SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 The Congregation Ahavas Achim THE COMMUNITY SYNAGOGUE OF Rabbi Amy Loewenthal THE MONADNOCK REGION. Bulletin From the Rabbi's Desk (continued on page 2) Dear Extended CAA Community, Although you will be receiving this Bulletin September/October around Labor Day, I am writing this short note Sept. 1 Selichot 7:30 PM about two weeks after the late July death of my Sept. 5 Board of Directors Meeting 7:00 PM mother, Ellen Platt Loewenthal, may her memo- Sept. 7 Traditional Shabbat Service 7:00 PM ry be for a blessing. Sept. 9 Erev Rosh Hashanah Service 6:45 PM Sept. 10 Rosh Hashanah Day I Service 9:00 AM Thank you all for your warmth and caring, Children’s Service 10:00 AM which you have expressed in so many ways. Tashlich 1:30 PM I appreciate your kind words, spoken and writ- Sept. 11 Rosh Hashanah Day II 9:00 AM ten; your presence at shiva minyanim; and the Service meals of consolation we received. I appreciate Sept. 14 Kavanah Shabbat Service 7:00 PM the donations to CAA you have made in my Sept. 15 Cathedral of the Pines 10:00 AM mother’s memory. Service w/Lunch by RSVP Sept. 18 Kol Nidre Service 6:30 PM With High Holy Days and the beginning of Sept. 19 Yom Kippur Service 9:00 AM Religious School coming up very soon, there Children’s Service 10:00 AM is much to do. At times, working and planning create a structure I welcome. At other times, I Havdalah 7:34 PM am not operating at my usual capacity. I appre- Sept. 21 Shir Shabbat Service 7:00 PM ciate your patience as I journey through the Sept. 28 Sukkah Party/Lulav 5:00 PM mourning process. Potluck & Singing in Sukkah 5:30 PM Sept. 30 Hoshana Rabbah Holiday 10:45 AM I am grateful for the wonder- Service ful CAA volunteer teams Yizkor Service 12:00 PM who are helping to make Babi Yar Film at KSC 3:00 PM sure High Holy Days and Oct. 1 Simchat Torah Service 6:30 PM Religious School will be up Oct. 5 Shabbat Service/Ava 7:00 PM and running smoothly. Rosenzweig-Davidovits With deep appreciation, Oct. 6 Shabbat Torah Service/ 9:30 AM Bat Mitzvah of Ava Rosenzweig- Rabbi Loewenthal Rabbi Loewenthal Davidovitz Oct. 7 JFNH Annual Meeting/Shem 4:00 PM TovAwards - Manchester UPCOMING EVENTS Oct. 10 Board of Directors Meeting 7:00 PM Bat Mitzvah of Ava Rosenzweig- Oct. 12 Traditional Shabbat Service 7:00 PM Davidovitz ........................5 Oct. 13 YMCA Fall Foliage 5K- 10:00AM Outdoor Shabbat High Holy Days ...................6 Oct. 14 NEC Lecture – Risa Keene 3:00 PM Babi Yar Film at KSC ...............7 Oct. 19 Short Shabbat Service 7:00 PM Nathan E. Cohen Lecture – Risa Keene Oct. 20 CAA Movie Night – “X-Men” 7:00 PM . 8 Oct. 25 CAA Book Club 7:00 PM See inside for details. Oct. 26 Kavana Shabbat Service 7:00 PM 1 A Letter from the President One of the ways we can each pitch in is by responding in a timely manner to the invoices I am writing this on the day after the Kosher-Q. that were recently sent to you. Your financial Thank you for coming out to support a very support sustains our activities of Torah (life- successful community and fundraising event. long learning), Avodah (spiritual growth), Our deepest gratitude to Malcolm Katz, Jerry G’milut Chasadim (acts of lovingkindness) and Kaufman, Gary Shapiro, David Kochman, Kehilah (community building). Watching the Paul Bieber, Harry Reisig, Dan Fox, Gerry synagogue grow and thrive is the benefit you Eichner, Mike Kapiloff, Marty Reisig, Barry receive. This is not a fee-for-service model; it’s Fox, Roye Ginsberg, William Medvidovsky, one where we all pitch in to help the whole Joe Mirzoeff, Alex Kapiloff, Daniella Yitzchak, community. Rabbi Loewenthal, Sandy Kochman, Wendy Platt, Selena Katz, and whoever else I forgot. We recognize that giving to CAA is not a While the threat of rain drove us inside, noth- business transaction, but an act of tzedakah ing could dampen our spirits as we ate, par- within a sacred relationship. We all need to be ticipated in the annual raffle and schmoozed invested in the health of the synagogue for it to together. survive and thrive. We are now in the month of Elul when “Jewish It will take all of us working together to secure tradition invites us to turn inward. We dedicate CAA’s future. Please join with us in giving this time to preparing ourselves for the holi- an amount to CAA that is meaningful to your days so that we can experience them as fully as family. possible. During Elul we are asked to look into My husband, Dan Fox, my ourselves. We think about who we are and who daughter Toni Goldberg, and we want to be. Whose forgiveness do we need I all wish you a Shana Tova! in order for us to enter a new year with a clean May you have a good and slate?...Perhaps most important, during Elul, sweet year. we can support each other through the process of requesting and offering forgiveness with full L’shalom. and open hearts.” (Ritualwell.org) Ronnie Brown, President [email protected] Ronnie Brown It takes many people to make sure that the High Holy Days are a meaningful experience for everyone. Rabbi Loewenthal provides Mak'hela Open Rehearsal spiritual guidance and insightful leadership. Mak'hela, the Jewish Chorus of Western Lainee Ginsberg and Laura Broad enhance our Massachusetts, announces the launch of our worship with beautiful music. Risa Keene has 16th season, starting with our annual Open communicated with most of our congregants Rehearsal on Tuesday, September 4th. Join us about High Holy Day honors. Andrea Levin as we welcome new members and reunite with has an interest in the poetical interpretations returning singers. Mak'hela members come of the binding of Isaac and will be giving the from a variety of musical backgrounds. Some D’var Torah on the second day of Rosh ha are experienced singers and music readers; Shanah. Arthur Cohen, Lainee Ginsberg and others learn by rote and simply love to sing! Lester Cohen will be chanting Haftorah. Jerry Auditions are quick and extremely painless. Kaufman, Roye Ginsberg, David Butler, Scott If you think you might be interested in join- Rodolitz, Selena and Malcolm Katz and Paul ing, feel free to contact our Membership and Elaine Bieber all contribute to the High Coordinator, Bonnie Mikesh (bpmikesh@ Holy Day experience. comcast.net), or our conductor, Elaine "Lainee" Thank you for your continued support of Broad Ginsberg ([email protected]). Congregation Ahavas Achim. We all need to Mak'hela rehearses on Tuesday nights from work together to make sure that CAA thrives 7:15-9:00 p.m. at the Lander-Grinspoon and meets the needs of our diverse congrega- Academy, 257 Prospect Street in Northampton. tion throughout the year. 2 We perform a variety of music, from toe-tap- In order to vote – you must be a registered ping arrangements of Yiddish tunes, to con- voter! templative melodies from the Jewish liturgy, How do you vote if the election takes place on to more serious concert music (by composers a religious holiday (such as Rosh ha Shanah)? such as Bernstein, Mendelssohn, and Verdi) and Under New Hampshire law, you may vote via everything in between. absentee ballot for a number of reasons, includ- New singers are always welcome. We hope to ing observance of a religious commitment. see you at the Open Rehearsal on September Obtaining an absentee ballot is easy. Contact 4th! your town clerk. Be sure to do this early enough to ensure that you will be able to vote your bal- Exercise Your Right to Vote! lot and have it received back at the town clerk’s office by election day! A Note from the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire Jews have been instrumental as leaders since the birth of our country. In an 1808 letter to This year, New Hampshire’s primary election President Thomas Jefferson, his predecessor will take place on September 11. That is Rosh John Adams said, "I will insist that the Hebrews Hashanah. have done more to civilize man than any other As there are primary contests involving the nation." It is important that we exercise our Governorship and the State’s two Congressional right to choose, and to maintain our status as districts, you may want to plan ahead to ensure leaders in the civilized world. that you have the ability to vote in this primary, as well as in the upcoming general election in November. ASHUELOT CONCERTS PERFORMING AT CAA Sunday, September 2nd at 4:00 pm Mozart, Turina & Brahms Piano Quartets Mozart Piano Quartet in E-flat, K.493 Turina Piano Quartet in A minor, Op.67 Brahms Piano Quartet No.3 in C minor, Op.60 Samara Piano Quartet Louisa Stonehill - Violin Marcia Cassidy - Viola Paul Cohen - Cello Nicholas Burns - Piano Ticket information at: www.ashuelotconcerts.org 3 September/October Special Happenings Congregation Saturday, September 1 at 7:30 pm Ahavas Achim Selichot Service at CAA Prepare your soul for the upcoming High THE COMMUNITY SYNAGOGUE OF Holidays by attending our Selichot service on THE MONADNOCK REGION. the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Amy Loewenthal Selichot are penitential prayers and this beauti- BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018-2019 ful and moving service will set the ambience for a heartfelt High Holiday season, a chance Officers: to take stock and move towards our best President Ronnie Brown 240-304-7803 selves.