The Israelight Congregation Beth Israel of Media a Reconstructionist Jewish Community

November 2020 Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 The Israelight Congregation Beth Israel of Media A Reconstructionist Jewish Community

SAVE THE DATE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 7:00 - 8:30 RABBI DEBORAH WAXMAN, PH.D President, Reconstructing Judaism

Notes from the Field: Reconstructing Judaism During Pandemic. Rabbi Deborah Waxman will speak about the current political and social environment from a Reconstructionist perspective.

The first woman rabbi to head a Jewish congregational union and seminary, Rabbi Waxman, Ph.D., became president of Reconstructing Judaism in 2014. Rabbi Waxman projects a vision of Judaism that embraces all people and inspires Jews to be strong allies to the most vulnerable among us. Rabbi Waxman leads the Reconstructionist congregational union through close collaboration with the Board of Governors, the leaders and congregants of the nearly 100 affiliated Reconstructionist communities, and her extraordinary colleagues in the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association. She also serves as the sixth president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, the movement’s sole seminary and a key part of the Reconstructing Judaism organization. Rabbi Waxman is the creator and host of the podcast, Hashivenu: Jewish Teachings on Resilience. Under Rabbi Waxman's guidance, Reconstructing Judaism has worked to strengthen relationships with congregational leadership, seed new initiatives for the 21st century (including ritualwell.org), building the movement's ties to Israel, supporting Havaya summer camps, and promoting and developing new and groundbreaking conver- sations through Evolve. In 2016, Rabbi Waxman was named to the annual “Forward 50” list of most influential Jews by the Forward, a pre-eminent American Jewish publication.

From both Rabbis 3 Spiritual support Donations 7 Religious Practice Committe 5 Thank you Table Guest Rabbi, ISO Leaders, Chanukah of Adult Education 8,9 Yahrzeits 6 Contents Many guests teaching; Global Day of Learning We remember them Congregation Business 10, 11 Landscaping 6 How we became a 501 (c) 3 organization Beautiful Mezuzot added to garden 2 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Rabbi’s Message Rabbi Nathan Martin Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 When Mordecai Kaplan, the founding should respect the true election results, whatever the outcome. This thinker of the Reconstructing Judaism seemed like a good beginning for me to guide my thinking and ac‐ movement, wrote his book, The Future of tions. the American Jew, at the end of World War II, he reflected in one section of his book While I know that this month ahead is one of uncertainty, I do also on the Jew's task on living in "Two Civiliza‐ know that we are stronger together as we face the vicissitudes of this tions," Jewish life and what he called charged moment. May we remember as we move into this moment American democratic nationalism. He to stay connected, to pray for each other and our country, and to noted how a genuine democracy "recog‐ draw from the best of our values as we bring our voices into the pub‐ lic square. nizes the right of individuals and of groups [like the Jews] to be different and I close these thoughts with a prayer for voting written by Rabbi David distinctive (p.97), and that our fulfillment as a people en‐ Seidenburg. Feel free to use this as a resource. Wishing all strength, hances and enriches broader society. and may we be stronger together.

I find myself during this election season returning to this two Behold, I am intending civilizational framework. What are my core Jewish values that through my vote | through my prayer I want to guide me in my voting and my interaction with oth‐ to seek peace for this country, ers who may not share my political opinions? What are my as it is written (Jer. 29:7): core American values that I want my public officials to best "Seek the peace of the city embody? And how should I respond if I feel that the fabric our where I cause you to roam democratic system is being challenged, if red lines are being and pray for her to YHVH (Hashem/Adonai/God), crossed? for in her peace you all will have peace." As I write this I don't have an answer to these questions. In a May it be Your will, YHVH, that votes recent call with other Philadelphia rabbis we heard Ben Poor, be counted faithfully a new employee at T'ruah, the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and may You count my vote share his key areas of concern around the election which as if I had fulfilled this verse were: that all votes must be counted, that there should be im‐ with all my power. partial investigation of any election irregularities, and that we May You give a listening heart to whomever we elect and may it be good in Your eyes to raise for us a good government Rabbi’s Note Rabbi Linda Potemken to bring healing, justice and peace to all living in this land While discussing the Torah story of Noah, the and to all the world, and upon Jerusalem, flood and the ark, a colleague casually mentioned a government that will honor the image of God a connection between the flood and the pan‐ in all humanity and in Creation, demic. In the story of the flood, the ark was the for rulership is Yours. place of safety and security, the place that literally Just as I have participated in the election allowed life to float upon rather than drowning in so may I merit to do good works the waters. He suggested that in this time of pan‐ and to repair the world through all my efforts, demic, our congregations are metaphorical arks, and through the act of... [fill in your pledge] allowing people to float rather than sink into de‐ which I pledge to do today spair as we pass the seven month mark of con‐ on behalf of all living creatures, tending with Covid. I found his observation quite in remembrance of the covenant of Noah's waters, touching and I wondered if you might agree with his analogy. How to protect and to not destroy has Beth Israel been an ark, a safe place to hold you and help you to the earth and her plenitude. rise above the despair of the pandemic? What other places and prac‐ Give to all the peoples of this country tices have you found that have nourished you and kept you whole and the strength and will to pursue righteousness healthy through these times? As I begin this period of sabbatical I and to seek peace as unified force am exploring the texts and practices that nourish me emotionally, to uproot racism and violence spiritually and intellectually. I am already excited by some discoveries and to make healing, good life and peace flourish that I will share with you when I return in December. For now, as we here and throughout the world enter a new Hebrew month (Cheshvan), I encourage you to find ways and fulfill for us the verse (Ps. 90:17): to hold yourself through these stormy times ‐ made stormier by the "May the pleasure of Adonai our God political situation. Let's cultivate faith and together take action to be upon us, and establish bring love and goodness to the world. As we celebrate the new the work of our hands for us, moon, the new month, let these actions begin with nourishing our‐ and make the work of our hands endure." selves so that we have what to give to this hungry world. 3 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 From both rabbis:

Friends, BI continues to oﬀer support groups as we navigate life in this pandemic. The following groups will meet in September. Other groups may be added. Please let the rabbis know if you would like a diﬀerent type of group. Many thanks to BI therapists for giving of their time and talent. Thank you to Michelle Atkins, Sharon Boyd, Linda Cohen, Marilyn Drukin, Amy Fantalis, Barry Jacobs and Julie Mayer.

SUPPORT GROUPS IN NOVEMBER In the study of the Senior Rabbi COUPLES SUPPORT FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON Mussar and Lunchtime learning will resume at the end with Dr. Julie Mayer Sunday, November 15th 4pm of December when R. Linda returns from Sabbatical

Please check the weekly/daily announcements as other group meetings may be added.

Our community is encouraged to join the Kehillah of Delaware County Facebook group. The Kehillah is a place where the Delco synagogues and the Jewish feder‐ ation share Jewish programming opportunities. Recently it included a Rosh Hashannah message from our rabbis :) Here is the link: www.facebook.com/groups/149345945119570

Expanded Service Schedule Continues FINANCIAL HARDSHIP? For those of you who may need some assistance for your small business or other ﬁnancial is‐ BI will continue to oﬀer an expanded service schedule sues that have arisen from the pandemic, consider consulting through the month (and beyond) the following resources: The Hebrew Free Loan Society of Philadelphia: https://hflphilly.org/ Grants, loans, other re‐ Please tune in for Friday night (7:30pm) and Shabbat sources: jewishtogether.org run by the Jewish Federations of morning (9:45 am) services and for spiritual practice, North America. Mondays and Thursdays at 9am.

How to Reach our Rabbis By phone: (610) 566‐4645, choose option 1 if Diane does not answer. A voice message left for either Rabbi will reach them quickly.

By e‐mail: Rabbi Linda: [email protected] Rabbi Nathan: [email protected]

Not sure who’s ‘on’ this weekend? Check the calendar, easily available at bethisraelmedia.org and on the penultimate page of this Israe‐ light. Also, each rabbi's e‐mail account responds with a message indicating which rabbi is 'on.'

In cases of a real emergency... Senior Rabbi Linda’s and Associate Rabbi Nathan’s home phone numbers can be found in the Member’s Area of our website under How to Reach Our Rabbis and in our Directory. The Rabbinic Liaison Committee exists in most Reconstructionist communities to ensure the maintenance of a good working relationship between the rabbis and the congregation. While congregants are always welcome and encouraged to discuss ques‐ tions or concerns directly with Rabbi Linda or Rabbi Nathan , they may at times feel more comfortable talking to the Rabbinic Liaison committee. Issues raised by congregants are discussed conﬁdentially and, when appropriate, are shared with a Rabbi in a constructive manner. To discuss a question or concern with a lay member of the committee please feel free to contact: Julian Yates ([email protected]) Deb Erie ([email protected]), Emily Levine ([email protected]), or Linda Cohen ([email protected]). 4 Volume 44 No. 2 Board of Directors November 2020 Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 President’s Message: LYNN CASHELL On Yom Kippur, we were not together in the sanctuary, so no one received a card with tabs to make their YK pledge. This is the brief speech I made that afternoon. Please consider making a donation to our beloved community.

I have been a member of Beth Israel for 22 years. During that time, I have buried both my parents, cele‐ brated the marriage of my son, Douglas; the Bat Mitzvah of my daughter, Emily, the conversion of my hus‐ band, David; and my own adult Bat Mitzvah. Each time our community was there to support my family and me.

I came to Beth Israel not knowing what Reconstructionist Judaism was, or any Hebrew, and had negative past relationships with Rabbis and Hebrew School. Throughout my tenure as a lay leader on multiple com‐ mittees and the Board, all of that has changed. I certainly know what Reconstructionist Judaism is and I have learned to read and understand some Hebrew. I’m continually surprised that I have a key to a synagogue and not only cell phone numbers for Rabbi Linda, Rabbi Nathan, and Adva, but personal relationships.

God commanded us to build a mishkan so they could dwell among us. Over the past 7 months, our building has been un‐ available to us, yet we have maintained our community connections. This has been an incredibly stressful time on so many levels, but the continuity of services and educational and social events have sustained me. It proved to me how much we support each other. As Rabbi Lew put it, I am a better Jew because of our association.

We have needed each other more than ever and we need to maintain our connections. It is not our building that binds us, but the people. This year we do not have the tabbed cards to make our pledges so I urge you to make a Yom Kippur donation on our website or by mail, so our vibrant community can continue to thrive.

Here is the link to our website: Yom Kippur Donation or you can pay by mail.

With gratitude,

Lynn Cashell, President

P.S. Winter is around the corner and wouldn't you like a new book, puzzle, or game to play on those chilly nights by the ﬁre? We have an ongoing puzzle, book, and game exchange. The bins are located on the porch of the green house.

Social Action Please remember to donate personal care items and toiletries for the homeless shelters and the Community Action Agency. The collection box is on the main ﬂoor, under the coat rack. Thank you.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS BI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Membership Susan Robinson, Dina Jacobs EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Hebrew School Education Lisa Blaskey DeCamp, Moriah Gornstein Lynn Cashell Religious Practice Larry Hamermesh President Social Action John Greenstine, Louis Friedler Emma Lefkowitz ___Adult Education Marion Hamermesh, Rich Remenick Steve Goldfield Facilities Co‐ordinators Chris Pragman, Ron Romoff VP, Finance Immediate Past President: Joyce Romoff Jennifer Waterston Council of Past Presidents: Josh Waterston VP, Communications MEMBERS AT LARGE: Nancy Blank, Kim Dumoff, Steve Friedman, Jackie Gelman, Steve Plotkin 5 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Religious Practice Cheshvan/Kislev 5781

We are grateful to Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, the Executive Director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, who has graciously stepped GUEST RABBI in to lead two Friday night services for Congregation Beth Israel in the coming weeks on Friday, October 30th, and Friday, November 13th. TO LEAD Rabbi Wechterman began her work as Executive Director in the Fall of 2015. She also served as spiritual leader of Congregation Agudas Achim in SERVICES Attleboro, Massachusetts from 2001 to June of 2014. Rabbi Wechterman holds a BA in International Relations and BS in Journalism from Boston University. She lives in Abington, PA with her husband David Nerenberg and is the parent of two children, Avi and Sharon.

HANUKKAH ON THE HORIZON DECEMBER 10 -17

Stay tuned to your email, the BI website, and the December Israelight for news about our plans for the eight days of Hanukkah, including a festive celebration on the second night ‐ Friday, December 11 ‐ and information about when to pick up your Happy Hanukkah Helper Bags. And, please, keep those latke recipes coming!

ISO SERVICE LEADERS AND TORAH READERS - COACHING AVAILABLE

Dear BI members, On behalf of the Religious Practices Committee, I invite you to consider the satisfaction of taking one or more leadership roles in services offered at BI. Indeed, our limited range of movement during the pandemic may offer us a chance to learn new ritual skills and find new ways to engage with our BI community.

One such opportunity is Torah reading. We have a strong base of readers, but we would love to see others join that group. Is this something you’ve wanted to do? Wanted to do but been hesitant because of uncertainty about how to do it? Let us help ‐ we have lots of people who would be very happy to provide coaching on cantillation or do recordings of portions to study from.

Second, we have a strong tradition of lay leadership of our worship services. In fact, we depend on that lay leadership to complement our rabbinic leadership periodically throughout the year. Leading services, for Shabbat or shiva minyanim, is a role that you could consider trying on for size.

Are you interested in that but uncertain about your ability to do it? Again, we have resources that would help you learn service leadership skills, such as classes, opportunities for individual guidance/teaching, co‐leading services either with a lay leader or rabbi, and recordings to learn prayers. The training to be provided would of course depend on the experience and background of those who express interest in taking on service leadership roles.

If you’re interested in pursuing either of these forms of service, please let me know. Larry Hamermesh, RPC Chair 6 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Yahrzeits Cheshvan/Kislev 5781

Mourner Remembering Relationship Yahrzeit 2020 Yahrzeit 5781 Steven Blum Adam Spiro* Grandfather November 4 17 Cheshvan Alex Dresner Victor Newman Grandfather November 5 18 Cheshvan Emily Squires and Ron Levine Arnold Squires Father November 6 19 Cheshvan Linda Cohen Jacob Handloff Father November 6 19 Cheshvan Judy Goodrobb Beatrice Pollack Mother November 7 19 Cheshvan Larrye Loss Robert Loss Father November 7 20 Cheshvan Kathy Andersen Alexander Silberman* Father November 7 20 Cheshvan The Simenhoff Family Leon Simenhoff Suzanne's Grandfather November 8 21 Cheshvan Samuel Ruby Victor Ruby Father November 9 22 Cheshvan Susan Raab Glenda Salzman Mother November 14 27 Cheshvan Robin Schaufler Florence Gordon Mother November 16 30 Cheshvan Arnie Schwartz Samuel Silverstein Grandfather November 18 2 Kislev Judy Ritter Alexander Ritter Father November 20 4 Kislev Stephen Friedman Herman Friedman Father November 20 4 Kislev Gerry Elman Lucille Elman Mother November 20 4 Kislev Selene Platt Irene Routhenstein Grandmother November 22 6 Kislev Penny Bernick Joshua Bornstein Father November 23 7 Kislev Alex Dresner Alice Schlossberg Aunt November 23 7 Kislev

*after a name indicates that there is a plaque. Yahrzeit begins at sundown the evening before the date shown.

Handmade mezuzah in the garden bed David Cashell created at the back of our property. 7 Volume 44 No. 2 Donations September Thank You! November 2020 Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 General Fund Penny and Sheldon Bernick in memory of Ken Laffend Marilyn Drukin on memory of Ken Laffend with much love and sadness Linda Cohen in memory of Burt Cohen Carol Cowan in blessed memory of Ken Laffend Carol Cowen in honor of Lois Deutsch. We missed you greatly in Cape May this year.

Prayer Book Fund Lynn and David Cashell in memory of Ken Laﬀend, beloved husband of Jane Susan Klein and Stuart Pittel in memory of Ken Laﬀend

Hebrew School Bonnie Rusinek

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Richard Cohen in memory of my friend Sheldon M. Isaacson, brother of Carol Briselli Peter Bernstein and Ala Hamilton‐Day in memory of Ken Laﬀend, beloved husband of Jane Laﬀend and a longtime member of the BI community

Burton J. Cohen Endowment Fund Randi Raskin Nash, Kevin Nash, Elan Nash in memory of Ken Laﬀend, beloved husband of Jane Laﬀend. May Ken’s memory always be a blessing to you and your family.

Ellie Fund Reisa Mukamal and Steven Arnold in memory of Ken Laﬀend

Adult Education Fund Marilyn Verbits in memory of Ken Laﬀend, beloved husband of Jane, father, grandfather and great‐grandfather

Golden Book Candy Berlin and Ralph Kaufman in memory of Ken Laﬀend, beloved husband of Jane Laﬀend

Condolences We extend condolences to Jane Laﬀend as she absorbs the profound loss of her beloved husband Ken Laﬀend.

Sending you blessings for healing: Dottie Jenkins, Ron Romoff, Andrew Kelly, Alan Fink, Deanie Heller, Jane Laffend, Lynn Kelly, Helena Landis, Geoff Horowitz

DID YOU KNOW... if you're going to make a contribution by check to a restricted fund, like the Rabbi's Discretionary or Social Action Please be sure to let the Rabbis know Funds, that it's better for you (and for us), if you make your check when you or someone in the congregation payable to "Congregation Beth Israel of Media." You can always is in need of a blessing for healing. note any special purpose for the contribution in the memo line of your check. Why? "Congregation Beth Israel" is the correct payee. Also, by noting the special purpose, if any, on your check, we can Your generous support not only enables Beth Israel to provide a robust make absolutely certain that your donation is directed to the ap‐ variety of programs that foster the spiritual needs of our community, propriate fund, your account is properly credited, and your end‐of‐ your support also enhances our ability to bring about tikkun olam year tax letter is accurate. Like you, the rabbis, administrative through our social action initiatives. Your generosity is appreciated staﬀ, directors and oﬃcers of BI are absolutely committed to mak‐ now more than ever. Please consider honoring a friend or a loved one ing certain your donation is put to its intended purpose. Please through a contribution to any of our designated funds. help us help you to make certain that happens. Thank you.‐Joyce 8 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Adult Education Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 Special November/December Thursday Learning Series with Guest Rabbis

Thursday, November 5th, 7:00pm Rabbi Vivie Mayer The Five Books of Torah: A Template for Approaching Key Jewish Concepts

This class will use the meta-themes of the five books of the Torah as a Template for the five ways in: five ways to connect with the Divine, five ways to look at the concept of yetzer Hara’ and sin, and five ways to explore teshuva.

Rabbi Vivie Mayer (RRC ’96) directs and teaches in the Mekhinah program at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She also serves as director of the Bet Midrash. In additional to living in Israel for seven years in Beit Shemesh, Vive served as rabbi of Congregation B’nai Israel in Danbury, CT, for 10 years. During that time she also served as a chaplain for Jewish women at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury. For seven years she was an active member of the Reconstructionist Rabbini- cal Association board and executive board. She is a graduate of Queens College of the City University of New York.

Thursday, November 19th, 7:30pm Rabbi Sarah Newmark Prophets, Prostitutes and the Patriarchy: Lesser-Known Women of the Bible

This class is part of a longer ongoing series I have taught in the past. In our time together, we'll explore two of the prophet- esses, Devorah and Huldah. Devorah is much better known than Huldah, but the rabbis, staunch upholders of the patriarchy, proved to be equally threatened by any woman who was called a prophetess. We'll be reading about Devorah in Judges 4:1- :16 and about Huldah in 2 Kings 22:14 -20 and Chronicles 34:22-48 If you don't have a Tanakh at home, you can view these sections from Sefaria or another online source. I look forward to studying with you all!

I'm Rabbi Sarah Newmark (RRC '10), and I live in picturesque Gig Harbor, Washington, about an hour south of Seattle. After my husband semi-retired at the end of 2018, I decided that I wanted more flexibility in my life, too, partly so that we could travel for longer periods of time. (That hasn't worked out so well of late.) Besides serving as an interim visiting rabbi in a small community in Wisconsin last year, I have been focusing my rabbinate on Jewish life cycles, teaching, pastoral care and, most recently, political activism, at both local and national levels. For me, Judaism and political activism are strongly inter- twined. I also believe in "big tent Judaism," where everyone is invited into the "tent" without necessarily ascribing to a certain set of beliefs or practices. Thursday, December 3rd, 7:30pm Rabbi Micah Weiss You Shall Not Go Empty: Wrestling with Reparations as Reconstructionists

For the past 31 years a bill has annually been introduced to congress calling for a study of slavery and its linger effects as well as recommendations for appropriate remedies. That bill, H.R. 40, has never made it to the House floor for discussion. In this class, we will employ a Reconstructionist approach to explore classical Jewish to see what a Jewish case for reparations might look like, and what our role as American Jews can be in the struggle for racial justice at this unprecedented moment in Amer- ican history.

Bio: Rabbi Micah Geurin Weiss is the Assistant Director of Thriving Communities and Tikkun Olam Specialist at Reconstruct- ing Judaism in Philadelphia. In his professional role, Rabbi Micah works to support the day-in and day-out needs of synagogues in the Reconstructionist movement, specializing in congregation-based social justice work. He is most passionate about supporting racial justice work in the Jewish community and beyond. Micah holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University in Religious Studies and African American studies and was a fellow at Yeshivat Hadar for two years. Rabbi Micah chairs both the Tikkun Olam Committee and the Jews of Color and Allies Advisory Group for the movement. 9 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Adult Education Cheshvan/Kislev 5781

The Global Day of Jewish Learning is a project to unite Jewish communities across the world through study of our shared texts. This year’s Global Day theme is about Judaism's vision of human dignity, the ethics of inclusivity and the imperative to decrease marginalization. It will take place on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.

The Global Day of Jewish Learning is powered by Limmud North America, with the support of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Learning, Hadar, Reconstructing Judaism and hundreds of individual communities and organizations around the globe.

Please make special note of the sessions offered by Reconstructionist Rabbi Micah Geurin Weiss and Rabbi Sarra Lev, Ph.D., and download the Learning Guide, which includes text from Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D.

HaHovel B’Havero: The Damages of Whiteness with Rabbi Micah Geurin Weiss 5 p.m. EST | 2 p.m. PST Rabbi Micah Weiss will share personal reflections on his growing edges as a white Jewish teacher in a multiracial Jew- ish classroom, what this can teach other white Jews about building anti-racist Jewish communities, and a mishnah he will never read the same way again.

Rabbi Nathan will lead a discussion for the BI community following Rabbi Lev’s talk. "It shall be desolation": Shunning and human dignity with Rabbi Sarra Lev, Ph.D. 6 p.m. EST | 3 p.m. PST This talk will read through a Talmudic story that explores the relationships between rumor, power and shunning as a disciplinary device.

The live-stream will take place at limmudna.org/global-day-2020/ on Sunday, Nov. 8.

SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE RABBI JILL HAMMER As usual, check your email for more information and Thursday November 12. 7:30 - 9:00 for zoom links. Faces of Shekhinah

In this session, we’ll look at examples of how Jews have imagined the Divine as female in the Bible, the talmudic era, in the time of the kabbalists, and in the present day. We’ll learn about Wisdom, Shekhinah, Supernal Mother, and other names Jews have used for these feminine faces of God. We’ll discuss how and why these images arose, why they matter, and what their gifts and challenges are. Then we’ll engage in meditation and discover how some of these images of Shekhinah/Divine Presence might enhance our own spiritual practice. Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD, is an author, teacher, midrashist, mystic, poet, essayist, and priestess. She is committed to an earth-based and wildly mythic view of the world in which nature, ritual, and story connect us to the body of the cosmos and to ourselves. She has been called “a Jewish bard.” For more information see https://rabbijillhammer.com/ “Rabbi Jill Hammer’s teachings release deep and unforeseen meanings contained in the Torah and the Jewish tradition. Not only is she learned and creative but she has the ability to captivate as only master storytellers can.” —Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York, NY Presented by the Adult Ed. Committee with thanks to the Kehillah of Delaware County, a Jewish community collaboration funded by and in partner- ship with the Federation of Greater Philadelphia, for providing generous support that has enabled this event to happen 10 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL RECEIVES ITS OFFICIAL 501(C)(3) DETERMINATION

Tax Exempt vs. Oﬃcial 501(c)(3) Recognition. Beth Israel and other synagogues (and churches) are not subject to Federal income taxes. Moreover, donations, or charitable contributions, to Beth Israel are tax deductible under Federal Tax law. This is true even though BI has never asked for an oﬃcial determination that BI is an organization described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

We were also able to obtain bulk mail status from the US Postal Service without getting our Oﬃcial 501(c)(3) determination. But, there were a few things that Beth Israel could not access, unless we received an oﬃcial determination letter from the IRS designating Beth Israel as an organization described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Matching Contributions and Amazon Smile. One goal, was to obtain matching grants from congregants’ places of em‐ ployment. Large companies under certain circumstances will match congregants’ payments of dues, Yom Kippur pledges or other payments that we can deduct as a “charitable contribution”, up to a deﬁned dollar amount.

In addition, Amazon Smile gives us the ability to create an Amazon page for Congregation Beth Israel All purchases made on our BI ‐ Amazon Smile page are aggregated and the synagogue can receive a payment of a portion of the purchase price each quarter. To qualify for Amazon Smile, an organization must ﬁrst qualify to be listed on Guide Star. To be listed on Guide Star (you guessed it) we needed an Oﬃcial 501(c)(3) determination letter. So, the story begins.

Throughout the years, many have looked into what it would take to obtain the official determination. Basically, it would take filling out a voluminous application (known as Form 1023) and paying a bunch of money ($600). A few years back, Joyce Romoff spent hours and hours working through the application. Anyone who has ever tried to apply to the US Gov‐ ernment might have some idea of how painstakingly time consuming, tedious and difficult it is to fill out 20 pages of infor‐ mation with Schedules A‐ G. Let’s call what Joyce did, the Great Unfinished Work.

Enter, the Village. Earlier this year the Board and the Finance Committee had committed to bring this project across the ﬁnish line. To bring this initiative across the ﬁnish line, it would take the work of many.

Due to the continued generosity of our congregation, a handful of our members contributed the application fee (and then some). So, that hurdle was overcome.

Founded in 1929. BI is a Pennsylvania corporation, and gaining 501(c)(3) status requires certain formal provisions in its arti‐ cles of incorporation. If you have not had the privilege of reviewing the Congregation’s organizing documents, you are in for a treat (see illustration on next page). They were hand‐written and dated.

Our 1929 Vintage Articles of Incorporation did not have these formal provisions so our Articles, and it turns out, By‐Laws had to be amended. Fortunately, our Board has a few lawyers, including Larry Hamermesh, who has done this before in his day job. So, he thought, “I’ve done that sort of provision before, “piece of cake, right?” Larry took on the task of making the necessary amendments happen.

Piece of Cake? BI hadn’t amended its articles since it was ﬁrst incorporated in 1929 ‐ when our mission as stated in the arti‐ cles was supporting the “discipline and usage and customs of the Hebrew Church.” Oops. Time for a reboot. Still not so hard: the basic form of articles of incorporation is short and standard. The hard part was ﬁguring out how to get them approved: who has to approve them? The board? The congregation? Both? With what quorum? By what vote? Who are our members who get to vote? And, in the middle of a pandemic, how do you get it done when nobody can meet in per‐ son?

Larry enlisted a lot of help ‐ from Josh Waterston, and from a lawyer in Media he knew from national bar association com‐ mittee work, who is an expert in Pennsylvania corporate law. But slogging through the statutes and the bylaws and ﬁguring out the choreography was a fascinating process ‐ made gratifying by the extraordinary responsiveness of the board and of the congregation, which, thanks to Steve Platt’s incredible dedication, turned out in force (by proxy and by Zoom) to pro‐ vide the requisite vote of a majority of all of our members.

Steve Platt signed on as the Beth Israel Recording Secretary for this effort. He coordinated the collection of the proxy votes needed to approve of the new Articles of Incorporation. He contacted every member through several e‐mails. An initial 11 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 message introduced the process, why it was nec‐ Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 essary, what every member would be receiving and would need to do, and most importantly, why it was necessary for all adult members in a household to reply (instead of just one). Then, he individually emailed the proxy through Adobe, allowing each adult to digitally sign their proxy in an authenticable and traceable manner. Finally, he gathered and tallied the responses. At the Members' Meeting, he merged the proxy votes with the votes of people at the meeting to present the Board with the final tally. He is highly grateful for the enthusiasm of so many members in supporting this effort!

All the while, Steve Goldfield, both Rabbi’s, the Religious Practices Committee, our Board Presi‐ dent and Joyce Romoff, compiled answers to the questions, the questionnaires and the support documents required by the application. Oh yes, Joyce’s original application was the 2017 Form 1023, so the information she obtained had to be transferred onto the new 2019 Form 1023, which asked for some of the same information but some different information as well. Once that was completed, and Covid kicked in, the IRS de‐ cided to change the rules one last time and re‐ quired an electronic only format (no paper applications), which was completely re‐designed again. We got no points for completing all three formats prior to applying – but, it is a funny story now, and we have achieved our goal.

Lo and Behold. On May 29, 2020 we applied for Oﬃcial 501(c)(3) Designation. It typically takes around 6 months. We assumed with Covid, it might take the better part of the year, and that we would get bombarded with questions from the IRS. Lo and Behold on August 25, 2020, without receiving a single question about our application, Beth Israel received its oﬃcial letter of determination from the IRS that we are an or‐ ganization described under Section 501(c)(3)!

WHAT YOU CAN DO.

Contact your employer and inquire whether we have now. Just ask for a copy of the letter from the Finance Com‐ they have a program whereby they match mittee and let us know if you need any help. your charitable contributions. Some employ‐ Second, watch for our Amazon Smile page link in our daily emails. If ers don’t do so. That’s OK. Some employers you buy anything using Amazon, load the BI Page and buy it won’t do so if the charity is a religious organi‐ through the BI Smile Page. Have your relatives do the same! BI will zation. That’s OK. Some will match your char‐ receive quarterly payments based upon the volume of sales that itable contributions to BI, if you furnish them begin on our Amazon Smile page. Thanks to Joyce Romoﬀ for setting with an Oﬃcial 501(c)(3) letter. That is what that up. November 2020 +*)(')&%(**&&$#"! &#& Cheshvan/Kislev 5781 &)(&(& )' &) ) & )&) )&* )&(& ((&(&"(( Please be sure to support our advertisers and let them know that you learned about them from The Israelight

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November 2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 456 7 Daylight Saving Time End 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual Election Day 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual 4:35 PM Candle Lighting Parshat Vayera Practice via Zoom with Practice via Zoom with 7:30 PM Shabbat Services 9:30 AM Hebrew School Rabbi Nathan Joyce Romo with Rabbi Nathan (via 9:45 AM Shabbat Services with Dorot 7:00 PM Adult Education Zoom) with Rabbi Nathan and Bar 7:00 PM Beginning Biblical with Guest Rabbi Mitzvah of Alex Shapiro- Hebrew with Laura Lee Colarocco (via Zoom) Blechner (via Zoom) 5:42 PM Havdalah

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 9:30 AM Hebrew School 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual Veterans Day 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual 4:29 PM Candle Lighting Shabbat Mevarchim 7:00 PM Beginning Biblical Practice via Zoom with Practice via Zoom with Lau- 7:30 PM Shabbat Services Parshat Chayei Sara Hebrew with Laura Lee Rabbi Nathan 7:00 PM Executive Com- ra Lee Blechner with guest Rabbi Elyse Blechner (via Zoom) mittee Meeting 7:30 PM Adult Education Wechterman (via Zoom) Diwali with Rabbi Jill Hammer (via 9:45 AM Shabbat Services Zoom) with Rabbi Linda and Bar Mitzvah of Max Wilson (via Zoom) 5:36 PM Havdalah

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 9:30 AM Hebrew School 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual Rosh Chodesh Kislev 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual 4:24 PM Candle Lighting Parshat Toldot 10:00 AM Board of Direc- Practice via Zoom with Practice via Zoom with 7:30 PM Shabbat Services tors Meeting (via Zoom) Rabbi Nathan Randi Raskin Nash with Rabbi Nathan (via 9:45 AM Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Adult Education Zoom) with Rabbi Nathan (via 4:00 PM Couples Support with Guest Rabbi Zoom) for the Upcoming Season 5:31 PM Havdalah with Dr. Julie Mayer (via Zoom) 7:00 PM Beginning Biblical Hebrew with Laura Lee Blechner (via Zoom) 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 9:30 AM NO Hebrew School 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual Thanksgiving 4:20 PM Candle Lighting Parshat Vayetzei 7:00 PM Beginning Biblical Practice via Zoom with 7:30 PM Shabbat Services - Hebrew with Laura Lee Me'ira Pitkapaasi 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual congregation led (via 9:45 AM Shabbat Services - Blechner (via Zoom) Practice Hallel via Zoom Zoom) congregation led (via with Rabbi Nathan Zoom) 5:28 PM Havdalah

29 30 123 4 5 9:30 AM NO Hebrew School 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual 7:30 PM Social Action 9:00 AM Morning Spiritual 4:19 PM Candle Lighting Parshat Vayishlach 7:00 PM Beginning Biblical Practice via Zoom with Committee meeting (via Practice via Zoom with 7:30 PM Shabbat Services - Hebrew with Laura Lee Rabbi Nathan Zoom) Joyce Romo congregation led (via 9:45 AM Shabbat Services - Blechner (via Zoom) 7:30 PM Adult Education Zoom) led by Joyce Romo and with Guest Rabbi Susan Meyer (via Zoom) 5:27 PM Havdalah 7:00 PM SAC Movie Night

GROCERY CARDS ARE IN STOCK AT BETH ISRAEL — YES! I shop at Acme or Giant and I’m happy to purchase gift cards through BI! (for every card purchased, BI receives $5 ‐ it adds up and makes a diﬀerence!) Let Diane know Let me know when you'd like to come and pick some up. I am here Tuesday and Thurs day 1 pm to 5:30 pm, and Wednesday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. Phone 610‐566‐4645 or send her an email: [email protected] 14 Volume 44 No. 2 November 2020 Cheshvan/Kislev 5781

Congregation Beth Israel of Media NON-PROFIT ORG. A Reconstructionist Jewish Community U.S. POSTAGE 542 South New Middletown Road PAID Media, Pennsylvania 19063‐2240 MEDIA, PA 19063 Ph. 610‐566‐4645 Fax 610‐566‐2240 PERMIT NO. 214 http://www.bethisraelmedia.org

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

President Lynn Cashell Senior Rabbi Linda Potemken Associate Rabbi Nathan Martin Editor, Content Sharon Kleban Editor, Production Marion Hamermesh Editor, Contributions List Diane Longenecker The Israelight is published on the ﬁrst of each secular month. All submissions must be received by the editor by the 1st of the preceding month to guarantee inclusion. Articles may be submitted by mail to the synagogue oﬃce or by email to: [email protected]

Next Issue: November 2020 Deadline November 15