Kol K .I. December 2020 /January 2021 learn. inspire. grow. together. / Tevet / Shevat 5781

16 Colt Road l Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 l 413.445.4872 l knessetisrael.org • David Weiner l Richard Simons, President

UPDATE FROM RABBI WEINER: Just days after the deadline for this issue of Kol K.I., Knesset Israel's leadership chose to pause in-person services due to the public health sit- uation in Pittsfield. The following article reflects the protocols we are using (or will use) What is K.I. when it is feasible to hold a minyan in person. n Timely updates about COVID protocols at K.I. are issued primarily through the weekly K.I. E-News email and the K.I. Shabbat Central Shabbat Central? site: padlet.com/KnessetIsrael/KIShabbatCentral. Please read the sidebar to the right for Did you misplace your Kol K.I. or more information on this useful tool. n Everyone may access/attend Friday night and can't find you weekly KI E-News Saturday morning services on our livestream—knessetisrael.org/livestream. The length, in your email? Worried that content, and feel of the service are different when there is not a minyan present. something you are interested in is cancelled or postponed? From the Rabbi: Winter is Coming The easiest and most up-to-date- way to find information about Acting together, we can sustain our congregation in worship & community Knesset Israel's services, classes, and programing is at I invited Stu Masters, representing the ad-hoc committee of the board that is charged with helping K.I. continue to thrive during the pandemic, to co-write and illustrate my column padlet.com/KnessetIsrael/ for this month. KIShabbatCentral

Services are dependent on minyan. Dozens, sometimes hundreds of households par- Sometimes things change on ticipate in Knesset Israel's services through livestream. Those who assemble in person short notice due to circumstances make a minyan to enable that for others. Only with a minyan present may we beyond our control. To verify your sing kedusha, recite Mourners' Kaddish, or chant from the scroll. The camera we information is up to date check installed raises the stakes—the experience of everyone joining from home depends the padlet to find schedules, links, on a minyan being present. Shabbat services have become important for congregants’ Zoom numbers, source sheets and mental, spiritual, and social health—an important way to find peace of mind and in- more. Updates are made every spiration at a time of extraordinary isolation. Thursday for the following week.

We ask for your help sustaining Knesset Israel’s services through the winter. Cur- We encourage you to make rently a handful of congregants are making these services possible. Occasionally checking the padlet site part of someone needs to take a week off for one reason or another, and several congregants your K.I. routine. are heading to Florida for the winter. continued on page 4 In This Issue Member & Mazel Tovs Pandemic Protocols at K.I...... 1 Zoom & Livestream Cheat Sheet...... 3 n Not All Heroes Wear Capes! Rabbi David Weiner has been nominated as a hero who has made a difference in Knesset Israel’s life during the pandemic! The December / January Calendar...... 6 Council of Massachusetts will be honoring heroes throughout the Commonwealth, Celebrate Chanukah Programming...... 7 including Rabbi Weiner, at its Virtual Gala on Thursday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. From the President...... 8 synagoguecouncil.org/gala-winter-2020-landing-page

Beyond Dispute / JTS class w/Rabbi...... 9 n Dr. Fred Landes and Brenda Landes are happy to announce the marriage of their son, Spotlight On: Alice Model ...... 10 Joshua Elias Landes to Allison Emma Lerman-Gluck. According to Josh's Facebook page, the wedding, a small outdoor ceremony, took place on November 8 "on an un- Hebrew School / Families Together...... 12 disclosed Western Mass hilltop". Mazel Tov! How To Spell Chanukah?...... 16 Funds & Endowments, Yahrzeits.....18-21 Birthdays and more!! December

n n K.I. Staff Ann Krawet...... December 2 Cindy Bell-Deane...... December 29 n Howard Herman...... December 5 n Eve Edwards...... December 30 OFFICE PHONE 413-445-4872 n Cormac Duffy...... December 6 n Robert Berend...... December 31 RABBI DAVID WEINER Ext. 10 n Sheila Donath...... December 7 n Michael Ende...... December 31 [email protected] n Levi Denmark...... December 8 n Yaacov Rone...... December 31 DIANA MACFARLANE Ext. 10 Office Manager n Gloria Boms...... December 9 [email protected] n Randi Robbins...... December 10 January ED ROBINSON n Haya Nhim Ovitsky...... December 10 n Augusta Leibowitz...... January 2 [email protected] n Brenda Eckstein...... December 11 n Rosalind Kopfstein...... January 2 MYRNA HAMMERLING Ext. 16 n Alexander Kutik...... December 11 n Galina Dobrynina...... January 2 Director of Adult Education and Programming n Noah Denmark...... December 11 n Maxine Bookless...... January 3 [email protected] n Josephine Usow...... December 13 n Mildred Novick...... January 5 CHRIS GOETZE Ext. 20 n David Rothstein...... December 14 n Marcie Greenfield Simons...... January 5 Facilities Director/Head Custodian [email protected] n Fred Landes...... December 14 n Joan Raichelson...... January 10 JUDITH WEINER Ext. 15 n Jessica Fried...... December 16 n Soloman Sutter...... January 10 Director of Families Together, and n Steven Rosenthal...... December 17 n Lynette Dukehart...... January 11 Hebrew School Administrator n Leonard Schiller...... December 17 n Ruth Lynn Frommer...... January 11 [email protected] n Paul Green...... December 19 n Benjamin Grossman-Ponemon.... January 11 ELISA SNOWISE B’Nai Mitzvah Teacher /Coordinator n Joshua Berthiaume...... December 19 n Sergey Yantovsky...... January 12 [email protected] n Michael Kaplan...... December 20 n Sharon Sutter...... January 12 LIZ DEMARCO, Web Administrator, n Julia Kaplan...... December 20 n Mabyn Gorman...... January 12 [email protected] n Bette Sue Rosenthal...... December 22 n Judith Levine...... January 13 n Sydney Levine...... December 28 n Terry Wasser...... January 14 KNESSET ISRAEL n 16 Colt Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201 n Joshua Weeks...... December 28 Noah Hochfelder...... January 14 413-445-4872 n Allan Lipton...... December 29 n Allen Rosenblatt...... January 15 413-496-9378 (fax) knessetisrael.org BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES CONTINUE ON PAGE 8

2 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Notices & Updates Clip & Save! Zoom & Livstream Cheat Sheet Postponed: In the —One-Woman Show, based for Services, Classes, and Programming on the book by Amos Oz and adapted for stage by, and star- ring Israeli actress TAMIR has been postponed until Spring. Knesset Israel makes every effort to keep ZOOM numbers consistent. The most reliable updates will be posted at padlet.com/KnessetIsrael/KIShabbatCentral. Prayers for Healing. Submit prayer request to Diana by email— [email protected]—before 11:00 a.m. Friday Announcements will as always in our weekly E-news, on mornings. our website calendar and K.I.’s "COVID-19 Response” page.

The majority of our members and visitors will participate in In compliance with standards, it is Knesset Israel services, classes, and programming through requested that you refrain from conducting synagogue their computers and devices (Zoom & Livestreaming). A few business, via e-mail, text, and/or phone calls on Shabbat. people, through advance arrangement only, will gather in Thank you. person in the sanctuary.

For the time being, please do not call the K.I. office and HOW TO ATTEND SERVICES IN PERSON leave messages. They will not be retrieved in a timely manner. IN THE K.I. SANCTUARY Instead, email [email protected] as this is currently the best way to communicate with Diana. If you are comfortable in periodically joining in prayer in the K.I. sanctuary, but have not yet done so, please get in touch with Diana or Rabbi Weiner to receive an update about safety Kol K.I. would love to publish an article by you! Send us and health protocols. n You may sign up to attend week- a story, your musings on a Jewish experience or subject, end services (Friday evening, Saturday & Sunday morning) thoughts about your experiences during these crazy times. up to three weeks in advance at padlet.com/KnessetIsrael/ Musings by adults, teens, and children will be considered. makeaminyan. You do not need to sign up in advance in order to attend, but it helps ensure we will have a minyan. Ques- tions? Please contact Rabbi Weiner or Stu Masters.

HOW TO ZOOM

n 1. Go to Zoom.us at the announced time. n 2. Click “join a meeting” Your community wants to share n 3. Enter the Zoom ID number in your good news! Send KOL K.I. editor, n 4. If asked, give Zoom permission to use Susan Miller the details about any happy your camera and microphone. news we can celebrate with you! Susan Miller: [email protected] HOW TO LIVESTREAM High resolution photographs welcome! Option 1 n Download the Boxcast app in your Roku, KOL K.I. PUBLICATION NOTES AppleTV or Kindle Fire TV, Editor: Susan Miller • Co-Editor/Photo Editor: Nan Bookless n Open the app and search for the Knesset Israel channel. Production: Liz DeMarco • Aldam Press You may view current and past recordings.

We welcome submissions. Publication will be at the Option 2 discretion of the editorial staff, and may be subject to n Go to knessetisrael.org/livestream at the announced time. editing for clarity, facts, and length. n You may need to press the “play” button Submit articles & photographs VIA EMAIL to: Susan Miller that appears onscreen. at [email protected] n On that page you will find suggestions to improve your experience. DEADLINE: JANUARY 1 FOR FEBRUARY ISSUE n Watch and sing along.

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 3 Pandemic Protocols for Services

From the Rabbi (continued from page 1)

We are asking for an additional fifteen household—singles, couples, or families—to attend at least two services a month in person through the winter months. Together with those who have already committed, this promise would keep the K.I. livestream going through the winter. To express such a commitment, please contact Rabbi Wein- er or Diana by email.

Why might you choose to attend? Perhaps as the days grow shorter, you are feeling isolated and are looking for a way to connect with your community and renew your spirit. Maybe you just miss being in shul. Or, motivated by generosity of spirit, you rec- ognize the difference a vibrant K.I .Shabbat evening or morning service on livestream makes for members whose health prevents them from attending in person.

We are asking for an additional fifteen households— singles, couples, or families—to attend at least Hand sanitizer dispensers are placed strategi- two services a month in person through cally throughout the sanctuary. the winter months.

K.I. has implemented serious safety protocols, with medical and public health guid- ance. These include: n insisting on the health of all participants, including those as- signed leadership roles n a face mask requirement for everyone besides the shaliah tzibbur, who stands 10-12’ from the next nearest attendee n social distancing n acces- sible hand sanitizers n and changes to the service to make transmission of the virus even less likely. Some of these measures, like the use of hand sanitizers and changes to the bima, are readily visible on the live stream, while others are evident only to people in the room.

We do not expect attendance at any service to exceed about 30 people—typically fewer than 20 people assemble. The folding doors stand open to allow attendees to spread out into the social hall and to facilitate maximum air circulation.

We have included pictures in this article, which may help those who have not been inside K.I. since March understand more of the measures we have taken. n Rows in the sanctuary are color-coded, alternating blue and white—blue for Satur- day, white for Friday and Sunday. Each service uses either the blue or the white rows, with each row seating only one household or “bubble”. Why “bubble”? So that close friends and family who may not live together but who spend time together in person We built our ark, during the week may also sit together. Alternating rows ensures adequate distance and it is sustaining us. between households. By taking good care of n There are hand sanitizer dispensers placed throughout the rooms. the ark, as well as of each n In the social hall, spacing between chairs is extremely generous. Attendees may sit other, let us continue to anywhere in the social hall, participate, and be counted in the minyan for that service. strengthen our community n The Torah reader stands at the center table; aliyot blessings are said from the back in the weeks and podium, 6’ away, or may be said from the pews. All Torah Service participants wear a months ahead.

4 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Pandemic Protocols for Services

mask. Social distancing is observed, and there is no Torah procession or ceremo- nial lifting of the scroll.

Thank you for considering this request. Although we know in-person attendance may not work for some congregants, we hope that this information will help ev- eryone make good decisions. Should a situation arise in which we must change our protocols or even suspend in-person synagogue services for a while, we will always put health and safety first.

Please note: K.I. does not require reg- istration for individual services. Atten- dance has not been so high that we need to worry about that. So you might wake up on Shabbat morning and, if you are feeling well and have not been traveling, make your way to K.I., don a mask and come to shul.

However, advance notice helps leaders know there will be a minyan present throughout the service before we begin, Caption??? and saves us the scramble to find addi- tional people to make the minyan. To that end, we have built a website where anyone can sign up in advance:

padlet.com/KnessetIsrael/ MakeaMinyan

The simple website contains clear in- structions for signing up, as well as a link to K.I’.s health and safety precautions for in-person attendance.

As Rabbi Weiner said in his podcast for Parashat Noah: During the fall and win- ter, “…the pool of attendees is too small to be sustainable without some help… We built our ark, and it is sustaining us. By taking good care of the ark, as well as of each other, let us continue to strengthen our community in the weeks and months ahead.”

Thank you.

—by Rabbi David Weiner and Dr. Stuart In the social hall, spacing between chairs is extremely generous. The folding doors stand open to Masters. Photographs by Stu Masters. allow attendees to spread out and to facilitate maximum air circulation.

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 5 December 2020 / January 2021 Calendar

Watch K.I. events as they happen! visit knessetisrael.org/livestream Watch nearly any event or service by livestreaming at the link above. The site also has links to recordings of some past K.I. events and to K.I. Shabbat Central. A ZOOM and Livestream Cheat Sheet is on page 3.

MAKE-A-MINYAN FRIDAY NIGHT CANDLE LIGHTING: Do you know you will be coming to shul in person this December 4...... 4:02 PM weekend? Are you wondering if you might be the tenth for the December 11...... 4:02 PM minyan? Please visit the padlet.com address above to let us December 13...... 4:04 PM know you are coming! December 25...... 4:08 PM By signing up in advance, you help us ensure we will have a min- yan present and on time for the service. "Make-a-Minyan" also January 1, 2021...... 4:12 PM hosts K.I.'s current safety & health precautions. You may attend services even if you don't sign up in advance, as long as you are January 8, 2021...... 4:19 PM feeling well and observing those precautions. January 15, 2021...... 4:27 PM January 22, 2021...... 4:35 PM The Make-a-Minyan site only works when it is safe for K.I. to gather a minyan in person. January 29, 2021...... 4:44 PM n For Advance Sign-Up for Minyan & Information About Current Health Precautions: padlet.com/KnessetIsrael/MakeAMinyan CLASSES

n TORAH PORTION OF THE WEEK with Myrna Hammerling DECEMBER / JANUARY SERVICES Tuesdays...... 10:30 AM n TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENINGS Study the Torah Portion of the Week through the lens of schol- Davening...... (ZOOM ID 934-910-554)...... 7:00 PM ars and commentaries. Myrna Hammerling continues her in- No Thursday evening service December 3 (SCM Gala); sightful approaches to seeking wisdom for our own day from December 24 or December 31 (Public Holidays these ancient stories and laws. Try it! You may really like it!! ZOOM ID: 851-6320-8966 n SHABBAT Fridays...... (LIVESTREAM)...... 5:45 PM n BEYOND DISPUTE Rabbi's Adult Education Class. Musical Minyan—December 4 and January 8 See page 9 for full page outline & description Shirei Shabbat—December 18 and January 22 Thursday mornings...... 10:45 AM–NOON Traditional Services—December 11, January 15 & 29 First class December 3; Then December 10 & 17; No Services—December 25 and January 1 January 7, 14, 21 & 28 ZOOM ID: 863-269-457) Saturdays...... (LIVESTREAM)...... 9:30-11:30 AM n MUSSAR

with Rabbi Pamela Wax Sundays...... (LIVESTREAM when feasible). 8:45-9:30 AM Sundays...... 9:30-11 AM ZOOM ID: 820-8643-6900 (when necessary) For registered participants, only. Since the class is at capacity, we are not accepting new students at this time. n For Information & Materials Needed for Services visit: December 6, January 10, February 7, March 14, April 11, padlet.com/KnessetIsrael/KIShabbatCentral May 16, June 13, July 11, August 8

6 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 December 2020 / January 2021 Calendar

Celebrate Chanukah! Illuminate the darkness ! Join your Knesset Israel community online for candle lighting, a concert, and services throughout the week.

THURSDAY n DECEMBER 10 n 7:00PM TUESDAY n DECEMBER 15 n 7:00PM ZOOM ID: 934-910-554 ZOOM ID: 934-910-554 Evening davening begins with a communal Evening davening begins with a communal candle candle lighting (1st candle) Set up your menorah lighting (6th candle). Set up your menorah in ad- in advance and join in! vance and join in!

SATURDAY n DECEMBER 12 n 7:00PM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 n Approx. 5:15PM* KNESSETISRAEL.ORG / LIVESTREAM *consult KI email or KI Shabbat Central for details & Zoom ID. Or attend in person. Limited seating with social Hebrew School concludes with a communal candle lighting distancing, RSVP required. [email protected] (7th candle). Set up your menorah in advance and join in! Celebrate a Virtual Chanukah with Jonathan Denmark & Friends at Knesset Israel. Celebrate with familiar faces as we light the Chanukah Menorah and celebrate with songs. Jonathan will THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17 n 7:00PM perform a livestream concert featuring our favorite Chanukah ZOOM ID: 934-910-554 and camp song session tunes, as well as some familiar folk and Evening davening begins with a communal candle lighting rock n roll classics and originals. Special guests too! Sit back, (8th candle) relax, sing along and enjoy! Set up your menorah in advance and join in! Havdala & candle lighting, followed by concert

SUNDAY n DECEMBER 13 n "IT'S A WRAP" Hanukkah is about the spark SEE ARTICLE ON PAGE 10 Make wrapping paper and prepare the gifts for the family K.I. of the divine in all of us made adopted for the holiday season. Space limited, reservations in God’s image. required (families with school-age children) and social — Suzanne Fields distancing observed.

Hanukkah lights remind us to Kaddish never be afraid to stand up for We encourage people who are looking to say what’s right and to always kaddish to: increase in matters of goodness. A n (a) watch a Livestream little light goes a long way and a can- service and say kaddish along with the assem- dle of Godly goodness can serve as a bled minyan that can be seen and heard onscreen.

beacon of hope for those navigating n (b) participate in our Zoom services—Tuesday or Thursday dark passages of their lives. evenings on a day close to the Yahrzeit—and say kaddish. Please keep in mind that, if there is no minyan in the sanctuary —Norbert Juma, Editor at Everyday Power for a Livestream service, mourners’ kaddish will not be recited.

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 7 From the President

In the Darkness of Winter… Birthdays continued from page 2

Bring light to the world n Molly Souede...... January 15 n Marilyn Simons...... January 19 Chanukah—the Festival of Light—begins Thursday night, n December 10th. Light, our Sages teach, is a spiritual meta- Freya Segal...... January 19 phor for God’s presence. It is a symbol that we can combat n Alice Model...... January 20 the darkness of isolation with the warm embrace of God n Alex Lederman...... January 20 (or community, for those who have a hard time with the “G” word). In the darkness of this winter with the prevalence of n Sonny Gorman...... January 20 the coronavirus all around us, we welcome the warmth of n Jack Millman...... January 21 that light. n Martin Jonas...... January 23 While we are unable to physically gather together to light n Shira Weiner...... January 24 our chanukiot, we can share light in other ways. Performing n Elisa Bildner...... January 27 Richard Simons mitzvot brings light into your life and the lives of others. This will be a difficult winter for so many of our neighbors. There n Harry Albert...... January 27 is no shortage of things we can do to improve the lives of our friends and neighbors. n Amy Levine...... January 28 Be in touch with fellow congregants! Think about someone you have not seen in a n Kate Gigliotti...... January 28 while and give them a call. Just letting someone know that you were thinking of them n Leonard Lipton...... January 29 and perhaps offering to help in any way can do so much to combat the isolation so n Manuel Weisbuch...... January 30 many of us are experiencing this year. n Lawrence Klein...... January 31 Join us virtually for our Chanukah concert and celebration on December 12th! It will n Alan Model...... January 31 be an evening of music and celebration. n Alex Rosen...... January 31 Most important, take care of yourself. K.I. is here as part of your community. As a com- munity, we’ll weather this storm together. Anniversaries May the lights of the Chanukiah bring you warmth and envelope you with the pres- ence of God this Chanukah. December Marcie and I wish you all a Chag Orim Sameach! n Laura & John Frankenthaler ...... December 3

n Maxine & James Frank...... December 19 Knesset Israel Statement of Purpose n Lisa & Paul Green...... December 19 n Brenda & Fred Landes...... December 20 Welcome. n We are here to nourish mind, heart, and soul. Alice & Alan Model...... December 25 We are here to inspire through word and deed. n Carrie & Bill Wright...... December 25 We are here to accompany each other on life’s journey. n Jan & Harvey Zimbler...... December 26 We are here to celebrate in community. January We are here to bring life to the wisdom and values of Torah. n Freya & Tony Segal...... January 8 We are here to transform our world.

Chag Sameach! Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” – Anne Frank

8 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Adult Education

Beyond Dispute Course Outline I. Introduction

n Does Dispute Unite Us or Divide Us? The Complex Legacy of Debate in Jewish Tradition

II. Disputing Jewish Practice

n Is Particularist or Universalist? Giving Tzedakah in a Global Era: Beyond Dispute: New Jewish Theological Rabbi Jan Uhrbach n When Can We Legitimately Modify Seminary Adult Education Course Tradition? Waging War on Shabbat: Rabbi Eliezer Diamond, PhD Rabbi Weiner's new class begins December 3 through the Spring n Do We Need to Mean What We Pray? Debates—philosophical, spiritual, ethical, and cultural—are at the heart of Sacrifices in the : Judaism and Jewish life. Are religion and reason compatible? Can Jewish law Rabbi Daniel Nevins change based on context? How do we teach and talk about and the State of Israel? Should we prioritize Jewish causes or universal causes in our n Who Wields Authority in Jewish Ritual? giving? Is Jewish tradition intrinsically patriarchal and ableist? Is our relation- Smashing Wine Barrels and the Patriarchy: ship with God defined by human obligation or divine compassion? Dr. Marjorie Lehman

Beyond Dispute is a comprehensive curriculum that brings adult learners into III. Disputing the Essence of Judaism a substantive, text-based exploration of how these debates have been mani- fested over the course of . Learners will enjoy lead rich discussion n What Defines Our Relationship with about their continued resonance for contemporary Jewish life. The course en- God? A Tale of Two Covenants: ables teachers and students alike to go beyond the conflicts themselves to un- Dr. Benjamin Sommer cover the essential questions that underlie them, and to build a more inclusive n view of the Jewish past, present, and future. Does the Torah Contain Everything We Need to Know? The Maimonidean Each of the eleven units of the course includes a short video lecture by a JTS Controversy: Dr. Alan Mittleman faculty member, classical and contemporary study texts, and vibrant discussion n led by Rabbi Weiner. Rabbi Weiner will facilitate Beyond Dispute over Zoom. Is Judaism a Religion of the Heart or the Mind—and Who Decides? Hasidism and Beyond Dispute its Opponents: Dr. David Fishman Thursday mornings, 10:45 AM-Noon. ZOOM # 863-269-457 IV. Disputing the Jewish Future The first classes are December 3, 10, 17; January 7, 14, 21, 28; n What Do We Mean by Jewish Continuity? classes will continue through the spring. The Legacy of “Be Fruitful and Multiply”: Please register with Diana Macfarlane ([email protected]) to get access Dr. Michal Raucher to the course website, with all source materials and video lectures. n How Much Should Tragedy Define Us? The Holocaust in Contemporary Jewish Life: Dr. Edna Friedberg

n Can Commitment and Critique Coexist? Teaching Israel in the 21st Century: Dr. Alex Sinclair

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 9 Hebrew School / Families Together Education Never Stops! Adopt-A-Family 2020 Making best of our unique circumstances Help a family during this extra challenging Christmas by Judith Weiner, K.I. Hebrew School administrator by Judith Weiner & Susan Staskin

Knesset Israel's Hybrid Hebrew School

The Hebrew School has been successfully maintaining a hybrid model where students participate in both online and in-person learning. Our weekly class participation is continuing without pause.

n Grades K-5 are meeting online during the week on Wednesday As you may already know from the weekly K.I. E-News emails, afternoons for Judaica lessons and individual Hebrew tutoring. we are maintaining the long standing tradition of adopting a n Grades 2-7 have the opportunity to participate in person on family in need from the local Department of Children and Fam- Shabbat at K.I. through Junior Congregation and the Bar Mitz- ilies. vah program. n Our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and teens Since March, we have all faced many challenges, both in the K.I. also learn in person during the week. community and the community at large. This year, many fami- This year, to reduce class sizes, all students in grades 2-7 receive lies who didn’t have to struggle financially around the holidays private Hebrew tutoring. We have 12 students and nine tutors, are finding themselves in a different set of circumstances. ranging in age from 14 to young at heart. Each student has at Due to the pandemic, we are making some changes in the pro- least one hour of personal tutoring making this a very produc- gram to allow congregants to participate, while remaining safe tive year for Hebrew education! We are making the best of our and following all DPH guidelines. The family’s wish list will be unique circumstances to be creative and engaging in new ways entered into a gift registry where you will be able to go online for our students and families. and purchase the item. We ask that you choose pick up for the Hanukkah Activities item after paying. We also ask that you enter Judith Weiner’s name as the person picking up the gift. She will be bringing all n Special Hebrew School Candle Lighting and Assembly. the gifts to K.I. for the Families Together wrapping day. On Wednesday, December 16, at 5:15 p.m., a special Hebrew School Candle Lighting will take place via Zoom. Be on the lookout in the weekly K.I. E-News email for the links to the stores that will have the gift registries. If you have any Families will light candles together at home. We will say the questions, contact Susan Staskin at [email protected] or at blessings together, sing Hanukkah songs, and play some 413-841-9632, or email the K.I. office at [email protected] games with the whole community. All are invited to join. Check the weekly K.I. E-News email for the zoom link.

n Families Together—It’s A Wrap! On Sunday, December 13, Families Together will support K.I.'s Adopt-A-Family Christmas At this time of year, program to wrap the present K.I. members have donated. (See next column for more about Adopt-A-Family) when the sun is most hidden,

K.I. families will have the opportunity to wrap the gifts and par- the holiday of Hanukkah celebrates ticipate in some Hanukkah fun. We will gather in small fami- ly groups, in shifts, to participate in a Hanukkah activity and the rays of hope and light. wrap presents. If you wish to participate—you MUST RSVP. We will be meeting in shifts of 2 families at a time. Please con- Often, it is through simple and tact Judith at [email protected] for more details. unrecognized miracles that we are able All of Knesset Israel's Chanukah programming can be found in to feel the warmth of hope and light. the KOL K.I. calendar on page 7 —Rafael Goldstein

10 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Kol K.I. The Berkshire Jewish Film Festival Presents "winterFlicks" The joy of the virtual film festival continues year round

The Berkshire Jewish Film Festival (BJFF) continues its 34th virtual season with “winterFlicks,” a series of films presented throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Re- gardless of where you reside, you can be part of the ongoing festival, enjoy the best in Give the gift of cozy, warm nights! outstanding Jewish filmmaking. During the cold winter months many The first film featured was “Herb Alpert Is…”—a movie which highlights the life and children in the Berkshires go to sleep career of the renowned trumpeter, artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and legend. For without the comfort of warm pajamas. To a current lineup of films visit berkshirejewishfilmfestival.org or email info@berkshire- meet this critical need, we are running its jewishfilmfestival.org. Films are available for a full month and cost $10 per viewing. annual community-wide pajama drive. Proceeds support Knesset Israel's Hebrew School. This year we have teamed up with BJFF would not be possible without the generous support of the Wolfson Family Founda- Carr Hardware stores as drop off lo- tion, John Bergman Charitable Trust, Spitz-Tuchman Charitable Trust, Harold Grinspoon cations. Bring BRAND NEW pajamas, Foundation, Berkshire Bank Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and our many do- sizes newborn to teen to these conve- nors and contributors. nient locations: n In North Adams, Lenox, and Great Barrington at Looking Ahead: Purim 2021 Carr Hardware stores n In Pittsfield at the Jewish Federa- Our K.I. tradition will be different this year tion of the Berkshires, 196 South Street

We may be in the midst of a pandemic, but rest assured, this Through Wednesday, December 16. will not put the brakes on our annual winter hamantashen fundraiser; it will simply happen differently this year. Pajamas will be distributed to families across the Berkshires by the Massachu- Due to strict COVID-19 restrictions around food and food distri- setts Department of Children and Fami- bution, we can not have the numbers of wonderful baking and lies in time for the Christmas holiday. packaging volunteers we have had in the past—nor will we need to bake the daunting 7,000 hamantashen. As much as we know Questions? Contact Susan Frisch Lehrer how much fun this project is, we have already assembled our crew, at 413-442-4360 x 14 or email: slehrer@ and will not need any volunteers. jewishberkshires.org

The best news…congregants will still be able to buy hamantashen for each other, and PJ Library, in collaboration with the Harold we will still be offering "hamantashen by the dozen." There will be no mail orders, but Grinspoon Foundation, is made possible you may buy a dozen hamantashen and mail them yourself to your friends and loved in the Berkshires though the generous sup- ones. port of the Jewish Federation of the Berk- shires, the Spitz Tuchman Family Fund, Please think ahead and plan for your hamantashen needs now. More details will follow and the Jewish Women's Foundation. in upcoming articles, E-news and mailings

Tikkun Olam ~ Heal the World

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 11 Knesset Israel Cemetery

Headstone Cleaning Update K.I.'s fourth cemetery headstone cleaning day a succes by Don Sugarman

“What a change!” “We are so pleased!” “Great job!” “We thought we’d have to replace that headstone!”

Those are just some of the messages the K.I. Cemetery Commit- tee received from family members who had subscribed to our fourth headstone cleaning day, held Monday, October 26, 2020.

Thirty-seven (37) headstones were cleaned, along with any mil- itary markers associated with those stones, bringing the total number of stones cleaned with this initiative to 138.

This year a number of people donated $65 per stone to adopt seven "orphan" headstones—those without family members to maintain them—that were assigned by the committee.

Along with each year’s cleaning, families receive before and af- ter photos of the stones they subscribed to for cleaning. Donors also received before and after photos of their adopted stones.

It’s never too early to sign up a family stone for next year’s clean- ing day or sponsor one or more stones. Once we have 25 stones on the list, you will be billed, allowing us to schedule the clean- ing day with our contractor.

To participate, email Diana Macfarlane at [email protected], or Don Sugarman at [email protected] with the name(s) on the stones.

Still ours the dance, the feast, the glorious psalm; the mystic lights of emblem, and the word. — Emma Lazarus

12 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Advertisers

Of Interest

Local Leaders and Trusted Partners

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KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 13 Spotlight On

Alice Model A musical journey—by Phil Coleman

Hello readers! For this month’s "Spotlight High School, as a tutor for homebound On," I'm talking with yet another of K.I.'s youngsters in Edgemont and in the Ma- super talented and highly accomplished maroneck School System, and as a certi- members, musician and singer, Alice Model. fied Suzuki violin and piano teacher. Until last March I helped in a pre-kindergarden Welcome to my column Alice! Reading class at the Rye Nature Center, for eight your bio and some of the wonderful years, as an Environmental Educator. highlights of your musical, theatrical, and teaching accomplishments gives You told me a wonderful story about us a lot to talk about. I’ll start with your your experiences back in the day at specialized teaching career. Tell us Tanglewood. I think our readers would about it. like to hear about it!

Alice: I was born and raised in New Ro- Alice: I had attended Camp Beaupre in Alice Model chelle, New York, where I attended pub- Lenox for three summers, so I knew of lic schools. I received my Bachelor of Arts (and was awestruck by) Tanglewood. the highlight of my musical life as you Degree in 1957 at Vassar College and my Later, I became a Fellow at Tanglewood can imagine! I never even heard a string Master of Arts in Teaching at Tufts Grad- for two summers in the '50s, one of quartet until I arrived on campus! uate School of Arts and Sciences the which was under the baton of Leonard following year. My specialized training Bernstein! When I was a freshman at Organizing concerts and musical the- that led to New York State certification Vassar, my violin teacher Boris Kout- ater were a big part of your life. What in Reading and Learning Disability was zen suggested that I audition for Tan- can you tell us about it? acquired by additional course work at glewood, and I couldn’t believe that I the College of New Rochelle and Man- passed the audition. In those days, I just Alice: In l976, I created the Larch- hattanville College. I retired from a vari- played the violin. I was among a very few mont-Mamaroneck Summer Musical ety of teaching experiences in Reading members of the orchestra who were not Theatre which was a program for high and Learning Disability at Edgemont music majors at a conservatory. It was school and college–aged youngsters.

Musicians from left to right: David Newman (1st violin), Jill Sheer (2nd violin), Alexandra Fuchs (cello), and Alice Model (viola), courtesy ModelPhotos of Alan perform a Haydn quartet at Tanglewood's Ozawa Hall in appreciation of Tanglewood volunteers.

14 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Spotlight On

We rehearsed in the evenings, allowing involvement there, or maybe some of the participants to work during the day. your best memories? Six weeks of arduous training resulted in outstanding performances of Broadway Alice: I was approached by Cantor Emi- Musicals at the Emelin Theatre. This con- ly Mekler Sleeper about six years ago to tinued for 17 years under my guidance help organize a summer singing group. I as the theatre's Executive Producer. A knew from friends who sing in the Berk- friend and I instituted outdoor concerts shire Lyric Chorale that their conductor, on Thursday evenings at Flint Park in Jack Brown, didn’t rehearse them during Larchmont which remains a joy to resi- the summer and that he might be avail- dents to this day. able to lead us. Jack is not Jewish but he threw himself into it with supreme gusto You mentioned that you still play. Who collaborating with Cantor Emily and our do you play with, what kinds of pieces, steering committee to launch this group. and where do you play? It’s open to people of all faiths. We only Emergency Contacts performed as a “repeat” at K.I. one sum- Alice: Except for several months of iso- mer. I have sung in choruses most of my PASTORAL CARE. lation because of the pandemic, I am a life, including at college where the Choir If you are in need of emergency pasto- violist in several different string quartets. participated in Sunday morning Episco- ral care for any reason, please contact During this past summer, we convened pal services in the chapel. Rabbi Weiner, 413-445-4872, ext. 10. on our screen porch, six feet apart, with masks on. During the time of year that How important is , and we live in Rye, I play with a regular group Jewish identity in general, in your life? FUNERALS. every week at a friend’s apartment in Knesset Israel’s funeral arrangements White Plains. We play all quartet mu- Alice: I remember singing Ayn Kelohay- are handled with Flynn-Dagnoli funeral sic from Mozart to Shostakovitch. We nu with my dad when I was a toddler, home. Please call 413-663-6523 or 413- are all capable of sight-reading for our recognizing that the end of the Shabbat 442-1733. You can also email flynndag- own pleasure. Sometimes we work on service was nigh. My great uncle Mar- [email protected]. one piece, get coached on it, and per- cel Katz was a cantor and we listened to his many 78 recordings on our crank-up form here where we live for my fellow CARE COMMITTEE. residents. It’s a highlight on the calen- Victrola. When we lived in Larchmont I If you or another K.I. member you know dar. Over the past 30 years or so, I’ve helped make matzo balls in St. John and is experiencing serious illness requiring attended workshops all over the world Paul’s kitchen for our community-wide support, please contact the Care Com- that were coached by members of the Interfaith Seder. Here at the Osborn Re- tirement Community, I organized a com- mittee by calling the main office of Knes- Manhattan String Quartet. I also was a set Israel, 413-445-4872, ext. 10 and we mittee to write our own Haggadah, and member of the Symphony of Westches- will be in touch with you. ter until this last March. the Interfaith Seder open to all is a high- light of the lives of retirees here. I even I can see that voice and singing are performed on the viola with pianist Jane very much a part of your talents. The Rosen for Kol Nidre at K.I. recently! B'Shalom Chorale has an interesting and well-received history here in the This was a great interview. Berkshires, including a performance Thank you Alice! at K.I. Can you tell me more about your

On Hanukkah, some people ask: why couldn’t we light all eight candles in one night instead of having to light a new one for each of eight nights? It is because Hanukkah is not merely a cause for celebrations; it is a trial of perseverance. —Simon Nguyen

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 15 Kol K.I. Why Are There So Many Ways to Spell Hanukkah (Or Is It Chanukah)?

Hanukkah is known across the entirely different pronunciation English-speaking world as an (as in chat or cheat). Meanwhile, important Jewish holiday. Most h makes no distinction between people are familiar with when the initial consonant of Hanuk- the holiday takes place, whether kah and the initial h of any other they celebrate it or not. However, English word, such as house or many other details about it are In Hebrew, there's only one way to spell the name of the hood (although, in fact, most En- less widely known, for instance, Jewish Festival of Lights: Chet, Nun, Vev, Kaf, Hay. glish speakers do pronounce the the fact that it commemorates initial h in Hanukkah as a regular the rededication of the Second In English…well, it's complicated. English h). Temple of Jerusalem, or that the menorah’s burning candles A more subtle difference is the represent the continued burn- double k in some spellings, such ing of that temple’s lantern. as Hanukkah, as opposed to the But English speakers are often single one in others, such as Cha- thwarted by an even more el- nukah. This relates to a diacritic ementary question about this mark known as a dagesh: a small particular holiday: how do you dot inside the Hebrew letter kaf spell it? which changes how that letter is pronounced. Confusingly, di- A large number of variants are acritics are generally omitted possible. The Oxford English in written Hebrew, making the Dictionary, for example, lists dagesh in (Hanukkah) invisible. over twenty options. Accord- In any case, the kaf with dagesh ing to most sources, the most (visible or not) in modern He- common spellings are Hanuk- brew makes the same sound as kah and Chanukah. Such dif- a single English k, so why double ferent spellings for the same it? The answer lies in Classical pronunciation may seem sur- Hebrew, which used the dagesh prising: the initial consonants to indicate the intensification ch and h usually produce very (doubling) of a consonant. So different sounds in English. the kaf with dagesh in Classical How did this come about? Hebrew really did sound like two k’s pronounced in quick succes- Transliteration Difficulties as the initial consonant of the Hebrew sion, hence the kk in some En- glish spellings. It should come as no surprise that the word for Hanukkah. Represented by the word Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew letter het, this consonant is pronounced Not All Spellings Are Equal language, and that Hebrew and English similarly to the Scottish ch in loch. The are written in different alphabets. As a closest letter to het in standard English, By now, it should be clear that transliter- result, Hebrew words must be transliter- phonetically speaking, is h. The digraph ation from Hebrew presents a number of ated (converted from one alphabet into ch, on the other hand, was chosen to challenges. Hanukkah is far from the only another) if they are to be readable in En- represent the distinct Hebrew sound, in Hebrew-origin word with a multitude of glish. There is no definitive standard for contrast with the soft English h. spellings: chuppah or huppah? matzoh, Hebrew-to-English transliteration, mean- matzo or matzah? kippah, kippa, kipa or ing that a number of different approach- Naturally, neither choice is perfect: ch kipah? Each variant exists for its own rea- es exist, particularly in cases of sounds causes confusion with the existing En- sons, and each is valid in English. that do not usually exist in English, such glish digraph ch, which usually has an

16 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Kol K.I.

A candle is a small thing. But one candle can light another. And see how its own light increases, as a candle gives its flame to the other. Ancestors in Need! You are such a light. Ahavath Sholem Congregational — Moshe Davis Cemetery in need of maintenance

In the November 2020 KOL K.I., we an- So does this mean we can spell Hanuk- mistake). It is also a good idea to avoid nounced a fundrasier to professionally kah however we please? After all, with so extremely rare spellings. For example, a upgrade the old Ahavath Sholem Con- many competing approaches to trans- web search for Khanukka, listed among gregation Cemetery. The terrain is un- literation and so many variants in use, it the Oxford English Dictionary’s variants, even, headstones are hardly readable, would be impossible to select a defini- produces almost no English-language and some need foundational work. tively correct spelling. Moreover, - results. ish groups across the English-speaking Ahavath Sholem, the Orthodox Jewish world use a variety of spellings, so you So, how should you spell Hanukkah? We congregation in Pittsfield, was founded are unlikely to cause offence regardless suggest you choose a spelling that is in 1911. The cemetery on Churchill of your choice. both widely used and does not include Road was established in 1912. The shul any questionable double consonants. building was closed in the 1990’s. A small However, linguistically speaking, some Based on frequency, Hanukkah and group of people under the legal name choices are better than others. For in- Chanukah best satisfy these criteria. But of Ahavath Sholem Congregation, Inc., stance, Hannukah, another relatively whichever spelling you choose, make continues to maintain the cemetery as in common spelling, includes a double n. sure you use the same one throughout the past. Unlike the double k in Hanukkah, the your text. We wish you a happy, and or- We would like thank Susan (Schecter) doubling of the n has no basis in any thographically consistent, Hanukkah! Peled for the excellent idea of raising transliteration system. It is likely part of funds for Ahavath Shalem, getting a wider tendency to double certain con- Reprinted from a "Language Matters" ar- quotes for the work, and her persistence sonants in English, probably resulting ticle on Druide.com, a company that spe- in making it happen.. from a misreading of another English cializes in developing and marketing writ- Susan proposed that we reach out to transliteration (in other words, a spelling ing assistance software. family and friends of those buried there, as well as to the community at large, to raise funds. Because we cannot find the family ownership for many stones that need repair, we must rely on the gener- osity of people who feel that this ceme- tery should be maintained.

To contribute, mail a check made out to Ahavath Sholem Congregation, Inc., to Nan Bookless, 33 Livingston Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Work will begin in the Spring. Thank you for considering a donation!

For a list of those buried at Ahavath Sho- lom visit bit.ly/3j1UWYv

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 17 Yahrzeits • December/January 2020-21 • Kislev / Tevet / Shevat 5781

26 KISLEV - 12/12 21 KISLEV - 12/7 19 TEVET - 1/3 24 TEVET - 1/8 Hannah Cadden Sol Sutter Jack Greenapple Lena Skoletsky Samuels Jeanette Rosenthal Mae Goldman Sylvia Lippman Zuck- Louis Perlman Rebecca Schlichter Milton London erman Morris Wilansky Hyman Shindler Joseph Sandler Zelda Karlin Molly Boxer 27 KISLEV - 12/13 Nathan Winter Maurice Solomon Samuel K. Jaffe Lipschitz Sidney Jaffe Beatrice Kass Anna Yantovsky 20 TEVET - 1/4 15 KISLEV - 12/1 Milton Davidson Arnold Lobovits 25 TEVET - 1/9 Beate Voremberg 22 KISLEV - 12/8 Ethel Tighe Irving Model Harriette Wax Max Freadman Fern Corbett Anne Kirsch Morton Safran Benjamin Cohen Henry Lippman Stanley Joseph Cohen Rose Hayden Lillian Strul Isidor Rosner Howard Samel Esther Weiss Vera Ganter Sidney Novick 28 KISLEV - 12/14 Pauline Israel Leonard Hazen 16 KISLEV - 12/2 23 KISLEV - 12/9 Leon Rosenthal Abraham Green Raymond Weeks Freda Cohen Jack Moe Wigutow 21 TEVET - 1/5 Morton Goldberg Dr. Arthur Maislen Pamela Siegel Robert S. Braun 26 TEVET - 1/10 Etta Lurie Stella Schecter Harold Manson Harry Weltman Sheldon Rothberg Jack Novick Ronnie Schlichter Bacall Nathan G. Samek Max Mostofsky 29 KISLEV - 12/15 Regina Becker Munish Samuels 24 KISLEV - 12/10 Mollie Heller Stanley Kaufman Pauline Greenapple Harry Fuhrman Dorothy Wildman Isaac Zalutsky Barry Siegel 17 KISLEV - 12/3 Yulie Kutik Mildred Azer Gilda T. Lerner Ishiya Mizikovsky 22 TEVET - 1/6 Louis Fishelson Sol C. Simonson Reba Pines Aranka Molnar Earle Kriger Rubin Lebenbaum Morris Schlingbaum Siegfried Servos 27 TEVET - 1/11 Harry Kahn Murray Freeman Thelma Spiegel Harry Aranove Kenneth Loveman Sidney Rosenthal Benjamin Margolin Benjamin Zlotnick 17 TEVET - 1/1 William Waller 25 KISLEV - 12/11 Jeanette A. T. Berkwitz 18 KISLEV - 12/4 Richard Lazerson William Weltman Alice Kravetz Deutch Leon Rubin Annie Shainblum Joseph Molnar Alexander Kurk Jules Skoletsky Ruth Lubin Rebecca Galper Rose Raser Fannie Skolnick 23 TEVET - 1/7 Mark Acquisto Aliza Brown Mary Spellman Leo Rubinger Zipporah Buckheim Morton Schiff Ruth Slaminsky Joyce Schiller Peter Selkowitz Josef M. Wildman 18 TEVET - 1/2 Hilda Buckheim 28 TEVET - 1/12 Jacob Klein Joan Kaiser Bessie Goldenberg Sophie Apkin Katz Herman Garbowit 19 KISLEV - 12/5 Loretta Skoletsky James Scherr Jerome Silverman Louis Shainblum Arthur Adelman James Secunda Kathleen Weisbuch Arthur I. Samel Elissa Landes Jacob Penziner Herbert Wax Norma Acquisto Shirley Metzger William Taubin Helen Maislen Charles Skolnick Bessie Samek Bernice Ortenberg Abraham Arthur Geller Philmore Schiff What soap is for the body, tears Leonard Bleetstein 29 TEVET - 1/13 Stewart Wilansky are for the soul. Ellen Simon Max Gruberg 20 KISLEV - 12/6 The 'gift' of grief is that Elizabeth Cohen Morris Leavitt it presents us with the Elizabeth Cohen David Meirowitz Chainman Esther Samel opportunity to heal and grow. Dorothy Lotto Dr. Monroe Lefkowitz —Jewish Proverbs

18 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Yahrzeits • December/January 2020-21 • Kislev / Tevet / Shevat 5781

1 SHEVAT - 1/14 6 SHEVAT - 1/19 Isidore Lerner Sam Samel Sarah Udel Lillian Sacks Shirley Evans Max J. Solomon Esther Schuman Gabriel Rosenthal Bella Alimansky Lillian Frost Selma Sussman Robert Shindler Stephen Franklin Jeffrey A. Goldberg Edgar Feldman Weltman Rose Weiss Edwin E. Reder Leonard Lerner Lea Kowler 13 SHEVAT - 1/26 Morris Rispler Jeffrey W. Samek Sadie Secunda Samuel Rivlin Bessie Katz 7 SHEVAT - 1/20 Rebecca Hirsch learn. 2 SHEVAT - 1/15 Rachel Schwartz Phillip Gibson Nathan Kobritz Lifelong learning at KI! Seymour Yanofski Rose Levine Bayla Mack From Hebrew School for our children Charles Goldstein Mort Cohen Harold Gitelson to stimulating classes Sidney Temple Sarah Deutch and programs for adults… Betty Jo (Tina) Schreiber Solomon Brochin 8 SHEVAT - 1/21 14 SHEVAT - 1/27 Hyman Cohn • Nathan Schwartz Irving Moskowitz Mary S. Hurewitz Miriam Shusterman inspire. 3 SHEVAT - 1/16 Esther Levy Sidney J. Buckheim Samuel Ganter Max Bookless David Jacob Oransky Connect with each generation Iza Ritz Phila Kriger Louis Sumberg David Jaffee Share through leadership Anna Brand Seymour Bernstein 9 SHEVAT - 1/22 Tikkun Olam…transform our world Rabbi Sanford Shan- 15 SHEVAT - 1/28 Murray Felds blatt Teresa Stern Bressler • Morris Weiss Bernard Snyder Philip Steinman Abraham Michelman Harry Skoletsky grow. 4 SHEVAT - 1/17 Alan Bildner 10 SHEVAT - 1/23 Start where you are Ida Golda Badanes Julius G. Leavitt 16 SHEVAT - 1/29 Gracia Negrin Paul Rosenthal Beam with new insights Morris Metropole Barnet Lightman Phyllis Rossomando Emily Greenapple Seek guides to the unfamiliar Frank Tigges Rebecca Wolfe Idele R. Huff Cohen Dinah Katzman Nourish mind, heart & soul Ludwig Sussman 11 SHEVAT - 1/24 Leizer Tryster Moses Tobias Khinka Kogan Philip Cohen • Gordon Adelson Rebekah Susser Dubin 5 SHEVAT - 1/18 Anna Novick together. Abraham Novick Samuel Schwartz 17 SHEVAT - 1/30 William Martin June Rosenbaum Supportive calls to other members Ida Rosenthal Helen Seaman Albert Nekrutman Leslie May Osterman K.I. Cares to help during illness George Secunda Minnie Cohen Morris Goldner Lynn Stark Make a minyan Dr. Harry Selig Evelyn Azer Ida Akresh Abraham Schwartz Simon Lipton Edith Glodt Weisbuch • Herbert Goldberg Jerome Geller Helene S. Abkowitz Bell visit Richard I. Grossman 12 SHEVAT - 1/25 knessetisrael.org 18 SHEVAT - 1/31 Max Chesney for opportunities! Louis Esterman Bruce Leavitt Keve Grunin

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 19 Funds & Endowments

ADULT EDUCATION FUND HEBREW SCHOOL FUND In appreciation of In honor of In honor of Jacob Klein on the being able to borrow the Jacob Klein on the occasion occasion of his Bar Mitzvah Mahzor for the High Holiday services. of his Bar Mitzvah Amy Abramovich Parker Wright on the Joel and Beth Radsken In honor of the current B'nai occasion of her Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah class including Gabe In memory of Myrna Hammerling In memory of Dahari, Charlie Raser, Parker Irving Berkowitz Etta Kornbluth Wright and Jacob Klein BOOKLESS FAMILY Sheila Joy Berke ENDOWMENT Louis Jacobs In honor of Elisa Snowise and Lawrence Berke Jeff Cook for their work with The Landa Family In appreciation of Jacob Klein on his Bar Mitzvah With heart-felt gratitude Diana Macfarlane for her Sarah and Lawrence Klein to our dear family and patience and excellent sense CHESED FUND friends, and to our Knesset of humor In memory of Miguel Posner In memory of Julius Lubin Israel community—with everyone listed in Rabbi Mimi Cohen Molly Novick special shout out to KI David Weiner's November Cares—for their loving In memory of Riva Kutik "From the Rabbi" column, HIGH HOLIDAY APPEAL support, sustenance, and mi and all those who are Zina Etkina In honor of Jesse Cook Dubin sheberach prayers during keeping us together as and Rabbi Yaacov Rone Maxine's recent surgery a community during the BOBBI COHN and recovery. here are so Rabbi Jan Kaufman pandemic. REVITALIZATION many wonderful people to ENDOWMENT thank and we WILL contact Nan Bookless KIDDUSH FUND In memory of you individually as restored In memory of energy allows. Thank you.​ BRAUN MEMORIAL Lillian Pincus GARDEN Rebecca Solomon Maxine Bookless Robert Cohn In memory of Lisa Marcus Charles and Marcia Mandel Nan Bookless Mike and Bobbi Cohn Ev Bastow In memory of Julius Lubin MURRAY AND CECILY GENERAL DONATIONS LEVINE ENDOWMENT Ruth and Robert Waldheim CEMETERY GATE AND In memory of Sima Berezkina ROADS FUND In memory of In honor of Rabbi Weiner for Alex Kutik & Alla Zernitkaya his work with Jacob Klein for In appreciation of Murray Levine his Bar Mitzvah Lew Schiller, Don Sugarman, In memory of Sally Lenhoff Sarah and Lawrence Klein et al, for their work on the Asher Prives Cecily Levine and Amy Levine Security Grant and HVAC Bonnie Prives To help support upgrades Loretta and Joel Prives RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY Box cast and livestreaming Nan Bookless FUND Sharon Karlin In honor of Jacob Klein Alice and Alan Model on the occasion of his Bar In memory of CEMETERY FUND Elizabeth and Jay Bikofsky Mitzvah Lauren Spitz Leonard Gottlieb In memory of Danielle Kolojay Robert and Iris Cohen Suellen Havsy Anna Bass Maren Kohl ELIE HAMMERLING Julius Lubin RENEWAL FUND ENDOWMENT Warren Spit Andrew and Sandra Snyder In honor of In memory of Erica Tuchman In memory of the B'nai Mitzvah Class of Elie Hammerling 2020 Jillian Tuchman Elie Hammerling Joel and Beth Radsken Ed and Cindy Helitzer In memory of Hilda Cohen Barbara & Murray Akresh Nan Bookless In honor of Jacob Klein Fran Cohen In memory of Ron Mandler on the occasion of his Bar Rita Brine & Family Rabbi Jan Kaufman Barbara Mandler Mitzvah Steven Skoblow Len and Alice Schiller

20 n KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 Funds & Endowments

This is one of the goals of the Jewish way of living: Minimum donation to experience commonplace deeds as spiritual adventures, to funds is $5. to feel the hidden love and wisdom in all things. Endowment fund —Abraham Joshua Heschel minimum is $10. We welcome High Holiday Appeal Pledges contributions in any Yaacov & Nina Rone amount. Contributions Amy Simons Abramovich Jan Kaufman Jane & Alex Rosen of less than $5 are David & Kyneret Albert Edwin & Roselyn Kolodny Michael & Susan Albert Allen & Rosalind Kopfstein Lawrence & not publicized. Bette Sue Rosenthal Yvette Bastow Ann & Dave Krawet Steven & Ruth Rosenthal Robert & Shelley Berend George Krupp David & Janet Rothstein Elizabeth & Jay Bikofsky Alex Kutik & Alla Zernitskaya Roman & Larisa Rozenblyum JEFFREY SIEGEL Alexander Blumin Lyubov Kutik ENDOWMENT Harriet I. Samuels Pincus & Gloria Boms Fred & Brenda Landes In honor of Gary & Arlene Schiff Maxine Bookless Sharon Lazerson Jeff Siegel for his work Leonard & Alice Schiller Nan Bookless Helene Leavitt with Jacob Klein for his Bar Lewis Schiller Mitzvah Richard & Dale Charkow Rocheller Leinwand Naomi Schwartz Lawrence and Sarah Klein Miriam Cohen & Morton Taubin Beatrice Selig Michael & Roberta Cohn Cecily Levine JOSEPH AND PAULINE Sharon Siegel Nancy Cook Ira & Phyllis Lieberman SIEGEL ENDOWMENT Peter Simkin Adele Cukor Patricia Lipman In honor of Larry Siegel's & John Huffaker Marilyn Simons special birthday Joel & Phyllis Curran Jessica Lipps Galina Sirota The Karlin Family Jonathan & Lara Denmark Jessica Lipps Elliot & Judith Slotnick Lynette Dukehart WILLIAM AND MARILYN Allan & Nancy Lipton Mark & Elisa Snowise Eve & Michael Edwards SIMONS ENDOWMENT Charles & Marcia Mandel Andrew & Sandra Snyder Elaine Epstein In memory of Barbara Mandler Susan Staskin William W. Simons Merle Ferber Dorothy Margolin Gail & Ralph Strauss Amy Abramovich Robert & Patricia Geller Ellen and Stuart Masters Donald & Phoebe Sugarman Marilyn Simons Eric & Joyce Glaberson Arnold & Mazurenko Ed & Lisa Udel Paul & Lisa Green THANKSGIVING ANGELS Arnold Miller Robert & Ruth Waldheim Richard & Marcie In memory of Greenfield Simons Susan Miller David & Judith Weiner Israel Pill Myrna Hammerling Valerie Nartowicz Diane Weinstein Theresa PIll Suellen Havsy Mildred Novick Joel & Fran Wolk Dave Pill Gerald & Barbara Hayden Shiffra Perlmutter Richard Woller & Nancy Stoll Edwin & Cynthia Helitzer David Pill Jill Wollins Martin & Alice Jonas Joel & Loretta Prives Alec & Anna Yantovsky Thank you for Michael & Gloria Kaplan Joel & Beth Radsken Sergey & Natalya Yantovsky your generosity Vivian Kasen Rick & Renee Robbins Susan Zuckerman

KOL K.I. • DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 • KISLEV / TEVET / SHEVAT 5781 n 21 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Pittsfield, MA 01201 Permit # 70

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How to Make Perfect Israeli-Style Sufganiyot DOUGH 3.5 cups flour | ½ tsp salt | ¼ cup sugar | 1 Tbsp dry instant yeast | 1 egg | 3.5 Tbsp unsalted butter cut into small cubes | 1 ¼ cups lukewarm milk FRYING 1 liter canola oil FILLINGS ½ cup strawberry or raspberry jam | ½ cup nutella | ½ cup ready-made vanilla pudding ...... FOR SERVING ¼ cup powdered sugar PREPARE THE DOUGH Sift flour into a large mixing bowl. Add salt and sugar. Mix well. Add the yeast and mix. Using a mixer with a hook attachment, mix the flour mixture on low speed, adding the egg and butter. Gradually add the warm milk and continue mixing for 8-10 minutes until the dough is soft. Make the dough into a ball and place it in a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 1.5-2 hours. Once the dough has risen, place on a lightly floured work surface and using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to ¾" thick. Using a 2" cookie cutter, cut circles out of the dough, as close to one another as possible. Place the dough circles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise again for 20 minutes. In the meantime, heat the oil in a deep frying pan until it reaches 350˚F. Place up to four dough circles into the oil and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown, but not too brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with remaining dough. Allow to cool slightly before filling...... TO FILL THE SUFGANIYOT Fill a piping bag with your desired filling. Using a sharp knife, make a small slit on the top the sufganiyot. Place the piping bag inside the slit and fill until you can see the filling on top...... THE FINISHING TOUCH Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Video instructions at myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/how-to-make-perfect-sufganiyot/