July August 2015 Tamuz – Av – Elul 5775

The Star

Special Interest Articles:

• Message from

Rabbi Seth Riemer

• Honey

Fundraiser for High Holidays

• Officers for 2015 -- 2016

Newsletter of Temple Beth Torah Wethersfield, CT Vol. 19 No. 6

I want to use this forum to express my sincere thanks to the Board and Congregation as a whole for allowing me to serve and work with you, the people of Temple Beth Torah, for yet another year. We’re coming up on year number eight. That’s right: I have been with you for seven years! They have been, for me, joyous ones. Contrary to feeling a “seven year itch” (the notion, made famous in a 1950s-era play) that makes a person, after seven years in a marriage, get a hankering to stray, I found myself—during this seventh year, which has just passed— more strongly energized than ever to continue working with you, more affirmed by and affirmative in my positive feelings about you. For me, at least, the honeymoon phase of our relationship has never ended. I see, in our passing the seven-year milestone, a parallel with what the Torah speaks about in terms of a seven-year cycle. In Jewish tradition the seven-year mark was a significant moment that signaled, in the ancient Holy Land, a commitment to renewing people’s sense of shared commitment as community. According to a practice described in our Torah, the seventh

Message from Rabbi Seth Riemer year leading up to that moment was

a time to take a break from agricultural production and economic activity as a whole. It was thus also a time for debts to be canceled, encouraging a widespread spirit of charity and concern about the needs of others. It was a kind of year-long super-Shabbat. Then, with the start of the eighth year, corresponding to the period I am about to enter with you at TBT, as the creative energies of the land and its people had been restored through the preceding time off for rest and reflection, masa umatan—the business of building up the land, nurturing its inhabitants and engaging in those transactions necessary for agricultural and commercial ventures to flourish—went back into full swing. The seven-year mark was as much to say that the Israelite community’s energies had been recharged and its people were now ready to jump back into the important work of building up the Holy Land. For us this Torah example implies that, after giving ourselves time to reflect on our accomplishments and take stock of our situation, in this upcoming eighth year and successive years we can move forward confident about our ability to continue on a productive path together. May it be so!

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Message from your Executive Committee With summer approaching, our Temple year has about come to a close. Looking ahead to the New Year… we would like to share with you some refurbishment projects that are in the works. Your Board had been actively working on solutions to alternative paths to the front door (to the Sanctuary) and can report that we have a working plan to build a brick walk to access the building from the north side and the floor of the social hall will be repaired and re-sealed professionally this summer. We have been invited to attend an important negotiation before a Superior Court judge to hopefully resolve a long-standing dispute between TBT and our former insurance carrier who had previously denied our claim of damage to the front tower during the winter of 2010. We are hoping that this court action will enable us to address the damage we experienced. We wish you all a productive summer break and look forward to seeing all of you this Fall as we begin a new Temple season under the leadership of Rabbi Seth Riemer. Eliot N. Mag, for the Executive Committee

GOLDEN BOOK FUND Donation to TBT In Memory of By Mara Dresner JEANETTE WOFSY By the Hammer Family By Cecile & Barry Bronfin

Get a head start on your TBT New Year’s Greetings Before we know it, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be here. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Sunday, September 13th! Just like last year, we are not mailing the greetings to our members. Rather, we will have them posted in the lobby of the Sanctuary for all to view! Our own Phil Lohman, will again be designing this year’s greetings. The cost is $36 per family unit (ie.: Sallyanne and Barry Scott, Todd and Aaron). To have your family included in the greetings, please send your check for $36 for each greeting to Judy Gold, 88 Balfour Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117. So, please don’t delay... to be included as a well-wisher we MUST have your check by September 1st. YOUR CHECK IS YOUR RESERVATION! Include a listing of how your family unit name is to appear.

Todah Rabah, Thank You Very Much, to David Forrest!! David noticed that our Holy Ark curtains were looking a bit drab at the High Holidays. He generously offered to donate new curtains (in the color and fabric of our choice!) as well as a new rail and pull system. David then had the curtains made up to our specifications, and installed them with his friend and golf buddy Gary (I hope I got this name right!?). The results are beautiful, and wait until you are next honored to open the Ark — no more tugging and pulling — just smooth all the way! David and friend approached this entire project in a very low-key manner, never looking for recognition or fanfare. They did a fabulous job and now we can all enjoy the fine work they did. Yasher koach!

Kvell Corner of Pride Congratulations to Kayla Reuben, daughter of Susan and Jonathan Reuben, on her graduation from Conard High School. In the program, Kayla was acknowledged for maximum honors and her membership in the National Honor Society. This summer she will be going to Israel through the Birthright Israel program. She will also be traveling to Morocco. Kayla will be starting UConn Storrs this fall.

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HONEY FUNDRAISER

What better way to wish family, friends and business associates a “Sweet and Healthy New Year” than sending a jar of honey?

For more information please contact: Judy Gold 860-521-0334 goldjrg88@comcast.net

Temple Beth Torah, Wethersfield, CT

This 8-ounce jar of delicious Kosher honey arrives in time for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, decorated with a colorful label, and includes a personalized card reading “L’Shana Tova—Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” This card also lets the recipients know that a donation has been made in their honor to Temple Beth Torah.

Your cost is $11.00 per jar which includes

shipping and handling within the United States. We will gladly mail orders outside the United States for an additional fee. To order honey, go to www.TempleBethTorahWethersfield.org, click the honey link and follow the step-by-step instructions. Order by July 13, 2015 to avoid a $4.00 per jar shipping fee.

Fundraising while shopping at Stop and Shop We have a great fundraiser throughout the year. We sell gift cards for Stop and Shop. We used to offer a large selection but most of our sales were for Stop and Shop. If you shop there, consider purchasing some gift cards. Big Y offers us a 6% discount in October and April. Stew Leonard’s offers us a 10% discount in December. Some of our members purchase gift cards, especially Stew Leonard’s for several months, even a year of shopping. Contact Susan Sackler Reuben to order the cards. Did you know??? 100 families spending just $100 on groceries each week could raise $26,000.00 !! Wow… Please think about participating in this program. .

Sunday School Tzedakah Charity Donation This year our Sunday school students' tzedakah contributions added up to $118.18, which the group decided to send to the Connecticut Food Bank. Well Done!

Letter to Rabbi from Jewish War Veterans Dear Rabbi, My name is Jerry Baggish and I am the Commander of the Sgt. John L. Levitow Post 45 of the Jewish War Veterans. I am asking for your help so our post can thrive and be a vital member of our community. Our membership is getting older and we need to show younger veterans that there are places in our organization where they can come and be a vital part of maintaining our assistance to veterans of all ages. They have special skills that could benefit our organizations as well as their personal needs as veterans. Jewish veterans of all ages are needed to keep the JWV a special place for these and all veterans. If you know of veterans who would be able to help us, and who would be willing to talk to me about their involvement, please have them call me at 860-684-5367 or email me at jerryb22@cox.net Thank you for your help, Jerry Baggish, commander Sgt. John L. Levitow Post 45 Jewish War Veterans

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Board of Directors for 2015 – 2016, 5775 - 5776 Executive Committee Sallyanne and Barry Scott,

Kathi and Eliot Mag Karen Klein

Treasurer Barry Goldberg Recording Secretary Carol Gershenson Corresponding Secretary Rhoda London Trustees Ellen Sue Moses and Mark Gould Board of Education Barbara Checknoff Head Instructor Rabbi Seth Riemer Adult Education Bert and Jeanne Woodcock Torah Study, Building Rentals, Web Master Deb Hammer Star Editor Susan Reuben Artists in residence Phil Lohman, Ralph Horowitz Membership Karen Klein Publicity Chair Debra Ehrlich Memorial Park Chair Barry Goldberg Building Committee Gary Evans, Kathi Mag Gardening Kathi Mag, Kristy Notarangelo Ways and Means Judy Gold High Holidays Committee Rabbi Seth Riemer and Barbara Checknoff, Cecile Bronfin,

Sallyanne and Barry Scott, Susan Reuben, Kathi and Eliot Mag, Carol Gershenson, Fred London

Nominations Coordinator Cecile Bronfin (interim)

Request for Help Rabbi Seth is inquiring on behalf of individuals in need of temporary rental living space. If you have space available in your home, please contact him at sethriemer@aol.com or 860-665-8014.