UT Bulletin November 2011

8/3/2019 UT Bulletin November 2011

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Thursday,November 9th at

7:30 PM with

special guestspeaker

Essie Shor

See page 3 for details

The BulletinUnion Temple of Brooklyn

Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism NOVEMBER, 2011 CHESHVAN KISLEV 5772 Vol. 163, No 3

SHABBAT SERVICES FOR NOVEMBER

SHABBAT LECH LECHA4 Friday Evening

4:00 PM - Friday at Four: Shabbat for KidsFirst Friday Family Shabbat6:00 PM - Snacks6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat: Religious School Students will

participate.Pot Luck Dinner

5 Saturday Morning 10:30 AMShabbat Morning ServiceService of Conversion: Dennies Gajadhar

Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27 Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

SHABBAT VAYEIRA

11 Friday Evening4:00 PM - Friday at Four: Shabbat for Kids6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat

12 Saturday Morning 10:30 AMShabbat Morning Service

Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24 Haftarah: II Kings 4:1-37

SHABBAT CHAYEI SARAH

18 Friday Evening4:00 PM - Friday at Four: Shabbat for Kids6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat


Torah: Genesis 23:1-25:18 Haftarah: I Kings 1:1-31

SHABBAT TOLEDOT

25 Friday Evening 6:30 PMKabbalat Shabbat


Torah: Genesis 25:19-28:9 Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7


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Rabbis MessageJewish Partisans

Defiance. . . . Many of us have seen the movie Defiance, starring Daniel Craig

and Liev Schreiber as the Bielsky Brothers. It is the gripping true story of Tuvia

and Zus Bielsky, and their brothers, Asael and Aron, who shepherded some 1,200

Jews through the Bialowieza Forest along the border of Poland and Belarus, asthey hid from the Nazis during the Shoah. The Bielsksys helped their fellow Jews

to survive starvation, illness, and bitter cold of the Russian winters, by raiding lo-

cal farms for food and supplies, and by keeping their flock on the move when-

ever the threat of discovery by German troops became imminent. Ultimately Tu-

via and Zus survived the war, emigrated to America, and built a successful truck-

ing firm in New York. Neither of them sought any recognition for their heroism.

Only after they both had died did their families bring their remarkable story to light. Today, the descendants

of the people they saved number in the tens of thousands.

Jewish Partisans. . . . These were Jews in Europe, most of them teenagers, male and female, who foughtagainst the Nazis during World War II. The majority were ordinary people who escaped the ghettos and work

camps and joined organized resistance groups in the forests and urban underground. Non-Jewish partisans

could sneak back to their homes for security and safety. The Jews had no place to go and so were constantly

moving through the shadows on the edges of the cities and towns. Though it is difficult to know exactly how

numerous they were, because their activities were secret and records are few, it is estimated that between

Europe and the Mediterranean, some 30,000 - 40,000 Jews numbered among the approximately 1 million par-

tisans who operated in these areas.

Kristallnacht. . . . On the night of November 9, 1938, the German Reichstag unleashed a pogrom against the

Jews of Germany on a level of brutality previously unprecedented. Known as the Night of Broken Glass, onthis night the Hitler Youth and other thugs sent by the Reich shattered the shop windows of an estimated 7,500

Jewish-owned commercial establishments, and looted their wares. Jewish cemeteries were desecrated, and 267

synagogues throughout Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland were burned and destroyed. 91 Jews were

killed, and some 30,000 Jewish were men arrested and sent to Dachau, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, and other

concentration camps. In the aftermath, The German government made an immediate pronouncement that the

Jews themselves were to blame for the pogrom and imposed a punitive fine of one billion Reichsmark (some

400 million U.S. dollars at 1938 rates) on the German Jewish community. Most scholars assign Kristallnacht

as the real beginning of the Holocaust.

Our Guest. . . . This month, on Wednesday, November 9th, in observance of Kristallnacht, we will be hon-ored to welcome Essie Shor, a teenage fighter in the Bielsky Partisans during the War. We hope that you will

come to hear her personal account of the bravery and heroism of this group of people. Wednesday, Novem-

ber 9, 7:30 PM. Please join us.

-Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman


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Officers ColumnUT Education: Not Just for KidsAdult education is one of Union Temples great strengths. And I speak from experience about this: I was an

adult bar mitzvah student, went on to study Torah trope here, and took the ethical wills seminar last year.Ive also participated in Rabbi Goodmans Saturday morning study hevre, attended many films and lectures

here, and fun events like Zevas Taste of Yiddish. The Sisterhood has presented many fine programs. And

theres the Brotherhoods book discussion series Ive led a few!

Last months Rabbi Dreyfus Memorial Lecture featured HUCs Professor of Jewish History Rabbi Dr. MartinCohen speaking about Marketing Judaism for the Twenty-First Century. And we have some excellent pro-

grams for this month as well:

At the Kristallnacht commemoration on Thursday, November 9th, a member of the Jewish Partisan

Educational Foundation will speak about Jews who fought Nazism in partisan resistance movements.

The first three sessions of an eight-session series on Engaging Israel will be on Wednesday evenings,

November 16th and 30th and December 7th. They will combine videos by the Shalom Hartman

Institute with related text study and discussion led by Rabbi Goodman.

And I cant resist the opportunity to add that Ill be leading a Brotherhood book discussion on Sundaymorning, November 20th. Well be discussing 36 Arguments for the Existence ofGod, an alternately

funny and serious novel by Rebecca Goldstein. I hope that youll come to all of these events.

Yom Ha-Hodayah Sameach (Happy Thanksgiving) to all!

-Steven Segall, Secretary

Kristallnacht

The Night of Broken Glass

Join us as we mark the anniversary of what many scholarsidentify as a significant turning point in Hitlers war againstthe Jews.

Our guest speaker will be

Essie Shora member of the Bielsky Partisans

Wednesday, November 9th7:30 PM


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ENGAGING ISRAELEach of these eight sessions will combine video presentations by

scholars at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and text

study based on the videos, conducted by our Rabbi. This series

boldly confronts many of the challenges facing Israel at this time,

with the academic rigor and moral courage emblematic of the

Hartman Institute.From Crisis to Covenant Power and Powerlessness

War and Occupation Religious Pluralism and Human Rights

Religion and Peoplehood Morality on the Battlefield

and more.

Wednesday Evenings, 7:30-9:30 PM

First segment:

November 16, 30, December 7

Next 2 segments:

April 4, 11, 25 / May 23, 30

Because there are materials that will be distributed,please let us know if youd like to attend.

Union Temple of Brooklyn

17 Eastern Parkway at Grand Army Plaza

718-638-7600

[email protected]


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CLOTHING COLLECTION FOR

PROJECT HOPE:

HANGERS PLEASE!

The Social Action Committee of Union Temple plans to spon-

sor a clothing drive this coming Spring 2012, the proceeds of

which will be donated to Project Hope, an organization dedi-

cated to helping disadvantaged adults re-enter the work force.

As in the past, we are asking for donations of gently worn

clothing for men and women that is appropriate for the workplace, such as: suits, jackets, blaz-

ers, smart casual skirts and slacks, shirts, coats and shoes.

We have always had a wonderful response by our Temple members and the local community

and hope to continue with this worthwhile project; however, we need to ask for your help in

changing the method of collection.

ALL CLOTHING YOU PLAN TO DONATE NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON HANGERS

PRIOR TO COLLECTION SO THAT IT CAN BE HUNG IN THE TEMPLE CLOSET

UPON ARRIVAL. Although many of our contributors have done this already, many havenot, requiring that volunteers sort through heavy bags and hang the garments one by one--a

difficult and time consuming process.

So, please, save that suit! Hold on to that dress! It will become a most welcome contribution

to the Project Hope clothing drive. And if you no longer have room in your home and wish to

make a contribution of workplace clothing prior to this Spring, please bring it to Union Tem-

ple on a hanger and well hang it in our closet!

November is here, and its cool, crisp days and prepa-rations for Thanksgiving are a reminder that 2011 is

fast winding down. Sisterhood, however, never winds

down. As everyone who was with us for our firstRosh

Chodesh Seder last month can enthusiastically affirm,we got our new season off to an exciting start. More

warm and stimulating programs are on the way. There

will be Rosh Chodesh Seders, book discussions, evena trip that will tickle your taste buds. So be sure to

watch this column and your mail for details. You

won't want to miss a single program.

You will certainly want to be with us Saturday, De-

cember 3rd for our jointHavdalah with Brotherhood.

The special service will be followed by a visit to the

Brooklyn Museum to participate in its festive FirstNight activities. This exhilarating evening is fast be-

coming an eagerly anticipated Union Temple tradition.

Two weeks later, on Sunday, December 18th at 10

AM, Sisterhood will be holding its pre-Chanukah pro-gram. We'll be opening our popular Sisterhood Shop,

so, in addition to a stimulating book discussion and all

the latkes you can eat, you can buy all the tchotkes

you need to complete your Chanukah shopping. Now

that's an all-around one-stop treat!

Sisterhood wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

May our homes and hearts be filled with blessings.

-Barbara Brett, Secretary

Sisterhood Warm Programs for Cool Days


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Religious SchoolChanging forthe Better

Shanah tovah!

The Religious School has been cele-brating many Jewish holidays in the

past weeks we blew the shofar for

Rosh Hashanah, discussed tshuvah(repentance) for Yom Kippur, and

decorated and the sukkah for Suk-

kot. Weve been engaged in study

about these holidays as well, andour year of learning has gotten some

strong momentum.

Im delighted to announce that a

new teacher has recently joined us!Sandy Fox will be teaching our 7th

and 8th grade students, and we hope

to encourage more post-Bar andBat Mitzvah students in the future

to stay on through at least 8th grade.

Additionally, we have restructured

our Hebrew education to bettermeet the needs of each individual

student. Rather than learning He-

brew in their age class, each stu-

dent will learn Hebrew with otherstudents at about the same readinglevel. This will allow students who

need extra help to receive that aid

and students who are more ad-vanced to continue to progress. I

thank you for your flexibility and

patience through this transition.

Im looking forward to 5772, a yearof change and renewal. Thank you

for your continuing support as wework together to make the new year

a bright one for our children.

As always, please send any ques-

tions, comments, or feedback to me

at [email protected].

Shalom!

-Daniel Kirzane, Educator

6

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Join us for a

HavdalahServiceat Union Temple

followed byFirst Night at the

Brooklyn Museum of Art

Havdalah 5 p.m. in the Temple Lobby

Refreshments will be served

Sisterhood and Brotherhood of Union Temple

Union Temple of Brooklyn17 Eastern ParkwayBrooklyn, N Y 11238

718-638-7600 uniontemple.org


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Last month the members of the Brotherhood participated inthe annual sukkah building event at the Temple. Faster than

you could shake a lulav the expert Brotherhood construction

workers had the sukkah up and ready for decoration by theUT Religious School. Many thanks to Abe Barnett, Steven

Segall, Mark

S i l v e r s t e i n ,Marvin Lieber-

man (and his

lovely wife Pur-

laine, who be-came an honorary

brother for the

day), Arnold Ko-likoff, Jeffrey

Stein and of

course TempleAd m i n i s t r a t o r

John Golomb

wh o a l wa y s

makes sure thateverything goes

as planned.

Next up on the Brotherhood calendar, Sunday, November 20th,

Steven Segall will be leading a book discussion about the novel 36

Arguments for the Existence of God, by Rebecca Goldstein. Thecentral character, Cass Seltzer, is a professor of the psychology of religion, and became unexpectedly rich and

famous by writing a book in which he refuted dozens of arguments for the existence of God. We read hilari-

ous accounts of his academic life and loves (the fun really begins

when an ex-girlfriend, Roz Margolis, breezes in) and a visit to theHasidic community that his mother had fled from. (She was related to

the rebbe, but said it was no big deal since everyone was related

there.) We hope that everyone will join us there for good discussion,and of course, bagels and

coffee.

On Saturday evening, De-

cember 3, Brotherhoodand Sisterhood will have a

Havdalah service at the

Temple, followed by avisit to the Brooklyn mu-

seum for its First Saturday

event of art and music.

-David Rapheal,

Secretary

BrotherhoodBuilding a Sukkah and the Mind

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Friday at FourShabbat for Kids

Pre-K and K

Every Friday at 4 PM

WithYOSHIEAt Union Temple

17 Eastern Parkway, Grand Army Plaza

Preschool A Full and Happy PlaceThe state of the preschool is sound. We are at full enrollment with 81 students. Nine of our families are Tem-

ple members.

There is a great sense of community at the preschool. This year we have lots of parents who are excited to be

involved. One of the first events of the school year is a parent pot luck dinner, which takes place at the end of

October. We had a planning meeting for this event last week and about 15 parents attended.

We have an amazing teaching staff of life long learners. There is a real collaborative spirit at the school. At

our weekly staff meetings we have substantive educational conversations. Professional teacher education is

taken very seriously, and the opportunity for growth it affords is truly appreciated by my entire staff. Myteaching staff understands that preschool is a real family affair. If the parents are not comfortable and if they

don't feel taken care of, their children will not feel safe and they will not thrive. The teachers spend a lot of

time communicating with parents. Early in the school year, they email nearly daily updates and include lots of

photos taken during the school day. They are also always available to parents for a meeting or a conversation.

Our program is exceptional and we continue to add new and innovative classes. We have specialists come in

for yoga and music. Our kids have yoga every week and music to celebrate Shabbat on Fridays. We have a

school psychological consultant who visits the classrooms and is available via email to answer parents' ques-tions. Last year we added an after school French language immersion class on Fridays. We had to turn people

away from this program this fall. We also added a soccer class once a week to our afternoon explorations pro-

gram. This has also been a very popular class.

Our preschool is truly a special place. We have created a home for our professional staff, our 81 students, and

all of their families. It is an honor to be at the helm of this wonderful institution.

-Susan Sporer, Director


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Tzedakah

We express our deepest sympathy toUnion Temple Vice President Abe Barnett

on the death of his brotherBernard Barnett

on September 25th.We express our heartfelt sympathy to Abe and Anna (Schiavone) and Ariel Barnett, Bernard'swife Ruth, and his daughters: Nora and her husband Jeff Slatken, and children Stephani and

Randi, and Irene and her husband Joe Alibayof and children Justin, Alexa and Brandon.

May his memory be for a blessing

UNION TEMPLE MEMORIAL FUNDDonated by ....................................................................................... in memory ofAnna Budd and George Hausman .............................................................. Helen Machtinger

Joyce M. Charles ........................................................................................ Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Connie Schiavone ....................................................................................... Bernard Barnett

Jeffrey G. Stein and Denise Waxman ......................................................... Alvin J. (Ted) Stein

SISTERHOOD MEMORIAL FUNDDonated by ....................................................................................... in memory ofHenry and Susanne Singer......................................................................... Ethel Singer

Join the Union Temple Brotherhood

For a book discussion on

36 Arguments for the

Existence of GodA novel by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein

Sunday, November 20th at 10 AMCoffee, bagels and great conversation provided!

Union Temple of Brooklyn 17 Eastern Parkway at Grand Army Plaza

718-638-7600 [email protected]


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Union Temple suggests that its memberscontact our Funeral Director

Martin D. Kasdan of

Boulevard-Riverside Chapels1895 Flatbush Avenue

Brooklyn, NY

1-800-522-0588

Proudly maintaining morethan 50 years of Temple involvement

10

The BulletinUnion Temple of Brooklyn

17 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY 11238

(718) 638-7600

Fax (718) 783-9151E-mail [email protected]

Website Uniontemple.org

Dr. Linda Henry GoodmanRabbi

Lauren PhillipsStudent Cantor

Shinae KimTemple Musician

Daniel KirzaneEducator/Rabbinic Intern

Susan Sporer

Preschool DirectorBeatrice Hanks

President

Ellen KolikoffHenry Singer

Vice Presidents

Steven SegallSecretary

Jeffrey SteinTreasurer

Mike Baron

Hortense R. HurwitzDoris KluegerHonorary Presidents

David RaphealBulletin Editor

John GolombTemple Administrator

Martin KasdanFuneral Director(800) 522-0588

A memorial plaque is a lasting

tribute to a loved one.

If you wish more information regarding

obtaining a plaque in memory of a

loved one please e-mail the temple at

[email protected]

or leave a message with the temple office.

Memorial PlaquesMaurice H. Van Raalt ................................................... November 1, 1932Herman Weinberger ...................................................... November 2, 1956Edward Elman, Past President ..................................... November 3, 1976Rose Pollack ................................................................. November 4, 1957Esther Weinberger ........................................................ November 5, 1954Samuel Underberg ........................................................ November 6, 1985Hannah Lebowitz .......................................................... November 7, 1925William Krell ................................................................ November 7, 1959

Estelle Martha Silverman Sloan .................................... November 7, 1984Mendel Nevin ............................................................... November 8, 1950Olga Rosenson .............................................................. November 8, 1959Ray Beck ....................................................................... November 8, 1964George Wiener .............................................................. November 9, 1947Mathew Frank ............................................................... November 9, 1954Anne Silverberg ............................................................ November 9, 1973Gabriel Fried ................................................................ November 10, 1924Moses Bloom ............................................................... November 10, 1935Isaac M. Bermas .......................................................... November 11, 1931Annie Wolberg ............................................................. November 11, 1952Sarah Marienhoff ......................................................... November 11, 1958Hon. Emil N. Baar, Past President ............................... November 11, 1985Moses B. Schmidt, Past President ................................ November 12, 1954Estella Selig ................................................................. November 13, 1906

Hulda Lissner ............................................................... November 14, 1931Sidney Onkeles ............................................................ November 14, 1957Jerrold Feldman ........................................................... November 14, 1989Emile R. Brown May ................................................... November 15, 1964Rose Astro ................................................................... November 15, 1971Minerva Love ............................................................... November 16, 1971Rebecca Levinson ........................................................ November 17, 1942Joseph Ehrlich .............................................................. November 17, 1944Dora Raphaels .............................................................. November 17, 1947Felice D. Aaronson ...................................................... November 18, 1955Saul Dumey ................................................................. November 19, 1961Edward Charles Blum .................................................. November 20, 1946Ruth B Wolfort ............................................................ November 20, 1961Jack Felsenfeld ............................................................. November 20, 1961Pearl Elman .................................................................. November 20, 1980

Joseph Petchesky ......................................................... November 21, 1961Harold D. Silvey, Past President .................................. November 21, 1997Rosa Block ................................................................... November 23, 1943Samuel Frank ............................................................... November 24, 1955Irving R. Gerstman, Past President .............................. November 24, 1987Bernard B. Block ......................................................... November 25, 1962Anne Silverman ........................................................... November 25, 1959Laura L. Cohen ............................................................ November 26, 1959Sgt. Harold C. Ginsberg ............................................... November 27, 1944Bernard P. Weinstein ................................................... November 27, 1986Mamie Rosenson.......................................................... November 28, 1931Minnie Baum Needle ................................................... November 28, 1956Edith Helicher .............................................................. November 28, 1969Lazarus Rosenberg ....................................................... November 29, 1956Max Silverman ............................................................. November 30, 1944May Caplin .................................................................. November 30, 1994


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11

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

7:00 PM

Union Temple

Singers

3

6:00 PM

Adult Ed

Committee

7:00 PM

Religious

Practices

Committee

4 4:00 PMTot Shabbat

First Friday

Family Shabbat

6:00 PM Snacks

6:30 PM

Religious School

Kabbalat Shabbat

& Pot Luck Dinner

59:00 AM

Shabbat Hevre

10:30 AM

Shabbat Morning

Service

Conversion:

Dennies Gajadhar

6 7

6:15 PM

Officers

8Election Day

96:30 PM

Union TempleSingers

7:30 PM

Kristallnacht

Commemoration

Essie Shor

10 11

4:00 PM

Tot Shabbat

6:30 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat

129:00 AM

Shabbat Hevre10:30 AM

Shabbat Morning

Service

139:30 AM

Religious School;

Interfaith Fami-

lies Breakfast

with the Rabbi11:30 AM

Membership

Committee

14

6:00 PM

Board of

Trustees

15 16

6:30 PM

Union TempleSingers

7:30-9:30 PM

Engaging Israel

17 18

4:00 PMTot Shabbat

6:30 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat

199:00 AM

Shabbat Hevre

10:30 AM

Shabbat Morning

Service

20 9:30 AMReligious School

10:00 AM

Brotherhood Book

Discussion

11 AM3 PM

Pre-Thanksgiving

Food Drive, at

Key Food, 7th Ave

21 22 23 24Thanksgiving Day

25

6:30 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat

2610:30 AM

Shabbat Morning

Service

27Rosh Chodesh

Kislev

Religious SchoolVacation

28

6:30 PM

Religious School

Committee

29 30

6:30 PM

Union Temple

Singers

7:30-9:30 PMEngaging Israel

November 2011

Cheshvan-Kislev 5772


12/12

Union Temple of Brooklyn

17 Eastern ParkwayBrooklyn, NY 11238

(718) 638-7600

[email protected]

NOVEMBER 2011

UNION TEMPLE OF BROOKLYN BULLETIN

Prospect Park

Health and Racquet Association

In Union Temple Building at

17 Eastern Parkway

718-789-4600

Ask about Special discounts for

Union Temple Members

Kristallnacht Commemoration November 9th

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UT Bulletin November 2011