temple b'nai abraham

Temple B’nai Abraham 58 Crosswicks PO Box 245 Bordentown, NJ 08505 609.298.1527 www.bnai-abraham.org

April, 2013

Temple B’nai Abraham Temple B’nai Abraham “The Temple Shofar” Sarah Seidel Sisterhood

CHARLIE WEISS, PRESIDENT JULIE PFAU, RABBI RANDYE BLOOM, PRESIDENT

Rabbi’s Message Temple Officers

Hoda’ah – Thanks The Sixth Section of the Amidah

The theme of the sixth section of the Amidah is giving thanks. When the Amidah is chanted out loud, the congregation joins the prayer leader in bowing and chanting the first three words out loud – “modim anachnu lach…” (which means “we give thanks to you”) before continuing silently on their own. It is also customary to bow on the words “baruch atah…” (“Blessed are you…”) when beginning the blessing that concludes this section of the Amidah:

Blessed are you, THE GRACIOUS ONE, whose name is good, and to whom all thanks are due.

I may have said this about other prayers, but this section of the Amidah is one of my favorites (I have many). The part that leaps out at me the most powerfully is about mid-way through:

We acknowledge you, declare your praise, and thank you for our lives entrusted to your hand, our souls placed in your care, for your miracles that greet us every day, and for your wonders and the good things that are with us every hour, morning, noon, and night. Good One, whose kindness never stops, Kind One, whose loving acts have never failed – always have we placed our hope in you.

This section concludes with an affirmation of hope – me’olam kivinu lach, always have we placed our hope in you. The Hoda’ah section of the Amidah is a balance of gratitude and hope. Sometimes it is more difficult to see the good things, the small miracles, but when suffering obscures the present view there is the cord of hope that connects us to that which we cannot yet see. This is implied in the Hebrew word for hope itself – the word is linguistically related to words for strands of rope, spider’s threads, and cord. Hope is literally that which enables a person to hold on, to endure, and perhaps even to follow it blindly to safety or the unseen good. We moderns don’t often put much stock in following blindly, but without the ability to foretell the future, what else can we do? Judaism is not a faith of giving up… This blessing assures that the cord of hope is tied to a track record of good things – things that are present as a kind of evidence in every moment. With each breath we are treated to the wonder of creation, the miracle of life. Each morning and evening we witness the rhythmic miracle of passing from day to night to day….

Temple B’nai Abraham is affiliated with the Jewish

Reconstructionist Movement

Temple President Charlie Weiss

Executive Vice President Linda Osman

Financial Vice President Michael Rosen

Religious Vice President Sid Morginstin

Religious School Chair Robin Affrime

Membership Chair Kim Aubry

Building Chair Neil Nissim

Adult Education Chair Brian Epstein

Recording Secretary Susan Giachetti

Sisterhood President Randye Bloom

Past President Betsy Ramos

Were we to walk outdoors in the afternoon, and mindfully notice our surroundings, we might be treated to the miracle of budding tree or blooming flowers. Noticing these everyday miracles, and opening ourselves to gratitude for them, may cultivate a shift in perspective about every other facet of our lives. I invite you to memorize these six words –

modim anachnu lach… me’olam kivinu lach… we give thanks to you… always have we placed our hope in you…

They are powerful words to affirm not only during the recitation of the Amidah, but at any moment of our lives – whether it be one that inspires gratitude or a desperate need for hope. Shalom, Rabbi Julie Pfau

http://archive.jewishrecon.org/


Sisterhood Officers Amidah Structure

Sisterhood President Randye Bloom

Vice President Debby Weiss

Treasurer/Fin. Secretary Marcy Schwartz

Recording Secretary Ellen Wehrman

Corresponding Secretary Patricia Light-Tolomeo

Trustees Phyllis Chudoff

Eileen Gail

Susan Giachetti

Elaine Trackman

Preceding Meditation: begins Adonai sifatay tiftach…. Initial Section:

1. Avot v’Imahot – Ancestors 2. Gevurot – God’s Power 3. Kedushat HaShem/Kedushah – God’s Holiness

Middle Section(s): 4. On Shabbat: Kedushat HaYom – Holiness of the

Day [On weekdays: 13 blessings/petitions] Final Section:

5. Avodah – Worship/Temple Service 6. Hoda’ah/Modim – Thanksgiving 7. Birkat HaShalom – Blessing for Peace

Concluding Meditation: ends with Oseh Shalom

Sisterhood News & Announcements Temple Donations

The May Sisterhood meeting will be held Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30. Rabbi Julie Pfau will speak. We will also elect officers. We hope to see all of you there.

Shabbat services on Friday, April 26 will be in honor of the Sisterhood. An Oneg Shabbat hosted by Bonnie Goldman and Rhea Goldman will follow. We hope you will be able to join us that evening.

Thank you to Sol Kushner for his generous donation to the Sisterhood in honor of his children, Ellen Benowitz and Gary and Gail Kushner, who were in Israel with the National Jewish Fund, and in memory of his beloved wife, Shyrle. We appreciate your continued support.

Thank you to everyone who has contacted Randye about donations for the Rabbi. Watch this space for more information.

See you April 26th. Randye Bloom, President

In Memory of Marcel Nissim: Karen & Fran Sutter, Phyllis & Is Kamer, Renee Harrison, Sid & Marlene Lavine, Gay Levinson, Robin & Tony Zak, Neil & Karen Nissim, Dr. & Mrs. Neil Streisfeld, The Hacken Family, and Elaine & Jay Trackman

In memory of Fran Russ: Randy Bloom and Mike Scolaro,Joel and Marsha Dowshen,Arlene Speiser

In memory of Jimmy Schwartberg: Nina Glanz, Elaine & Jay Trackman, Phyliss & Is Kamer, Marcy Schwartz & Rick Shain, Randy Bloom & Mike Scolaro, Rnee Harison, and Joel & Marcia Dowshen

In memory of Jill Popco's parents: Eileen Gale, Elaine & Jay Trackkman, and Marcy Schwartz & Rick Shain

In memory of Steve Shimmin: Sid & Charyl Morginstin In memory of Earl Kaplan: Sid & Charyl Morginstin In memory of Barbara Tempchin : Marcy Schwartz &

Rick Shain In memory of Sam Roseman: Elaine & Jay Trackman

and Phyllis & Is Kamer

Save The Date Community Wishes

Interfaith Dialogue: “How Does Faith Deal With Reason?”

Thursday, April 18th, 7:00 pm

Dorothea Dix Unitarian Universalist Church 39 Park Street, Bordentown

Be sure to join us for what should be a lively and festive evening.

**Light refreshments will be served afterward**

Our distinguished panel will include: Rev. Addae Ama Kraba / Rev. John Morrison

Rev. Robin Lostetter / Rabbi Julie Pfau / Prof. Hussain Manzoor

Happy Birthday Rhoda Kessler & Renee Harrison from Phyllis & Is Kamer

Get well wishes to Ellen and Johy Wehrman from Marcy Schwartz and Rick Shain

Get well wishes to Marcella Kaplan from Sheila Lamonsoff & Rita Nissim and to Tony Zak

Get well to Jean Bergman from Sheila Lamonsoff Rejoicing with Joanne & Ted Lutz new grandchild from

Arlene Speiser Rejoicing with Randye Bloom on her retirement from

Arlene Speiser, Eileen Gale, and Marcy Schwartz & Rick Shain


Tikkun Olam / Social Action

TBA continues to make meaningful contributions to hunger relief in our area, and YOU can be part of it! Here are ways to help:

Donating boxes of granola bars or cans of tuna or chicken for our monthly contribution to grocery bags for motel residents. Any non-perishable food items are welcome for the St. Mary's Food Pantry, just place them in the baskets at the temple. We deliver hot meals prepared by the Friends Meeting in Crosswicks to the Pine Motel on the first Thurs. of every month.

All of these efforts are interfaith collaborations with area worship centers. Together we can make a difference! A special recognition and thanks go to the Weiss family for their on-going support and dedication to this initiative. Jaden and Ethan have been constant members of the team, not only carrying and loading food but also kindly greeting residents of the motel with their wonderful smiles. Jaden recently was awarded both the “Division 5 Spirit Award” and the “Overall Spirit Award” for the "2012 Students Change Hunger" campaign for his outstanding commitment to hunger relief! Mazel tov!

You Are Invited! 2013 Oneg Hosts

Where National American Jewish History Museum Philadelphia

When Sunday, May 19th, 10 am

Cost $16 / adult, $12 / child

RSVP [email protected] by Apr. 15th

Checks Payable to Temple B’nai Abraham

Since this is an organized tour you must stay with the group but this is a great opportunity to see the museum with a wonderful tour guide from the museum and get to know others in the TBA community. There are many drivers already signed up to drive so additional drivers are not needed.

April 20th Shabbat morning lunch, Rosen

April 26th Erev Shabbat Oneg, B. Goldman / R. Goldman

May 22nd Sisterhood meeting - Rabbi Julie, Giachetti / Osman

June 10th Sisterhood meeting and covered dish dinner, Dowshen / Bloom

June 15th Shabbat morning (Volunteers TBD)

June 28th Erev Shabbat Oneg for Member of the Year, Schwartz-Shain / Bloom

Supermarket Gift Card Program Tot Shabbat

It is always the season for sharing and giving. Please share with the Temple by purchasing your gift cards from Acme or ShopRite for your New Year’s celebration. Please make checks payable to Temple B’nai Abraham and send to: Marsha Dowshen

502 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown, NJ 08505 Or call (609) 298-5306

Your cards will be sent to you the same day.

Tot Shabbat will be on Friday, April 12th, 6:00 p.m. and will include candle lighting, potluck dinner, story time, a theme-related craft and songs. If you need any additional information, or would like to volunteer to help clean up or set up, please contact Kami Knapp at: [email protected].

March 15th (Passover) April 12th May 31st June 21st

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Yahrzeits for Winter 2013 2012-2013 Morning Services

April 5th Albert Dowshen, father of Joel Dowshen Flora Grassian, mother of Rita Nissim

April 12th Belle Rosen, grandmother of Gerald Rosen

April 19th

Leon Herzog, brother of Madge Rosen

Frances Noak, mother of Blanche Cantor

Mary Gross, aunt of Shyrle Kushner

Philip Kushner, father of Sol Kushner

April 26th Louis Benson, father of Charyl Morginstin

May 3rd

Gertrude Urken, sister of Henry Kessler Arlene Schwartz, mother of Phyllis Chudoff Ann Zeitz, mother of Carl Zeitz Bernard Greenblatt, father of Marcia Rosen Julia Affrime, mother of Steve Affrime Rita Hodes, aunt of Randye Bloom

May 10th Joseph Harrison, father-in-law of Renee

Harrison Jacob Mervish, father of Shyrl Kushner

May 17th Harry Brewis, great grandfather of Brian

Epstein

May 24th George Groveman, father-in-law of Seena

Groveman

May 31st

Genevive Maza, aunt of Sandra Cohen Robert Gale husband of Eileen Gale Bernard Fink, father of Mindy Fink Edith Trackman, mother of Jay Trackman

June 7th

Estelle Epstein, grandmother of Brian Epstein

Claudette Fishmann, mother of Linda Osman

Joan Sandusky, sister of Marcy Schwartz Bernard Speiser, husband of Arlene Speiser

June 14th Marion Greenblatt, mother of Marcia Rosen Aaron Cohen, grandfather of Sandra Cohen

June 21st

Anna Harrison, mother-in-law of Renee Harrison

Yettie Epstein, great grandmother of Brian Epstein

Solomon Schaffer, father of Rhoda Kessler Joseph Josephson, father of Sam Josephson Jack Roth, father of Elaine Trackman Oscar Wasserman, father of Linda Bowker

June 28th Julie Kwait, sister of Marcy Schwartz Sam Shain, father of Rick Shain Max Light, father of Patricia Light-Tolomeo

April 20th May 18th (Josh & Lily Grabenstein’s Bar Mitzvah) June 15th

Siddur & Tallit Donations

A new siddur (prayer book) can be purchased in honor of or in memory of someone for $35. A tallis (prayer shawl) can be purchased for $60. Please contact Sid Morginstin at [email protected].

Memorial Plaques

Plaques are available for $250. To order a plaque, send the following to Sid Morginstin, Plaque Chairman, PO Box 8101, Trenton, NJ 08650 or [email protected]: English name of loved one, Hebrew name of loved one and date of death in the English calendar. Once the plaque has been put up, you will be billed. Plaques will not be moved from one board to the other.

Old Prayer Books & Kippot

Old prayer books, Tallesim, kippot, or other religious items that are no longer needed should be buried. Please place these items into the box (by the sanctuary stairs). Items will be brought to the local Chabad House for burial. $5 donations are appreciated. ~~Sid Morginstin


Monthly Calendar

Shabbat morning services begin at 10:00 a.m. (when there are B'nai Mitzvah, services begin at 9:30 a.m.)

April, 2013 ~ Nisan / Iyyar, 5773

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

31

9 a.m. Sunday School

10 a.m.

Hebrew School

1 2 3

4

4:30 p.m. Hebrew School

5

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Services

6

Denise Moser

7:30 p.m.

7


10 a.m.

Hebrew School

8

9

10

11


12

6:00 p.m. Tot Shabbat


13

14


10 a.m.

Hebrew School

15

16

17

18

Interfaith Dialogue

7 p.m.

19

20

10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Services

21


10 a.m.

Hebrew School

22

23

24

25


7:30

Board Meeting

26 27

28


10 a.m.

Hebrew School

29

30 1

2


3


4

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