THE SHOFAR May 2021 (Published Monthly) Congregation B’nai Israel: Rabbi Pinchas Pearl Traditional Conservative Synagogue 718-769-1454 45 Twombly Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10306 718-564-5518 Tel: 718-987-8188 - Fax: 718-987-7870 [email protected] Email: [email protected] Preschool & UPK Web site: sicbi.org 718-987-6200 Facebook: Congregation B’nai Israel, NY [email protected] ___________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ FROM THE DESK OF RABBI PEARL Shavuot, the holiday we will celebrate this year on Monday, May 17th and Tuesday, May 18th means CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL “weeks,” and it refers to the Biblical Holiday celebrated OFFICERS on Sivan 6 (and 7 in the Diaspora) on the anniversary of President Charles Greinsky the giving of the Torah at Sinai. The Executive VP Martin Eisenberg word Shavuot(or Shavuos) means “weeks.” It celebrates the completion of the seven-week Omercounting period First VP Kevin Brosnick between the second day of Passover and Shavuot. Second VP Sharon Pekuly Shavuot is also the celebration of the wheat harvest and Treasurer Joel Abidor the ripening of the first fruits, which is the reason for the Financial Secretary Susan Finkelstein other two biblical names for this holiday: 1) "Yom Recording Secretary Barbara Smith Habikkurim" or the "Day of the First Fruits." 2) "Chag HaKatzir," the "Harvest Festival." Hebrew School Director Lillian Brosnick In the holiday prayer service, we refer to it as “Zeman Sisterhood President Sandra Levy Matan Torahteinu,” the "Time of the Giving of Our Torah.” FRIDAY CANDLE LIGHTING The true meaning of the holiday is its linkage to Passover, celebrated seven weeks before. We count the 5/07 - 7:41 pm - Iyar 25 days between the two holidays, through Sefiras HaOmer, 5/14 - 7:48 pm - Sivan 4 the number we recite every night. It teaches us that freedom, the meaning of Passover, must be defined by 5/21 - 7:54 pm - Sivan 10 values and purpose, the meaning of Shavuot, the holiday 5/28 - 8:00 pm - Sivan 17 of the giving of the Torah. We celebrate that our freedom has meaning and purpose through the CONGRATULATIONS! observance of Torah. In this difficult year, let us be grateful that our values Eileen Cooper, an active and valued member of and faith have withstood this test of fire that COVID-19 Sisterhood, is our CBI honoree for the UJA Community brought down upon us. Every bad experience has a (virtual) Breakfast Award. This is a well-deserved meaning and lesson, if we look for it. The meaning of honor! Mazel Tov!!! Shavuot, the defining of freedom through values and commitment, is a lesson that we must take into our post DONATIONS IN MEMORY OF: pandemic world. Let us value, give meaning and purpose Ana Cramer ........................................Ben Cramer to our lives and health, through the teachings and Joel & Rae Ganzman ..........................Abraham Ganzman observance of Torah. Jacob Goldberg ...................................Ida Goldberg Chag Sameach! Ilene & Charles Greinsky ....................Elsie Krevoy Gloria Hirsch .......................................Ben Hirsch Lillian Phillips ......................................Frieda Goldklang CONGRATULATIONS TO JOEL COHEN on his selection as the recipient of the 2021 WAGNER COLLEGE CHAI SOCIETY MONROE J. KLEIN ’66 HUMANITARIAN AWARD. ******************************************************************* On Wednesday night May 19 at 6 PM via zoom, our fellow congregant Joel Cohen, 6 days prior to his 92nd birthday, will be presented with the Wagner College Chai Society “Monroe J. Klein ’66 Humanitarian Award.” “The Award is given in memory of the Wagner alumnus, businessman and veteran, and recognizes an individual who exemplifies the same spirit of “loving kindness,” Gemilut Chassadim and generosity.” (Joel thinks he's getting the award "because they've run out of old folks to give it to.") A lifetime Staten Islander, Joel is a graduate of Curtis High School, Wagner College ’50, and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. After serving three years in the U.S. Army, he successively worked as reporter for a trade newspaper, publicist for the ABC-TV News Division, and speech writer for the New York Secretary of State. He then became a freelance writer, publishing 35 books, mainly for young readers, including biographies of Norman Rockwell and Bill Cosby, and such sports heroes as the late Tom Seaver, Hank Aaron and Joe Morgan, as well as Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Joe Torre and Bud Harrelson. He is a former president of the Jewish Community Center, and was active in programs helping Jewish Russian immigrants learn English and seek and find employment in the U.S.A. He has been a columnist for the Advance, as well as having articles published in the Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, Baltimore Sun, Parent’s Magazine, TV Guide and a host of other newspapers and magazines. He wrote a weekly column for the San Diego Jewish World, which was sometimes on a serious subject, such as learning he and Anne Frank were born within less than three weeks of each other. But most columns were ironic-humor spoofs of then President Trump. (About 30 of the latter are compiled in a book titled "Mostly Mishegas.”) He is a legendary gem amongst us, nonagenarian nonpareil. Cohen has a particular love of baseball which started in the mid 30’s as a New York Giant fan. “It was always a thrill to come out from the darkness under the stands into the magical ballfield illuminated by sunlight or artificial lights. Usually, it was a double header. A friend and I would have our (kosher) sandwiches transported in a shoe box, sit wherever, and enjoy hours of ballgame. It was either at the Stadium or the Polo Grounds, depending on which team was home that day.” Using Bar Mitzvah gift money in 1942, he treated his father and an uncle to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at the Polo Grounds. Tickets were about three dollars and change each, and he still has the stub in a scrapbook, including a handwritten synopsis of the game. “Remember, this was during war time, so even though it was a night game, it had to start and finish before lights needed to be turned on. “It was so great to be there. (My father, incidentally, had been at the World Series game the previous year, in which Mickey Owen missed holding on to a third strike and the Yankees ended up defeating the Dodgers) Years later, Joel was present at Shea Stadium for the picture-taking of the cover of an instruction book with Bud Harrelson. “As I walked around Shea" he recalled, "I noticed my footprints on the infield. Speaking to myself, as I often do, I said, ‘I'm thrilled,’ to which I replied, ‘You’re too old to be thrilled at something like this,’ to which re-replied, ‘but I am thrilled.’” Joel, once contracted to do a book on home run king Hank Aaron, remembers: “When I met him for the first time, one of my kids accidentally dropped a camera that landed just inches from Hank's foot. Had it hit the foot, who knows how it might have affected his home run total or career? “Anyway, I prepared to meet and interview him in Atlanta, and that summer, loaded my wife, my mother and kids into our car. A blowout notwithstanding, we made it. But Hank kept delaying our get- together. “One day, he said he was meeting his mother, another, going out with his woman friend, etc. As it turned out, he had just split with his agents, the same people who had obtained the book contract for me, and he apparently thought I was working with, or siding with the agents in their legal battle with him. “Finally, though, he invited me and my oldest boy to a game and then to his apartment. The great Ernie Banks was also invited. "’Henry, you sure knocked the (expletive) out of the ball tonight,’ Banks said. That night the great Henry Aaron served me a Coors beer and my son a soda. It was memorable all around.” Joel was writing a book about Pittsburgh Pirate star catcher Manny Sanguillen. “A bunch of us waited in a Philadelphia motel for the players to arrive. (The Pirates had played in Philly the night before.) Somebody mentioned that Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer, Dominican Rod Carew had converted to Judaism. A priest who had relationships with several Dominican ballplayers, said something to the effect of ‘Oh well, he's always been a little off,’ and I said, only half kiddingly, ‘Watch it, father.’ "Oh, I didn't mean anything," the priest said. Joel spoke of a luncheonette he frequented often on E. 12th street in Manhattan. “We'd eat at a particular luncheonette. One day I saw that schav was on the menu...it’s an acquired taste, but I’ve come to like it...so I ordered a cup or bowl.” "We don't have it today," the waitress said. “Oh, you only have it certain days?" I responded. "No, we, never have it," she said. So, as politely as possible I said, "then why is it on the menu." "Some people like it" she said, very seriously.” Reader’s Digest liked it and sent him $100. MARC GOLD 4/21/2021 YAHRZEITS FOR MAY 2021 Yahrzeits begin on the evening before the given date. If you need to say Kaddish for a Yahrzeit, please call the office two weeks before and we will try to have a Minyan. It would be helpful if you could have a few family members or friends attend the services to make sure there is a Minyan. For additions or corrections to this list, please contact Scott Diamond at 917-674-3317 or [email protected] May Day Iyar Yahrzeit Of Relationship Relative 1 19 Valerie Levy Daughter Doris Wasser 1 19 Valerie Levy Cousin Harris Schwartz