ago I came across the following short story from an unknown author en tled, “God’s Coffee.” A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us." God brews the coffee, not the cups.......... Enjoy your coffee! "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything." This story struck a chord in me as we count the days of the Omer (Sefirat haOmer). As Jews, we are on a spiritual journey to Sinai to receive anew God’s gi of the Torah (holiday of Shavout). In an cipa on, each day of the omer we a empt to move spiritually higher as we asses the content and character of our lives. The Torah frames this journey in our sacred calendar by reminding us that when our ancestors gave thanks for the grain harvest they offered an omer of grain to God but also shared their harvest with those who were in need, Jew and non-Jew alike. (See the story of Ruth) Both the ritual of bringing the omer offering and leaving the corners of the field (pe’ah) for people in need teaches us to recognize and appreciate God’s gi s and blessings in our lives as well as to internalize the commandment and value of the holiness of sharing. The holiness of sharing, in turn, circles back to help us see beyond the rat race and its collec on and acquisi on of material items and allows us to find a higher and holier purpose to our lives. This cycle of gratefulness, sharing, and holy purpose has been shown to increase happiness in our lives/world as well as wholeness, or, in the Hebrew - Shalom. We, therefore, can frame our life’s journey and purpose not by how much material we have acquired, but, instead, by how we live in apprecia on of God’s blessings each day and our responsibility to act with a gen-erosity of spirit in how we share these gi s with others. Living in this manner makes us worthy of receiving God’s gi of Torah, which, by its very nature, is not a possession of a singular person but is shared among all of us. As it says, “She is a tree of life to those that grasp her, and whoever holds on to her is happy. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:18, 3:17) May we celebrate in joy the holiday of Shavuot - living in gratefulness, sharing generously, and pursuing our holy purpose - Shalom. Rabbi Michael Singer

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Friday, May 17 ~ Candle Lighting: 7:55 pm ~ SATURDAY, May 18 Torah Portion: Emor ~ Leviticus 21:1-24:23 Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31 ~ Havdalah: 9:12 pm

Friday, May 24 ~ Candle Lighting: 8:02 pm ~ SATURDAY, May 25 Torah Portion: Behar ~ Leviticus 25:1-26:2 ~ Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27 ~ Havdalah: 9:27 pm

Friday, May 10 ~ Candle Lighting: 7:48 pm ~ SATURDAY, May 11 Torah Portion: Kedoshim ~ Leviticus 19:1-20:27 ~ Haftorah: Amos 9:7-15 ~ Havdalah: 9:14 pm

Schedule of Services SHABBAT

Everyone is invited to attend and participate in the beauty of the Shabbat Services and the Kiddush that follows.

Services begin Shabbat morning at 9:00 AM.

MINYAN—is held in the Chapel Monday and Thursday mornings……….7:45 AM

Holiday mornings……………...9:00 AM

SHABBAT BEHAR

SHABBAT ACHARE

Friday, May 3 ~ Candle Lighting: 7:41 pm ~ SATURDAY, May 4 Torah Portion: Achare ~ Leviticus 16:1-18:30 ~ Haftarah: I Samuel 20:18-42~ Havdalah: 9:07 pm

SHABBAT KEDOSHIM

SHABBAT EMOR

Attention Summer Campers

Apply for an

Ellen Wruble-Greenberg Camp Scholarship

This is a scholarship for $3,000.00 to be applied directly to a Jewish camp of your choice.

Requirements are:

1. Family must be members of Brith Sholom Synagogue

2. Applicant must answer this question in writing:

- Why do you want to attend a Jewish camp this summer?

3. Submit letter to the Brith Sholom office by June 1st.

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Board and Annual Meeting Update On Sunday, April 28th, Brith Sholom held its Annual Meeting to update our members on the state of our congregation. The meeting was led by President Steven Glickman and it was well attended. Below are some of the highlights from the meeting that included a financial update along with reports from various committees including endowment, membership, cemetery, security and Life & Legacy. A hard copy of the presentation is available in the synagogue office.

• Following a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Singer, Steve Glickman opened the meeting with a “Year in Review” summary which focused on the multitude of communal and outreach programs that took place over the past year and the incredible number of congregants engaged in these activities.

• Irving Kaplan, chair of the Nominating Committee, acknowledged and thanked departing board members Ina Levin, Sandy Wruble and Ed Levy, of blessed memory, for their service and put forward a proposed slate of new members that included Paul Kottler, Alan Cohen, Milagros Santiago, Micki Wechsler (2nd term), Ethan Berkove (2nd term). The slate of new members passed unanimously.

• Treasurer Casey Goldblat presented the financial report through April 1st (the fiscal year is from July 1st to June 30th) and there was good discussion on membership (the predominant source of income for the congregation).

• Steve Wiener, chair of the Endowment Committee, provided an update on our endowment and its annual contri-bution to the Synagogue’s operating budget.

• Sandy Wruble, chair of the Membership Committee, provided a thorough update on activities and reported an increase in membership over the past year.

• Harry Shliefer, chair of the Cemetery Committee, shared that a much-needed new fence has been installed at this past year and the committee is looking to extend the macadam on the west side of the cemetery to improve access.

• Jennifer Lader, chair of the Security Committee, shared that after an initial assessment by the police 2 1/2 years ago we have made multiple improvements to our physical space, in addition to adding a guard at services.

• Steve Glickman provided an update on the property at 1155 Macada Road (across from the synagogue) which was gifted to the congregation three years ago. Efforts are under way to secure zoning approval for a limited number of housing units for a group home with a kosher kitchen. A preliminary plan and associated costs is being developed to determine the feasibility of the project.

• Ron Ticho provided an update on Brith Sholom’s Life and Legacy Society and reported that the committee secured 23 letters of intent from congregants during this year’s campaign – exceeding the established goal of 18 commit-ments.

• Rabbi Singer concluded with an update on interfaith activities that we have been leading in the community through the establishment of the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (“BIG”).

On Thursday, May 2nd, the Board of Trustees thanked Steve Glickman for his service as President of the congregation for the past two years and voted in a slate of new officers. Below is the complete listing of 2019-2020 Board of Directors. Ron Ticho, President Irving Kaplan Ruthie Shleifer, Vice President Paul Kottler Casey Goldblat, Treasurer Jennifer Lader David Caine, Secretary Judith Rodwin Steven Glickman, Immediate Past President Milagros Santiago Richard Ain Ezra Shapiro Ethan Berkove Micki Wechsler Alan Cohen

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CBS Visiting Scholar Weekend

Featuring Dr. Marjorie Lehman Friday May 17th 6pm Service followed by Dinner

& Saturday May 18th 9am Service

Friday night:

The Ethical Quandaries Facing Rav Nachman in a Court of Law: What Do Flying Geese Have to Teach Us?

Shabbat D’var Torah:

The Justice of Speaking Out: The Justice of Remaining Silent

Shabbat Learning (after Kiddush): Dressing and Undressing the Priests: The Mothers of Priests and the Mothers of Rabbis

Dr. Marjorie Lehman is associate professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Her research in the field of Talmud and Rabbinics centers on four areas: Talmudic Aggadah, through a study of the 16th-century Ottoman collection of aggadic material, the En Yaaqov; Jewish gender studies, through an examina-tion of Tractate Yoma using the lens of gender and a study of depictions of mothers in Jewish culture; the history of the Hebrew book as the co-director of a digital humanities project, Footprints; and the scholarship of teaching, through a focused study of how students learn to read and critically analyze rabbinic texts.

Special thanks to: The Hereld Institute for Jewish Studies of JTS & CBS Visiting Scholar Endowment Dedications from the Shaffer Family in loving memory of Louis & Carrie Horn, the Bratspies Family in loving memory of Samuel & Blanche Goodman & the Haltzman family in loving memory of Bertie & Morris Haltzman

Please make your reservation for the May 17th Shabbat Dinner RSVP to Tammy by phone, email or e-Vite at Congregation Brith Sholom 1190 W. Macada Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017 Phone: (610) 866-8009 e-mail: tammy@brithsholom.net COST : $15.00 by May 10, 2019 $18 :00 AFTER May 10,2019 Children 5-13 : $5.00 Family Maximum : $45.00 Wine Available - $5/glass or $20/bottle ~ Pay in advance

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TO PURCHASE TICKETS, CONTACT TAMMY IN THE OFFICE OR CONTACT THE FEDERATION AT

610-821-5500 OR AARON@JFLV.ORG

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Junior Congregation Services May date for both age groups:

Ages 3 ~ 7 Ages 8 ~ 12

Saturday, May 4, 2019 - 10:30 A.M.

Security Committee Updates

The Security Committee has been busy. As reported at the annual meeting, for the past year, we have had a guard at weekly Shabbat services. We are also making improvements to the facility and applying for a grant.

Like to help as an usher?

In this role, you would:

• Help congregants who are having difficulty opening the door

• Introduce yourself to new members and visitors

• In a friendly way, find out the visitor's name, where they are in from, etc.

• If you feel a concern, alert the guard for assistance

Identify available seating for congregants and visitors.

Interested? Please contact the office.

YAHRZEIT PLAQUES

These bronze plaques are permanent tributes to your loved ones. Unlike many of the other synagogues both here in the Valley and in other places, our Yahrzeit Memorial Wall has individual lights that are turned on during the week of the Yahrzeit. It does not

ma er how long ago a grandparent, parent or, G-d forbid, a child has died, the memory is s ll there. Tradi onally, we show respect and love for our departed family members by this annual demonstra on of remembrance. We say Kaddish in shul. We hold them in the forefront of our hearts and minds, and, for many of us, by the public illumina on of their names on the Memorial Wall.

The price for a plaque is $300. The price to reserve a space is s ll $25.

To reserve a space or order plaques, please contact :

Sandy Wruble (610-865-2474)

DOUBLE CHAI

♦ Susan Wruble-Schaffer in celebration of Passover

Support

Congrega on Brith Sholom!

Purchase Giant Foods Gi Cards and Congrega on Brith Sholom gets 5% of the proceeds.

So when you purchase groceries you will be dona ng to the shul.

Giant Card contact:

BLOOD DONORS NEEDED

Keep Brith Sholom in good standing.

Call Miller-Keystone Blood Center at

(610) 691-5850 and make an appointment.

“Give the Gift of Life.”

Call today to schedule your appointment to donate blood on behalf of Brith Sholom

Thank You

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Starry Services Led by Alan Cohen

You are cordially invited to join us for outdoor Friday night services

In the beautiful Brith Sholom Courtyard 7:30 P.M.

Friday nights ~ June 28, July 26 and August 30, 2019

Oneg Shabbat to follow No RSVP required

Miriam Lipskier is the co-founder and Director of the Chabad Student Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Together with her husband and eight children, they have created a vibrant community of Jewish life and learning, hosting Shabbat dinners for hundreds of students each week. Miriam is a dynamic teacher of Jewish thought and spirituality who lectures internationally. She is on staff at Bais Chana Women’s Institute. She has been passionately teaching brides for over 18 years, using humor and wit to imbue time honored tradition and kabbalistic secrets, which serve to enliven and elevate our most intimate relationships.

Chabad - 4457 Crackersport Rd. Allentown, PA 18104 - 610-351-6511

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It is with gratitude that we acknowledge the following gifts given to the synagogue in memory of or to honor and commemorate the people or events mentioned. It is a sacred obligation and a unique privilege for each of us to be able to show such traditional support and respect for our heritage and loved ones. (Minimum contributions to each of the donation levels are: Temple/$10; Chai/

$18; Silver/$25; Double Chai/$36); Golden/$50; Platinum/$100

In memory of Dr. Edward Levy TheShafferFamily

Bettie&OlesSmolanskyChamberMusicSociety

Richards,Meli&AssociatesPamLott&RonTichoTheHausmanFamilyFran&JayFisherIn memory of Ervin Gross ShirleyGrossIn memory of Jack Shaffer

TheShafferFamily

In memory of Dr. Edward Levy CaseyGoldblat&IrvingKaplan

Flora&AndrewPestcoeElke&DonaldRockwell

MaryJoHillMarilyn&KenKalnitskyJudy&JayAronson

Mary&AllanB.GoodmanPatricia&StanleyGorzelicIn memory of Jerry Hausman Francine&MatthewSamarelIn loving memory of father, Samuel H. Goodman

AllanB.GoodmanIn loving memory of husband, Dr. Egal Feldman JoanBischoff

In memory of Dr. Edward Levy Barbara&MichaelPlatt

RoseLee&GordonGoldbergGwenKay&JeffreySneider

BetsyGlazierAmy&StanleyGoldberg

Barbara&MichaelReinigerMaria&RichardAin

AnnStehneyRuth,Elizabeth&MauraKugelmanIn memory of Jerry Hausman

AnnStehneyIn memory of Sue Spitzer JaneSpitzer

In memory of Dr. Edward Levy Ann&DavidPackmanRoz&AlanCohen

Darlene&RichardNothsteinJacobKazakia

Doe&MaurLevanIn memory of Freda & Ted Wruble Sandy&NormWrubleIn memory of Robert Ungerleider

LisaMillsteinIn memory of Noga Gelman Barbara&EzraShapiroIn honor of Abby Shapiro’s bat mitzvah

AnnStehney

In memory of Dr. Edward Levy NanciGoldman&SteveBergstein

Ina,Larry&ShiraLevinNan&JeffBratspiesSandy&NormWrubleLinda&JimWimmerArdie&BruceSmackey

ReneeGittlerBarbaraKritz

Judy&GilLappenIn loving memory of Joel Fields Ina,Larry&ShiraLevinBest wishes for a complete recovery to Casey Goldblat Ina,Larry&ShiraLevinIn honor of Abby Shapiro’s Ina,Larry&ShiraLevinIn honor of Abby Shapiro’s bat mitzvah

CaseyGoldblat&IrvingKaplanContinued good health wishes to Barbara Hoffman CaseyGoldblat&IrvingKaplanBest wishes for a speedy recovery to Casey Goldblat RoseLeeandGordonGoldbergIn honor of Abby Shapiro’s bar mitzvah RoseLeeandGordonGoldbergIn memory of beloved mother, Edith Apsell

HarrisApsellIn memory of Lucyna Studzienko, mother of Izzy Studzienko CaseyGoldblat&IrvingKaplan

In memory of Lynne Kaplan CaseyGoldblat&IrvingKaplanJerry Hausman, you were among the irst people that welcomed us to Bethle-hem in 1965. We will be forever grate-ful. Deepest condolences

Judy&GilLappenIn honor of Abby Shapiro’s bat mitzvah ReneeGittlerIn loving memory of Morris Bader KarenBaderIn honor of Abby Shapiro’s bat mitzvah

LaurenSakasitzIn memory of Milton Novak, father of Barbara Platt BarbaraKritzIn memory of Edward Levy BarbaraKritzIn memory of Milton Novak, father of Barbara Platt

CaseyGoldblat&IrvingKaplan

In memory of Dr. Edward Levy Pearl&ShirleySteinIn memory of Sidney Sandler

Sarah&RichardSandlerIn honor of my aliyah SarahandRichardSandlerIn memory of Etta Blinderman

CaseyGoldblat&IrvingKaplanIn memory of Milton Novak NanciGoldman&SteveBergstein

PLATINUM DONATION

GOLDEN DONATION

DOUBLE CHAI DONATION

SILVER DONATION

CHAI DONATION

TEMPLE FUND

IN SYMPATHY Our sympathy and condolences

are extended to Barbara and Richard

Platt and the entire family on the

recent passing of beloved father and

member,

Mr. Milton Novak

May the All Merciful give the bereaved strength to endure their grief and may they be comforted

amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

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WEEK OF MAY 4, 2019 Joseph Denitz 29 Nisan May 4 Minnie Cooper 3 Iyar May 8 * Gertrude Spillberg 29 Nisan May 4 * Julia Friedman Sell 3 Iyar May 8 Eva Yaker 29 Nisan May 4 * Herman Shaffer 3 Iyar May 8 * Anna Alshutz 30 Nisan May 5 Lindsay Simmons 3 Iyar May 8 * Abraham Glaser 30 Nisan May 5 * Lena Berenson 4 Iyar May 9 Helen Roth 30 Nisan May 5 Samuel Fink 4 Iyar May 9 * Sam Epstein 1 Iyar May 6 * Zelda Gilbert 4 Iyar May 9 * Sadie Berman 1 Iyar May 6 Irving Gladstein 4 Iyar May 9 * Dr. Arnold Kritz 1 Iyar May 6 Hanna G. Tress 4 Iyar May 9 * Charles Lutz 1 Iyar May 6 * Harry S. Thomas 5 Iyar May 10 * Leah C. Schiff 1 Iyar May 6 Claire Oppenheimer 5 Iyar May 10 Anna Williams 1 Iyar May 6 WEEK OF MAY 11, 2019 * Hannah Coleman 6 Iyar May 11 Alfred Unger 9 Iyar May 14 Norman A. Merkin 6 Iyar May 11 Sharon Hill 9 Iyar May 14 Joseph Sarachek 6 Iyar May 11 Donald Goodman 10 Iyar May 15 Henry Glickman 7 Iyar May 12 Shirley Weissman 10 Iyar May 15 * Ellina Brown 8 Iyar May 13 * Jackson Sigmon 10 Iyar May 15 Doris Auerbach 9 Iyar May 14 * Bernard Glazier 10 Iyar May 15 * Rebecca Black 9 Iyar May 14 * Martin Blinderman 11 Iyar May 16 * Sadie Fink 9 Iyar May 14 * Isaac Deutch 11 Iyar May 16 * Solomon Goodman 9 Iyar May 14 * Clara Edelson 12 Iyar May 17 WEEK OF MAY 18, 2019 Joseph Goldfeder 13 Iyar May 18 Linda S. Rosenberg 17 Iyar May 22 * George G. Korson 13 Iyar May 18 Saul Gilles 18 Iyar May 23 Gus Schwartz 13 Iyar May 18 * Sol Fink 18 Iyar May 23 Leona Steinberger 13 Iyar May 18 * Samuel B. Goodman 18 Iyar May 23 * Rose E. Beilin 14 Iyar May 19 * John I. Roberts 18 Iyar May 23 Elaine Indenbaum 14 Iyar May 19 Martin R. Miller 18 Iyar May 23 * Esther Goldberg 15 Iyar May 20 Bess Hoffman 19 Iyar May 24 * Jennie Klibansky 15 Iyar May 20 * Evelyn Brown 19 Iyar May 24 * Maurice J. Phillips 15 Iyar May 20 * Dr. Joseph Good 19 Iyar May 24 Jennie Glickman 17 Iyar May 22 * Sally Himmel 19 Iyar May 24 WEEK OF MAY 25, 2019 * Isaac Bloom 20 Iyar May 25 Trudy H. Leavitt 23 Iyar May 28 * Samuel Cornfeld 20 Iyar May 25 Martin Parker 23 Iyar May 28 Milton Goldman 20 Iyar May 25 * Minnie Smackey 23 Iyar May 28 * Evelyn Goodman 20 Iyar May 25 Steven Goldstein 24 Iyar May 29 Fannie Kaplan 20 Iyar May 25 Jerome Warren 24 Iyar May 29 * Hannah Perlman 21 Iyar May 26 Stanley Barnett 24 Iyar May 29 Bertha Gordon 22 Iyar May 27 Evelyn Singer 25 Iyar May 30 * Milton Kessler 22 Iyar May 27 Lorie Taylor 25 Iyar May 30 Robert Schiffer 22 Iyar May 27 Lilly Warren 26 Iyar May 31 * Esther Weinstock 22 Iyar May 27 * Lena Weinstein 26 Iyar May 31

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

26th of Nisan,

5779

Chair Yoga—1pm

2

27th of Nisan,

5779

Yom HaShoah

3

28th of Nisan,

5779

7:41p

4

29th of Nisan,

5779

Jr. Congregation

10:30 AM

9:07p

5

30th of Nisan,

5779

Rosh Chodesh Iyyar

6

1st of Iyyar, 5779

Rosh Chodesh Iyyar

7

2nd of Iyyar, 5779

8

3rd of Iyyar, 5779

Yom HaZikaron

Chair Yoga—1 pm

9

4th of Iyyar, 5779

Yom HaAtzma'ut

10

5th of Iyyar, 5779

7:48p

11

6th of Iyyar, 5779

Parashat Kedoshim

9:14p

12

7th of Iyyar, 5779

13

8th of Iyyar, 5779

14

9th of Iyyar, 5779

15

10th of Iyyar, 5779

Chair Yoga—1 pm

16

11th of Iyyar, 5779

17

Visiting Scholar Shabbat Dinner

6:00 PM

7:55p

18 Visiting Scholar

Dr, Marjorie

Lehman

9:21p

19

14th of Iyyar, 5779

Pesach Sheni

20

15th of Iyyar, 5779

21

16th of Iyyar, 5779

22

17th of Iyyar, 5779

Chair Yoga—1pm

23

Jewish Heritage Iron Pigs Game

7:05P Coca-Cola Park

24

19th of Iyyar, 5779

8:02p

25

20th of Iyyar, 5779

Parashat Behar

9:27p

26

21st of Iyyar, 5779

27

22nd of Iyyar,

5779

28

23rd of Iyyar, 5779

29

24th of Iyyar, 5779

Chair Yoga—1pm

30

25th of Iyyar, 5779

31

26th of Iyyar, 5779

8:07p

26 Nisan, 5779

26 Iyar, 5779 May 2019

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CONGREGATION BRITH SHOLOM President: Ron Ticho Rabbi: Michael singer

Rabbi Emeritus: Rabbi Allen Juda

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Congregation Brith Sholom

1190 West Macada Road

Bethlehem, PA 18017

Non-Profit Organization PERMIT no. 461

U.S. Postage Paid Lehigh Valley, PA

Volume XXX No. 5 May 2019 NIsan 5779 ~ Iyar 5779

Tel: 610-866-8009 Fax: 610-866-8000

email: info@brithsholom.net

rabbisinger@brithsholom.net

Visit our website at www.brithsholom.net

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