VOLUME 59 EDITION 9 1 May 2017 5 Iyar 5777

Congregation Sha’arai Shomayim Founded 1844 Springhill Avenue Temple

The Temple Bulletin springhillavenuetemple.com

We are coming together as a caring, inclusive community united in a common commitment to Judaism and to furthering our spiritual growth. We desire to do this recognizing that worship of God, study of Torah, caring for the Jewish people and our community, are central to our being as a Reform Jewish congregation. With these principles as our foundation and guided by a historic past, we anticipate our future, one of continual lifelong self-renewal.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

Friday, May 5 6:00 p.m. Union Prayer Book Shabbat Service

Saturday, May 6 9:30 a.m. Outdoor Shabbat Breakfast 10:30 a.m. Outdoor Morning Shabbat Service Marc Polland & Debra Hoffman’s residence

Friday, May 12 6:00 p.m. Hebrew/Religious School Appreciation Shabbat

Friday, May 19 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service with the Congregational Choir

Friday, May 26 6:00 p.m. Confirmation Shavuot Service Confirmand: Sarah Sternberg Special Oneg to follow

ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES. PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP Torah Selection: Leviticus 16:1-20:27 Haftarah – Amos 9:7-15

FROM THE

Confirmation

We are honored this year to have Sarah Sternberg as who refused to be confirmed could not become our confirmand. The Confirmation Service will be citizens, they could not hold political office, they held on Friday, May 26th. could not control property that they might inherit, they could not join a guild to practice a trade, their The first Jewish confirmation service in the Americas oath could not be taken in court, and they were not was held in 1843 in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands, even allowed to marry. So, the first Jewish which was then a possession of Denmark. In Confirmation Service was held on the Sabbath of the Denmark, basically confirmation in a church was a Feast of Tabernacles, which is in Sukkot. On that requirement for citizenship. So the question arose, day, Rabbi Carillon, who as a very advanced thinker, what to do with the Jews? Because if you required confirmed seven young ladies and gentlemen. He them to have a Christian confirmation that would also decided to connect the Jewish Confirmation involve converting to Christianity. This would not be Service with Sukkot. Today, we connect it with nice to force Jews to convert to Christianity in order Shavuot. to become citizens. It would not be consistent with the principles of tolerance and pluralism. So, in Then as now, the ceremony is intended to be 1814, it was required for the Jewish community to imposing, as it marks the young confirmands’ have a Jewish confirmation. acceptance of Judaism as a religion and a way of life. We also want to insure that our young people see The underlying idea was that it would be in the their being confirmed as the beginning of their adult national interest to require young adults to study and involvement in Judaism, rather than the end of their formally commit to religious practice. Apparently, Jewish practice. all citizens had to be confirmed in some religion and so extending the requirement to Judaism was a way Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan to bring equality to the Jewish community. Those

Rabbi Kaplan with Mike & Sue Brown at the Fran & Paul Brown Scholar-in- Residence Program, Friday, March 24th, 2017

Thank you from the Rabbi

I wanted to thank everyone who have dedicated High Holy Day prayer books. The response was unprecedented. We are looking forward to an interesting prayer experience that will inspire us with new perspectives. We want to connect to the holiness of God and to build a close relationship with the Divine that can help us to cope with the daily struggles of life. I am looking forward to a spiritual and meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. - 2 - Gail & Stanley Greenfield Springhill Avenue Temple’s Guest Speakers April 6-8, 2017

We had two wonderful programs with Gail the morning service with songs and instructions Greenfield of Jacksonville, FL, (formerly of on a DVD, while we all did our best to follow Albany, GA), as well as one with her husband, along. I participated, as well, although I can’t Stanley. On Thursday night, Gail spoke on say that it was easy. The program was suitable Jewish meditation at the Eastern Shore group for all levels of athleticism, as well as all levels hosted by Robin and Manny. Gail came to of spiritual discernment. Jewish meditation as part of a spiritual search as a result of growing up in a traditional Jewish On Friday night, her husband, Stanley, spoke household, where they celebrated all of the on the joy of volunteering on an Israeli Army holidays, but where there was little mention of base and showed slides. It was fascinating to God. She asked her Conservative Rabbi about see how the Israelis have developed programs God and he answered, “We don’t ask these to teach volunteers from all over the world types of questions.” Later, she became what it is like to serve in the Israeli Army and interested in metaphysical knowledge and to allow them to participate in the effort. Some became involved with New Age interests. She people were a bit shocked to see the rather began doing Vipassana meditation, which is a spartan accommodations, but it was clear how simple technique consisting of the experiential meaningful the program could be and how you observation of mind and matter. Eventually, could come out of the experience with a much she became familiar with the long history of greater appreciation for the difficulties that Jewish meditation. She spoke about this with Israelis live in. The tremendous sense of great passion, weaving her personal history into satisfaction is something that you can only get the story. from such altruistic volunteering.

On Shabbat morning, she led an exciting yoga The evening also featured a Birthday Blessing studio event with Shalom Yoga. We had a for Mel Sternberg. The oneg was truly dozen participants, who came decked out in spectacular and everyone had a wonderful their sweat pants and yoga attire. We went Shabbat experience. through much of Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan

Thank you to our Passover Cooking Committee for all their hard work: Howard Silverman, David Rose, Nate Ginsberg and Richard Rose, who for weeks before Passover, cooked all the delicious food and made sure it was served hot.

Thank you to Amy Friedlander, Patricia Silverman, Iris Ginsberg, Priscilla Gold- Darby, Ellen Carter, Sandra Gandler, Marian Berkin, Leslie Miller, Ofir Rozenberg, Shirley Boyd, Margaret Segal, Heidi Kinsella, and Alicia Pereira, who worked so hard to make sure that we had the largest attended Passover at our Temple. There are so many others, too many to mention here, who helped in making this year’s Passover seder a great success.

Thank you everyone!

- 3 - FROM OUR PRESIDENT

If you didn't make it to the Congregational Passover often become slaves to our own thoughts and inner Seder this month you really missed something great. demons. Maybe this is the time of year we should There were about 100 people there and it was a do what we can to free ourselves from our own self- wonderful experience. How nice it was to be with inflicted slaveries of our thoughts. Let us all look so many fellow Jews right here in Mobile Alabama within ourselves and help us become our own on such an important night. First off, I thought Moses. Rabbi Kaplan was great. He kept the seder service Mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting to be like it should be with the seriousness of the evening, held on Sunday, June 4th at 10:30 a.m. This is an but also was able to keep it lively, entertaining, and important meeting that gives you the opportunity to fun, as well. I think he demonstrated once again ask questions, make suggestions, and get committee what a good choice we have made and how much reports on all of their yearly activities. There will he adds to our congregation. Thank you Rabbi most likely be some constitutional changes this year Kaplan! and other important items. Plus, why turn down Not to mention the food was great. Thanks to all free food! those that helped. Even though she already had plans elsewhere, Priscilla Gold-Darby still came to As my time as president is coming to the end of its the Temple beforehand just to make sure everything term, I would like to thank all of those who have was like it should be. supported me over the last two years and especially my entire Board. Your Board works very hard and As I said at the seder, as well as last year, and I will I appreciate very much their support. once again say, this is a good time to reflect on the See ya around the Temple, "Egypts" we create in our own lives. We Alan V Hirsch, President

FROM OUR ARCHIVES By Susan Thomas, Archivist government with timber during the early years of the Last month, America recognized the 100th anniversary War. of the country’s involvement in World War I, also known as The Great War. The War began in Europe in Only one congregant was known to have died during the August 1914, with America entering it in April 1917. conflict. Benjamin Denaburg died from illness while in The War ended with the signing of an armistice on active duty. Little information is available about him November 11, 1918. and he is not buried in the Temple cemetery. The other 41 servicemen returned home, with many staying in The Temple contributed to the war effort in many ways. Mobile and remaining active in the Temple. Servicemen from military bases at Ft. Morgan and Biloxi often attended services at the Temple and were The Archives has several items related to the Great War. welcomed into the homes of congregants. Rabbi Alfred These include a scrapbook compiled by congregant Moses frequently traveled to the Biloxi/Gulfport area to Herbert Forcheimer containing photographs of Europe conduct services. Congregant Leon Schwarz helped during and after the War years, a 1918 “Prayer Book for organize fund raising for the Jewish War Relief Appeal Jews in the Army and Navy,” and letters written from that assisted European Jews displaced in the War. At congregants to their families during the war. These and least forty-three congregants served in the military other artifacts of the war are currently on display in the during the War. Herbert Feibelman, who was Temple exhibit case in the hallway of the Temple. Congregants secretary when the War began, had to resign his office to who may have items related to their ancestors during the fulfill his military duties. Another congregant, Ben war years are encouraged to bring those items to the May, was instrumental in providing the French Temple to include in the World War I collection.

- 4 - FROM YOUR LIBRARY COMMITTEE

Our own Rabbi Dana Kaplan has authored a number of well-received books about . Most recent of these is The New Reform Judaism: Challenges and Reflections, published in 2013. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of our , called this book, “a valuable contribution.” Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President Emeritus of the Union, called it “a wonderful book and a serious one.” It is all of that and much more! Another of Rabbi Kaplan’s books, Contemporary American Judaism: Transformation and Renewal, equally acclaimed, was published in 2009.

We are indebted to Rabbi Kaplan for his gift of these two books to our library, in memory of his parents, Dr. Norman and Meriel Kaplan. Thank you, Rabbi!

Also, thank you to Judy Aronson for her gifts to the library of books entitled: Living a Life That Matters; Writings on an Ethical Life; Jewish Humor – What the Best Jewish Jokes Say About the Jews; and Jew Stone.

Thank you Mike Pereira for contributing Offerings of the Heart.

And thanks to Maud Patterson for her tireless efforts to maintain our library efficiently and professionally! Our library is beautiful; it brims with classics and contemporary volumes. It is a lovely space to relax and read, or to find something wonderful to take home and read. Do come and enjoy it!

2017 Passover Seder

Photos courtesy of Shirley Boyd

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The Western Shore Torah Study Group

On Thursday, May 4th at 6:30 p.m., the Western Shore Torah Study Group with Rabbi Kaplan is scheduled at the Wingate Hotel, d’Iberville, MS (Wyndham d'Iberville/Biloxi, 12009 Indian River Road, d'Iberville, MS; I-10 Exit 46B, 228- 396-0036). The topic will be “Shavuot – Feast of Weeks”. For members and those interested in the Jewish faith. For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Cal Ennis at 228-475-1166.

Springhill Avenue Temple Welcomes

Mayor Sandy Stimpson Sunday, May 7, 2017 - 1:00 p.m.

Topic: “Social Justice and the Bloomberg Grant for Alleviation of Poverty in Mobile”

Mayor Sandy Stimpson is speaking at our Temple. He will be joined by Mr. Jeff Carter, the Director of the Mayor's Innovation Team. We invite you and members of your congregation to join us at 1:00 p.m. for their discussion about social justice and the Bloomberg grant for alleviation of poverty in Mobile. Our city is one of only sixteen cities, internationally, to receive a grant renewal for 2017. Our city is the only one to show quantitative improvement so far. We hope that you can join us for their stimulating presentation. There will be refreshments following the program.

This event is free and open to the public

- 6 - May Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday To ... Happy Anniversary To …

1 Donnie Friedlander 17 Ira Frederic Cherniak 9 Christine & Daryn Glassbrook 1 Ralph Holberg 19 Christine Norris 15 Ada & Sam Small 1 Robert Zimmerman 19 Mike Pereira 17 Cindy & Benjamin Bloom 2 Callie Bernstein 20 Michelle Klein 24 Yaffa & Mark Brown 2 Jerry Schjott 21 John Webster 2 Carrie Waldrop 22 Mark Brown 2 Kimberly Zelnicker 22 Debbie Clolinger 3 Alain Gamble 25 Julie Kogon 4 Becky Hoffman 25 Alan Lewis 6 Ron Berman 27 Diane Franco 10 Nicole Appelman 27 Maure Sternberg 10 Dana Handmacher 28 Lisa Emanuelli 10 Elsa Simon 28 Irving Koffler 12 Lauren Friedlander 29 Aaron Denson 12 David Rose 29 Abbe Fass 12 Richard Rose 29 Richard Zimmerman 12 Ryan Sophie Small 30 Shirley Boyd 14 Stephen Conrad 30 Gladys Cherniak 14 Joseph Fetterman 30 Allen Levy Ross 15 Heidi Kinsella 31 Corey Passman 16 Todd Lewis 31 Elizabeth White

June Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday To ... Happy Anniversary To …

1 Emily Miles 13 Amelia Holberg 1 Gladys & David Cherniak 2 Joshua Denson 13 Adam Sack 2 Flo & Tom Kessler 2 Cheri Silverman 16 Jerry Dobbins 4 Nancy & Charlie Brown 3 Veronica Cherniak O’Brien 17 Marc Gottlieb 5 Emily & Harold Fink 3 Vickie Cherniak Shuchart 18 Dana Friedlander 6 Patricia & Howard Silverman 3 Gretchen Goldberg 19 David Brown 12 LeNae & Bill Denson 3 Lynn Zelnicker 19 Jonathan Gardberg 12 Odette & Mel Sternberg 4 Paul Bergman 19 Alan Goldberg 13 Iris & Albert Klein 4 Patrice Fishbein 20 Mayer Briskman 13 Lynne & Harvey Switzkey 5 Bradley Ennis 21 Mark Berkin 14 Sherry & Glen Mutchnick 5 Kim Zimmerman 21 Samuel Feibelman 18 Elaine & Robert Holberg 6 Bonnie Kidd 22 Jill Conrad 19 Bettina & Steve Prager 6 Sam Small 23 Robert Brown 22 Alain & Gary Gamble 8 Rick Hirsch 23 Roy Hoffman 23 Susan & Michael Rosenbaum 9 Phil Linnick 26 Sandra Gandler 27 Jenny & Gary Rich 9 Sarah Webster 27 Benjamin Fishbein 10 Shirley Gaggstatter 28 Harriet Kahn 10 Albert Klein 30 Jeff Silverman 11 Richard Mazey 30 Brian Susman 13 Matt Friduss

- 7 - FROM OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL by Patricia Silverman, Th.M., Religious School Director

We had another educational month at our singing Ma Nishtana, the four questions, Religious School with many new learning asking “why is this night different from all experiences. I am grateful beyond words to other nights?” Addison, Violet, Alice, Ben, our wonderful teachers and aids. and Sam found the Afikoman and received a present. The seder ceremony was followed Jack Friedlander gave us a wonderful history by traditional Passover dishes, such as matzah tour of the Springhill Avenue Temple ball chicken soup. Cemetery. We also visited the grave of Agnes Tennenbaum, a Holocaust survivor, who lived It has been a tradition for many years that the in Mobile for almost 10 years. Rabbi Kaplan Gulf Coast Center for Holocaust and Human told the students about her life and read the Rights Education commemorates Yom prayer of Kaddish in her memory. Students Ha’Shoah, the Holocaust Memorial Day. received stones from the desert in and This year the commemoration will be held at placed them on the different tombstones we Ahavas Chesed on Sunday, April 23rd at 7:00 visited throughout the tour. It was a p.m. wonderful mitzvah. The morning of the 23rd, our Religious During Religious School, on Sunday, April School students will be watching the film, 2nd, we had a joyful seder at our Temple. Nicky’s Family. The movie tells the story of Rabbi Kaplan read the Haggadah with the Mr. Winton, a British stockbroker, who gave students, passing the story of Exodus to the up a 1938 skiing holiday to answer a friend’s next generation, as well as explaining the request for help in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Passover traditions. Addison, Alice, Violet, He worked frantically, placing youngsters in Jonathan, and Joshua, together with their English homes up until the war actually parents, were started.

Congratulations to Our 2017 Confirmand

Sarah Sternberg Confirmation Shavuot Service Friday, May 26, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.

You are invited to attend the Confirmation Service A special oneg will follow

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FROM OUR SHALICHA, Ofir Rozenberg The Shalicha is sponsored by the Mobile Area Jewish Federation

Shalom y’all, goes in Israel. A typical high school student, in 11th grade, merely a year away from As I am writing becoming an IDF soldier, would travel to these lines, Yom Poland in order to learn about our painful past Ha’Zikaron to better understand the present and future of (Memorial Day our people and State. My grandparents, for the Fallen Holocaust survivors who were born in Eastern Soldiers of Israel European countries including Poland, lost and Victims of their entire families in the Holocaust. They terrorism), as well had made Israel their home and would always as Yom say that their revenge over the Nazis is having Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s 69th Independence Day), children and grandchildren. Free and proud are only a couple of weeks away! They are Israeli citizens, who don’t need to hide their both one day after the other. I am certainly in Jewish identity and religion. the middle of big preparations for our Yom Ha’atzmaut community event. Independence Holding the Israeli flag during my trip to Day is definitely my favorite holiday in the Poland was the best part of that somber week, Jewish calendar. By the time this article is which involved seeing horrible places and out, I hope you all enjoyed the Independence sights. I sometimes wonder what my Day celebrations at Springhill Avenue grandparents, who were not alive at the time, Temple! I would like to thank my devoted would say and feel if they knew I am holding volunteers for their hard work, huge support, the Israeli flag in the place where their and contribution to the success of this event families were murdered and where they and also to the Mobile Area Jewish suffered so much. Federation that sponsored it and allowing me Israel’s national anthem, Ha’tikvah (the hope) to bring Israel to Mobile, once again. ends with the lines, “Our hope is not yet lost, Last month, we celebrated Pesach (Passover), the hope of 2,000 years, to be a free people in the holiday of freedom and commemorated our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem”. Yom Ha’Shoah (Holocaust Memorial Day). Thousands of years after the Exodus, our This was my first Passover abroad, and it was people always had to stay faithful and hopeful a unique experience for me to celebrate it that we would become a free people, with so many people, attend several Seders, especially during the dark times in history and eat a lot of delicious matzah ball soup. such as the Holocaust. In Israel 2017, we still Thanks to all the wonderful people who don’t take our freedom for granted. To this invited me to take part in this. day, we understand that we need to serve and protect our country. It is especially on During my Passover break from school in Pesach, Yom Ha’Shoah, Yom Ha’Zikaron, 2006, I attended a week-long journey to and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, that we all get a Poland with my classmates. That’s the way it reminder of how precious our freedom is.

Ofir

- 9 - CONTRIBUTIONS

A plaque has been placed in honor of Jack Friedlander’s 70th birthday – Iris & Nate Ginsberg, Susan & Michael Rosenbaum, Iris & Albert Klein, Bobette & Lowell Friedman, Jill Gottlieb, Sandra & Harvey Gandler, Harriet & William Kahn, Sandy & Ralph Holberg, David Rose, Renee & Bob Topper, Richard Rose

In honor of Alan Hirsch’s birthday – Barry Silverman

In honor of Jerry Darring, Don Berry & Sr. Ann receiving the MAJF Shalom Award – Carol & Steve Zimmerman

In honor of Mel Sternberg’s birthday – Iris & Nate Ginsberg

A speedy recovery for Liz Fry – Priscilla Gold-Darby, Sandra & Harvey Gandler

A speedy recovery for Steve Zimmerman – Sandra & Harvey Gandler

A speedy recovery for Emily Fink – Sandra & Harvey Gandler

In memory of Doris Claire Stein – Iris & Albert Klein, Sandra & Harvey Gandler, Amy & Jack Friedlander, Bobette & Lowell Friedman

In memory of Larry Kogon – Iris & Albert Klein

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund – Susan Brewer

Adult Education Fund – Paula Perry

In memory of Cheri A. Silverman – Shirley Silverman

In memory of Cyrus Neuman – Jill Gottlieb

In memory of Nick Dupree – Priscilla Gold-Darby

In memory of Max Mutchnick – Sherry & Glen Mutchnick

In memory of Tessie Rose Bergman – Paul Bergman

In memory of Fannie Salmon Whitehead – Mark Gilberstadt

In memory of Joseph Fetterman – Iris & Albert Klein

In memory of Maltide Scheuer – Harriet Kahn

In memory of Ralph Holberg, Jr. – Elaine & Robert Holberg

In memory of Raymond Schear, M.D., Sarah Schear, Herman Schear & Mary Elizabeth Schear – Nancy & Richard Hill

In memory of Cecile Mendelson – Iris & Albert Klein

In memory of Phyllis Schreiber – the Zimmerman family

- 10 - YAHRZEIT

It is a true Mitzvah to honor those whose memory we hold dear by attending services on the Shabbat Yahrzeit (year’s time), joining your congregation in reciting Kaddish, and the giving of charity in their memory.

May 5 Frieda Friedman, Minnie Piser Schwarz, Karin Appelman, Miriam Yassem Gandler, Beatrice Zelnicker

May 12 Gladys Kahn, Camille Baer, Fran Brown, Isaac Friedman, Elsa Keller Lewis

May 19 Sylvia Rose, Milton F. Rubel, Sr., Jennie Spitzberg, Karen Kopelman, Edward Gandler, Agnes Tennenbaum, Richard Tolpin

May 26 Sarah Kopelman, Gertrude Kopelman, Valdivia Vogel, Irving Gandler, Ellen Muhfelder, Jerome Goldman, Molly Long, Louis Goldman, Sarah Pozner Cherniak, Samuel Diemar

June 2 Harry Asnes, Helen Koffler, Joel Bornstein, Juan Antonio Rotella, Kenneth Morrow, Elaine Heart

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE

You are cordially invited to Springhill Avenue Temple’s Annual Meeting

Get a status report on your Temple! Participate in the nomination, election, and induction of new officers

Don’t Miss This Very Important Meeting! Sunday, June 4, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

Men’s Club and Sisterhood will provide Light Food and Refreshment after the meeting

- 11 - Dana Evan Kaplan, Rabbi Jerry Silverstein, Second Vice-President Alan Hirsch, President Aaron Solomon, Treasurer J. Michael Pereira, First Vice-President Maure Sternberg, Secretary

CALENDAR Wednesday Torah Study 5:30 p.m. May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31

Hebrew School Sundays 8:30 a.m. May 7 and 21 Friday 5:45 p.m. May 12 (No Hebrew School on May 14)

Religious School Sundays 9:45 a.m. May 7 and 21 Friday 5:45 p.m. May 12 (No Religious School on May 14)

  Friday, May 5 6:00 p.m. Union Prayer Book Shabbat Service

Saturday, May 6 9:30 a.m. Outdoor Shabbat Breakfast 10:30 a.m. Outdoor Morning Shabbat Service Marc Polland & Debra Hoffman’s residence

Sunday, May 7 1:00 p.m. Guest Speaker: Mayor Sandy Stimpson will speak on his action plan to curtail Mobile’s poverty and the deterioration of our city’s neighborhoods

Friday, May 12 6:00 p.m. Hebrew/Religious School Appreciation Shabbat

Tuesday, May 9 & 16 12:30 p.m. Rabbi Kaplan’s Dead Sea Scrolls Class Eastern Shore Institute of Lifelong Learning Fairhope Public Library, 2nd Floor

Friday, May 19 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service with the Congregational Choir

Friday, May 26 6:00 p.m. Confirmation Shavuot Service Confirmand Sarah Sternberg Special Oneg to follow

THE TEMPLE BULLETIN (USPS- 966-900) is published monthly by Springhill Avenue Temple, 1769 Springhill Avenue Mobile, AL 36607. “Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile, Alabama.”

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 1769 Springhill Ave. Mobile, AL 36607

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