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Etz Chayim Conservative Synagogue’s Monthly Newsletter AUG, 2020 AV/ELUL 5780

REGULAR SERVICES ARE CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19. VIRTUAL SERVICES MAY BE LISTED UNDER THE UPCOMPING EVENTS SECTION IN THIS PUBLICATION.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE customs on whether we could really get in without the 14-day quarantine. After I want to take a minute to say that it is an hour or so and many telephone good to be back as President of Etz conversations between people more Chayim. This is the 3rd time I’ve had the important than myself, we were allowed privilege to serve. Each time has been to come in. When I finally got to baggage very different. The first time I remember claim, there was nobody there. It was was around the time of the creation of empty. If any of you have been there you NACHAS. I also remember having know what a mad-house Ben Gurion lunches with the President of Temple Airport can be. There are usually people B’Nai Shalom several times in hopes of everywhere. The only thing there was my trying to do some common things. The small red baggage sitting on the floor at second time as President was during our the end of a quiet conveyor. I thought I 50th Anniversary. This time, it’s COVID- was in an episode of Netflix Black Mirror 19 and Etz Chayim services online. Our (or, remember the Twilight Zone?). I was world is changing. also able to go for a quick visit to my

sister-in-law. She was stunned that I Speaking of COVID-19, I recently had the showed up at their doorstep. They had a privilege to travel to Israel for work. To similar look on their face as the hotel staff avoid what I think is a 14-day mandatory who couldn’t fathom how we weren’t quarantine, we were only allowed to be in quarantined. country for 72 hours. I’ve been to Israel many times before, but never for only 72 I share this with you to say…. this year hours. Past trips were at least 10 days, will be very different than any year we’ve and most of them were for longer. During had so far. Our synagogue will be this last trip, while at Ben Gurion Airport, experiencing things that have never been there was a bit of a delay in getting in. since founded many years ago. Our There was a fair bit of confusion while in Jewish faith will surely be tested. It won’t

be easy, but I encourage each of us to embrace all those things that have Manya has taken on the tricky task of brought us joy throughout our lives and coordinating social events through a through our Jewish traditions and pandemic. Please let her know what experiences. Turn the volume knob up, unique ideas you have. There are plenty and turn it to 11. Be Strong and let your of fun ideas that may work for us...Zoom heart take courage. socials, food trains where we drop off meals to each other’s houses, sending All the Best. letters in the mail, etc. I hope we can be creative and still enjoy each other’s Gary presence from afar.

We are working on advertising our Gift BOOK CLUB Shop items through the mail so those that are interested in purchasing items can Our next meeting is virtual, and will be see what we have in stock. Donna held on August 13, at 11:30am. The Lyonnais (Gift Shop Chair) and Michelle book is Man’s Search for Meaning by Persons (Corresponding Secretary) are Viktor E. Frankl. currently working on putting something together for us. For information about joining the discussion, contact us at [email protected] . Thank you for your participation and patience as we try new things to make our Synagogue and Sisterhood continue SISTERHOOD to thrive through these trying times.

Hi All, Amy Mauldin

I am excited to take on this new role as Sisterhood President! Thank you all for UPCOMING EVENTS your advice and encouragement as we all Jul 29 Virtual Tisha B’Av services at go into this new year together. 7:45 PM

Aug 03 Virtual Gathering with There are a lot of changes to our normal Stephen Listfield routine. We’ve cancelled in-person Aug 08 Virtual Bat service for services, and we’re doing Zoom Eileen Dorit Jackson, 10 AM conferences for Sisterhood meetings, Aug 13 Virtual Book Club meeting at Board meetings, and Rabbi discussions. 11:30. It’s a difficult time to continue to socialize Aug 17 Virtual Gathering with Rabbi and keep close to each other, but I hope Stephen Listfield that we can still do our best to do so; it’s for our own mental health and sanity!

DONATIONS **

General Fund From: Chabad of Huntsville On Behalf of Chevra Kadisha services for Sandy Rosnick.

From: Roslyn Honan A Memorial Plaque in Memory of her husband, Rabbi Honan.

From: Sue & Joe Paddock

From: Karen Hirsch & Eric Jackson In Honor of Eileen Jackson’s upcoming Bat Mitzvah

BBYO Fund

From: Shirley Roberts

To: Morton Banks – Thinking of you, so

sorry for your loss. IMS

Jewish Education Fund The IMS Leadership Council meets on From: Karen Hirsch & Eric Jackson the fourth Thursday of each month, In Honor of Eileen Jackson’s Bat Mitzvah normally at one of the Congregational

Member’s. With Covid-19, the meetings From: Millie & Max Rosenthal are hosted via Zoom. Though we have To: Morton Banks & Family – With one representative seat on the deepest sympathy on the loss of your Leadership Council, the meeting is open wife, Sylvia. to all members that are interested in interfaith social action. More general Rabbi Fund information is available on their From: Linda & Fred Kolchin website: http://www.interfaithmissionservi ce.org/. The four ministry areas of From: Paulette Goldstein service are: To: Stan Belsky & Family- My thoughts • Community Service are with you. I cherish the wonderful • Social Justice times we shared and our friendship. • Interfaith Cooperation • Racial Equality From: Shirley Roberts To: Stan Belsky & Family – Thinking of Barry Meyer, you and very sad for your loss. Leadership Council Representative Etz Chayim Congregation

From: Millie & Max Rosenthal From: Dale & Rosalind Howard To: Stan Belsky – We share your sorrow New Year Book donation on the loss of your wife, Diane. From: Fred & Linda Kolchin Outdoor Lighting Fund New Year Book donation From: Natha Hancock, Robin Slomka & Families From: Pam & Ken Rhodes In Memory of Gertrude and Perry Schlein. New Year Book donation

Sacks Memorial Fund From: Stanley Sacks From: Linda & Fred Kolchin New Year Book donation

Sisterhood From: Randy & Leigh Miller From: Shirley Roberts New Year Book donation For High Holiday Flowers From: Rita & John Neely *** Donations listed as “New Year Book In honor and memory of Lillian & Bernard donation” are in addition to an Lieberman appreciated entry in the booklet. *** New Year Book donation

From: Linda Kamisher From: Nannette Schwartz New Year Book donation New Year Book donation

From: Ginger Nelson From: Barry Yoffie & Leslie Broome New Year Book donation New Year Book donation

From: Ron Goldberg New Year Book donation BIRTHDAYS

From: Gary & Michal Hall Aug 01 Scott Hancock New Year Book donation Aug 02 Joey Yalowitz Aug 05 Amy Gavzy From: Michael & Clare Grisham Aug 08 Richard Berry New Year Book donation Aug 18 Deb Benko Aug 20 Andrea Rosenthal From: Dr. & Mrs. Alan Sacks and Family Aug 23 Lauren Goodman New Year Book donation Aug 25 Michael Zelickson Aug 25 Tabitha Yael Cooke From: Natha & Scott Hancock Aug 28 Manya Fuerst New Year Book donation Aug 29 Daniel Weiderecht

From: Bill & Dorothy Goldberg New Year Book donation

ANNIVERSARIES Ted Roberts, the Scribbler on the Roof and a long-time, respected and loved Aug 09 Michal & Gary Hall member and teacher at Etz Chayim, Aug 12 Linda Kolchin & Frederick Kolchin passed away in March of this year. We Aug 16 Kelley & Jeffrey Zelickson will continue to run his stories. Aug 29 Sue & Joe Paddock

THE BALL SHEM TOV’S MIDNIGHT YAHRZEITS** VISITOR By Ted Roberts, the Scribbler on Jul 31 Av 10 Sadie Kopkin* the Roof Aug 04 Av 14 Bernard Roberts Aug 06 Av 16 Beatrice Goldner* Aug 07 Av 17 Fannie Feldman* The followers of the Shem Tov love Aug 07 Av 17 Rabbi Bernard M. Honan to tell of his courage in facing up to his Aug 08 Av 18 Gilbert A. Greenbaum opponents. The holy man, they used to Aug 12 Av 22 Jack Blum say, could walk among wolves without Aug 14 Av 24 Betty Librett drawing a deep breath. But the most epic Aug 18 Av 28 Sarah Fink confrontation of his life is rarely told. And Aug 18 Av 28 Morris Martin Singer never when children are near. And never Aug 19 Av 29 Dolores D’Acosta Hein after nightfall. Aug 23 Elul 03 Belle D’Acosta* It is a fearful story unless one has pulled Aug 25 Elul 05 Adolph Goldstein* the cloak of faith tightly around one’s Aug 26 Elul 06 Caryl Hollenberg body, and even then it’s best to first recite Aug 26 Elul 06 Grete Goldstein* the Shema under your breath. Aug 26 Elul 06 Milton Levitt Aug 26 Elul 06 Roland Jordan Krantz It happened on a February night in Aug 31 Elul 11 Milton Baum* Meziboz. Our teacher had just finished Sep 01 Elul 12 June Rothfeder reading the story of Daniel. He put down Sep 01 Elul 12 Leonard Flank* his book softly, with reverence, the way a Sep 03 Elul 14 Albert Goldner* man puts down his wine cup after Sep 04 Elul 15 John Goldstein* enjoying a rare, delicious wine. The story Sep 06 Elul 17 Molly Silver Rodkin* continued to roll through the mind of the holy man as he smiled in recollection of * Plaque the prophet’s courage. **Light Memorial candle sunset of His thoughts were interrupted by a previous evening rustling of the curtain which framed his open window. The wind? No, there was definitely something concealed by the folds of the drape. Like a human, but shorter with a grotesque back. Still half hidden by the drape, it spoke:

“Israel , my master, the when a roasted chicken is in the adversary, has sent me to make a oven? Knowledge, you shall have bargain with you.” also. You shall unlock the secrets of the Kabalah like a child unwraps a honey Israel knew with whom he was dealing, cake. Your brilliance shall eclipse both but he gazed without fear at the deformity the Tsar and the chief Rabbi of hidden behind the drape and went right to Moscow. They shall both kneel down to the point. “A bargain? Your master has you; together if you wish.” no power and no home in the human heart.” “And remember one thing, holy man, before you answer. Lust and purity, evil The drape rustled wildly. “You’re a fool,” and good, the Tsar and the Baal Shem croaked the devil’s minion. “Who do you Tov, my master and the ministering think enticed Joseph’s brothers to sell angels all come from the same him into bondage and made David lust for Creator. Pebbles on a beach from the Bathsheva and tells the gentle milkmaid same steep cliff” who brings you the cool milk to skim off just enough cream so you won’t notice?” Seductive words. The teacher, himself, has often expressed similar thoughts. “So, tell me the bargain,” said the Baal The Creator made both crab apples and Shem Tov. golden sugar apples. Only a fool would “It is a simple one; your heart’s desire in eat sour fruit. And the reminds us exchange for your allegiance to my not to be foolish. He had often lectured master. He recognized your wisdom his followers on the virtue of joyfulness as even if HE, whose name I am not allowed they danced and drank bottle after bottle to speak, and some of the district of sweet wine, as yellow as the don’t. Why slave in the forest or run a candlelight. tavern? Your hands should hold rings of Maybe, thought the Baal Shem Tov, with gold and bracelets of emeralds, not wood all this promised wealth and power he saws; and your mind should dwell on the could make justice – tame the wild heart world’s mysteries, not barroom accounts.” of his fellow man. The Baal Shem Tov thought of Elijah He looked away from the shape beside facing the priests of Baal; the prophet the window and stared out at the hillside Nathan striding into a vengeful king’s made silver by the moon and melodious throne room, shouting accusations; by the wind that played it like a lyre. He Daniel among the snarling lions; and he was silent for many minutes, and then he was not afraid. spoke calmly to the minion from the “Riches will be yours,” cooed the seducer world’s underside. in the drapes. “And all the pleasures of “What must I do for you and your love, which remember come from our master?” Creator. I’ve seen your wife,” added the evil spirit, “a fine helpmate for carrying The drape rustled with a sudden those clods of clay from the forest, but no excitement. Bathsheva. Why eat boiled cabbage “One deed,” said Satan’s servant. “A he shouted as he rushed to the drape single imperfect act that will allow my and grabbed the shape enclosed in its master to boast for generations to come folds. With a pitiful whimper, it shrunk that the Baal Shem Tov of Meziboz under his hands into a small, struggling served two masters – The Prince of thing like a toad. It fell to the floor. Darkness as well as the G-d of Light.” The cat was on it in a single bound. And “Your neighbor, the old man who spends devoured the residue of evil even before most of his day in bed complaining about our teacher could examine it. his ills and eating porridge, which leaks “Only evil is not crowned with a purpose,” all over the bed clothes – he will die in said the Baal Shem Tov as he stroked his two days, says my master who owns cat with the mangled ear. him. He is of no value. Press a pillow over his face. Tonight.”

“No,” said the Baal Shem Tov. “I have observed that in the morning when his daughter goes to the river to wash clothes and gather firewood, he watches her child and amuses her with stories.”

“All right – all right. Then go slay the goat in the backyard who kills the trees by eating their bark; and frightens the children? Take a rock and break its head. She is of no use.” “And who will supply the children’s milk?” responded the holy man. The drape was rustling with anger. The bounty of the devil could not be purchased by swatting a mosquito. Some substantial evil must be committed. “Here’s my final offer,” stated the messenger. “That scruffy cat with the maimed ear who’s been curling around your leg our entire conversation – squeeze his neck until the light in his yellow eyes dies. He’s only a carrier of fleas and vermin; and besides, I don’t like the way he’s been glaring at me.” The Baal Shem Tov answered softly. “But he kills the mice who hide in the dark corners of the house. He has a place in the universe. AND YOU DON’T!”