mt. sinai congregation · 2019/3/3 · page 1 of 8 march 2019 mt. sinai congregation 910 w....
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March 2019
Mt. Sinai Congregation 910 W. Randolph Street, Wausau, WI 54401
Website: www.mtsinaiwisconsin.org T: 715-675-2560
Rabbi’s Message
One of the Messages of Purim
Purim is a holiday that we often associate with fun, partying, and even Zionism. Long ago, in
Persia, where the story is said to have occurred, the Jews arose against Haman and defeated those
who conspired to put an end to the Jewish communities of the kingdom. The heroine, unlike the
vast majority of biblical narratives, is a woman who risks her life for the Jewish people. These
are not Jews who will be led to the slaughter, but rather overcome their enemies, through Esther’s
leadership and bravery.
There is a key passage in the Book of Esther where the tide begins to turn and remains, to this
day, a verse that speaks to me. Esther is approached by Mordechai, her Uncle, who urges her to
go to King Achaverush and plead with him to revoke the decree that has been entered which
would destroy her people. She is reluctant because unless summoned by the King, if she appears
and he does not desire to see her, she will be put to death. The King has not summoned her for
30 days. In messages that go back and forth, Mordechai asks her to consider the following:
If you remain silent at this time, then relief and deliverance may come from
somewhere else; but both you and the house of your father shall perish. And
who knows if it is for such a time as this that you have reached the Kingdom?
The reason that this passage speaks to me is not so much the first part – that as far as persecution
is concerned, all of us, regardless of position, are in it together. We will all suffer the same fate,
regardless of our station if a Haman shall arise.
The more significant part is that which I have italicized. It is Esther being told to seriously
consider not only her station in life, that of a queen, but whether or not she is such a position
davka – especially so – to step forward to and do her part to save her people.
I believe that encoded in this message is an even deeper existential significance. All of us are in
whatever circumstances we are in for a wide variety of reasons; some of us came to Wausau for
employment, others have lived here nearly all their lives, but the one thing we do share is our
affiliation at Mt. Sinai. What Mordechai is asking each of us through Esther is to consider the
significance of our moment and place in history. Mordechai is teaching that we should not, for a
moment, consider our lives to be mundane, but rather has the potential to be of great significance
not only for our time, but for generations to follow.
Mordechai is asking us to consider being an Esther for a just a moment and to realize the
potential that we have to do not only the right thing (regardless of Esther’s lineage, a people in
her kingdom are threatened with genocide), but that each of us have a very real purpose and
meaning, but that it is up to each of us to contribute and to see that contribution as if our
community and the future of humanity depends (and it does) upon it. In short, Mordechai is not
speaking just about the Jewish body, he is also speaking about the Jewish n’shamah, heart.
Think about what the Jewish people mean here in Wausau, Wisconsin. Think about the closing
of Beth Israel in Stevens Point in 1986 and consider what you can do to see our beloved Mt.
Sinai, where each Jew is welcomed, continue to thrive, to grow, so that we can collectively make
a better America, a better Israel, and a better World.
Upcoming Events
March 9
Adult Purim Party at 7pm
March 10
Purim Carnival and Service at
10am
March 12
Introduction to the Holocaust
Class (Taught by Mt. Sinai Member
Jeff Kleiman, Ph.D.) at 6-8pm
March 13
Lunch Bunch at 12pm
Book Club at 1pm
Board Meeting at 7pm
Contact Information
Rabbi – Edward Boraz
Secretary – Kellie Messman [email protected]
Office Hours:
Mon, Wed, Fri
9am to 2pm
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March Service Schedule Shabbat Service & Torah Portion Discussion
A Shabbat Service & Torah Portion Discussion will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, at 10:00 a.m.
Shabbat Service
Please join us on Friday, March 8th at 7:30pm for a Shabbat Service.
Shabbat Service & Torah Portion Discussion
A Shabbat Service & Torah Portion Discussion will be held on Saturday, March 16th, at 10:00 a.m.
Marshfield Shabbat Service
On Saturday, March 30th, at 10am, we will be having a Brunch Potluck/Service followed by a Shabbat service
in Marshfield at the home of Jeff and April Resnick, 319 Magnolia Dr. Please bring a dish to pass for the
potluck
Saturday, March 2 10am Shabbat Service and Torah Portion Discussion
Friday, March 8 7:30pm Shabbat Service
Saturday, March 16 10am Shabbat Service and Torah Portion Discussion
Saturday, March 30 10am Marshfield Brunch Potluck/Service at Jeff & April Resnick’s Home
Friday, April 5 6pm Stevens Point Friday Family Shabbat Service Janet Fagan’s home
TORAH PORTIONS 3/2 Vayakhel Exod. 35:1 – 38:20
3/9 Pekudei Exod. 38:21 – 40:38
3/16 Vayikra Lev. 1:1 – 5:26
3/23 Tzav Lev. 6:1 – 8:36
3/30 Shemini Lev. 9:1 – 11:47
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Todah Rabbah
To: Phil and Margo Albert for hosting the Kiddish on Jan. 26th.
To: Shanny and Kimberly Luft for hosting the Stevens Point Friday
Family Shabbat Service at their home on February 1st.
To: Amy Gervasio, Marsha and Max Stella for hosting Kiddish on
February 2nd.
To: Donna Stapleton, Barb and Jeff Rothweiler for hosting Oneg
on February 8th.
To: Randy and Robyn Chip for hosting the Stevens Point Tot
Shabbat/Potluck in their home on February 16th.
To: Melanie Kuolt, Lorie Dobrzynski and Rachel Tate for hosting
Oneg on February 22nd.
Please note that the week of March 25 – 29,
Kellie will be out of the office.
Religious School News: Classes 10am – 12pm
3/3 19th Session
3/10 20th Session
3/17 No School
3/24 No School
3/31 No School
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ADULT PURIM COSTUME PARTY! THIS IS ONE EVENT YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!
COME DRESSED IN YOUR FAVORITE:
Harry Potter/Hogwarts Theme (any costume is welcome)
Live Music – Belly Dancers
Plenty of Food and Drink
This party is part of Mt. Sinaiʼs Purim celebration. Purim, one of the most joyous holidays on
the Jewish calendar, is based on the Book of Esther
ON THIS OCCASION,
WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY!
Please RSVP to [email protected]
Any questions, please contact Peter Rotter (715-432-0408)
When: Sat., March 9, 2019; 7-11pm
Where: Mt. Sinai Congregation
Who: Mt. Sinai members (plus one is acceptable)
Cost: A Donation to offset expenses
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Get your Purim on!
Purim Carnival and Service
Sunday, March 10, 2019
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
It is the whole Megillah!
Service! Games! Costumes! Carnival! Food!
Cake Walk!!
Please, join us for services and the reading of the Book of Esther (Megillah), followed by the Purim
Carnival, Luncheon and CAKE WALK!!!.
Attention all you amazing bakers (or shoppers...). We think Mt. Sinai's kids take the cake!! (Think of musical
chairs where you can win a cake!) We need desserts to give as prizes. Can you bring in a cake, cupcakes, or any
goodie of your choice to donate to the game? Adults can participate in the cake walk too! Proceeds will go to the
Religious School program.
Please bring in your goodies that morning. Leave your item(s) on the kitchen island or in the refrigerator. If you need to
bring it the day before, please leave it on the table in the teacher's room. Please mark all items that it is for the cake walk,
include your name and if the item contains nuts or is gluten free. Todah Rabbah!
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Introduction to the Holocaust
Jeff Kleiman, Ph.D. (a member of Mt. Sinai) will speaking on the Holocaust along with his translation of a
survivor's memoir from Yiddish. History professor, Jeff Kleiman, has taught at the UW-Stevens Point at
Marshfield since 1988. He has researched and published articles on American political history and the
Holocaust.
This will take place on March 12, at the UW-Wausau campus from 6-8 PM. This is offered through the
local campus Continuing Education Office with a modest fee involved See the catalogue details below).
From the spring catalogue:
Introduction to the Holocaust This two-hour session will provide an overview and case study of the best
documented genocide in recent history. The first hour will cover the transition from identifying the Nazi racial
enemies and shift from removal to extermination. The second hour will present original research on the English
translation from Yiddish of a survivor’s account (translation done by the instructor). Tues. / March 12 / 6 – 8
p.m. Main Building / Room 238 / $39 $10 discount for College of Emeriti
Registration--Online at: www.ce.uwc.edu/wausau By phone: 715-261-6294 By mail or in-person: Continuing
Education Department Center for Civic Engagement 625 Stewart Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401 Checks payable
to: UW-Marathon County Have a question? Call: 715-261-6294 Email: [email protected]
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Community Supper Volunteers Needed Sunday – April 21st
Mt. Sinai will be hosting the Community Dinner on Easter Sunday, April
21st and we are looking for volunteers. Please contact Linda Glazner at
[email protected] or 715-370-4897 to volunteer.
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Mt Sinai Congregational
PASSOVER SEDER
Saturday, April 20th, 2019, at 6:00 pm
Please RSVP by April 10th!
Come celebrate the Seder with family and friends
Join in the retelling of our story of liberation
Share in songs, symbols, and stories
Babysitting provided (starting at 5:45 pm)
NAME:___________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________
Please select:
____# of Vegetarian meals ____ #Adults @ $25 $_____________
____# of Chicken meals ____#Children (3-10) @ $15 $_____________
____# of Fish meals ____#Children (2 & under / Free)
I cannot afford the full amount. Enclosed is my check for: $_____________
No one will be turned away for inability to pay.
My contribution to help sponsor a fellow congregant: $_____________
Unused contributions will go to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund.
Total Enclosed: $_____________
Babysitter Needed? Y N / # of children ______ Ages: __________________________________
I/ We can help with: ___Set Up ___ Clean Up ___ Serving ___ Bringing a dessert
Questions? Contact Erica Esser at 608-886-7489 or [email protected] or call the synagogue office at 715-675-2560
Please make check payable to Mt Sinai Congregation and mail this form, with payment, to:
Mt Sinai Congregation ∙ 910 W Randolph St ∙ Wausau, WI 54401
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Passover Appeal
We live in an ever changing world. As the world changes, we must adjust. The recent shootings at the Tree of Life
Synagogue in Pittsburg, as well as other mass shootings and acts of domestic terrorism, compel us to re-evaluate our
beautiful synagogue home and take action to protect our congregants, families and guests. The Board of Trustees,
especially the Building and Grounds committee, has been studying the issue for some time now and wrestling with
various options, both high and low tech. The committee has consulted with experts, law enforcement and systems
providers.
There are many things that we can do and the list of the highest priority items includes 1) classroom door stops, 2)
motion detector outdoor lighting, 3) panic buttons within the building, 4) bullet resistant glass windows, 5) a secure
entry system (a key fob system seem most cost effective for a congregation such as ours), and 6) a security camera and
recording system. The above list is not arranged in order of priority but rather by approximate cost.
To raise funds for these systems we are planning a Passover fundraising drive. We know that a smear of lamb’s blood on
our lintel will not be enough in this day and age.
You will soon be receiving a postcard reflective of the Seder plate with each of the items listed together with a
corresponding security need. Please treat these as levels of giving. Each represents a multiple of chai (18) for life. It is a
way of visualizing our needs and how our gifts may provide for them. But if three people are moved to donate $990 for
the key fob system we will not install three key fob systems, we will install one and direct the rest of the funds to other
security needs. None of the systems are standalone, they all work together. Hopefully we will never know which of the
systems is most important, all we know now is that each of them, even the smallest, has its own merit.
Please consider giving to our Passover security drive, either in one of the amounts listed on the card or in any other
amount that you are moved and able to give.
MT. SINAI SISTERHOOD
Save the Date:
Saturday, March 16th at 12:30pm
The Sisterhood has teamed up with United Way. Everyone (if you are
reading this, we mean you!) is welcome to come and learn about how we
can make a difference in our community.