Happy Chanukah! Chag Urim Sameach!
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DECEMBER 2020 Kislev-Tevet 5781 1011 N. Market Street Frederick, MD 21701 Volume 22 301-663-3437 Issue 5 [email protected] www.bethsholomfrederick.org Happy Chanukah! Chag Urim Sameach! See pages 8-10 for Chanukah fun! THE LAST JEWISH JEWISH GENEALOGY SOUP KITCHEN & 12 TIPS TO CELEBRATE P5 GANGSTER P5 P6 FOOD BANK P9 CHANUKAH AT HOME Rabbinic Reflections - Lessons of the Chanukiah RABBI JORDAN HERSH | [email protected] As we approach the winter festival of Chanukah, the air is getting colder, the days shorter and with the surge of MINYAN AT BSC COVID-19, we are all spending more and more time inside our homes. Please join us on Zoom There is a powerful lesson about what it means to turn inwards which we Thursdays at 8:45 AM for can mine from the ritual of the cha- nukiah, or Chanukah menorah. minyan. Contact Our practice is to light the chanukiah inside our homes, but to Mark Vallon or Rabbi Hersh to join place them in a window facing the main thoroughfare. In this way, it is both an intensely private, family ritual while at the same time being a blatantly visible, public experience. We are all aware, I am sure, of the degree to which a person’s out- ward actions convey the truth about their inner selves. We learn about a person’s character through how they behave, despite the Torah STUDY fact that character is an invisible inner quality. JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY There is a discussion in the Talmud about what kind of oil and AT 11:30 A.M. VIRTUALLY wicks should be used to light the chanukiah. The ultimate concern To join in, contact Monda Sagalkin is for the quality of the light produced by different materials. at [email protected] We too ought to be concerned about the qualities of the light which radiate from ourselves and our homes. If we want to bring light into the world and banish darkness, we must think about what that light itself looks like. What are the qualities of the mate- rials (our character, values, mental habits) which ignite to shed Support The Gift Shop our light? Chanukah is just around the corner, and the Beth Sho- lom Gift Shop is the place to shop for all of your Chanukah Like the chanukiah on our window sills, what is seen on the streets needs. In addition to a great selection of chanukkiyot, we is a direct emanation of what radiates from within. have lots of Chanukah gift items, colorful wrapping paper, latke platters and plenty of Chanukah candles. A free box of Kislev (the Hebrew month we currently occupy) is an opportune candles will be included with the purchase of any chanukiya. time to turn inward. Now is when we should cultivate our capac- ity for love by spending time with family and close friends (even While the gift shop is unable to stay open during the pan- virtually). This is the season for growing in patience, as we spend demic, you may call the synagogue at 301-663-3437 to more time with loved ones than we are used to or not enough or schedule an appointment during regular office hours Monday any at all. Let us use this month for forging a deeper connection through Friday. You can also shop online at: with our sacred traditions and our G-d. Is there a Jewish book on https://bethsholomgiftshop.com/ your bookshelf that has yet to be read? Would you like a recom- mendation? (If yes, be in touch!) May this Kislev, with all its cold darkness, be one in which we refine our light and, from within our homes, allow its light and warmth to spread into the world beyond. From my family to yours...we wish you a joyous and light-filled Chanukah! 2 Beth Sholom Congregation Message from the President SHARON EDELSTEIN | [email protected] directly using the link on the website. We have placed a target on December is the darkest month of the the website to keep everyone informed of how our Double your year, and the worsening pandemic is Dues (if you are able) campaign is progressing. I thank you from sure to make it feel even darker this year. the bottom of my heart. COVID-19 has transformed our lives in ways we simply could not imagine just I hope this holiday season, you are able to bring the light into one short year ago. As Jews, we bring your family, your community, and our world. Stay safe, happy and light into December during our 8 nights healthy my friends. of Chanukah. Even COVID-19 can’t stop us from celebrating the light, com- munity, and miracle of Chanukah! This year we celebrate Chanukah on December 10-18. Of course, the Baskets Of Cheer purpose of lighting the menorah is not only to light up our own BY STACEE SPRINGER homes but to share the light with others. That’s why the meno- Despite two con- rah is placed in a doorway or window - to share the light. Despite secutive rainy COVID-19 which will keep us mostly indoors and away from our Sundays, the Youth loved ones, I urge you to share the light of Chanukah from afar: Group overcame light the menorah together with friends and family on video calls, the weather chal- share pictures on social media of you and your family lighting lenges and opened or enjoying the menorah, and of course place your menorah in their event season a doorway or window where it can be seen by those passing by with a successful your house. And if you need any Chanukah supplies or gifts, our program called gift shop has gone online! Do your holiday shopping here: https:// “Baskets of Cheer” bethsholomgiftshop.com/ on November 1st. Since we were To help make December a little brighter, we have lots of virtual unable to work on gatherings planned. On Sunday December 6, we have two events this project out- for you to enjoy! At 2pm, guest speaker and professional gene- doors as planned, alogist Jennifer Mendelsohn (Treasurer, Maryland Genealogical we finally moved Society) will talk with us about Jewish genealogy. Start gathering it to the social your questions and maybe she can help you find some answers! Macallah Reiner helps make baskets. hall at Beth Sho- Then at 4pm that same day, the religious school will host a virtual lom, wearing cooking class to learn to make sufganiyot. On Sunday December our masks and 13, we will have another virtual youth event where we will make practicing social distancing. We had one family at a time come marshmallow dreidels and cupcake menorahs. Contact the syna- into the social hall, select their basket and then they were on gogue office for more details about these youth events. On Sunday their way to select a variety of gift and food items to fill their December 20, Myron Sugerman will present a talk about how baskets of cheer. They also had an opportunity to make crafts the Mafia helped Israel gain its independence. The Beth Sholom and cards to add to the cheerfulness of their baskets. The cards Book Club will highlight his book, “The Chronicles of The Last were signed “from your Beth Sholom Congregation”. We were Jewish Gangster: From Meyer to Myron.” Look for an article by able to make 16 baskets, that were distributed to various people Joan Meyer in the November Bulletin, read the book, and have a in the community. As an example, one basket was given to a rare opportunity to hear the author speak. Finally, on Thursday 3-year-old who is being treated for Leukemia, and she loved the December 17, we will light the final Chanukah candles together goodies and sidewalk chalk. Another basket went to an active- as a community via Zoom. Please check the bulletin, the weekly duty service member who had an amputation due to her cancer. newsblast, and the website for details and links. She loved the soft blanket and was very touched by the card she read. Another participant told us she “was overcome with I can’t end my article without a reminder that this month, on emotion and so happy with the Basket of Cheer!” Some of our giving Tuesday December 1 and throughout the month, we are older congregants also received baskets and were very apprecia- continuing our Double your Dues (if you are able) campaign. Our tive of being thought of during this difficult time with COVID. financial situation is rough due to the continued lack of bingo income. We have cut all non-essential spending, but our fixed Thank you to all the participants: Sharon Edelstein, Brian costs are unavoidable. Please, during this dark time of year, help Saltzman, Kevin & Andrea Eyler, Stacee Springer and the Frankel, Beth Sholom find the light by donating what you are able, dou- Kane, Tuer, Berkowitz and Reiner families! bling your dues if possible. As always, you can send a check or call Rob and he will add your pledge to a future bill, or you can donate Beth Sholom Congregation 3 From the Executive Director ROB ALLEN | [email protected] I am grateful that despite my advancing to the “miracle of Chanukah,” many only focus on the small quan- years, my childhood memories of cel- tity of oil for the holy menorah which lasted eight days, but the ebrating Chanukah are still quite vivid. other Chanukah miracle truly is the victory of the Jewish people. My dad always made sure this holi- day was a pretty big deal at our house, In such a dark time in world history as we are currently experi- though I am not sure if that was because encing, we are so fortunate to have a holiday like Chanukah to he was really inspired by the holiday or brighten our lives and provide us with heroes that give us hope he just wanted to make sure my brother for our future.