Volume 161 Number 4 Messenger The Temple of Loving - Kindness

December 2019 Messenger Kislev — Tevez 5780

Temple Hesed, 1 Knox Road, Scranton, PA 18505 Temple Hesed, 1 Knox Road, Scranton, PA 18505

High Holy Days Services Set Celebration December 27 — heRabbi end Daniel of a Swartzpretty has nice agreed summer to a Here is the Holy Day schedule at Tem- Dinnerisone approaching.-year and contract so As the Jews, Temple @ after can6 pm,ple Hesed: Service @ 7 pm wemake prepare plans for our the children building andto go how to

backhandle to its school, deficit. we then begin T anotherThe kind congregation of preparation will also--- sellfor offthe an Selichot: Saturday, September 21- HighHanukkah Holyunused Days. comes portions This later is of not itsthis cemeterya year,physical running to thestudy and at lots 8:30 of lightp.m., and service warmth. at 9 p.m.So join us LookSpecial inside points for: of interest: preparationalmostDunmore into (although2020. Cemetery Thus, there Association our areone din-Shab- and use for a fabulous evening of food and fun — Rosh Hashanah Evening: Sunday, • Crowd-sourced Slichot a portion of the building fund to clear ners,bat duringfamily Hanukkahvisits, and otherdoesn’t such come ar- until dinner and a cookout at 6 p.m., rangementsthis year’s to be deficit. made), but a spir- September 29 at 8 p.m. • What doPhotos YOU want to learn? of recent Temple the dark of winter on December 27! and a family service at 7 p.m.. Events itual one. We ponder the year that • Annual Food Drive The deficit comes with the loss of the Installation of Officers and was,But makeweNativityMiguel promise amends you school forthat our ifwhich youbehavior, venturerented the Board Everyone before is welcome, 10 a.m. service. but please RSVP • Wrestle with God chanting and finally look forward to the year forth tolower Temple level classrooms.on that day, Heinerfeld you’ll en- Real for the dinner, and let Rabbi Daniel that willEstate be. has been hired to find a tenant Rosh Hashanah Morning: Mon- counterfor deliciousthe now-vacant latkes, space. tasty pot luck day,know September if you want 30 to at take 10 a.m. part in the latke food, tasty sufganiot (Hanukkah donuts), cook-off! Mark Davis will head the long-range Tashlich: 5 p.m. at South Abing- Because the Jewish calendar is a lu- Inside this issue: this issue: planning committee which is charged ton Park nar calendar,with coming the up Holy with Days plans always for the future Highlightsfall at theoperation same of time, our American congregation. but they are Jewish History:RH 2.2 Meditative Second Day Donations 2 different every year on the secular Program—Tuesday, October 1 at 10 Adultcalendar.By Ed the In time December5779, rabbi’s a leap contract month, 8, comes 15 upand a.m. January 5, 12 next June, we will be in a much better Rabbinical Reflections 3 Adar II, was added, resulting in the Join us forposition this lively to makeadult a longerWe’ll-term meet offer. over four Shabbat ses- Shuvah: Friday, October High Holy Days being 20 days later education class as we look at sions, on December4 at 8th8 p.m. and than lastSteve year Seichik on the and secular Esther Adelmancalen- will Co-President’s column 4 some of the amazing stories 15th and January 5th and ofdar. Jewish remain life in America co-presidents for12th the (of upcoming course, given Cemetery the Memorial Service: Sun- through keyyear. original docu- weather in NEPA,day, we mayOctober 6 at 11 a.m. at Dun- CalendarYahrzeits 75 more Cemetery ments. have to reschedule a class or two based on weather). YahrzeitsCalendar 86 By examining primary sources ranging from a letter by Each class will meet from 12 URJ & RAC 98- 11-12 George Washington to an (in) to 1:30 p.m.; feel free to he knows to expect you, can famous menu, we’ll come bring your lunch! We’ll meet prepare the right amount of face to face with the true life at Temple on the 8th and material, and can contact you Congregation Information Back Page experiences of Jews in Ameri- then discuss if we will contin- in case of bad weather. ca. ue classes at people’s homes or at the synagogue. Along the way, we’ll gain un- derstanding about how Ameri- Everyone is welcome and ca has shaped and there is no charge, but please how Judaism has altered email Rabbi Daniel at rabbi-

America. [email protected], so that

Page 2 Messenger

ROSEANN SMITH ALPERIN EN- covery, Jane Oppenheim lucky pot luck, thank you every- DOWMENT FUND one! Donations to Carol and Jeff Leventhal Audrey Harrell

Temple In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Myer Best Wishes for a Speedy Re- Alperin covery, Esther Friedmann Good health, best wishes and Hesed Jim and Patty Alperin thank you for an interesting Carol and Jeff Leventhal Oppenheim event

Audrey Harrell BUILDING FUND

Remembering Sandy Cooper- All the best to Jane Oppenheim RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND man James Ellenbogen Audrey Harrell

In Memory of Sandy Cooperman Get well quick, Esther Fried- Harryette, Ronnie, Marcie and mann Amy Cooperman James Ellenbogen

TORAH RESTORATION FUND In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Brian Call the Temple David Schneider Get Well Wishes to Esther Fried- office at (570) Irwin and Sandra Schneider mann 344-7201 to Esther B. Adelman donate or for LINDA LEE LEVENTHAL TOY FUND more Thinking of you, Jane Oppen-

Information. heim In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Rose Bud Leventhal Esther B. Adelman The minimum Lindsay Leventhal donation that Get Well Wishes to Mark Davis can be In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Lin- Esther B. Adelman acknowledged da Lee Leventhal by mail and in Lindsay Leventhal MILTON AND MIRIAM FRIED- MAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND the Messenger is In Memory of Sandy Cooperman $10. Jeff and Carol Leventhal In Memory of Sandy Cooperman Major credit or Paula and Jim Kane debit cards Best Wishes for a Speedy Re- covery, Mark Davis accepted. MARK HAHN MEMORIAL MUSIC Carol and Jeff Leventhal FUND

Best Wishes for a Speedy Re- A delicious and exciting event from start to finish! What a

Volume 161 Number 4 Page 3

Rabbinical Reflections

Holiday Blues In efforts to compete cent survey from the uals, helping others, By Rabbi with ever-longer Christ- American Psychological belonging to a group, Daniel J. mas displays, an in- Association found: and practicing grati- Swartz, creasing variety of while most people re- tude. Now for the good Spiritual “Hanukkah decora- port feeling happy over news — I’ve got a one- Leader, tions” have sprung up. the holidays, they simul- stop shop where you Temple Well, varied in some taneously report feeling can find all of these: Hesed, senses — you can get fatigued, stressed, sad, Temple Hesed! Join us everything from Star bloated and/or irritable for an adult ed class, Wars-themed Hanuk- 38 percent reported take part in our monthly kah decor to Disney- increased levels of psy- chanting circle, come to themed Hanukkah de- chological stress, due one of our wide variety cor — but not in color. to such factors as feel- of services or volunteer Basically, in a take-off ing rushed, increased to help with one of our from the Israeli flag, commercialism, the many programs — all of which itself is a take-off pressures of family these are pathways from the tallit, the pray- gatherings, and loneli- away from holiday blues er shawl, Hanukkah ness; 53 percent re- and toward greater decorations are almost ported increased finan- meaning and happiness entirely in blue and cial stress in your lives. white. You can even find “Hanukkah bush- First, a quick comment So, if you’re feeling es” in blue and white! on this last point: giv- blue, come check out ing presents on Hanuk- one or more of the Blue and white were kah has become above — you can find not always “Jewish” col- “traditional” only in the more details on each in ors, and perhaps I’ll last 100 years, in direct the rest of this edition write more about that in response to increasing of the Messenger. And a future Rabbinical Re- commercialism around if you’re one of the flections. But, by coin- Christmas. So you lucky ones, able to ap- cidence — should one shouldn’t feel any Jew- proach each holiday say “unhappy coinci- ish obligation to buy filled simply with joy, dence?” — blue has be- lots of stuff!! It’s bad without any side dishes come the most apt de- for your pocketbook, of anxiety or stress, scription of holiday bad for the planet, and come celebrate with us, moods for an ever- ultimately doesn’t bring and help us spread the increasing population, lasting happiness. joy! both within and outside of the Jewish communi- Lasting happiness, ty. “Holiday blues” countless studies have even get their own list- shown, comes from non Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz ing on WebMD and the -material sources, in- National Alliance on cluding: having a sense Mental Illness (NAMI) of purpose, being con- websites. In fact, a re- nected to other individ-

Page 4 Messenger

Co-President’s Page The Heat is On, So Make Us Part of By Esther Your Year Adelman, Co- President

Now that the High Holy Days are We hope that the joy of being with well behind us, we are now experi- family and friends made your encing the end-of-the-year crazi- Thanksgiving meaningful. We all ness. Temple Hesed is in good look forward to also celebrating shape for the coming months; the Chanukah with family and friends. heat is on, and we’re hoping that it May the brightness of the flames doesn’t snow too much to hinder illumine our lives. you from getting here for our educa- Steve and I wish you and all those tional, social, and worship events. that you hold dear a 2020 full of Life will go on as usual. The Board only good things: peace of mind, will still meet; Friday night services success at whatever you do, much will continue; classes will still be happiness, and most of all good held; holidays will be celebrated. health.

Esther

A trip to the National Museum of American Jewish History’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg exhibit was conduct- ed for religious school students and their fan- ikies. Jen Novak from Temple Hesed is in the cen- ter of the pic. It was part of our study of American Jewish History, which will also be the first Adult Ed topic this year

At the Interfaith Thanksgiving service Nov.22, everyone came forward to express thanks, enter the “gate of righteousness” and spread light to the world.

Page 5 Messenger

Week Ending November 30 (Service December 6) Yahrzeits and *Richard Oppenheim, Leo Moskovitz, *Sophie Stone, *Philip Ungar, *Jack Goldman, *Selma Personal Berger, *Susan Lonstein, *Anne J. Lipsins, *Jacob Ackerman, Kate Cooperman, *John Ross Lauer, *Dr. Jonas Selverstone, *David Rothenberg, *Albert Jacobs Notes Week Ending December 7 (Service December 6)

*Miriam Parker Gelb, *John J. Gaffney, Arthur Selznick, *Harry Lonstein, *Esther C. Oppen- heim, *Jean Stein Sutton, *Linda Lee Leventhal, Dr. Newton Freund, *Rudolph M. Goldsmith, *Etta C. Levey, Marilyn Perfilio, *Herman Ziman, *Anna L. Brownstein, *Ellis M. Oppenheim, *Irwin E. Alperin, Ira Lauscher, Rose Fine, *Erich Traub

Get Wells Week Ending December 14 (Service December 13)

(Mi Shebeirach) *Esther Gordon, *Fannie Roos, *Jonas Lauer, *Sadie Freeman, *Yetta Linder, *Abraham D. Goldberg, *Louis E. Newman, Bernardine Kaplan, *Harriet D. Morris, *Dr. Leon Braunstein, Rebecca Birkrant Rich Mates *Frank Feldman, *Mary Leventhal, *Nancy Stahller, Irving Londy

Michael Cornfield Charlotte Milliken Mark Davis Harriet Noble Week Ending December 21 (Service December 20) Esther Friedmann Jane Oppenheim Larry Golden Charlene Ostro *Morris Cohen, *Anna Swartz, *Fannye M. Slavitz, *Lea S. Mauer, Doris Toledano Frieder, Judith Weinberger, *Toby Rodgick, *Rose Schudmack, *Gloria Dinner, *Samuel Roos, Mike Greenstein Joel Ostro *Sarah Greenberger, *George Joseph Weisberg, *Margaret Smith, *Minnie Ginsburg Ellen Kline Edward Snitko, Sr. Phillip Knobel Week Ending December 28 (Service December 27) Emily Trunzo

*Rebecca Newman, *Carolina Schwartz, *Goldie Neumann, Ruth D. Karnoff, Michael Mitch- ell, *Morris Goldsmith, *Israel Greenberger, *Elliott Weisberger, *David Zukowski, *Edward Berger, *Chester Levy, *Bernard Rymland, *Isadore Adelman, *Harvey Sanford Siegel, *Gus Weinberger, *Meyer Davis, *Maxine Wylen, Ralph Meyer, *David Rosenberg, *Martin Weilheimer, Jerry Kline, *Bernard Wormser, *Herbert Smith

Volume 161 Number 4 Page 6 December 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 Service 6 pm 7

8 Adult Ed 12 n 9 10 11 12 13 Service 8 pm 14 Chanting Cir- cle 11:30 am

15 Adult Ed 12n 16 17 18 Board Mtg. 6 19 20 Service 8 pm 21 Winter Starts p.m.

22 Hanukkah 1 23 Hanukkah 2 24 Hanukkah 3 25 Hanukkah 4 26 Hanukkah 5 27 Hanukkah 6 28 Hanukkah 7 6pm—dinner;

Office Closed 7pm Service

29 Hanukkah 8 30 31 .

Holidays 5780 (2019—2020) Torah Portions Rosh HaShanah— Yom HaShoah— Sept. 29—Oct. 1, 2019 April 20—21, 2020 Name Civil Date Hebrew Date Yom Kippur — Yom HaZikaron Oct. 8—9, 2019 April 27—28, 2020 Vayetze Dec. 7, 2019 9.Kislev.5780 Vayishlach Dec. 14, 2019 16.Kislev.5780 Sukkot— Vayeshev Dec. 21, 2019 23.Kislev.5780 Yom HaAtzmaut April 28— Oct. 13—20, 2019 Mikeitz Dec. 28, 2019 30.Kislev.5780 29, 2020

Sh’mini Atzaret—Simchat Lag B’Omer — May 11—-12, Torah —Oct. 21-22, More information is available from www.reformjudaism.org 2020 2019 Shavuot— Hanukkah — May 28-29, 2020

Dec. 22--30, 2019

Tishah B’Av— Tu B’Shvat —Feb.9—10, July 29—30, 2020 2020 He can make the Selichot —Sept. 12, 2020 Purim— dream larger than the March 9-10, 2020 Jewish Holidays begin at sunset. Dates specified are for evenings. Passover— That means they run from sundown night. April. 8—15, 2020 until dusk on the last day of the

Holiday. http://www.yiddishwit.com

Volume 161 Number 4 Page 7

Godwrestling: Interfaith Chanting Circle December 14 @ 11:30

One of the most famous and mysterious encounters in all of Torah is when Jacob meets a being — human or divine, it isn’t clear — one night at the banks of the Yabbok river, where he spends the whole night wrestling. This experience of wrestling, even with God, became built into the name Jacob took, the name that we still have as a people, Yisrael, the ones who wrestle with the Divine. Our December Interfaith Chanting Circle will explore the theme of Godwrestling, as we struggle with belief and disbe- lief, with doubt and self-doubt, with finding meaning in a cha- otic and broken world. No prior experience in chanting or meditation is needed to join us for this supportive, unique experience.

Reform Movement: Fire Miller

WASHINGTON – In response to the revelation that White House senior advisor Stephen Miller circulated bigoted emails in 2015 and 2016, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism joined the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Rabbinical Assembly, Reconstructing Judaism, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and the Un- ion of Reform Judaism to release the following statement:

As entities who represent a broad diversity of American Jewish life, we share a deep concern about White House advisor Stephen Miller’s support for white supremacist ideology and the disturbing ways in which his dangerous views have influenced U.S. immigration policy. Such views have no place in the White House or as a basis of American policy.

On November 12, the Southern Poverty Law Center released a report detailing emails that White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller had sent during 2015 and 2016 in which he shared “white nationalist literature, pushed racist immigration stories and obsessed over the loss of Confederate symbols after Dylann Roof’s murderous rampage.” Such views are reprehensible on their own, but they are entirely unacceptable for someone tasked with shaping the laws, interests, and values of the United States. We reject claims that criticism of Mr. Miller’s views is antisemitic. His personal faith should not be called into question but also should not be used to shield him from legitimate criticism.

This nation was founded and has been strengthened by immigrants seeking religious freedom and opportunity. Indeed, some of our coun- try’s lowest moments have been when we have excluded or discriminated against groups based on their nationality or heritage, including our brutally oppressive treatment of Native Americans, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the immigration quotas imposed in 1924 that disproportionately restricted Jews, Italians, Greeks and Poles, with devastating conse- quences for those later fleeing Nazi brutality.

Throughout history, Jews have been forced by persecution and discrimination to leave their homes in search of safety and security. We have also been the targets of vicious libels and dangerous stereotyping that have fomented mistrust and, alarmingly, as has been occurring again in our own country, acts of tragic and deadly violence. Both history and contemporary experience make us especially sensitive to any efforts that classify fellow human beings as “other.” We are all made in the image of God and worthy of dignity and respect.

We call on President Trump to dismiss Stephen Miller immediately and to make clear that white supremacy has no place in the White House or the United States of America.

Temple Hesed Phone: 570-344-7201 ABOUT TEMPLE HESED: 1 Knox Road Fax: 570-344-4514 Temple Hesed, a Reform Synagogue founded Aug. 20, 1860, is Scran- Scranton, PA 18505 ton’s first and oldest Jewish congregation. It is one of the earliest congre- gations to join the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now the "The Temple of Loving Kindness" Union for Reform Judaism. It has been a member since Dec. 12, 1874. On the Web at: templehesed.org The synagogue serves the needs of individuals and families in Lacka- wanna County and surrounding areas. Situated on Knox Road, off Lake Temple personnel and officers Scranton Road in the East Mountain section of Scranton, the current building opened in 1973. Temple Hesed operates a cemetery on West SPIRITUAL LEADER Warren Street in Dunmore.

Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz The office is open Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m.. to 4 p.m.; and Friday 9 570-877-3454 (cell) a.m.. to 2 p.m. 570-344-7201 (office) ([email protected]) Rabbi Swartz is happy to set appointments at any convenient time. Con- ———————- tact him to set a time. The rabbi also has "drop-in" hours every Tuesday OFFICERS from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Rabbi holds Esther Adelman and Steven Seitchik - Co-Presidents these times open for visits or calls for which an appointment was not or Cheryl Friedman - 1st Vice President could not be made. Larry Milliken - 2nd Vice President Jeffrey Leventhal - Treasurer The Temple Hesed Cemetery is open for visitation six days a week. Visita- Joan Davis - Secretary tion hours are: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. till dusk Jennifer Novak - Assistant Secretary and it is closed for Shabbat on Saturday. For more information, call the

office. Board Members: Kenneth Ganz, Robert Hersh, Natalie Gelb, Paula Kane, Carol Leventhal , Judith Golden, Donna Kostiak, Our Partners Include; Loren Selznick, Josh Levine Honorary Life Board Member: Jane Oppenheim

STAFF Marlene Gianzanti—Office Manager ([email protected]) Edward Snitko-Director of Music Rich Mates-Messenger Editor ([email protected]) Jennifer Rosen Novak Social Media Maven Jeffrey Heilbruin Webmaster ( [email protected])

Check out Temple Hesed on Fox 56 News!

Fox 56 has run two stories on Temple Hesed A diverse crowd of over 100 people events in the past few weeks. First of all, they came together to hear prayers and covered our Sukkot Celebration, including our reflections, including from Bishop trademark fireworks. You can see the story here: Bambera, Mother Rebecca Barnes, https://fox56.com/news/local/scranton-celebrates- the president of the Scranton Area sukkot Ministerium, David Fallk, chair of the local Jewish Community Rela- tions Council, Temple Hesed stu- Temple Hesed, with assistance from the JCC and dents and our own Rabbi Dan- the Jewish Federation, also pulled together a community-wide iel. You can see the coverage of the commemoration here: commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the shootings in https://fox56.com/news/local/local-jewish-community-comes- the of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. together-for-pause-with-pittsburgh