VOLUME 60 EDITION 4 1 December 2017 12 Heshvan 5778
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, December 1 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service with the Congregational Choir
Saturday, December 2 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast – No bacon pancakes, two eggs over easy w/home fries & avocado 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service
Friday, December 8 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service
Friday, December 15 6:00 p.m. Hanukkah Family Service with the Congregational Choir Religious School play - “Hanukkah – The Miracle of the Candles” Dinner to follow
Friday, December 22 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service
Friday, December 29 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service
The Temple offices will be closed on Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1.
ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES. PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP Torah Selection: Genesis 32:4 – 36:43 Haftarah – Obadiah 1:1 - 21
FROM THE RABBI
The Mystery of Hanukkah
he mystery of Hanukkah is that the ritual There is also the custom of eating fried foods in that we associate with the holiday – the commemoration of the miracle of the oil, which is kindling of the Hanukkah lights for eight T usually latkes or potato pancakes. In Israel there nights – is not mentioned in any of the historical is sufganiyot and doughnuts, both of which are works describing the rededication of the Temple. fried. Additionally, there is also a tradition of It is only much later in Talmudic literature written eating cheese and other dairy foods, which is down, perhaps 350 years after the Maccabean based on midrashim of the story of Judith. She rebellion, that we read the legend of the made a dairy meal to Maccabees entering put the enemy general the Temple and Holofernes to sleep, at discovering all the which point, Judith jugs of oil for lighting decapitated him the menorah had been saving the city. The defiled. They re- story has no actual purified the Temple connection with and then went looking Hanukkah, but for any purified oil became associated that they could find to with it during the light the fire in the Middle Ages. Temple. To their dismay they could not There is also a find anything and then Russian Hanukkah finally they found one tradition of pouring small cruse of oil, which had enough oil to keep brandy over a lump of sugar in a spoon setting it the fire burning for one day. ablaze and then dropping it into a glass of tea. This is called the flaming tea ceremony. We also Well, you know the story about the miracle. The give Hanukkah gelt, which can be either real coins flame miraculously burned not for one day but for or chocolate ones. I always prefer the chocolate eight whole days until new pure oil could be ones. In Eastern Europe people played card brought in from the Galilee and that is why we games late into the night on Hanukkah and other light eight candles, one at a time, going from the gambling games including spinning the dreidel. first night through the eighth night. It is certainly one of the ceremonies I remember growing up and As you can see, it is primarily a folk holiday that I am sure most of us feel the same way. the sages did their best to make into a religious occasion. This is just another example of how we It is a fascinating holiday in that it is based on real are not all that different from people 200 or 500 or historical events. In fact, interestingly enough, even 2000 years ago. So, let’s pull out our those historical events may not conform to the dreidels and practice spinning them to see if we religious messages that we are trying to convey. can get the best of the four letters that spell out the That doesn’t bother me at all. Adding to the words, a wondrous miracle happened there. complexity of our tradition and even introducing a bit of unintentional ambiguity adds nuance and I wish everyone a very, very Happy Hanukkah. forces us to reflect. In a post-modern world, we May light pervade your life and may your home know that not everything is as it seems. And yet, be filled with health and love. it is a wonderful holiday for celebrating for both Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan adults and children.
- 2 - FROM OUR PRESIDENT
he Shabbat Service in honor of January 25, 1844 founding. (It should be Veterans Day was well attended with noted that Temple Beth El is the oldest slightly over fifty members and guests T synagogue in the State of Florida. And of in attendance. Counting the choir, we had course, we are the oldest synagogue in the over sixty people in our lovely Sanctuary. State of Alabama.) Our guest speaker, Mr. Sy Lichtenfeld, was Through the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Cal excellent! As a very Ennis, we will also have a young man, he was Scholar-in Residence visit. captured by German Our guest speaker is Rabbi soldiers during the Dr. David Frankel. In Battle of the Bulge. He memory of this parents told us a very interesting Ralph and Faye Ennis, Dr. story of his being a and Mrs. Ennis are funding Jewish POW. this wonderful speaker, Now please be advised who is a Professor of Bible. that Sy’s story was Part Our Congregation and One of our Veteran’s Congregation Beth El will Day Observances; Part enjoy Rabbi Frankel’s Two will take place on lecture entitled, “What Sunday, December 3 at Actually Happened in the 1:00 p.m. in our Garden of Eden.” This sanctuary. Our guest lecture will start promptly speaker for Part Two after lunch. Then at 3:00 will be Dr. Sheldon p.m., Rabbi Frankel will Kushner. The topic of Sy Lichtenfeld, Veteran's Day Shabbat deliver a second lecture. Not Dr. Kushner’s talk will be only will this lecture include both “Understanding the Vietnam War Through the congregations, but it will also include the Experiences of a Surgeon.” Dr. Kushner now Mobile Christian-Jewish Dialogue. This lives in Point Clear, Alabama. Dr. Kushner lecture is entitled, “Does the Hebrew Bible was portrayed in the biography, “Trauma and Foretell the Story of Jesus? Jewish-Christian Tenacity in Vietnam: A Surgeon’s Story” by Polemics in the Middle Ages.” Mary Jane Ingui, Ph.D. Rabbi Dr. David Frankel, who is a Moving on into January of next year, on Conservative Rabbi, has been teaching Bible Saturday, January 13, we will have our Joint to rabbinical students for nearly 25 years at the Shabbat Service with Temple Beth El of Schechter Institutes of Jewish Studies in Pensacola. Services start at 11:00 a.m. in our Jerusalem. He is the author of The Murmuring sanctuary. This will also be our Annual Stories of the Priestly School, Brill:2002 and Founders Day Shabbat with members of The Land of Canaan and the Destiny of Israel, Temple Beth El helping us remember our Eisenbrauns: 2011.
Mike Pereira, President
- 3 - Dr. Sheldon Kushner Guest Speaker
Sunday, December 3 – 1:00 p.m.
“Understanding the Vietnam War Through the Experiences of a Surgeon”
as portrayed in the biography, "Trauma and Tenacity in Vietnam: A Surgeon's Story", a book which captures the defining period in the medical life of Captain Sheldon Kushner, MD, while stationed in Vinh Long, Vietnam, from 1968-69.
The Western Shore Torah Study Group “From Oil in Lamps to Oil in Latkes”
On Thursday, December 14, at 6:30 p.m., the Western Shore Torah Study Group will host the Third Annual Hanukkah Fest at the Ennis home. Your hosts are Nell and Cal Ennis, 1201 Abbeyville Street, Pascagoula, MS 39581. If attending, please bring a dish. Fresh latkes and blintzes will be served. For more information or if you have any questions, please call Cal at 228-623-0479.
A Mitzvah for Christmas?
Volunteer at the Mobile Infirmary to help staff different areas of the hospital, freeing the non-Jewish workers to spend Christmas Day with their families. Those who would like to volunteer at the Mobile Infirmary for the Christmas holiday, please contact Jack Friedlander.
- 4 - FAMILY HANUKKAH DINNER
Friday, December 15 following the 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Service
LOTS OF FOOD AND FUN!
BRING YOUR MENORAH FOR A GROUP CONGREGATION LIGHTING CEREMONY, SONGS, AND DINNER
The Famous Men’s Club Latkes!
PLEASE MAKE RESERVATIONS BY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017 ADULTS - $10, CHILDREN (UNDER 10) - $5 Temple Office (251) 478-0415
Eastern Shore Hanukkah Party 6:00 p.m. – Saturday December 16 (Temple members and their family, and those interested in studying the Jewish faith)
Your hosts are Kim and David Zimmerman 509 Richmond Circle, Fairhope - 251-990-2997
New 2017 Menu 1. Calling for latke makers are needed – proposal is to make the latkes beforehand and heat on site. Those interested, please respond. 2. Calling for chicken makers are needed. 3. Calling for savory vegetables, salad, dessert, or appetizer.
RSVP to Carol Zimmerman ([email protected] or 251-591-1113) Those needing assistance, please include your needs when you RSVP. Arrangements will be made to help as necessary.
- 5 - From Your Temple Men’s Club By Larry Miller, Men’s Club President
We are getting ready for Hanukkah. There is already a host of folks signed up for kitchen duty with the dynamic duo, the Rose brothers, but we could still use more help in the social hall with waiters, wine pourers, and official latke tasters. Please RSVP to either Larry Miller or Priscilla Gold-Darby to coordinate.
January 12 starts the Scholar-In-Residence weekend. We will also be hosting our sister congregation, Temple Beth-El from Pensacola on Saturday, January 13th, and are arranging a “Kosher” Seafood & Chicken Gumbo lunch. If you want to learn how to make gumbo? roux? and all that Louisiana stuff? come and help on Friday, January 12. RSVP to Larry Miller and get on the soul food train.
Scholar-in-Residence, 2018 Dr. David Frankel January 10-14, 2018
For 2018, the Adult Education Committee is delighted to present four days with the Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi David Frankel. Since 1992, Dr. Frankel has served as a senior lecturer in Bible at the Schechter Institutes of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He did his PhD at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the direction of Professor Moshe Weinfeld. His publications include: The Murmuring Stories of the Priestly School and The Land of Canaan and the Destiny of Israel. From 1991 to 1996, Rabbi Frankel was the rabbi of Congregation Shevet Achim in Gilo, Jerusalem.
Itinerary for Rabbi Frankel
Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 5:30 pm, Temple library: “Who really wrote the Torah?”
Friday, January 12, 2018, 6:00 pm, after Shabbat services: “When God fought the Monster of the Sea- Mythological Traditions and Their Transformation in the Bible and Midrash.”
Saturday, January 13, 2018, 11:00 am, Anniversary Service and Shabbaton with Temple Beth-El, Pensacola, Florida: “What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden.”
Saturday, January 13, 2018, 3:00 pm, Christian-Jewish Dialogue: “Does the Hebrew Bible Foretell the Story of Jesus? Jewish-Christian Polemics in the Middle Ages.”
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December Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy Birthday To ...
1 Jon Fusco 15 Wendy Rich Albright 2 Meagan Leah Furman 15 Carolyn Shulman 3 G.B. Kahn 20 Frances “Frankie” Bloom 4 Emily Fink 22 Anna Swan Gardberg 4 Patricia Silverman 24 Gail Chadwick 6 Pam Friedlander 24 Steve Prager 8 Judy Aronson 26 Harold Fink 9 Mimi Johnson 27 Yaffa Brown 10 Maria Seiken 27 Frances Mutchnick 11 Michael Ennis 28 Cindy Bloom 12 Sydnie Trusty Shuford 28 Renee Stein 12 Leighton Silverstein 29 Sue Brown 12 Michael Sternberg 30 Sam Borak 13 Cassie Fishbein 30 Karen Singh 13 Eric Lansky 30 Anne Zelnicker 13 Jeffrey Rosenbaum 31 Sharon Vega
Happy Anniversary To … 1 Jinks & Marc Loeb 6 Penny & Joe Adamo 14 Edith & Irwin Misrok 18 Alicia & Mike Pereira 23 Rose & Phillip Brunson 24 Nancy & Roy Hoffman 26 Bobette & Lowell Friedman
January Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy Birthday To ... Happy Anniversary 3 Claris Feibelman 17 LeNae Denson 29 Susan & Terry Passman 4 Ann Miller 18 Joshua Hochhauser 30 Dana & David Furman 6 Diane Garden-Monheit 18 Terry Passman 6 Alice Handmacher 20 William Baron 6 Mimi Holberg 21 Lowell Friedman 7 Jane Allen 21 Ryan Fusco 7 Phillip Feibelman 22 Stephanie Dittman 8 Jeff Conrad 22 Sam Lansky 9 Ellen Carter 24 Barbara Cherniak 9 Lynne Switzkey 25 Hugh Borak 10 Will Kinsella 25 Debra Fetterman 10 Bill Susman 25 Deanne Schjott 11 Alan Franco 26 Jonathan Hirsch 11 Harvey Gandler 27 Marjorie Altmayer 13 Vicki Silverman-Lugar 28 Andrew Brown 14 Judy Dittman 29 Daniel Kinsella 14 Madison Friduss 30 Joshua Mutchnick
- 7 - CONTRIBUTIONS
In honor of Eileen Susman’s birthday – Jill Gottlieb, Barry Silverman
In honor of Nate Ginsberg’s birthday – Patricia & Howard Silverman
A speedy recovery for G.B. Kahn – Iris & Albert Klein
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund – Linda & Ed Blassingame
In memory of Vera and Arthur Heinrich – Nicole & Fabien Eyal
In memory of Ken Fisher – Iris & Nate Ginsberg
In memory of Sally Zell – Bobby & Mitch Lawley
In memory of Carolyn Brown – Margaret & Milton Brown
In memory of Isidor Judenfreund – Iris & Albert Klein
In memory of Myer Weinstein – Lucy & Steve Weinstein
In memory of Alan D. Oboler – Eileen Oboler
In memory of Fay & Ralph Ennis – Nell & Cal Ennis
In memory of Joshua Fetterman – Iris & Albert Klein
In memory of Gustav Heart – Paul Bergman
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.
December 1 Rose Borak, Ellen Eber, Simon J. Buchman, Lou Conrad, Joshua Fetterman, Stella Rubel Schwander
December 8 Tini Appelman, Joseph C. Fusco, Edith Maisel Laden, Elaine Lemay, Rose Shulman, Frank Rubel
December 15 Jenny Buchman, Herman Kopelman, Betty Zimmerman Cohn, Sarabel Reiss, Etta May Friedman, Carol Kopelman, Lila Kogon, Vera Heinrich, Jean Schjott
December 23 Rebecca Shulman, Max Fratkin, Nathan J. Friedman, Jack Silberstein, Willis Darby, Jr., Jerry Rose, Leah Newfield, O.W. Allen, Julia Holberg Kohlman, Annie Greenwald Salmon
December 30 Cyril Rich, Emma Rheinstrom, Lucille Schwarz, Marcus Cecil Pierce
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FROM OUR ARCHIVES By Susan Thomas, Archivist
any historic buildings in downtown and on the building committee which oversaw Mobile are currently undergoing the building of the current Temple in the early M renovations. One such structure is 1950s. Born in 1891, Bertram married Jeanne the Staples-Pake Building, located at the Weil in 1920. They had three children: corner of Royal and St. Michael Streets. The Bettie, who died in 1932 at age 10 of cancer; top two floors of the three-story building are Harry, who was killed in Europe during being reconfigured as luxury apartment units, World War II; and Anne, who married while the bottom floor will house commercial Richard Lowenburg and currently resides in space. A New Orleans-based eatery, The New Orleans. Bertram died in 1978. He, Ruby Slipper Cafe, recently announced it will along with his wife and daughter Bettie, are open a restaurant on the Royal Street side of buried in the Temple cemetery. the building in Spring of 2018. Bertram and his family lived on North A Temple congregant, Bertram Pake, was one Monterey Street in Mobile but also owned a of the later owners of the building. Originally turkey farm in the Saraland area, known as built in the 1850s for a prominent Mobile Kali-Oka Farm. His daughter, Anne, still cotton broker, the structure was sold in 1903 owns the farm and visits when she is able to to the newly-organized Bank of Mobile. come to Mobile. Anne has retained her After the bank closed in 1917, the building membership with Springhill Avenue Temple had a variety of tenants. Bertram Pake, a and attends services when she is in town. successful real estate broker, became part- owner in 1938. Bertram, like many early congregants, left his mark on Mobile through his investment in Bertram Pake was active in Temple affairs, downtown real estate. The Staples-Pake serving on the board of trustees in the 1940s building in its renaissance will be a lasting legacy to his memory.
Photo courtesy of the Doyle Leale McCall Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of South Alabama
- 9 - FROM OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL by Patricia Silverman, Th.M., Religious School Director
ope everyone had a wonderful purchase Hanukkah gifts. Parents, make sure Thanksgiving with their families. students have their money. Amy and Judy will H Congratulations to Sarah Rose be there to help students in choosing their Hochhauser on your Bat Mitzvah. It was a gifts. Parents are welcome to help in the wonderful celebration. Our Temple Family selection of the gifts too. wish you and your family Mazel Tov. The Temple’s Hanukkah Shabbat Service is On Sunday, December 3, at 10:00 a.m., our Friday, December 15. The students will Religious School will be presenting a perform the same delightful Hanukkah skit Hanukkah skit to the residents at Somerby. that was performed at Somerby – “Hanukkah – This wonderful skit was created by Barry The Miracle of the Candles.” Dinner will Silverman. Seth Cherniak will lead the music, follow the service and will feature the Rachel Nease will contribute her artistic talent wonderful latkes by David and Richard Rose in guiding the students, and Sarah Sternberg and their crew. Don’t miss this delightful will assist. See you there. celebration.
The Temple Gift Shop will be open on
Sunday, December 10, for our students to
Wednesday, December 12, is the first night of Hanukkah and the lighting of the 1st candle. Have a Happy Hanukkah.
Religious School 2018 Schedule
unday, January 7, will be the first Religious School class in 2018. It will be a fun day because the Jacobs Camp representives will give us a presentation about their summer S camp program. “Going to a Jewish summer camp gives a child the opportunity to make friends for life, celebrate their Judaism with other Jewish children, and explore their Jewish identity in an oasis of Jewish life.”
Parents and grandparents are also invited to come and learn about the opportunities and fun that Jacobs Camp offers to our Jewish community.
To help even more, our Temple has an anonymous donor who will contribute $1000 for first time campers and $500 for returning campers. Additionally, the Goldring Family Foundation and other organizations offer scholarship opportunities. I am here to help guide you with all these opportunities to ensure that your child can have this wonderful Camp Jacobs experience. The best is yet to come!
- 10 - The Mobile Jewish Film Festival January 11 – 28, 2018
Film Schedule
Thursday, January 11, 2pm Sunday, January 14, 3pm Mobile Museum of Art Ahavas Chesed Synagogue Film – “As Seen Through These Eyes” Film – “Rat Pack” Music before the film; reception follows Tuesday, January 16, 7pm Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, USA Wednesday, January 17, 7pm Film – “Harmonia” Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, USA Film – “1945” Thursday, January 18, 7pm Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, USA Sunday, January 21, 3pm Film – “My Hero My Brother” Ahavas Chesed Synagogue Dessert reception follows Film – “Women’s Balcony”
Tuesday, January 23, 7pm Wednesday, January 24, 7pm USA – Performance Center, Fairhope Ben May Main Library, Bernheim Hall Film – “A Bag of Marbles” Film – “A Bag of Marbles”
Thursday, January 25, 7pm Sunday, January 28, 3pm Springhill Avenue Temple Springhill Avenue Temple Film – “A Heartbeat Away” preceded by Film – “Joe’s Violin” “Dear God” Violin and piano concert follows and closing night reception
Tu B’Shevat
Tu B’Shevat (Arbor Day) is the new year for the trees. Our Temple Garden Project of fruiting trees continues to grow, so if you would like to donate a tree, please send in a contribution of at least $35 to the Temple office and a tree will be procured for your loved one and you can help plant it on Sunday, January 28 at the Tu B’Shevat seder with the Religious School.
- 11 - 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
CALENDAR
Wednesday Torah Study 5:30 p.m. December 6, 13, 20, and 27
Hebrew School Sundays 10:00 a.m. December 3 (at Somerby) 9:00 a.m. December 10 Friday 6:00 p.m. December 15 – Religious School play – “Hanukkah – The Miracle of the Candles” Hanukkah family service with dinner to follow (No Hebrew School December 17, 24, or 31)
Religious School Sundays 10:00 a.m. December 3 (at Somerby) 9:00 a.m. December 10 Friday 6:00 p.m. December 15 – Religious School play – “Hanukkah – The Miracle of the Candles” Hanukkah family service with dinner to follow (No Religious School December 17, 24 or 31)
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Sunday, December 3 1:00 p.m. Guest Speaker: Dr. Sheldon Kushner (details page 3)
Monday, December 11 6:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
Friday, December 15 6:00 p.m. Hanukkah Family Service Religious School play – “Hanukkah – The Miracle of the Candles” Dinner to follow
The Temple offices will be closed on Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1.
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