Messenger Sivan-Tammuz-Av 5779

Volume 160 Number 11 The Temple of Loving - Kindness

July-August 2019 Messenger Sivan-Tammuz-Av 5779

Temple Hesed, 1 Knox Road, Scranton, PA 18505

Annual Meeting renews Rabbi’s Contract for 1 year

Rabbi Daniel Swartz has agreed to a Steve Seitchik and Esther Adelman will one-year contract so the Temple can remain co-presidents for the upcoming make plans for the building and howdecide to year. handlehow to handleits deficit. its deficit. A portion of the building fund will be used to clear The other officers are: The congregation will also sell off an 1st Vice President, Cheryl Friedman; this year’s deficit. unused portions of its cemetery to the 2nd Vice President, Larry Milliken; Special points of interest: DunmoreThe congregation Cemetery will Association also sell off and an use Treasurer, Jeffrey Leventhal; Secretary, • Yiddish classes aunused portion portion of the ofbuilding its cemetery fund to to clear the Jennifer Novak; Assistant Secretary, thisDunmore year’s Cemetery deficit. Association with the Joan Davis. money going to the Cemetery Fund to • Davidow memorial The deficit comes with the loss of the Board members: Start Date Expiration pay for perpetual care. NativityMiguel school which rented the of Term • Walls Chanting Circle lowerThe deficit level comesclassrooms. from theHeinerfeld loss of theReal EstateNativityMiguel has been school hired which to find rented a tenant the Natalie Gelb 9/1/17—8/31/20 • Back-to-School backpacks Paula Kane 9/1/17—8/31/20 forlower the level now classrooms.-vacant space. Hinerfeld Com- mercial Real Estate has been hired to Carol Leventhal 9/1/18—8/31/20 Mark Davis will head the long-range Judith Golden 9/1/18—8/31/21 find a tenant for the now-vacant space. planning committee which is charged Donna Kostiak 9/1/18—8/31/21 withMark coming Davis will up headwith plans the long for -therange future Loren Selznick 9/1/18—8/31/21 operationplanning committee of our congregation. which is charged *Kenneth Ganz 9/1/19—8/31/22 with coming up with plans for the future *Robert Hersh 9/1/19—8/31/22 By the time rabbi’s contract comes up operation of our congregation. *Josh Levine 9/1/19--8/31/22 next June, we will be in a much better *Elected at June 19, 2019 meeting. Inside this issue: positionBy the time to make rabbi’s a longercontract-term comes offer. up next June, we will be in a much better Honorary Life Board Member: Steve Seichik and Esther Adelman will position to make a longer-term offer. remain co-presidents for the upcoming Jane Oppenheim year.

Rabbinical Reflections 3

Co-President’s column 4 Oppenheim Speaker, Date Announced

Calendar 6-7 Save the date now for our Survive our with a focus on how politics upcoming Oppenheim Insti- Hyper-Partisan and law intersect. tute, featuring Sylvan Sobel, Times?” Yahrzeits 8 who grew up in Temple How will all this impact eve- Hesed and went on to a dis- Using his expe- rything from abortion to vot- tinguished career at the Fed- rience with the ing rights? eral Judicial Center. Sylvan Sobel Supreme Court and the Feder- Come join us for this very Congregation Information Back On Friday November 8th at al Judiciary as a whole, he’ll important discussion – and Page 7:30 p.m., Sylvan will exam- help us understand the bring your friends! ine: “Can the Supreme Court changing roles of the court, Page 2 Messenger

ROSEANN SMITH ALPERIN EN- Deborah Orgill DOWMENT FUND Donations to Back to School Backpack Project In Memory of Bernie, Gert and Temple In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Joan Carl Diener Alperin The Temple Hesed Social Action CommitteePatti is Diener gearing Lough up for its annual back to Hesed Jim and Patty Alperin school backpack project for 2019. Lackawanna County children in need, identified by lo- cal social service agencies, are provided with newTORAH clothing RESTORATION and FUND a backpack filled with BUILDING FUND supplies for the first day of school. Please consider supporting this very worthwhile project. In Memory of Marcia Friedman In Memory of Laurence Davidow Esther B.th Adelman You can be matchedFred with Steinberg a child (grades K to 6 ) to provide all or some of the needed items, or you can make a cash donation and we will purchase the items for you. Full sponsorship for a child is $100, but any monetaryIn Honor donation of the Yahrzeit will of be greatly appreciated. In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Harry Grace Pawlan Ackerson Please contact Temple Hesed at 570-344Esther-7201 B. Adelmanif you wish to sponsor a child, and provide an email addressFrank where Milani we can send you the child’s information. Or you can email Larry Milliken directly at [email protected] and let me know how many children youCall the want Temple office toat (570)344 sponsor-7201 RABBI’S and DISCRETIONARY if you have FUND gender or grade preferences. Checks should to donate or for more Information. be made out to Temple Hesed, with “Back to School” designated in the memo line, and The minimum donation that can be should beacknowledged sent byto mail andTemple in the In Memory Hesed of Laurenceby July Davidow 31. Donations of backpacks and school supplies Messenger is $10. Name Your Price! can be droppedMajor credit or debit cards off accepted. at TempleNatalie Gelb Hesed or the JCC reception area during normal business th hours through August 16 . Make An Offer Your contribution Inwill Honor help of the ensure Yahrzeit of that Elsie children start the school year with the confidence and tools they needSchneider to succeed. Thank you in advanceFor Any for your Item participation. in the “It takes a community to raiseMr. and a Mrs. child.” Irwin Schneider Gift Shop! MARK HAHN MEMORIAL MUSIC Temple Hesed, Social ActionFUND Committee, 1 Knox Rd., Scranton,Don PA ’18505t Delay!

All good wishes for a speedy Don’t Be Shy! BBQ AND *SHABBATrecovery to Lenny Feinman UNDER If other events/ Audrey Harrell Dealers Welcome! THE STARS* TOGETHER July 19 activities are sched- RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Shopuled Tuesday this Summer, thru we

BBQ AT 6, SERVICEIn Honor of the Yahrzeit AT of Nel-7 p.m. Fridaywill During announce Office them lie H. Wooden in ourHours weekly email. Weather? Rain schmain,Sherman We’ll F. Wooden just go indoors.

In Loving Memory of my beloved Aunt Grace Pawlan Volume 160 Number 11 Page 3

Rabbinical Reflections Rabbinical reflections: What’s the Ikar and What’s the Tafel?

By Rabbi There’s a principle in Ha- And it’s never really all transformative alternative Daniel J. lakhah (Jewish legal rea- one or the other. vision of a society that Swartz, soning) that in its literal puts people above profits, form can seem obsessive- Here are three ikar-tafel that brings in light instead Spiritual ly detail-oriented – but questions that I’ve been of blood-stained soot. I Leader, when looked at metaphor- asking this year and that I continue to share the sto- Temple think we as a congrega- ically, it’s key to under- ry of that design with Hesed, standing Temple Hesed’s tion need to keep ad- countless children and dressing. First, which is past, present and future. adults – ranging from the the ikar, our building or shared commitment to The principle is called Ikar interfaith Thanksgiving what goes on inside? Ob- the same Jewish values? (the principle) v’Tafel (and service that we host for viously, for its long-term Or do we seek out and the secondary). It’s used, Scranton Area Ministeri- health, a congregation welcome people from a for example, when you are um to a number of Chris- needs both. And some- variety of backgrounds, eating a type of food that tian confirmation classes times, erecting or renovat- people who will have seri- is a mixture of different that we have interacted ing a building can bring a ous disagreements with types, like pizza or apple with this year. congregation together each other even on “core” pie – you’re supposed to issues? Again, neither figure out the ikar, the and become its own kind The ultimate goal of any of programming. But of our social action pro- one is all wrong or right. “main” part of the food so I’d like to highlight, how- you can say the “right” there are times when a grams, however, is Tikkun congregation can cling to Olam, the repair of the ever, that Temple Hesed blessing. Probably not a plays a special role in the question that’s keeping a building at a high cost world outside of our build- to its all-over wellbeing. ing. So if keeping our broader community of our you up at night. Which is the case for us building meant giving up region precisely because But on bigger questions of currently at Temple the backpack program or we have tried to be as priorities, asking, “what’s Hesed? I think one could our High Holy Day food inclusive as possible, play- the ikar and what’s the make a persuasive argu- drive – both of which ing a leadership role in a tafel” can be really help- ment either way. If, say, have significant impacts wide variety of interfaith ful. It gets us away from we look through the lens on dozens of families in programs. Each month, black and white thinking, of social action, on the our region – to me, that our interfaith chanting that one choice is some- building side of the equa- would indicate upside circle brings together how all-good and the oth- tion we would recognize down priorities. So let’s Muslims, Baha’i, Chris- er is all-bad. Imagine, for the unique possibilities have vigorous discussions tians, and “none of the example, you were choos- inherent in a sanctuary about the fate of our above,” as we reflect on ing between two job pos- that is in and of itself a building, recognizing that Jewish teachings and sup- sibilities, one of which statement on social jus- every option has pluses port each other. It’s not would pay more, while the tice. When the noted ar- and minuses, and that we only unique in our area other would give you more chitect Percival Goodman should be focused on but, as far as I have time with your family. In began considering what what we agree is central, found, in the country. some circumstances, our sanctuary should look not on who we think is We’re also at least very such as children starting like, he delved into the right or wrong. unusual, if not completely college or facing large social, cultural, and envi- unique, in that every large debts that were putting a ronmental history of our Speaking of agreement, a program, service, or event second question for us to strain on you and your area, coming up with a at Temple Hesed, with the consider is: which is the family relationships, the design that sought to exception of the High Holy money might be the ikar, highlight the injustices ikar, agreement or inclu- Days, has significant num- sion? Should our focus even if you would usually and cruelty of the coal era bers of participants that be on building a commu- choose time with family. and coal breakers, while (See RABBI Continued on page 12) nity where everyone has a simultaneously showing a Page 4 Messenger

Co-President’s Page Annual Report By Esther

Adelman, Another year of the Temple Presidency has Detailed accounts appear in the Annual Report, Co- flown by. As the old saying goes: ”Time goes by which is available for you to take home. If you President fast when you’re having fun.” have come to services, have read the Messen- ger, or have participated in some aspect of Tem- I do enjoy this job. Yes, it is a job, since there is ple life, you have a good idea of what has gone a lot of work involved. It is time-consuming in on during the past year. so many ways, not only physically, but also emo- tionally and intellectually. To be done efficiently There are ongoing and special worship and edu- and correctly, it has to be a labor of love as well. cation opportunities for both children and adults. Our children continue their studies with Fortunately, I have Steve Seitchik as Co- those from Temple Israel at combined weekly President. Together, we are a great team. We Hebrew classes, organized and led by Rabbi compliment each other, since our areas of ex- Swartz. An adult study group, also led by Rabbi pertise are so different. We consult each other Swartz, first studied various interpretations of about everything, seeking the other’s input. We some of the Psalms, and later in the year agree on the basics, and the rest falls into learned about five of the little-known women of place. It is a good match. It is a challenge, but the Bible. There will be summer classes on eve- a very rewarding one. rything you wanted to know about Yiddish. If As Presidents, we are diplomats, on-call at all there is some aspect of Judaism that you’ve times. As Presidents, we are advisors, on-call at been thinking about, we’d welcome your input all times. We apparently are perceived by oth- for the topic of the next adult study. These clas- ers as all-knowing, so we have to do our home- ses are a great opportunity to learn about your work in order to keep up. We draw on our life Jewish heritage and to meet and socialize with experiences to give us the wisdom to handle your Temple family. Worship is covered sepa- whatever is thrown at us. We have to make rately in the Annual Report. (See page 5) decisions which affect other people. We are There were the award-winning Back-to-School continually solving problems, creatively if need project, the fun-filled and financially-successful be, because sometimes there is no previous “Callaway We Go”, the family-oriented Chanu- experience to draw upon. It is our job to hold kah and Purim dinners, Rabbi’s always-clever everything together and to be the picture of Purimshpiel, the monthly inclusive meditational confidence and authority to everyone else. Chanting Circles, and our lovely Passover Seder.

There are good, dedicated people to help us We look forward to the return of former Temple through all of this. We have the diversity of the member, Sylvan Sobel, who will be speaking to officers and Board of Directors at our disposal. us in this fall’s Oppenheim Institute. We have the wisdom of the Rabbi; we have the None of this just happens. There are wonderful wisdom of Past Presidents. But, as Harry Tru- dedicated Temple members who step up to the man famously said, “The buck stops here”. plate to make sure that they happen. The prob- That being said, most of our Past Presidents lem is that we rarely see new faces. We love continue to be active in one way or another, so and appreciate the core of people that we can it must be a good experience. Once you open count upon. We just wish that there were more yourself to it, it’s hard to get Temple Hesed out of you! of your blood. There’s something intangible If there is some area of Temple life that particu- about what it means to be a part of this family. larly interests you, please contact me. I’ll be This is the time that we review the past year at delighted to hear from you. If you think of Temple Hesed and assess our accomplish- something that we haven’t ever done or haven’t See ESTHER (Continued on page 5) ments, while planning our next year of activities. Page 5 Messenger

The Worship Committee Annual Report The Worship Committee, under the expert guidance of Rabbi ent formats for teaching the parashah of the week, including Shabbat music schedule. On Daniel Swartz, oversees all wor- the first Shabbat of the month, ship services, formulates rele- thought-provoking interactive dialogue. When he reads Torah Rabbi Swartz has led us musi- vant policies, plans special cally down new paths, teaching events, and handles all matters in the Ziegler Lounge, we gather around the table to see the us new melodies for old favor- relating to the worship practices ites and introducing us to some at Temple Hesed. interesting and diverse ways that the scribes have used to other options as well. Ed Snitko We offer a variety of worship put this amazing scroll together. most capably leads us in song services: the celebration of Rabbi explains the traditions on the second and fourth Fri- Shabbat using Mishkan T’Filah, behind these variations: to days, incorporating those new with its unique format, featuring emphasize an important verse, melodies that we have enjoyed. interesting, unusual interpreta- to mark the end of a passage, Harry Adelman demonstrates tions, lovely poetry, and educa- to call attention to a particular his expert musicality on the tional comments; the “rocking” word or phrase. We now also third Shabbat of each month, informal Shabbat services utiliz- utilize the beautiful podium/ when we hold our informal ser- ing our in-house updated prayer Torah table lovingly hand- vices. guides; family holiday and festi- crafted by our own Larry Milli- We have continued with sched- val services, with the beautiful, ken. uling the 6:00 service on the holiday-specific Gates of Joy; Music in our services plays a first Friday of every month, and We invite all members and and special Shabbat services the 8:00 service on the remain- marking various occasions. major role in taking us from our their families and friends to mundane routines to the world ing Friday evenings, except join us at weekly services, Rabbi Swartz uses many differ- of Reform Jewish worship. We when a special service, such as where we experience the have continued our regular the Oppenheim Institute or a beauty and uniqueness of festival observance, begins a bit Mishkan T’Filah, the timely, earlier. often-brilliant Torah commen- taries of Rabbi Swartz, the Esther (Continued from page 4) future of our Congregation. Many Temple members gra- ciously participated in all phas- ever-evolving spiritual music, and the warm camaraderie of My hope for our future is for our es of the five services held dur- done lately, let me know. If our Temple Hesed family. beloved Temple Hesed to con- ing the High Holy Days. We there’s someone that you’d like thank all of the English readers, tinue to be more than a house We do encourage input from to work with, better yet. Hebrew chanters, ark openers, the Congregation, since it is of worship, learning, and loving- Torah dressers and carriers, crucial to the work of this There are so many opportuni- kindness, but to be a home ushers, and all others who committee. Our goal is to be ties available. Start small by where we feel friendship for made these services more a part of making Temple sponsoring an oneg, coming to each other and where we can meaningful. We are grateful to Hesed an integral part of the Ed Snitko, whose moving inter- a study group, joining us for a together enjoy what we have to lives of the congregation--- pretations of the High Holy Day service, helping to set up for an offer. spiritually, socially, and educa- melodies added beautifully to tionally. event, stuffing backpacks, the worship experience.

bringing food for a covered-dish dinner. Then maybe you’d like Esther Adelman, to help organize a fund-raiser, Chair plan an adult ed class, take an honor on Rosh Hashanah, run the Purim dinner. The key words here are involvement and commitment.

Next year will be an important Esther Adelman year for us, so it is more crucial than ever that we all pay attention and get involved. With the NativityMiguel School leaving, we will have to make some serious decisions that will affect the Volume 160 Number 11 Page 6 July 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 Independence 5 Services 6 p.m. 6 Day (Office Closed)

7 8 9 10 LRP meting at 11 12 Services 8 13 Chanting Cir- 7 pm p.m. cle 11:30 am

14 Yiddish 11 am 15 16 17 Temple Board 18 19 Services 7 20 Meets at 6 pm p.m. BBQ 6 PM

21 Yiddish 11 am 22 23 24 25 26 Services 8 27 p.m.

28 Yiddish 11 am 29 30 31 Checks due for Back2school

Sh’mini Atzaret—Simchat Lag B’Omer — May 22—-23, Torah —Sept. 30—Oct. 1, More information is available from www.reformjudaism.org 2019 2018 Shavuot— Hanukkah — June 8-9, 2019 Dec. 2--10, 2018

Tisha B’Av— Tu B’Shvat —Jan.20—21, Aug. 10—11, 2019 “A person is sometimes 2019 Selichot —Sept. 21, 2019 Purim— stronger than iron and March.20-21, 2019 Jewish Holidays begin at sunset. Dates specified are for evenings. sometimes weaker than a Passover— That means they run from sundown Apr. 19—26, 2019 until dusk on the last day if the fly.”

Holiday. http://www.yiddishwit.com Volume 160 Number 11 Page 7 August 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 Services 6 p.m. 3

4 Yiddish 11 am 5 6 7 8 9 Services 8 p.m. 10 Chanting Cir- cle, 11:30 a.m.

11 12 13 14 15 16 Services 8 17 p.m. backpacks due

18 Collating 19 Collating 20 21 Temple Board 22 23 Services 8 24 backpacks 1 pm backpacks 6 pm Meets 6 pm p.m.

25 26 27 28 29 30 Services 8 31 p.m..

Holidays 5779 (2018—2019) Torah Portions Rosh Hashanah— Yom HaShoah— Sept. 9—10, 2018 May 1—2, 2019 Name Civil Date Hebrew Date Yom Kippur — Yom HaZikaron Sept. 18—19, 2018 May. 7—8, 2019 Mott Masei August 3, 2019 2.Av.5779 Devaim August 10, 2019 9.Av.5779 Sukkot— Vaetchanan August 17, 2019 16.Av.5779 Yom HaAtzmaut May 8—9, Sept. 23—30, 2018 Ekev August 24, 2019 23.Av.5779 2019 Re’eh August 31, 2019 30.Av.5779 Sh’mini Atzaret—Simchat Lag B’Omer — May 22—-23, Torah —Sept. 30—Oct. 1, More information is available from www.reformjudaism.org 2019 2018 Shavuot— Hanukkah — June 8-9, 2019 Dec. 2--10, 2018

Tisha B’Av— Tu B’Shvat —Jan.20—21, Aug. 10—11, 2019 2019 Selichot —Sept. 21, 2019 Purim— “Every ass likes to March.20-21, 2019 Jewish Holidays begin at sunset. Dates specified are for evenings. Passover— That means they run from sundown until dusk on the last day if the hear himself bray.” Apr. 19—26, 2019

Holiday. http://www.yiddishwit.com Page 8 Messenger

Week Ending July 6 (Service July 5) Yahrzeits and *Maud Carlyon, Morris Mendlowitz, *Bertha Goodman, *Rema R. Siegel, *Maximillian S. Bresch, *Walter Jacobson, *Dr. Eugene K. Weiss, *Hoda Friedmann, *David Sugar, Maurice Friedman, *Amelia Gutman, *Charles Siegel, *Nannie Ziegler, *Harold Phillips, *Irving Rosen Personal Notes Week Ending July 13 (Service July 12) *Leonard E. Newman, *Rose Levy, *Irving Levy, *Joseph Roos, *Jerome Edward Giles, *Charles Lerner, *Frank Peck, *Gertrude L. Freedman, *Mary Cohen, *Blanche W. Kleeman, *Leone Frank Loebl, *Rose Sugar, *Robert D. Pell, *Doris Weisberg

Week Ending July 20 (Service July 19) *David A. Cohen, *Maurice D. Breschel, Leonard Frieder, Alfred Heilbrunn, *Levi Hershfield, *Celia Kleeman, Samuel Lerner, *Eugenia C. Milliken, *Abe Adelman, *Ralph Goldsmith, *Esther Basha Adelman, F. Harry Anspacher

Get Wells Week Ending July 27 (Service July 26) (Mi Shebeirach) Bernard Lerner, *Beatrice Goodfriend, Sally Fine, *Ilse Michel, *Goldie Golden, Morris Gross, *Howard A. Jacobson, Melvin Weinberg, *Florence Pell Angert, Max Kravitz, *Albert A. Linder, *Alfred G. Rice, Charles D. Sherer, *Florence Dembert, *B. J. Smith Sandy Charlotte Milliken Cooperman Charlene Ostro Week Ending August 3 (Service August 2) Michael Cornfield Joel Ostro *Sarah Friedman, Paul Krafchin, Nettie Friedman, *Murray Smith, *Norman H. Hollander, *Gustave Jackson, *B. Leo Swartz, *Rose Smith, *Janet H. Rothenberg, *Ruth Whitman, Larry Golden Edward Snitko, Sr. *Bertha Gevanthor, *Stanley Dickstein Ellen Kline Emily Trunzo Week Ending August 10 (Service August 9) Phillip Knobel *Simon Rice, *Philip Swartz, Gerald Minkoff, *Fred Michel, *Morris Richman, *Yetta K. Lauer, Rich Mates *John Orgill, *Emma K. Frank, *Sara “Simi” Deutsch, *Harry Ehrlich, *Myron Ball, MD., *Samuel Diamond, *Rabbi Jacob J. Ackerman, *Ida Aerenson

Mazel Tov Week Ending August 17 (Service August 16) To Sue Meyer on her marriage to Mary Dolinger, *Rabbi Milton Richman, *Julia Ackerman, Goldie Freund, *Jacob Hefter, *Clara Kleeman, Esther Seitchik, *Shirley Alperin, *Anna Marks, Hattie Green, *Beatrice B. Aronsohn, Carol Van Wie. Rose Hersh, Mildred G. Silberman, *Fred Salomon Kugelman, *Evelyn Gill, *Rosa Morris, *Charles F. Wormser, *Julian Brown, Milton Hersh, *Lucille Weinberg, Max Green

Week Ending August 24 (Service August 23) *Golda P. Young, Raymond Young, *Clifford Weinstock, *Bina Loebenstein, *Leon M. Levy, *Fannie Spiegel, *Milton M. Friedman, *Harry Mauer, *Ben Fassler, *Erwin Schoenhof, *Gertrude Rice, *Sharon Pell-Lie

Week Ending August 31 (Service August 30)

*Roseann Smith Alperin, Samuel B. Samter, *Ralph Cohen, *Beatrice Davis, *Leon L. Kramer, *Rose Feinstein, *Elihu Friedmann, Paula Yudkin Albert, Helen Yudkin Lear, *Harry Weinberg, *Leo Swartz, *Sidney Wasser, *Minnie Brown

Page 9 Temple Hesed approved Budget and Proposed Budget

Notes to Proposed Budget

INCOME b Temple Dues; No increase in Dues Endowment Distribution: Per Investment Committee Rental of School: NativityMiguel Left as of June 30, 2019

Expense:

Rabbi: One-year contract Maintenance: Reduction due to NativityMiguel leaving Utilities: Reduction due to NativityMiguel leaving

Additionally;

Temple Hesed agreed, with Board authorization, to sell Dunmore Cemetery two acres of land located at the far end of our cemetery that borders Dunmore Cemetery and Forest Hills Cemetery. The agreed upon price is $31,000 per acre, which compares favorably with other cemetery land sales, Proceeds from the sale will be deposited in the Cemetery Fund. Attorney Jeff Levine is preparing the deed and agreement of sale.

URJ on Mosque shooting Long range Planning Committee report By Mark Davis, sible and robust financial stew- The Long-Range Planning March 15, 2019 – Follow- es of worshipchair have Long be-- ardship, significant challenges Committee is actively re- ing the attacks on the Al come sites ofRange slaughter. Planning A threaten the smooth continua- viewing the Temple's finan- Committee tionNoor of Mosquethe Temple’s and well Lin--being few months ago the mas- cial and contractual obliga- inwood the future. Mosque in Christ- sacre happened in a syna- tions within the short- and church, New Zealand, Un- gogue on a Saturday in mid-term (approximately up To avoid a rash decision made through 2025), and to con- inion a desperatefor Reform situation, Judaism we Pittsburgh, this time in sider that with regard to a seekPresident a well thoughtRabbi- outRick decision Ja- mosques on a Friday in range of possible options cobswhile time issued allows. the following New Zealand. to maintain the Temple as statement: a viable congregation mov- The Committee welcomes ideas The Muslim community is from the Congregation about ing forward. “Yet again the world is in pain and anguish. They possible approaches to consid- While the Temple has a ershaken as well byas askingextremist all to vio-"keep must not grieve alone. We strong history of continuing lenceyour ear against to the ground" innocent if you encourage the entire Jew- financial well-being, thanks peoplehear of a atpotential prayer, opportunity targeted ish community, together in large part to the support inwe deadlyshould consider. acts of hatred. with all people of con- of the congregation over many years; and to respon- Too often we have been science, to reach out to sickened that sacred plac- their Muslim neighbors in

Volume 160 Number 11 Page 10

July 13th Chanting Circle: Walls! Our July Interfaith How can we break free In August, we will Chanting Circle will from ways that we have chant on the 10th at meet at 11:30 a.m. on walled ourselves off? 11:30 a.m. Top- July 13th. Our chanting circle will ic;TBD. Our theme for July will explore all of these be Walls! They’re in the questions, through news lately – but chant, study, and dis- they’re also in our cussion. minds. As always, everyone is When do we need men- welcome to join this tal walls to protect us? welcoming and support- When do they trap us? ive group.

Investment Committee Report for Wednesday, June 19th, 2019

Temple Hesed Congregational Meeting

Jeff Leventhal Chairperson

The Temple Hesed Investment Committee continues to split the Temple’s various endowment and building funds between Stifel Nicolaus and Merrill Lynch for investments and advice.

An interest payment schedule has been set up and timely payments have been made from these funds to ensure that the Tem- ple’s expenses and financial obligations are met in prompt fashion. This schedule can be modified and adjusted going into this new fiscal year as per recommendations from the Treasurer, the acting President(s), and Marlene.

The encouraging news is that all of Temple Hesed’s investments have done well enough to experience an increase in their values. This is in spite of the constant fluctuations in their monthly values due to economic, market and political pressures and conditions.

In order to avoid any possibility of having to invade the corpus of any of the funds, the annual amounts of interest payments available will be closely monitored and adjusted as needed in order to help pay the Temple’s daily and routine operating expenses and bills.

The Temple Hesed Investment committee will continue to meet with our funds’ financial advisors and account managers, act on their recommendations, and continue to monitor the funds’ status and progress on an ongoing basis. Our investment committee plans to meet once each with our two financial advisors again this coming July.

My thanks to the following investment committee members who continue to offer their time, wisdom, advice, and support to in- sure that these Temple’s assets are protected and invested wisely in accordance with direction from the Temple Hesed Board. Members of this committee are:

David Dickstein Richard Fine

Jeffrey Jacobson Richard Levy

Sincerely, Jeff Leventhal, Chairman

Volume 160 Number 11 Page 11

Summer Adult Education: Learn Yiddish Language, Culture, and Cuisine We’ve studied some serious top- This series of four light-hearted ics in Adult Ed at Temple Hesed – adult education classes will ex- everything from the ethics of war plore Yiddish culture, cuisine, to the Book of Psalms. and, of course, language.

Oy – that’s too serious for the We’ll see clips from Yiddish thea- summer. So we won’t be schle- tre (with subtitles). We’ll also miels – we’ll do something fun! hear some Yiddish tales and “bintl briefs,” a sort of Yiddish Have you figured it out yet – it’s “Dear Abby.” Yiddish! Everyone knows about “chutzpah,” and probably at least We’ll even cook a bit together. a few Yiddish insults or jokes. But And through it all, we’ll learn at just what do those words actually least a “schmear” of Yiddish. mean in Yiddish? Classes will run from 11 a.m. to For that matter, just what is Yid- 12:30 p.m. on four Sundays, July dish? 14, 21, 28 and August 4.

New High Holy Day Prayerbooks and Electronic Yahrzeit Board In memory of the recent death of bit at a time, starting this year Laurence Davidow, as well as of with Erev Rosh Hashanah and their parents, Sol and Margaret, perhaps Rosh Hashanah morn- the Davidow family recently ing. made a wonderful contribution to the Temple, enabling us to We’re sure you’ll enjoy the purchase both new High Holy change. And we’ll be in contact Day prayerbooks and an elec- with families as we begin enter- tronic Yahrzeit board, which will ing information into the Yahrzeit be installed in the Ziegler Board; we’ll have a dedication Lounge. service once it is up and running. Laurence Davidow We’ll have more information Many thanks to the Davidows; about the new prayerbooks in we’ll be able to enjoy their gen- the September Messenger erosity for many years to come!

We’re going to introduce them a Temple Hesed Phone: 570-344-7201 ABOUT TEMPLE HESED: 1 Knox Road Fax: 570-344-4514 Temple Hesed, a Reform Synagogue founded Aug. 20, 1860, is Scran- Scranton, PA 18505 ton’s first and oldest Jewish congregation. It is one of the earliest congregations to join the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now the "The Temple of Loving Kindness" Union for Reform Judaism. It has been a member since Dec. 12, 1874. On the Web at: templehesed.org The synagogue serves the needs of individuals and families in Lacka- wanna County and surrounding areas. Situated on Knox Road, off Lake Temple personnel and officers Scranton Road in the East Mountain section of Scranton, the current building opened in 1973. Temple Hesed operates a cemetery on West SPIRITUAL LEADER Warren Street in Dunmore.

Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz The office is open Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m.. to 4 p.m.; and Friday 9 570-877-3454 (cell) a.m.. to 2 p.m. 570-344-7201 (office) ([email protected]) Rabbi Swartz is happy to set appointments at any convenient time. Con- ———————- tact him to set a time. The rabbi also has "drop-in" hours every Tuesday OFFICERS from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Rabbi holds Esther Adelman and Steven Seitchik - Co-Presidents these times open for visits or calls for which an appointment was not or Larry Milliken - 1st Vice President could not be made. Cheryl Friedman - 2nd Vice President Jeffrey Leventhal - Treasurer The Temple Hesed Cemetery is open for visitation six days a week. Visita- Joan Davis - Secretary tion hours are: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. till dusk Jennifer Novak - Assistant Secretary and it is closed for Shabbat on Saturday. For more information, call the

office. Board Members: Kenneth Ganz, Dale Milller, Robert Hersh, Natalie Gelb, Our Partners In- Paula Kane, Carol Leventhal , Judith Golden, Donna Kostiak, Loren Selz- nick, Honorary Life Board Member: Jane Oppenheim

STAFFMarlene Gianzanti —Office Manager ([email protected]) Edward Snitko-Director of Music Rich Mates-Messenger Editor ([email protected]) Jennifer Rosen Novak Social Media Maven Jeffrey Heilnru- in Webmaster

RABBI (continued from page 3) celebration for a number of years running. All of this, however, has been ad hoc. Should we plan on more are not Jewish. That includes everything from our fab- cooperation, and if so, what would that look like? Or ulous drag show fundraiser to the more than 100 peo- do such efforts detract from serving our own mem- ple who attended our Purim celebration, to our social bers? What do you think? action programs to even our Passover Seder. This I hope as we go forward into new territory this year, has become de facto an important part of who we are. Which means that we should reflect thoughtfully and we have lively and yet respectful conversations on seriously on what that says about us and what our these and other concerns, recognizing that there is more than one “right” answer but also knowing that mission should be. we need to focus on the principle priority, once we Finally, which is the ikar, cooperation or competition figure out what that is! The more everyone is involved with other synagogues and Jewish institutions and in this process, the stronger we will be. Which brings organizations in our area? We already run a joint Reli- me to my final comment on what the ikar is, from a gious School program with Temple Israel. And next saying by Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav: All the world year, Temple Israel is unlikely to have a rabbi. There’s altogether is a very narrow bridge, but the ikar, the a new rabbi at Temple B’nai B’rith in Kingston, one main thing, is not to be afraid. Let us approach the who is interested in doing more joint programming. I coming year without fear and full of hope. Then we have weekly classes at both Elan Gardens and the will surely find the Jewish Home, and we’ve been part of the JCC’s Purim “right” blessing! Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz