JANUARY 2016 ZOY Tevet / Shevat 5776 A “Is that so?” The Monthly Newsletter of Temple B’nai Israel The Reform Jewish Congregation of Bay County Mailing Address: PO Box 16556, Panama City, FL 32406 Located at: 1910 Frankford Avenue, Panama City, Florida 850-522-8685 / http://bnaiisraelpc.org

Religious School Chanukah Luncheon by Cynthia Gingold This year’s annual Chanukah Party that were created to make people growth in his reading. Pearl Am- was fantastic! laugh. This one was told how the romin showed that she has excel- wisest men in Chelm were iden- lent acting skills. On Sunday, December 6, the chil- tified by the golden slippers they dren of our religious school, par- wore on their ears. The children got Parents of the children, Tammy Ma- ents, and congregants had a mar- the humor, as did the adults. rimuzzi and Pavel Amromin, Amber velous time. The children began the and Matt Alter, and Lynette Stern- party making abstract, collage me- Joshua Alter was marvelous as the licht provided the jelly-filled dough- norahs. Shira Moskowitz, our ISJL Motley Fool. He has a fabulously nuts, cookies with symbols of Cha- fellow, played a game with the chil- developed sense of humor and this nukah, water, and fruit salad. Lisa dren, based on the game of Chutes is well­ evident by his performance. Rahn and Steve Theberge brought and Ladders, to review the story of Someday, you will see him on TV as doughnuts, Ed Nagler brought pro- Chanukah. They cheered for their he receives a Tony, Oscar, or Emmy. fessional ­looking cookies made by teams – boys vs. girls. They giggled. The rest of the children read their his wife, Diana. Many thanks to all. They smiled like crazy. parts with expression and confi- dence. They were fabulous! Three The fearless team of chefs, Alvin Then the children performed “The of our children are first graders – Gingold and Matt Alter, made a va- Golden Slippers,” a story from Lizzie and Jackie Sternlicht and Ari riety of latkes, potato, carrot, zuc- Chelm. Chelm was a town in Po- Amromin – and they did an excel- chini, and garlic herb potato. Every- land, remembered in many tales lent job. Ethan Alter showed much one stuffed themseves!

photo by Cynthia Gingold More photos of theMore Chanukah Party on pages 6 - 8  The President’s Message 

Many of you have signed up to work on a committee at the Temple. Members of the Board, including me, are delighted that you are willing to participate in improving our Jewish home and community. As the new year begins, we will make a concerted and renewed effort to engage members of each committee in the work that needs to be done. I will notify each of you this month with plans for a first meeting and the contact info for the others who have signed on to the same committee.

Let’s continue to build our community, to make it stronger with your ideas and efforts. I wish each of you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016 filled with joyful adventures.

L’shalom - Sarah

JANUARY CALENDAR SAT 01/01 Happy Two Thousand and Sixteen, y'all SUN 01/03 9:30 am Religious School FRI 01/08 6:00 pm Dinner 7:00 pm Shabbat Service with Rabbi Baroff SAT 01/09 6:00 pm Yiddish Class with Rabbi Baroff 5:00 pm Havdalah with Rabbi Baroff at Oaks by the Bay Park in St Andrews followed by dinner out at a local eatery SUN 01/10 9:30 am Religious School NOON Stump the Rabbi over Lunch WED 01/13 6:00 pm Monthly Temple Board of Directors Meeting SUN 01/17 9:30 am Religious School WED 01/20 6:00 pm Sisterhood Meeting FRI 01/22 7:00 pm Lay-led Shabbat Service with Judith Scott and Sarah Farkas SUN 01/24 No Religious School this week | Tu B'Shevat starts at sunset MON 01/25 Tu B'Shevat SUN 01/31 9:30 am Religious School

On December 7, Polly Kelly, mother of Marsha Kraselsky, passed away in Colquit, GA with family surrounding her. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Marsha as we keep her in our thoughts and prayers.

Shabbat Candle-Lighting Times for January 2016 Take a break from the hectic work week and mark the Day of Rest with lighting of the candles.

01/01 | 4:35 pm 01/08 | 4:41 pm 01/15 | 4:46 pm 01/22 | 4:52 pm 01/29 | 4:59 pm

- 2 - farmers could reap the benefits of plant their benefits the could reap farmers on Tu and year fourth B’Shevat the after for plants. years But the maturation be were to meant ofyears growth four first It the said was that nuts. and trees fig orchards, and plantedcrops Farmers importance. of paramount was agriculture Jerusalem, of Temple era the the In in today. ship steward environmental practice to opportunity an –to progress tural agricul –recognizing purpose original evolutionholiday an undergone has its from B’Shevat NewThe Year of as Trees, known also NOTES FROM THE RABBI the trees. This is the Jewish Arbor Day. Arbor Jewish is the This trees. the 25. Hailanot Chag as It is known Tu year This B’Shevat 15th month the day in of Shevat is the calendar Jewish the for in trees birthday The worldour to pick. here in are heaven but fruits whose and branches Chaim Tree– the Etz the mysticism of Jewish In Life. world. Torah Judaism In the Chaim Etz is called the around symbol a religious is also tree The metaphorical trees. of course are there language and culture our Within to civilization. and human onof earth life to development the instrumental been has enduring, and large plant,woody branched usually This phenomenon is atree. vital and forthem But granted. what amarvelous wetake lives our in plentiful are which things ubiquitous.Trees almost most Like plentiful, are atree.” make me, but can fools God only like poem’s famous: “Poems made by end are is equally ago. The acentury Joyce named man young Kilmer of –Trees tree..” apoem beginning is the lovely apoem never see a as Ishall that think “I begins at sunset on January 24. The on January at sunset begins is an upside down tree, whose upside in roots is an tree, are down Tu B’Shevat New Year –The for the Trees is celebrated January 24 and and 24 is celebrated January - – the festival of festival –the - –Tu B’Shevat Tu Tu - , –by a - 3 - . - Rabbi Richard Baroff Richard - Rabbi work. God's ofmany extending -thus them For atree,” but plant make “only wecan can God Tu honor to B’Shevat One way great stateslowed Jewish to the flourish. has which away in landscape the transformed has JNF ago. The it acentury was than greener National made Fund Israel has Jewish muchThe foods on the symbolic the plate. Seder Yisrael, of Eretz fruits foods the here are special The four of cups and wine. is a Tu the by analogy B’Shevat creating Passover wereby the inspired thus Safed Seder rabbis of mystical the Much later 1500s the in tree. the in often rises when there sapIsrael. It the of year the time is the ancient in of trees day the foris the tithing the calendar. of the for setting the of month the of Aviv beginning the and of of for cattle, Elul tithing the first the renewal, is there Rosh Hashanah forpurposes: spiritual celebrations or commemorations for different year new various recognizes Mishnah The of their produce as a tax for government. the atax as of produce their one tenth tithe were asked to also They ings. B’Shevat. Tu to pay tribute and special Shabbat services lead Farkas will Sarah and when Scott Judith Please 7:00 join us pm Friday, 22, January You be your childhood from may remember (15thChamisha B’Shevat Asar of Shevat ing asked to fund the planting of trees of planting the trees fund asked to ing in Israel. And, if you’ve if And, Israel. in to ever been Israel, you can see the multitude of multitude you the Israel, see can

trees that have that helped “green” to trees the Holythe Today, Land. some centerpiece of meal. the centerpiece Chagim is to plant trees in Israel. is toin plant trees to aPassoverto but Seder with folks hold similar a Seder grains, nuts and fruit as the as fruit nuts and grains, – the festivals – in the the – in festivals – the Seder. There Seder. There rather than rather than (Spring) (Spring) - ) Temple B'nai Israel in the Community Members of Temple B’nai Israel On the last Sunday in November, Baroff explained the reason for the have been asked to speak to various Judith Scott and Sarah Farkas pre- holiday, as he lit the sixth candle groups about Judaism and being sented a program on “Judaism 101” on the menorah on December 11. Jewish. And we are happy to comply. to folks at the Unitarian Universalist Since it was also Friday evening, the Society. They explained some of the Rabbi spoke about Shabbat and its Lisa Rahn and Steve Theberge pre- similarities and differences between importance in Jewish life. sented a program on Chanukah and the two faiths. They also described Shabbat to 25 people at the Grief and the Jewish Year in terms of Jewish photo by Lisa Rahn Loss Service of NW Florida on De- holidays, clearing up some common cember 4. The group was learning misperceptions, such as Chanukah about holiday traditions of different being the “Jewish Christmas.” Some cultures. The presentation was very traditional items from Jewish ritual well received with thoughtful ques- were also made available - yarmul- tions asked by several participants. kes, tallit, siddur, menorah, etc. The While preparing for this outreach program was well received judging event, Lisa and Steve were unable by the questions asked and the in- to locate their box of holiday deco- terest shown in attending a future rations. Stephen Sickerman saved Shabbat service and . the day by lending them the fam- ily menorah and oversized dreidle A third community “event” was the candle – which wife Carolynn for- coverage of Chanukah in the local tunately placed in plain sight on the newspaper, The Panama City News fireplace mantel – to serve as visual Herald; see http://www.newsherald. aids for the presentation; see photo com/article/20151212/lifestyle/ on the right. 151219674/0/search. Rabbi Richard

photo by Lori Zipes

Nate Mewhinney, on right, participated in the Panama City Veteran's Day parade, November 11, 2015.

- 4 - We your you to submit want strudel? or rugalach like adessert maybe ever Or had! you best the How about yourmom’s chicken soup,latkes? or youDo love cholent, your grandma’s is…Jewishrecipe is! Food, that Soul food soul your favorite what know Azoy the of editors The JANUARY 01/ 01/28 01/23 01/14 01/13 01/12 01/10 01/10 01/29 01/24 01/22 01/19 01/15 01/15 01/13 01/12 01/09 01/08

CONTACT

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Lisa Rahn Lisa Starkman Mike Gulkis Sue Humboldt Brian Gulkis Norm Miller Nathan Baroff Richard Rabbi Paul Zipes Hyman McKenna Gingold Cynthia B IRTHDAYS Y AHRZEITS Lauren Bidleman - Granddaughter of Judith Scott & Sarah Farkas &Sarah Scott of Judith -Granddaughter Bidleman Lauren Miller of Nathan -Mother Rose Miller Flax-Hyman of Cheryl -Mother Flax Sandra -Wife of Joseph Gelmon Gelmon Mary Kraselsky of Marsha Brenda Kelly -Sister Euzent of Marge -Husband Euzent Marvin of Pam - Mother Sutton Sutton Janet Richard Baroff Baroff Richard Sarah Farkas Sarah Stephen Theberge Michael Starkman Stephen Sickerman Robert Goetz Goetz Robert Kraselsky Marsha Starkman Mary Zipes Lori Cynthia GingoldCynthia Shira Moskowitz Shira Edna Earl Williams - Mother of Kay Stripling -Mother Williams Earl Edna Soul Food: What’s Your Favorite Jewish Recipe? want to want

JOYS

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- Rabbi Azoy co-Editor &Azoy President Vice-President Vice-President Treasurer Azoy co-Editor &Azoy Secretary Trustee Trustee Trustee Sisterhood co-President Sisterhood Sisterhood co-President Sisterhood ISJL Fellow ISJL Their Memories are for us a Blessing a us for are Memories Their

[email protected] &

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REMEMBRANCES and let Sarah & Stephen know about it ASAP! it about know &Stephen Sarah let and Editors at [email protected] at Editors AZOY The

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Norm & Sue Gulkis Gulkis &Sue Norm Feldstein Ron &Sarah &Joanne Goetz Robert A NIVERS [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ahead and tempt us. We us. tempt you! and dare ahead go So judge and results. the recipes the cook a challenge to actually year we the may of issue At end the box. your recipe fit a sizein will that and credits We’ll with them publish Box 65565, City, FL Panama 32406. to: PO Foodpost TBI Soul Recipes, way by fashioned old the it mail can

Shira Moskowitz One of the best parts of my job as and I played a fun Chanukah version ISJL Education Fellow an Education Fellow at the Institute of chutes and ladders, complete with of Southern Jewish Life is visiting challenges, such as creating a team communities across the south. I had cheer and writing an acrostic poem, such a wonderful time on my recent like the one found on the dreidel. visit to Temple B’nai Israel. My visit We then played a special version of began with Shabbat services on Friday Chanukah Madlibs, which involved night. As someone who grew up in the Chanukah story happening in the the Reform Movement, praying with Panama City Mall. your community truly made me feel at home. Together, we sang many of After our morning of games and the melodies I love from my time at Chanukah learning, I had the privilege URJ Camp Eisner and discussed the of watching the students perform a weekly Torah portion. fun and silly play. They were quite the talented bunch! My visit ended with On Sunday, I was fortunate enough some delicious homemade latkes and to attend religious school and the other Chanukah treats. It was a perfect Chanukah luncheon. The students start to Chanukah.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this visit a success and who graciously welcomed me into your community. A special thank you to Cynthia and Alvin Gingold for hosting me during my time in Panama City.

I am already looking forward to my next visit – April 15 - 17, 2016 – and to working together throughout the New Year. Have a happy and healthy new year!

photos by Cynthia Gingold

- 6 - photo by Cynthia Gingold

- 7 - photos by Stephen Sickerman

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