Temple Bulletin
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Temple Bulletin The Meaning of calculation helpful, it is not a useful August 2016 concept when we are thinking of our Tammuz / Av 5776 contribution to Temple as tzedakah to Membership this area’s Jewish community. This Joshua Wease, President rigid, pro-rata amount also does not consider the individual financial We have been enjoying the benefit of circumstances of each of our past and current members, who have households. contributed to our community since Inside this Issue 1857 CE. We enjoy a mortgage-free This month, the Board will consider a building with beautiful art and Temple funding proposal that is Message from President multiple Torah scrolls. Just like all of intended to completely replace our Joshua Wease 1 the contributions of current funding method of members who have benchmarked dues. It is an Upcoming Events come before us, our approach that has been 2 financial adopted by many contributions to this synagogues across the Thoughts from Rabbi community are an act country. It was considered 3 Michael Schadick of tzedakah and is by the Operating Committee absolutely vital to the earlier this month and it will August Service Calendar survival of the be presented to the Board at Reform Jewish community in Grand the meeting scheduled for July 21, 3 Rapids. Our contributions ensure that 2016. The main thrust of this Announcements there is a beautiful temple, High proposal is that all contributions to August Yahrzeits Holiday services, and Jewish cultural Temple should be considered and 4 events not only when you need and treated as tzedakah and that tzedakah Aug. Anniversaries want them, but when other people amounts should be voluntarily Birthdays, Yahrzeits & need and want them, too. As I pledged by members of our 5 Bereavements discussed in last month’s newsletter, community rather than dictated to From the Peg & Mort the Temple needs to change the way them by way of “benchmark dues.” Finkelstein Archives it raises funds. his proposal also contains several 6 systemic changes to Temple’s 5777 Memorial Book Many members have expressed their administrative procedures with dissatisfaction of setting “dues” several goals. First, that all 8 because it is rigid and fundraising and pledge drives are Meyer May House Tour uncompromising. It has often been conducted consistently on an Girls Night Out likened to paying dues at a country annual basis. Second, congregants 10 club where members pay based on must receive reports Tzedaka to the Temple their own personal use and benefit. Likewise, many members have continued on page 4 11 expressed dissatisfaction with the concept of a “benchmark” amount that is dictated to members. Both concepts obliterate the joy and charity of supporting our community. While some may find a pro-rata Temple Emanuel Bulletin August 2016 Mishka has chosen to help the August Simchas! International Humane Society rescue dogs from inhumane Temple Emanuel Bulletin Meet Genevieve treatment in Asia. This newsletter is published monthly Lebster Lacrosse is Mishka's favorite sport. for the benefit of the congregation of She stands goalie for the 7th/8th Temple Emanuel. Information, views, Genevieve Marie Lebster is the grade Rockford Girls Lacrosse Team. opinions and editorial content daughter of Ryan and Cathy Lebster And we are certain her commitment expressed herein are strictly those of and the granddaughter of Gary and to saving the planet has boosted her the authors or the editorial staff. All Barbara Adelman. Genna is an honor success in this position! information is presented on a space student at Harbor Lights Middle available basis and should be School in Holland. She loves to Mishka's favorite place to be: th bake, read, swim in Lake Michigan, submitted by the 15 of the month Habonim Dror Camp Tavor. She prior to your event. and hang out with her friends, but she anticipates camp all year long and spends much of her time practicing plans to become a Camp Tavor Information should be submitted in gymnastics. She hopes to become a councilor. readable handwritten form, or typed, collegiate gymnast. and can be left at the Temple office, or We are pleased and honored to faxed to 616-459-6510. You may also In preparation to become a Bat annouce our dearest Mishka e-mail to: Mitzvah, Genna has been putting an celebrating her Bat Mitzvah [email protected] emphasis on committing random acts Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 10:00 of kindness. For a special project, in the morning. Please celebrate she has been raising money for the Temple Emanuel with us in this special morning Temple Emanuel was founded P.E.A.C.H. Foundation, which funds service and luncheon following. September, 1857 and is affiliated with research towards a cure for a rare the Union for Reform Judaism. type of brain tumor (DIPG). She was inspired to do this by a nine year old Rabbi: Michael A. Schadick family friend who was diagnosed Members Make with DIPG in March and has bravely Rabbi Emeritus: Dr. Albert M. Lewis become an important part of the Music at the research. Officers: Summer Cooler President Joshua Wease The entire congregation is welcome to Vice President Machelle Hammond come help Genna celebrate becoming a Concert Series Vice President Rick Rinzler Bat Mitzvah on August 27 at 10:00 A.M. VP for Finance Joel Young We have a wealth of musically Secretary Karen Padnos talented members at Temple. Some Past President Len Robinson have agreed to share their music with Meet Mishka Witkin us prior to Friday services. Thanks to Address: 1715 East Fulton St Pam Rush for organizing this Grand Rapids, MI 49503 delightful addition to our social hour! Mishka has many gifts, one is her ear Phone: 616 - 459-5976 for music. She works out complicated songs on the piano by ear and Concerts will be in the Temple Fax: 616 - 459-6510 plays clarinet in Band at Rockford Auditorium (that’s the other half that Middle School. Mishka has looks like the sanctuary) and will Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday always been a highly creative begin at 5:30 PM. All are welcome! 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. person with a heart of gold, love for animals and great sensibility. She is August 5th—Lori Jacobs often the person her friends and family turn to for sorting out what August 26th—Todd Wilke, Christine is fair and just. Mishka is very Golden and Michelle Benjamin committed to doing what is right-- and being right. Most apropos, . .Page 2 . Temple Emanuel Bulletin August 2016 . Postcards from August Service Jerusalem Calendar Rabbi Michael Schadick is on We thank our members for Sabbatical until August 16th. leading services this summer while Rabbi Schadick is away on sabbatical. He will return on August 16th. Friday, August 5th 6:15 PM July 7, 2016 Shabbat Services Rabbi Schadick found a fellow Jonathan Golden leads services. Michigander at a café in his There will be a Summer Cooler neighborhood. It’s a small world Concert featuring Lori Jacobs in the after all! Auditorium during the social hour from 5:30 to 6:15. Friday, August 12th 6:15 PM Shabbat Services Rabbi Emeritus Albert M. Lewis leads services. Miska Witkin will participate July 3, 2016 in preparation for her Bat Mitzvah. How blessed I am this morning to be We thank the Mixon-Witkin Family for at the most sacred site in the world hosting the Oneg Shabbat. for Jews. The Kotel is all that remains of the ancient Temple. I am Friday, August 19th placing the prayers of our United 6:15 PM Jewish School students and their Shabbat Services families in the ancient stones. My July 8, 2016 We welcome Rabbi Schadick home eyes are not very dry. Got Halvah and Challah? Sweets & from his sabbatical. We will bread in abundance at the Machaneh celebrate August birthdays & Yehuda market. anniversaries. There will be a chicken dinner following services. Bring a pot-luck side dish. $3/person or $10 for a family. RSVP to the office by Thursday 8/18 at noon. Friday, August 26th 6:15 PM Shabbat Services There will be a Summer Cooler Concert featuring Todd Wilke-piano, Christine Golden-violin, and Michelle Benjamin-clarinet in the Auditorium The feelings of holiness at this site in during the social hour from 5:30 to Jerusalem are simply overwhelming. 6:15. Let us all take a moment today to pray for peace. .Page 3 . Temple Emanuel Bulletin August 2016 . [email protected] to help . Ahavas Israel with this mitzvah! . Corners of the Field August Garden Needs Message from President Yahrzeits Volunteers Josh Wease August 5 continued from page 1 Sol Bach of the Temple’s financial health on a Ruth Gittlen regular basis. Third, that we must Ben Goldstein enhance the joy of supporting our Gertrude Hammerman community through voluntary Sam Hammerman giving. Last, we require a system Lora Lurie that will encourage younger people, college students and young families to join and get active in our community. August 12 Maxine Brink Please contact me if you have Charles Ciner questions, comments, or concerns Mildred Gibby email is the best way to reach me: Alfred Gottleib [email protected]. Arend Vyn (pictured above) Michael Mehlman harvested 230 onions, which he had All are welcome to the Board Edwin Pupke planted in our community garden last Meeting, which will be at Temple at Ethel Rutstein April. Arend has been helping in the 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2016. David Spungen garden as part of his Bar Mitzvah As an aside, with the exception of Al Winniman program. this month, Board Meetings are typically every second Thursday of We welcome and need helpers to the month at 6:00 p.m.