Rabbi's Message
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congregation brit shalom the centre scroll | november–december 2019 | tishri–tevet 5780 Rabbi’s Message | Bet Hasdai rabbi david e. ostrich mi ha’ish: who is the one who loves life? The following is one of Rabbi Ostrich’s Jerusalem (aka: From the Summit Yom Kippur Sermons. of Mount Scopus), Avigdor Hameiri, 1928 Many of us know the Israeli song, Me’al From the summit of Mount Scopus, Pisgat Har Hatzofim, From the Summit of I will prostrate myself to you, Mount Scopus, which is actually a love song From the summit of Mount Scopus, to Jerusalem: O Jerusalem, peace unto you. For a hundred generations From the summit of Mount Scopus, Courtesy of London Wolfe Photography I have dreamt of you, I will prostrate myself to you, To merit to cry and behold From the summit of Mount Scopus, the light of your countenance. O Jerusalem, peace unto you. For a hundred generations Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I have dreamt of you, light up your face to your son, To merit to cry and behold Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the light of your countenance. from your ruins will I build you. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I came here with a confident heart light up your face to your son, To rebuild your ruins, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Yet how can I build your Temple from your ruins will I build you. When there is no peace among your children? The song dates back to 1928 and has been Sephardi, Ashkenazi, Yemenite, Falasha, recorded as a beautiful, yearning adoration Urphali, Georgean, Haredi and Liberal. INSIDE THIS ISSUE since well before Independence. It remains Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Rabbi’s Message 1 popular to this day, and many people get this is not what I have dreamt about. Schedule of Events 4 goose-bumps listening to it and singing Jerusalem, Jerusalem, along. However, this loving song is lifted make peace among your sons. Gift Funds 10 from a poem with a very different mood. From the summit of Mount Scopus, Yahrzeits 12 Written by Avigdor Hame’iri, a devoted Zionist, the original also includes the poet’s O Jerusalem, peace unto you. Scroll Sponsors 14 frustration and critique of the politics and Thousands of exiles around the world, social dynamics of the developing Jewish Raise up their eyes to you. State. Here is the full text: In thousands of blessings may you be blessed, Kingly sanctuary, royal city. Continued on page 6 Congregation Brit Shalom | 620 E. Hamilton Ave., State College, PA 16801 | 814.238.4611 | [email protected] President’s Column barry ruback of his position including: conducting weekly services; teaching; preparing students for Bar and Bat Mitzvah; lead- ing High Holy Day services; working with prospective converts; representing us in the community and in Interfaith programs, and being the religious stew- ard of our community. Every year we One of the most significant things I’ve renovations, as they are of a different support the Rabbi’s continuing profes- learned in the past year and a half is the nature than the immediate needs (e.g., sional development, which includes his importance of timeframes in the opera- a broken water heater) covered in the membership in professional organiza- tion of an institution. At Brit Shalom, annual budget. Generally, because the tions and attendance at conferences. our discussions about the future fall sorts of needed building repairs that Funds directed toward this goal will into one of three timeframes. take multiple years to achieve are not ensure that we can provide for his con- considered emergencies, they are often First, we are concerned about the im- tinued outstanding services. deferred by organizations. Only when mediate future. Thus, much of our there’s an emergency, like a roof leak, meetings deal with the budget and are these repairs made. 2. Educating the Next expenditures for the current year. Can Generation of Jews we have this program? Will we have It is this third, intermediate, timeframe Goal: $50,000 enough to make a specific repair? For to which our fundraising campaign is this timeframe, we rely on annual dues, directed. We have a goal of $600,000. We need to educate our children so that on the Kol Nidre appeal, and on gifts Of this amount, about 40% is directed they have an awareness of Jewish tradi- directed toward immediate needs. at maintaining the high quality of the tions, a knowledge of Torah, an under- intellectual and religious life of the standing of Jewish history, a connection Second, we are concerned about the synagogue (by supporting the continu- to the land of Israel, and a sense of long-term future of the Congregation. ing education and professional devel- responsibility to others through ethical How can we ensure that the Congrega- opment of the Rabbi), meeting unmet decency and Tikkun Olam. We must tion will exist in 50 years? What if the Congregational needs (especially the continue to support our religious school building suffered extensive damage? need for programs for our teenagers), so that the tuition is reasonable for For this timeframe, past leaders have set and adapting to the changing nature young families. Currently, the Congre- up endowment funds, whose principal of our membership (the need for more gation provides about 70 percent of the can be touched only in the event of a programming for our older members). cost of religious school. Funds directed true emergency. These funds provide The other 60% of our fundraising toward this goal will enable us to re- an annual supplement (currently, about campaign is directed at making long- duce this allocation from our member- $45,000) to our operating budget, but needed repairs to the building. Below I ship dues and will enable our school to their real purpose is to make sure that provide a little more detail about our six purchase needed materials to improve the synagogue will exist in the long-term. Congregational needs. the quality of the education we offer. The third timeframe, the one we have often skipped over, is for the next 10 1. Continued Excellence 3. Involving Teenagers years. It is during this timeframe that in the Rabbinate in the Jewish Community the Congregation can think about ways Goal: $50,000 Goal: $50,000 to improve the synagogue and to meet At present, we offer limited educational the changing needs of our members. We need to support the Rabbi as he and social programs for teenagers after It is also within this timeframe that engages with our members and fulfills their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Funds directed we need to address major building the many varied and expansive duties toward this goal will allow us to provide Continued on page 8 2 | congregation brit shalom Notes from the Religious School mike radis We have begun the school year on a high Our teachers this year are primarily mem- note. There are 6 new kindergarteners and bers of the congregation rather than Penn shabbat in song this is a great number for us. Consecration State undergraduates and this has given us with michelle for our new students—kindergarten and a buy-in from the community which I hope katz several who joined us this year—were held continues into the future. on Simchat Torah. Once each month, member We would like to thank Esther Siegfried for and musician extraordinaire This year we have looped the curriculum so allowing the Kindergarteners and first grad- Michelle Katz will provide that we could combine classes—K–1, 2–3, ers to decorate bags that held treats which the music for our Friday 4–5 and 6–7. Students will have both parts of were given to members of the community in evening service. Bringing the curriculum over the course of two years. nursing homes for Rosh Hashanah. her collection of inspiring and upbeat Jewish music, Michelle will enhance our worship service and bring a Shabbat smile to every- JCC Nursery School Kid’s Korner one’s face. Join us! dara lavallee Fall dates are: November 22 The last couple months have been busy! We the shofar to welcome the new year in. The are in full swing at The JCC! We spent much kiddos loved this! Now that October hit we December 27 (Chanukah) of September getting to know one another are learning all about the holiday Sukkot. We and watching lots of friendships blossom. made edible sukkahs and spent some time We also welcomed the Jewish New Year in playing in the real sukkah. and learned all about Rosh Hashanah. The thanks to We are looking forward to much more fun in Rabbi came into our classroom and blew sukkah builders the coming months at The JCC! Thanks to the following JCC Nursery School Silent Auction congregants for helping to set up the Sukkah this Come support the Nursery School on Dozens of items to bid on, from: year: November 7, 6:00–8:00 P.M. for their • Mt. Nittany Winery Annual Silent Auction! Bidding will take Bruce Gluckman • 2000 Degrees place 6:30–7:30 P.M. Pinky Heyn • Pampered Chef Adult-only event (ages 12+). Due to logistical Barry Ruback circumstances, we will NOT be offering child • Stella & Dot Dave Eissenstat care in the nursery school. • Animal Kingdom Brenda Eissenstat Wine and appetizers from Brown Dog Cater- • Growing Tree ing, Websters Cafe, Penn State Bakery, Sweet • Cafe Lemont Cliff Cohen Temptations from Terri, Seven Mountain Wine Cellars, and more! • Taste Buds Kitchen $5 suggested donation for drinks and • Ten Thousand Villages appetizers. Cash and check only. • And more! november–december, 2019 | 3 Upcoming Schedule shabbat worship services upcoming b’nai mitzvah Fridays at 7:00 P.M.