CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL “A Family of Families” November 2016
CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES >> Bat Mitzvah
Friday, November 4 of Shabbat Service @ 6:00 pm Rebecca Simpson Saturday, November 5 Shabbat Service @ 9:00am Rebecca will participate in Friday night services on December 2nd, and will be called to the Torah as Friday, November 11 a Shabbat Service @ 7:30 pm Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, December 3rd Saturday, November 12 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am at 10:00 am
Friday, November 18 Rebecca is the daughter of Jeff and Laura Simpson. She has Shabbat Service @ 6:00 pm one brother Joshua and one sister Rachael.
Saturday, November 19 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Rebecca is a 7th grader in the Athena program at Baker Middle School, where she is an honor roll student. She is a Wednesday, November 23 member of the golf team and is Vice-President of student Joint Thanksgiving Service at council. Congregation Beth Israel @ 7:30 PM. Rebecca loves reading, cooking, theatre, and hanging out with her friends. For the past two summers she has attended Camp Friday, November 25 Young Judaea which she loves! Shabbat Service @ 7:30 pm Rebecca’s mitzvah project is with CASA to collect art supplies Saturday, November 26 to support a special holiday program. Items include canvas, Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am paints, sketch books, colored pencils. They would also like to collect journals for the kids.
Please join the Simpson Family as they celebrate this simcha with an Oneg Shabbat on Friday evening and a Kiddush Luncheon following Saturday morning services. Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00am Please come and join us
CBI Adult Education will present a one day Scholar In Residence On "Life in Ancient Israel"
Presented by Jennie Ebeling
Sunday, November 20 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL Jennie Ebeling is associate professor of archaeology at the University of Evansville in Indiana and co-director of the Jezreel 4402 Saratoga Blvd Expedition. A former Fulbright fellow, she has been awarded Telephone:361.857.8181 fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Lady Davis Trust to support research in Israel and Jordan. . She is Fax: 361.857.8227 currently on the editorial board of SBL’s Bible Odyssey and an Email: [email protected] associate editor of The Bible and Interpretation website. Her research interests include ancient food and drink technology, women Website: bethisraelcc.com in Canaan and ancient Israel, and religion and cult in the Bronze and Iron Age Levant, and her publications include Women’s Lives in Biblical Times (2010) and the edited volumes Household Rabbis Archaeology in Ancient Israel and Beyond (2011) with A. Yasur- Ilan Emanuel, Rabbi Landau and L. Mazow and New Approaches to Old Stones: Recent Rabbi Kenneth Roseman, Rabbi Emeritus Studies of Ground Stone Artifacts (2008) with Y. Rowan. She produced several films based on her ethnographic research of traditional bread ovens in Jordan; one is on permanent exhibit in the Staff Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. Ebeling teaches a variety of Debbie Bustillo, Office Administrator courses in Near Eastern archaeology at the University of Evansville and her excellence in undergraduate teaching was recognized with Meredith Ryan, Religious School Director the Dean’s Teaching Award (2011) and Outstanding Teacher of the Leslie Green, Shabbat Dinner Coordinator Year Award (2014).
10:30 am Archaeology of the Jezreel Expedition including a CBI Executive Board presentation on the results of the first four seasons of excavation at Jezreel (2013-2016). Among other discovers are an Early Bronze President Chris Adler Age village (ca. 2500 BC), a Middle Bronze Age tomb (ca. 1550 First Vice President George Kopf BC) that yielded Egyptian scarabs and other finds, and a winery from Second Vice President Richard Hausman the biblical period (Iron Age) that provides context for the story of Naboth's Vineyard in 1 Kings 21. Secretary Leslie Levy 2:00 pm The Ancient Israelite Family and Household with an Treasurer Greg Marks emphasis on the woman's role in the family. What was the structure Past President Suzy Hilliard of an ancient Israelite family, and what did their living spaces look like? This lecture includes a discussion of the Biblical bet ‘av, or Sisterhood Representative Jerri Osberg extended family household, gender roles in ancient Israelite society, Committee Chairs and the typical layout and contents of the so-called “four-room house” known from Iron Age sites in Israel and Judah. Adult Education Chair David Jacobs Cemetery Chairs Robert Adler Refreshments will be served at both talks. Carl Kuehn, Gary Blum Open to the public. We hope you will bring friends. Ritual Committee Chairs Andrew Sheinberg Jim Gold Membership Committee Chair Suzy Hilliard UPCOMING Social Action Committee Chair Linda Snider Dues Committee Chairs Ann Engel BAR/BAT MITZVOT
Jim Gold December 3, 2016 Rebecca Simpson Building Chair Bill Adams December 17, 2016 Aaron Lebowitz Grounds Chair Rikki Schmitchel June 3, 2017 Mira Emanuel Fine Arts Chair Laurie Mintz
Page 2 Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter RABBI’S MESSAGE “Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the Attitude of Gratitude is the most important and by far the most life changing.” — Zig Ziglar
We have all heard the idea that we should have an “attitude of gratitude” but most of us at this point would consider this in the same way as many clichés – as something that makes sense but is corny and simplistic because it is so obvious.
But any honest look at the world around us, or of our own lives, reveals that adopting an attitude of gratitude is far from obvious. Attitudes of dissatisfaction, and if left unresolved, of resentment and grievance are sadly far more prevalent. It’s easy to look at our lives and wonder why we don’t have as much money, success or happiness as someone else. It’s a lot harder to be grateful for what we have regardless of comparisons with others or the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves.
In the prayer book we use for our Friday night services there are inspirational readings side by side with the traditional prayer that expand on the themes of the prayer. A couple of years ago I used one of these readings on the theme of thanksgiving to explain the meaning of giving thanks. This year I want to look at another such reading on the same theme that appears in our prayerbook. It reads:
When we behold Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that set in place – what are we humans that You are mindful of us? We mortals that You take note of us? You made us little less than divine, adorned us with glory and majesty. You gave us dominion over Your handwork, laying the world at our feet… how majestic is Your name throughout the earth!
What this reading tells us is that the beginning any attitude of gratitude is an attitude of humility. It begins not by asking what we deserve and why we don’t have it but by recognizing how small we are in the larger scheme of the cosmos. It reminds us that what G–d gives us is not given because we are great or because we are entitled to it but because G-d loves us.
In our daily lives this is the beginning of thankfulness – to understand what have as a gift and not take it for granted or see it as our due. Believing we deserve all we have, even if true, leads to appreciating it less and resenting what others have more. Indeed Pirke Avot, the Saying of the Fathers, asks the question “ Who is wealthy?” and answers “The one who is content with what they have.”
So as we join together for our annual Thanksgiving service and sit around our dinner tables on thanksgiving, may we increase our gratitude by increasing our humility and truly learning to appreciate all we have.
Rabbi Ilan Emanuel
Judaism 101 - All You Ever Wanted to Know about Judaism!
Judaism is a 4,000 year old tradition of beliefs, practices, ideas and wisdom. For all those inter- ested in learning about Judaism, whether in order to convert to Judaism or to refresh your learn- ing, join us on Sunday mornings starting December 4th and continuing through the spring. We will cover everything from Jewish history and text to Jewish festivals and lifecycle, to Jewish practice and philosophy.
Open to all those exploring Judaism. Classes will start Sunday, December 4th at 11am in the chapel.
Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Page 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Friends,
A busy October, therefore no board meeting this past month. Too many activities and preparation work dates for Food Fest. And that is the main thing on everyone’s mind. I can report directly on the CABBAGE ROLLS. We had a marvelous turn out of workers. Thanks to all of you who came early, stayed late, rolled 120 heads of cabbage, filled with 120# ground meat, onions, and all the other magic ingredients that go into those delicious morsels. I know they are delicious, as one small pan, had a burned corner and we felt it only fair that we taste test the rolls. Mike T, Jim G, Sue W., and I risked our health, in order to save all of you the risk of an imperfect cabbage rolls. And we report, they are delicious and you’re going to love them. Again, thanks to the 25 or so men and women who showed up to work. We had fun and knocked out that huge job of rolling the cabbage rolls in about 3 ½ hours. Oh, and we have about 1400 all ready to be heated for FOOD FEST.
FOOD FEST IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. In fact, it is in less than two weeks. Laura Hausman is lining up volunteers for all areas. PLEASE, we need YOU…all of YOU….to come and help. Contact Laura H if you can give us a few hours. Her e-mail is [email protected]. Pat Susser needs Vintage Items. She especially needs gently used jewelry and purses. There’s still time to get the items to Pat so she can mark them and get them displayed. We need servers, cash/ticket takers, food servers (with health permit), help in sweet shop, and several other places.
In closing, let me remind to get out to vote. It’s our privilege to cast our vote. Look at the qualifications, the stands on issues that are important to YOU, and cast your ballot. See you at Food Fest….
Chris Adler, President Congregation Beth Israel Corpus Christi, Texas
FOOD FEST Silent Auction Update Check out the Silent Auction Items we have collected so far! Stay tuned for many more to come.
Gift Certificate Costal Closet Windsor Park Animal Hospital - $100 Gift ABC Irrigation Back Flow Test Certificate Aloe Tile 9 Inch Star of David Elliott Cumonow Jewelry - Bracelet and earring set Liquid Town Gift Basket Stainless Belt Buckle Moodys Meat 5 pound box of certified Angus Beef The Clutter Queen - 2 hours of Organizing Services Boneless Rib Eye Steaks Layton Brothers Optical Certificate Pilar Ayala Bar Necklace Layton Brothers Optical Certificate Williams Fashion Shoes Gift Certificate Blossom Shop One Dozen Red Roses One Hour Massage Armadillo Sport Chiropractic One Hour Massage Armadillo Sport Chiropractic The Barre Fitness Studio - 5 Pack of Classes Results Personal Fitness - Certificate Sangs Imperial Cafe Restaurant - $50 Gift Certificate Harbor Playhouse - 6 tickets for 2016-2017 season
Page 4 Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Corpus Christi Community Religious School Meredith Ryan, Director
This month, is very abbreviated in terms of Religious School due to the Thanksgiving Break and FoodFest. We hope that all of the kids and families will be able to attend FoodFest on November 12th & 13th and will be willing to give of their time. There are many ways of enhancing our Jewish life. One way is through book learning and another way is through experiential learning. FoodFest is a great way for all of us to celebrate and share our culture with the Corpus Christi community at large, thereby enriching our Jewish identity.
I would also like to point out that GFC Camp Retreat (2nd-5th grade) is happening on November 4-6, 2016. If you have not already registered and are planning on doing so, please make sure to visit their website at www.greene.org. If you need any information regarding scholarships, please contact Debbie Bustillo at [email protected]. She will be able to put you in touch with our Scholarship Committee.
Religious School Dates: November 6: Hebrew School 9:00-10:15 Sunday School 10:30-12:30
November 13: No Religious School - FOODFEST!!
November 20/27: No Religious School - Thanksgiving Break Shalom, Meredith & Manuela
David and Heather Loeb Invite you to share their joy as
is his given Hebrew name
November 18 6 p.m. Congregation Beth Israel 4402 Saratoga Blvd. Corpus Christi, TX 78413 Light Supper to follow services
Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Page 5 CBI Sisterhood News Happy Fall y’all!!! Many of us have been enjoying a t aditional rite of the fall season, cooking and baking. More precisely, cooking and baking for our fabulous Food Fest!! I hope you’ve had a chance to take par in the many Food Fest preparations here at CBI. We sure had a g eat time!! To sig up for the many Food Fest volunteer oppor nities, please contact Jim Gold at 548‐8437.
Please don’t forget to bring a bo le, or as many as you can, for the 2nd Annual Wine Pull!!! Wines donated must have a value of at least $20. Contact Robin Adams at [email protected], or Jackie Mendeloff at jacqueline anklin@g ail.com with any questions. Wine may be dropped off at the CBI office by November 6th.
I want to thank all of those Holy Rollers, who came and rolled (cabbage) with us. Over 2000 beautif l and soon to be devoured cabbage rolls were created!! An enor ous thank you to Chris Adler, our Cabbage Roll Queen, who led us through the prepping of the y mmy filling and cabbage boiling for all us rollers!! I also thank all the behind the scenes work by our Food Fest leader Jim Gold and the wonderf l Rikki Schmitchel.
I hope to see as many of you as possible at our FABULOUS FOOD FEST on November 12 and 13!!!
Jer i Osberg 361.443.9894 Jer i.Osberg@hot ail.com
High Holyday Oneg
Page 6 Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter BE A FOODFEST SPONSOR
It is that time of year again.....Jewish Foodfest. The one time you can have genuine homemade deli food, listen to live Klesmer music and come together for a great social event.
You have been very generous in the past and we are hoping that we can count on you to be a sponsor again this year.
As our ONLY fundraiser for Congregation Beth Israel, we are asking that you help us raise funds to benefit our Temple.
One important way you can help is by being a sponsor for one of the food areas or be listed as a general contributor. This is a perfect time to honor someone in a special way. Your contribution will be acknowledged by both signage and brochures recognizing your gift.
We are just starting out and have included those that have already agreed to participate. We will keep you updated as our list grows.
So, dig in your pockets and help us make this a fun and successful year.
Benefactor: Mensch Donor: Mitzvah
$ 1,000 $250
Band & Tent Gift Shop, Pickle, Silent Auction, Susser Family Foundation, Annette and Mel Klein, Security, Pre Event Laurie and Michael Mintz, Entertainment Toby Shor, David and Ann Engel, Sammy and Carol Kins
Contributor: Machor Supporter: Mazel $500 $200 or less
We look forward to hearing Raffle Ticket, Deli, from you soon so we can Raffle, Vintage, have you included in our Childrens Area, printed material. Sweet Shop
Andy and Iris Lehrman
Make checks payable to CBI Sisterhood. If you have any questions please contact Ann Engel 779-4616/ [email protected] Or Catherine Susser
Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Page 7 Jewish Food Fest Calling All Volunteers Like us on Facebook: JewishFoodFestival www.facebook.com/JewishFoodFestival Volunteers needed:
Shift Volunteers; Saturday November 12 & Sunday November 13 Food Prep Volunteers-See Food Fest Cooking Schedule in Newsletter for exact times and dates.
To volunteer, please contact Laura Hausman at 549 -7505 or [email protected]
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED:
Silent auction committee is looking for items to be included in our silent auction. Food Fest goers appear to have a wide variety of interests with Restaurant and Services being among the most popular.
Donor Forms are available in the Temple office. Contact Person: Carol Rehtmeyer at (630) 287-0900 or [email protected]
Vintage Shop Items:
The Vintage Shop is completely dependent on our donations to be successful. Check your closets for PURSES. That is what is most needed!
Please drop off donations at CBI to Debbie or call Pat (Vintage Shop Queen) at 361-688-5700
Page 8 Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Dear Jewish Community Bakers,
Our CBI Sisterhood’s Jewish Food Fest is scheduled for November 12 & 13, and we are hoping we can count on you to bake something sweet and delicious to be sold in our Sweet Shop area. If you are unable to bake this year please consider helping with a Sweet Shop donation. We will be purchasing cheesecakes and Black and White cookies to better accommodate the massive amount of visitors we serve during our annual festival.
As always we need homemade breads, cakes, pies, candy, and cookies of all flavors, shapes, and sizes. The Jewish traditional items are the most sought after by our visitors and we always get requests for sugar free desserts too. Our weekend event consistently grows in popularity year after year.
Please help us again as we take on the challenge of anoth- er spectacular year; and don’t miss out on the pre staging and food preparing parties the week prior to our event. It’s so much fun getting together to make a difference!
If you would like to volunteer to help work in the Sweet Shop during the Food Fest, or help wrap and package baked good items on Thursday and or Friday prior to the festival please contact me, Amy Krams, at the num- ber or e-mail listed below. I am looking so forward to seeing everyone in NOVEMBER at CBI!!! Shalom & Thank you in advance, Amy Krams Sweet Shop Manager Home: 854-9454 Cell: 946-9454 E-mail: [email protected]
Baking reminder…. Please tape your name and list of ingredients to your sweet donation. Not your recipe, just ingredients, for allergy and heath inquiries during the event. Also please drop your baked items off (the earlier the better) at CBI Thursday Nov.10th or Friday Nov. 11th before 5:00 p.m.
Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Page 9 Family Shabbat Dinner
At our last Family Shabbat Dinner, we celebrated Simchas Torah. What a treat it was to unroll the entire torah and be blessed enough to hold it as a congregation along with singing and dancing! We truly enjoyed bringing in the Sabbath together and sharing a delicious make-your-own taco dinner too!
Our monthly family dinners are not only a way for us to pray together to bring in shabbat, but for one night a month, we put aside our stressful week, catch up with our CBI friends, and let someone else do the cooking!
THERE WILL BE NO FAMILY SHABBAT DINNER FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER due to Food Fest. Our next Family Shabbat Dinner will be on Friday, December 9th at 6 pm with dinner to follow. If you are new to our CBI Family, we invite you to come join us and make new friends at our monthly event. If you haven't attended a family dinner yet, please join us for food, friendship and fun!
Lastly, many thanks to Sue Williams for helping me prepare last month's dinner. She really helped make my job so much easier!
Looking forward to breaking bread together again ...
Leslie Green Family Shabbat Dinner Coordinator Cell: (804) 334-5662 Email: [email protected]
Raffle Tickets—Look at our fabulous prizes!
send back your Check and raffle ticket stubs at your earliest convenience!
Your support is very much appreciated.
Page 10 Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Page 11
November 2016
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 Shabbat Service Shabbat Service 6:00 pm 9:00 am
Light Candles at:
6:25 PM
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hebrew School Shabbat Service Shabbat Service 9am ‐ 10:15am 7:30pm 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30am ‐ 12:30pm Light Candles at: 5:21 PM FOOD FEST 5pm - 9pm
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 No Religious School Shabbat Service Shabbat Service
6:00 pm 9:00 am Baby naming of
Eli Loeb FOOD FEST 11am - 2pm Light Candles at: 5:18 PM
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 No Religious School 82nd Annual Joint OFFICE Shabbat Service Shabbat Service Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving CLOSED 7:30 pm 9:00 am Service For OFFICE CLOSED Scholar in Residence 7:30pm @ CBI Thanksgiving Light Candles at: Jenni Ebeling 5:17 PM 10:30am & 2pm
27 28 29 30 Dec 1 2 3 Shabbat Service Shabbat Service No Religious School 7:30 pm 10:00 am Thanksgiving Break
Bat Mitzvah of Bat Mitzvah of
Rebecca Simpson Rebecca Simpson
Light Candles at: 5:16 PM PERPETUAL YAHRZEITS
Sabbath of November 4th *Sidney Posner *Erna Lachs *Edward Birnberg Harry Siegel *Mortimer Lasky
*Sam Evainier *Joseph Silver Evelyn Levinson Marie Finkel *Isaac Weisman *Miriam Nelson *Blanche Frank *Bertha Willensky *Pauline Querido *Helen Goodman Isidoro Schcolnik *Louis Goodman Sabbath of November 18th *Howard Smith *Hattie Gunst *Martha Cohn *Harry Sobol *Leopold Kannengiesser Hector DePena *Joseph Zobel *Nathan Lakin *Louis Goltzman *Isadore Mayerson George Gorsuch Sabbath of December 2nd *Charles Nieman Emil Horner *Harold Applebaum Samuel Sheinberg Abe Kaufman *Irving Chafetz *Ruth Sikora Randy King Howard Crain *Bette Solovey *Beckie Kohn *Milton Eidelberg *Jechiel Tepper *Isaac Lasky Rose Epstein *Sherrie Waldman *Isaac Liedeker Ida Falk *Ruth Weil *Emanuel Morris *Sam Falk *Sam Weisman *Albert Prashner *Dora Fenig Mary Weissman *Julius Racusin *Israel Ferszt *Miriam Seldin *Louis Finkelstein Sabbath of November 11th *Lucille Simon *Sarah Goodman *Hattie Abrams *Harry Trodlier *Louis Krasner *Hyman Bloom *Lewis Weil *Israel Kraut *Fran Brodkey *Martin Kridel *I. Ettelman Sabbath of November 25th *Gertrude Pearlman *Eva Goltzman *Harry Applebaum *Lillian Prashner Benjamin Greenberg *Dora Berman *Bertha Samuels Janet Hurst *Anna Davis *Marvin Sheiness *Joe Katz *Philip Engle Barbara Shimansky *Melvyn Krinsky *Ida Goldreyer *Rachel Simon *Louis Leshin *Jack Goodman Lois Simons *Gregory Makrow Steven Handelman *William Simpkins *Ruben Melamed *Henry Hausman *Kate Smith *Morris Pearlman *Joe Hausman Susan Train Harold Poplinger *Sarah Isenberg Rabbi Hyman Weissman
Page 14 Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Yahrzeit Donations Mitzvah Fund In Memory of------From In Honor of------From Pearl Lieberman Susan & Bill Martin Susser Family Meredith & David Ryan Adler Family Audrey Zane Sisterhood Memorial Fund Ann & David Engel In Memory of------From Dr. & Mrs. Blum Sophie Rocklin Cheryl Zane
Penny Baum Torah Fund Cemetery Endowment Fund In Memory of------From In Memory of------From Ruth Gleimer Karma & Michael Lakin Rebecca Blum Lois & Gary Blum
High Holyday Traditional Service Contribu- Prayer Book Fund tion In Memory of------From Donation------From Ruth Gleimer Pat & Sam J. Susser Annette & James Cotting- ham Rabbi's Discretionary Fund High Holyday Appeal Donation------From Donation------From Ann & David Engel George & Grace Kopf Toby Shor Susser Family Foundation Charles Schechter Shor Family Learning Fund Sue Williams In Honor of------From Elizabeth & Jerry Susser Toby Shor on her Birthday Barb & Chip Schwamb Iris & Andy Lehrman Donation------From Barbara & David May Toby Shor Randy Berry
Karen & Maurice Grossman Carol & Don Feferman Seaside Beautification Fund Barb & Chip Schwamb In Memory of------From Deborah & Scot Oshman Jeno Meister Edith Mason Suzy & John Hilliard Joseph Newman David & Joan Jacobs
Diana & Michael Stillman Steve Oshman Sikora Fund George & Grace Kopf In Memory of------From Lois & Gary Blum Joseph Sikora Lois & Gary Blum Phyllis & Rabbi Roseman Ruth Sikora
Don’t forget . You can remember a friend or relative with a minimum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds support camp scholarships, education, cemeteries, fine arts, library, & building improvements, to name a few. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the honored per- son or family. Please make checks payable to CBI and specify the fund. Call the CBI office with any ques- tions.
Congregation Beth Israel Newsletter Page 15 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78413
CBI Sisterhood Gift Shop announces its new
*Judaica Exchange * Donate your previously loved and gently used Judaica, get a tax donation receipt, then come to the Gift Shop to browse and buy!
To schedule alternate appointment times, please call the CBI office at (361) 857 – 8181.