December 2017
Kislev 13, 5778 – Tevet 13, 5778
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Message From Rabbi Judy
On the holiday of Chanukah, we light candles for 8 nights as a way of expressing our gratitude for light and miracles. We use a Chanukiah (also called a menorah), a special candleholder with 9 branches, used only on Chanukah. We begin by lighting the helper candle, or shamash.
We use the shamash to light the other candles. On the first night, we light the shamash and use its flame to light the first candle on the far right side of the Chanukiah. We add one candle each night, filling the Chanukiah from right to left (the way we read Hebrew), but we always light the newest candle first so that we are lighting them from left to right (the way we read English).
Once the candles are lit, it is fun to play dreidel with a spinning top or eat traditional Chanukah foods fried in oil like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).
When we light the candles, we say blessings. Each night, we say the following two blessings:
1. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-votav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner shel Cha-nu-kah.
2. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu baya-mim ha-hem baa-man ha-zeh.
On the first night only, we add this blessing:
3. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-ya-nu laz-man ha-zeh.
Message from Rabbi Judy continued
Translations:
1. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.
2. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time.
3. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
HAPPY CHANUKAH
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SERVICE SCHEDULE
DECEMBER 1ST Bob Eisenstadt
DECEMBER 8TH Kash Schriefer
DECEMBER 15TH Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh DECEMBER 22ND TBA
DECEMBER 29TH TBA
Lay leaders are subject to change.
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YAHRZEIT
DECEMBER 1ST
Bernard Levi Nathan Shapiro
DECEMBER 8th
Charles Fogel David Heller Masur
Joe M.Schendle, Sr. Oscar Cahn
Doris Stern Levinson Dave Marcovitz
Julia Marx Charles Snyder
Sampson Snyder
DECEMBER 15TH
Julia Heninger Sadie Ansel
Bessie Barton Martin Lerner
Annette Milligan Joe Dante
Hannah (Sis) Kahn Lowentritt Jacob Seligman
Hylda Klotz
DECEMBER 22ND
Josh Bodan Fredric King
Dorothy P. Lowentritt Laura Pickens
Esther Sandler William I. Perlstein
DECEMBER 29TH
Arthur Mason Joe Schendle
Paul Fink Victor Cahn
Eugene Cahn Anna Rubin Raphael
Dorothy Gluck Beatrice Masur
Morris Blumenthal
DECEMBER 31ST
Frances Kaplan Samuel Klotz
Tola Rosenberg Dr. Stanley Mintz
Fran Willing
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CONDOLENCES
Heartfelt condolences are extended to Jill Hirsekorn and her family. Jill’s father, Jack Hirsekorn, passed away November 12th.
Cards may be sent to: Jill Hirsekorn
2156 Banyan Street
North Charleston, SC 29405
We have been notified of the death of Vivian Baker Murov from Shreveport, who several of you may know. She passed away on November 14th. Our condolences go out to her family.
Heartfelt condolences are also extended to Ron and Sandra Blate and their family. Their nephew, Michael Blate, passed away November 17th
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CONGRATULATIONS
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Joe & Cynthia Kern December 23rd 28 years
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Robert Eisenstadt – December 7th Susan Marx – December 13th
Sandra Blate – December 16th Gay Nell Barth – December 19th
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KALLAH PROJECT
By Susan Marx
I am very happy to report that we have well over 40 people of all ages signed up to attend the Kallah! By the time you read this, there will be several more and lots of fun activities are being planned. It is not too late to still sign up to attend. We have to give the Wesley Center a definite count byJanuary 2. Our committees are working on all the different aspects of the Kallah - food, fun, services and the zip line, too. If anyone has any suggestions or requests, please let me know and I will try to accommodate you as well as possible. This facility is beautiful and easily accessible from Monroe. I know that you will enjoy the location as well as activities. Remember, you are free to participate in as much or as little as you desire. There is no required activity participation.
January 26-28will be here quickly. Please stop by the Temple and pick up a registration form and Shirley will help you, or you can sign up online.
I look forward to seeing you there and get ready for food, fellowship and fun!
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MEN’S CLUB
Men’s Club is hosting the Hanukkah party on December 15th. Members should arrive at the Temple at 4 pm to help with preparation.
If you have not yet paid your dues, please do so as soon as possible. They can be sent to the Temple, Attn: Men’s Club.
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DONATIONS
General Fund
In honor of Mel and Nanette Cohen’s “Decade Birthdays”
Rose Marie and Ron Wagman
Arhcives Fund
In honor of Janet Masur’s 80th Birthday
Mel and Nanette Cohen
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Temple B’nai Israel Kallah – January 26-28, 2018
By Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh
You don’t want to miss Temple B’nai Israel’s very first Kallah which will take place on the Shabbat weekend of January 26-28, 2018. This happens to coincide with Shabbat Shira which is the Sabbath of Song. So, there will be lots of music and joy as we celebrate Shabbat together as a caring community.
Plans are in full swing preparing for this fun, spiritual and memorable weekend. Our Kallah is sponsored by the Kallah Project whose generous grant will help make this weekend possible. Rabbi Barb Moskow from the Kallah Project has been guiding us in planning this special weekend and she will join us for the Kallah. She plans to visit Monroe on January 8th and 9th for a final meeting with the committees. Susan Marx will be in touch with more details.
Currently we have 44 people registered to attend. The Kallah will be held at the beautiful Wesley Center in Woodworth, LA. Plans will include fun activities to get to know each better, Shabbat worship including a beautiful Havdalah under the stars, study and discussion with the Rabbi, a bonfire with s’mores, lots of music and food and a Shabbat afternoon filled with indoor and outdoor activities including a nature walk, zip lining, Mah Jong, poker, and experiencing a Jewish labyrinth. Or you can just rest…it is Shabbat, after all.
We hope you will join us. Brochures are available at the Temple and there is still time to register. If you need a scholarship in order to attend, please contact Rabbi Judy. If you would like to help on a Kallah committee, please contact Susan Marx.
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THANK YOU
A big thank you goes to Bill Levinson for donation the silver Kiddush cup for Shabbat service.
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HANUKKAH SUPPLIES FOR SALE
Need candles, greeting cards, wrapping paper, decorations, or gifts for Hanukkah? The Sisterhood Judaica Shop has them for sale. Shirley will be at the Temple before and after Services on Fridays, through December 15th, for you to make your purchases. You may also purchase them during regular Temple hours. Contact Shirley at the office if you have any questions.
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WORSHIP AND RITUAL
I hope everyone is ready for a busy December. Hanukkah's first candle should be lit on the evening ofDecember 12th. Hanukkah goes fromDecember 12th thruDecember 20th.December 15thwe will have a Hanukkah party as our service that night. Be sure to bring your menorah and we can light candles together. It is always a breath taking sight when all the menorahs are glowing.
I hope everyone is planning on coming to the Kallalh retreat. It is going to be amazing. If you need more information call Shirley at the office or call me or Susan Marx.
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ARCHIVES NEWS
"Please keep this museum alive. Too many people want to see this history erased, and it is important to keep history alive." This is a quote from one of Dr. Chris Blackburn's Holocaustclasses that he teaches at ULM. The new museum room is a work in progress!! The design changes and evolves weekly. We welcome help and inspiration in designing our museum and preserving our heritage. If you would like to help, call the Temple office.
It seems that untold WWII stories keep appearing. The book “Sons andSoldiers” is the story of the Jews who escaped the Nazis and returned with the US Army to fight Hitler. They were known as the Ritchie Boys. You can find more information of the Ritchie Boys on the internet.
Enjoy Hanukah!
Sandra Blate
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SISTERHOOD NEWS
Sisterhood members are invited to a Chanukah Brunch on Tuesday, December 5that 11:00 a.m. at my home,3508 Lake DeSiard Drive. Please call me at 325-8358 to make a reservation bynoonon Thursday, November 30th.
Betsy Laudenheimer
Sisterhood President
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North Louisiana Jewish Federation
A donation to the North Louisiana Jewish Federation provides:
Money for Israel
Money for campers - Henry S. Jacobs and Kutz
Money to help fight anti-antisemitism
Money for other Jewish agencies
The Goldring Family Foundation provides $1000.00 non-needs based scholarships to all first time Jewish campers in our region. To obtain an application form call Ellen Abrams at (504)524-4559 or . Henry S. Jacobs Camp fee is $2,300 - $6,800.00 for a summer session depending on the child's age. Registration for Summer 2018 is going on now.
Send your donations to:
North Louisiana Jewish Federation
245-A Southfield Road
Shreveport, LA 71105
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A MESSAGE FROM RABBI JUDY
Chanukah: The Holiday of Light and Rededication
This month, we will celebrate the fun holiday of Chanukah. The word Chanukah means "dedication" in Hebrew and refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. Chanukah is a holiday celebrated in the home and centers around the lighting of the hanukiyah, a special menorah for Hanukkah; foods prepared in oil including latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts); and special songs and games.
Each night of Chanukah, we light a new candle and continue to light the candles from the previous nights until, on the last night of Chanukah, our menorah is full of light. When the light was kindled in the Temple so long ago, this light was a symbol of rededication. As I light the menorah each night, I like to think that we are also gaining light (wisdom, enlightenment, etc.) and rededicating ourselves with the increasing light that comes from the candles we kindle.
Chaya Kaplan-Lester, a Jewish educator and psychotherapist, talks about each of our homes being a holy place. She also suggests that in addition to lighting lights in our home each night of Chanukah that we also allow the lights to illuminate our inner selves as well. Our souls are the Temples of our bodies. On each night of Chanukah, we should light our menorah as an outward symbol of rededication, but we should also illuminate a new aspect of self in our inner House of Holiness.
Kaplan-Lester compares each night to a room of a house and suggests themes for each night with a meditation before lighting each candle:
First Night – Dedicated to Darkness (The Cellar): Before you light the first candle, stand quietly in the darkness and sense the sanctuary that is yourself. Standing in the cellar of yourself, with an unlit candle in your hand, in the darkness, you discover a deeper self than light lets in. This night is dedicated to the unknown.
Meditation: I dedicate this night to every question I have quested after, to every confusion that has humbled me, to every challenge I have mastered, to the thrill of secrecy. As this candle casts a shadow, myself in dark outline, I integrate and dedicate the darkness with the light. The first night is for the dark cellar of winter, that which illumines a deeper insight.
Second Night – Dedicated to Ascension (The Stairway): As you light the second candle imagine a stairway rising before you. Each step is a worthy act, a good word you have spoken, a good deed you have done. Each step leads to the next. Dedicate yourself to single steps in an upward direction; go out of your way to do one new kindness each day of Chanukah.
Meditation: This night is dedicated to increase, to the second step of every path. This is why we light an additional candle each night. For holiness, like light, should always advance, like an ascending staircase. Just as each good act gives forth another, one spark springs forth to a second wick while a string of candles awaits. I stand at the staircase, ready to rise, ready to explore. From the darkness, I move upward with the second step.
Third Night – Dedicated to Decisions (The Hallway): Imagine yourself in a hallway, an endless corridor. Before you are many doors. Each offers opportunity, each offers an unknown path…letting you choose, challenging you to act. The hallway is the narrowness that leads to expansion. The hallway is the tension before any great act.
Meditation: This night is dedicated to direction, to making decisions in the dark, to taking the leap of faith that leads to miracles. From the narrowness of Greek domination, the Maccabees chose the doorway to freedom. They did not remain confined. They lunged fearlessly for the doorway of independence. Contemplate the path to your future and light three candles as your guide.
Fourth Night – Dedicated to the Senses (The Dining Room): This is the seat of appetite, brimming with all things delightful to the senses. See yourself seated at a beautifully set table. How full is your plate? How great is your need? As your body eats, how nourished is your spirit? Do you take only what you need or do you take too much?
Meditation: This night is dedicated to delicate balances where our desires come to dine offering pleasure in each embellishment, fuel for the fire of life though oil anoints and nourishes, over pour and it will put out the light. Everything needs balance.