Rabbi Martin W. Levy Congregation Cantor Ephraim A. Herrera Beit Tikva Founding Rabbi Leonard A. Helman, z”l

P.O. BOX 24094 SANTA FE, NM 87502 TELEPHONE: 505.820.2991 WWW.BEITTIKVASANTAFE.ORG

Shevat/Adar/Nisan 5781 February/March 2021

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Passover 5781: Offi cers Dayenu, Dayenu! PRESIDENT Sheila Bicoll We are celebrating Passover at VICE-PRESIDENT the end of March, in a new and Tom Brenner “hybrid’” manner. You may join us in the sanctuary on Sunday TREASURER evening, March 28th, 6:00pm, Carlos Duno for a Second Night Community

RECORDING Seder dinner and service, or you SECRETARY may choose to collect your Beit Sandra Levine Tikva Haggadah and delicious dinner to go! We anticipate that Trustees we can gather with about thirty Kaycee Canter persons in the sanctuary, for a Windy Dankoff delightful Seder experience, led festive Passover dinner. The cost for the Seder Clarke Fountain by Rabbi Martin. Yet we know that many of Jonathan Frey dinner is $50 for members of Congegation us, due to health restrictions, need to welcome Beit Tikva. Please see the sign-up form on page Robert Gear the Passover week in the warmth of their own Lynn Kelly 4 for reservations and details. All reservations homes. That allows us to provide a pick up Linda Krull for the Seder must be made by March 22nd. Jean O’Gorman to-go format, enabling all of us to enjoy a Marc Sanders Joel Schneider Rabbi Levy’s Torah Study and Dirk Wassner Congregation Beit Tikva Wednesday Evening Classes 2021 Event Calendar Staff Every Saturday at 9:30am we meet ADMINISTRATOR via Zoom for ongoing discussion of Purim ...... Thursday, February 25 Lela Dawkins the weekly Torah portions. We study the Torah and Haftorah texts for each Passover, 1st Night ...... Saturday, March 27 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sabbath portion. Passover Seder (Congregation) ...... Sunday, March 28 Paula Eastwood Wednesday, April 14 begins the next Holocaust Remembrance Day ...... Friday, April 9 series of evening classes with Rabbi Levy. The topic will be announced Yom Ha’atzma’ut ...... Friday, April 16 soon. Shavuot ...... Sunday, May 16 Video conferencing opens up Summer Adult Classes (start) ...... Wednesday, July 7 new participation possibilities with people located anywhere. Everyone in ...... Saturday, August 28 every time zone is welcome for these Rosh HaShanah Evening ...... Monday, September 6 interesting events. Rosh HaShanah Morning ...... Tuesday, September 7 Please contact Rabbi Levy to receive Zoom links for the events, at Shuvah ...... Friday, September 10 [email protected]. Or, join our Kol Nidre ...... Wednesday, September 15 mailing list at beittikvasantafe.org. Yom Kippur Day ...... Thursday, September 16

Please access our Shabbat services on beittikvasantafe.org 2230 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, NM RABBI’S MESSAGE

n the midst of the February chill, I share with you image, we cross over the bridge and help others who may some thoughts about the months of Adar and Nisan, be mired in loneliness, distress, or abandonment. As I Ithe springtime that we warmly await. As we anticipate mentioned last spring, “You shall know the heart of the Purim, our most irreverent and droll holiday, we should stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” consider lessons learned in the month of Adar. We gather Last year we were ensconced at home, doing our own sobering lessons from the Mordecai and Esther saga. None Seders. Cantor Ephraim, Elisheva and I conducted a of us shall bow down to another human being, nor risk special video Seder, so that we might celebrate in some political ostracism because one man holds powerful sway virtual manner. This March 28th, we plan to observe the over another. We also realize that the destiny of every Jew festival of spring in a “hybrid’” fashion. Some of us will is inextricably bound up with the future of all Jewish souls gather in the sanctuary for an in-person Seder, while others in our country. Haman was offended by one courageous may choose to celebrate at home, enjoying the Pesach family, but in America we perceive many Amalakite-like take-out meal. Details are on page 4. groups who continue to harass Jewish citizens. The ADL Personal memories fl ood my holiday experience. Being showed that in 2019 the incidence of anti-semitic actions raised in a kosher household, my mother had another against Jewish communities increased by more than fi fty kitchen in our basement that contained all the Passover percent from the year before. We need to strengthen wares. That entailed changing all the dishes, silver, pots ourselves and not imagine that anti-Jewish vitriol will and pans, and scouring the shelves of our regular kitchen diminish, simply because we face other serious challenges to “kasher” it, and remove all “chametz.” It was my task to in our nation. We must lift up the glass of schnapps at carry all the Passover dishes from the basement and present Purim and remind ourselves of our unwavering faith in them to my mother for washing. In those years we spent at Jewish survival. Throughout the centuries we have endured least three or four days cleaning and preparing for the fi rst hardships far greater than that which we are experiencing Seder meal. at this season. Remember Mordecai admonishing Queen This spring, what are the essential questions we must Esther that she must act to save her people, for the good ask at our Seder observance? Why is this night so different deeds of one person resound throughout the greater from all other nights? What have we learned from living community and land. through this pandemic for more than a year? How have Now let us pivot our attention towards springtime and we managed to strengthen our Beit Tikva, even as we are the major festival of Passover. Truly we are weary, lonely, commanded to be socially-distant? How can we care for socially distanced and hoping for a “shot,” but Pesach will others when we are so absorbed with our own health and arrive and herald our liberation. There will be an opening safety? On all other nights, we remind ourselves of the of our community and a chance to celebrate, learn, and tears of oppression. On this night we ask, “How do we pray together. Passover is a moment to reconsider one’s care for those we have not seen in a year, and how do we inner resolve and spiritual direction, reminding us that as uplift the hungry and the homeless?” On this night of a congregation we must work together and show greater Passover we affi rm that compassion, righteousness, and “rachameem” (compassion and caring) for every person generosity (tzedakah) will overcome the shadows of our in our community. Folks tell me they are exhausted present-day plague. and isolated and are yearning for human connection. May we all be blessed with good health and strength for Absolutely. So let’s begin by picking up our cell phones this spring season! and calling a friend, a congregant you haven’t seen in a year. Remember that adage, “Reach out and touch someone!” It’s easy to complain; it’s more uplifting to act. Passover is a remembrance of the divine-human interconnectedness of life. We left Egypt because God Rabbi Martin W. Levy granted us freedom and the possibility of changing our 505.670.4671 lives and our future. That “dash” between the divine- human encounter is at the crux of our springtime holiday. When we remember that all are created in the divine

2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE “S” is for Spring, Seder and Smiles be indoors or will pick up your Passover meal. There will be a full dinner—matzo, grape juice, As we look forward to the next season, we hope to be haggadah, seder plate “fi xings,” and loving wishes that closer to recapturing our normal activities. We’d love to we can all be together next year. Your reservation form is be able to interact with folks again. We’d love to be able included in this bulletin on page 4. Reply early! to share our walks with other people and have friendly The Passover service will be recorded and posted exchanges and hugs and handshakes. All of that is coming, on YouTube.com so you can share at home at your we just need to be patient and follow mandated guidelines convenience. until then. The last “S” I want to share is smile. It’s really hard these With that in mind, we are planning a unique Passover days to fi nd reasons to smile. Make it a goal to fi nd joy. experience. It will be take-out for some and stay-in for Even if your smile is hidden behind a mask, your heart others. According to today’s limits, we can have 25 people will know. Personally, one of the “smiles” that makes me inside the synagogue for our Passover service. If that so happy is the one I get from Boychik whose tail wags so changes, we will change as well. Right now we are having hard when he sees me that it looks like a windmill going a catered dinner for all. The fi rst 25 respondents will be round and round. Now that’s what I call a smile! indoors and the others will be take-out. Creativity is running wild for this holiday celebration “S” for shalom, and we hope you will join us. Please make early Sheila Bicoll reservations and we will notify you about whether you will [email protected]

And since the Superbowl is on February 7th, here is a little Adminstrator’s Angle By Lela Dawkins prayer to help your team! In 2021 Major League Baseball begins on April 28. It was recently pointed out to me by Rabbi Levy that everything : An Ode to Football is in the Bible, even baseball terms. To get you spiritually ready for baseball, I share these passages. The Lord is my running back, I shall not be short of the fi rst down. Adonai gives us good fi eld Genesis 24:14 (pitcher) Eleazer prays, “Let your position. pitcher go.” Gatorade shall accompany me always. The Almighty Psalm s 19:13 (umpires) “Truly there are good and bad umpires.” aids the winded, for my feet shall stay inbound on Joshua 8:19 (hit and run) “And they ran as soon as he had that catch. stretched out his hand.” Yea, even when I’m double covered I shall not worry Psalm 146:8 (umpire) “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.” about getting popped, for He is blocking for me; helmet and pads protect me. Adonai opens the hole for me through the defensive line. He pours the bubbly over me at the Superbowl. Surely endorsements and goodies shall follow me all the days of my career, and I shall dwell in the Hall of Fame forever.

3 COME CELEBRATE WITH US AT PASSOVER

Congregation Beit Tikva

Welcome Passover— Second Night Community Seder Join us for a traditional 4-course meal with wine and a Passover service.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 at 6:00 pm, Congregation Beit Tikva, 2230 Old Pecos Trail Conducted by Rabbi Martin W. Levy Catered by Victoria Bruneni, The Truck Catering Company

PASSOVER REGISTRATION FORM

# of Adult Members______@ $50 per person______IF YOU ARE PICKING UP YOUR # of Adult Non-Members______@ $65 per person______SEDER MEAL, PLEASE CHECK HERE

Total amount enclosed: $______❏ # of beef dinners ❏ # of chicken dinners ❏ # of vegetarian dinners

Please RSVP by Monday, March 22, 2021. Space is limited. Reservations must be accompanied by a check made out to Congregation Beit Tikva, sent by mail to P.O. Box 24094, Santa Fe, NM 87502. For more information, please call the office at 505.820.2991. Visa/MC is available by filling out the form below.

Name: ______Phone ______

Address: ______

City: ______State______Zip ______

Visa/Mastercard # ______Exp. Date_____ CCV #______Billing Zip Code______

4 Founding Rabbi Leonard A. Helman, z”l 1926 – 2013

From Sonny Rapoport’s eulogy, ways to make things better. He June, 2013. was devoted to many diverse causes including biomedical ethics, Greatness is almost always homelessness, cultural diversity, diminished by confi ning it to the religious ecumenisms, and the plight spoken word. of the Falashim Jews of Ethiopia. He There is no way to accurately personally traveled to that country or adequately characterize Rabbi in 1984 to see to the delivery of Helman’s abiding concern for all desperately needed medical supplies people, or the impact that he had and clothing, and to assist with their of faithful Chaplaincy. upon those fortunate enough to have emigration to Israel. In 1974, Santa Fe and its Jewish known him. A man of extraordinary depth and community were blessed by Rabbi Leonard Alfred Helman was complexity, Rabbi Helman was, Helman’s decision to assume the born on November 30, 1926 in quite literally, a world-renowned pulpit of Temple Beth Shalom, Hartford, Connecticut. When Rabbi Bridge player, holding the coveted which then consisted of about 60 Helman was twelve years old, just title of Gold Life Master, as well as families and a small twenty-two year prior to his Bar Mitzvah, his father being both the author, and subject old building on Barcelona Street. passed away and while his mother of innumerable articles on Contract Under his leadership from 1974 heroically provided for him and his Bridge. until 1991 the congregation grew to sister, Rabbi Helman grew up in A man who actually sent Mel almost 400 families and a beautiful comparative poverty, an experience Brooks a mezuzah after meeting him new sanctuary, classrooms, and whose lessons he never forgot. at a wedding, Rabbi Helman had offi ces were built on the Barcelona Blessed with a towering intellect, a legendary sense of humor, and I Street property. While serving the Rabbi Helman was an outstanding suspect that each of you has at least Jewish community as its Rabbi, student. In 1948 he graduated Phi one good Rabbi Helman story. Here Rabbi Helman was also serving the Beta Kappa from Trinity College. is one of my favorites, told to me entire state by holding the position In 1955 he graduated with honors by Amy Stein, the renown Santa of Administrative Law Judge for from Hebrew Union College where Fe artist. Amy decided to attend the New Mexico Public Service he was ordained as a Rabbi. He Christmas Eve midnight at the Commission where he distinguished earned a law degree from Duquesne Cathedral and was stunned to fi nd himself and earned a reputation for University in 1970 and in 1980 Rabbi Helman in attendance. “What fairness and the highest of ethical was conferred an Honorary Doctor are you doing here?” she asked. standards. of Divinity from Hebrew Union Rabbi Helman responded, “You In 1991 Rabbi Helman tried his College in New York City. know, you can never be too sure.” hand at retirement, serving small But academia was not the only While he had much to be proud congregations on a part-time basis in place where Rabbi Helman excelled. of, Rabbi Helman particularly Pennsylvania and later in Alabama, Beginning after his ordination and enjoyed his service as Chaplain to but his love of Santa Fe never spanning some 58 years, Rabbi the New Mexico State Legislature diminished with time. In 1995 he Helman was a pulpit Rabbi caring where he saw to it that prayers ended his exile and returned to his for and blessing congregations were offered by clergy of all faiths beloved city to assume the pulpit of in California, West Virginia, and denominations. One of his Congregation Beit Tikva. Pennsylvania, Alabama, and most proud possessions was an His contract was simple— beginning in 1974, in Santa Fe, embroidered State of New Mexico “Rabbi For Life,” a contract we New Mexico. In every community jacket presented to him by the State have been proud to honor. Under he served, Rabbi Helman found legislature commemorating his years continued on page 6

5 Rabbi Leonard A. Helman, continued from page 5 his leadership our congregation has alternatively, make them feel good grown from 20 families to over 150 about just being themselves. He was families. Rabbi Helman’s name is at the same time highly accomplished inscribed on a bronze plaque on the and yet insecure and humble. We wall of the lovely new synagogue on shall not see his kind again. Old Pecos Trail, which we dedicated I should like to conclude my in 2005. comments by reading the inscription The Rabbi Different for the City written on his Honorary Doctor of In Loving Different could be found tap dancing Divinity Diploma. It reads: to Doug Montgomery at Vannesie; “Leonard Alfred Helman, faithful Memory singing Broadway show tunes with Rabbi and Attorney whose devotion John Gooch at the Eldorado; dancing to Judaism sustains congregants to the music at La Fonda; walking his in communities distant from the Kay Fowler enormous Boviers: Bear, then Sarah mainstream of Jewish life; who has DECEMBER 17, 2020 on the Plaza; or arguing with New applied his knowledge of the Law to Mexico State Supreme Court Justices the public weal; and who as a teacher Beloved Friend over some decision or arcane point of Theology, has helped others to of law. He was a genuine original, understand the meaning of Judaism.” of Our Congregation unique and inclusive, and with an extraordinary talent to make people Shalom Rav. feel good about being Jewish, or Sonny Rapoport

A prominent Scottish artist, William asthmatic children run by nuns on the Meet Board Member Gear was a founding member of the Isle of Wight but returned home after two Robert Gear avant-garde art group, CoBrA (coined from years. Robert did not receive a Jewish the initials of the members’ home cities: education or participate in Jewish rituals By Marc Sanders Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam), or holidays. Love in the City of that rejected conventional western After graduating from high school, Light motifs and, instead, drew inspiration from Robert enrolled in Reading University Charlotte Chertok, children’s drawings and primitive art. where he studied literature and philosophy. However, he “contracted” a twelve-year-old It was a Dark and Stormy Night… a wanderlust that kindled a passion to Jewish girl from The Gears settled on a farm in see the world. In the next fi ve decades Boston, moved Buckinghamshire where Charlotte became Robert visited and/or lived in 70 countries with her family pregnant with her second child. She including a partial list in alphabetical, not to Manhattan intended to have the baby at the hospital chronological order: Afghanistan, Bahrain, where her dentist but when the time came, a severe storm Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, father became the with torrential rains fl ooded the roads, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Spain, fi rst tenant to rent a medical offi ce in the making them impassable. And so, later Turkey and the U.S.A. Japan was one of newly-built iconic skyscraper, the Empire that night 69 years ago, baby Robert was the fi rst countries Robert visited and State Building. home-birthed to a Jewish mother and where he taught English. Following a stop As a young woman, Charlotte embarked gentile father. in Los Angeles, Robert drove his beat up on a tour of Europe and, while strolling When Robert was three the family Volkswagen Beetle to Mexico City where down a street in Paris, paused to admire an moved to Canterbury where he started he had arranged to housesit. He passed by art gallery’s window display. A gentleman school. Unfortunately, he was frequently a school and, on a whim, walked in, asked passerby stopped to ask if she liked the art, ill with respiratory infections that sent him for a job and was hired on the spot to off ering to introduce her to the artist who to the hospital and caused him to miss teach English. happened to be a friend of his. She met school. Corticosteroids, the conventional the artist, William Gear, and the two hit it therapy at the time, provided temporary Romance al sur de la Frontera off , eventually getting married and having relief but had an unintended side eff ect of Robert met his future wife, Jolene, in the their fi rst son, David. Shortly thereafter, the stunting his growth. teacher’s lounge. On his day off , Robert Gears moved to England. Robert was sent to a school for accidentally blew up a television and

6 DECEMBER 2020 AND JANUARY 2020 DONATIONS General Fund Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund The Board of Directors has decided Norma and Tom Brenner – Eleanor Brenner to launch a campaign to create a In Appreciation $1 million endowment fund that will secure the long-term Marilyn Cohen – In Memory Fundraising fi nancial viability of Congregation of Melanie Hornstein and In Ruthie Koval Beit Tikva. Our fi nances are secure Appreciation Barb and Armon Lamont for the foreseeable future. However, Wendy Katzman Donna Brown & Family Planned Giving can be a way to leave Connie and Stuart Rosenberg – In Kaycee and Rabbi Martin Levy a legacy for our wonderful and caring Memory of their Daughter, Shana Sheila Bicoll organization. and In Memory of the Tates’ Son Anonymous To launch the endowment, we David Silver – In Memory of are asking generous members to Scott Jones Rabbi’s Circle fund it with signifi cant donations. Eleanor Brenner Every member can contribute to the Building and Maintenance Dirk Wassner endowment in the following ways: Susan Krohn • A gift designated specifi cally for Sandy Levine Sustainer the endowment. Linda Krull • A gift included in your Estate Planning in the form of cash or an Oneg asset that has market value. Alma and Windy Dankoff • Designating Congregation Beit Tikva as a benefi ciary in your life insurance policy. This is as easy as called Jolene. A second incident in which Tikva across the street. They decided to advising your insurance company Robert scorched the fl oor with an iron check it out and, lucky for the synagogue, of the amount designated for CBT sounds comical now but wasn’t so at became new members. by providing them with our legal the time. In any event, these mishaps To say the Gears are among Beit brought Robert and Jolene closer Tikva’s most valued members would be name and address: Congregation together. However, their tranquility was an understatement. They are active in Beit Tikva, PO BOX 24094, shattered by a devastating earthquake every program, participate in the free Santa Fe, NM 87502, and tax ID that hit Mexico City and the trauma was classes, chauff eur disabled members to (please contact Lela to obtain). their cue to leave for Iowa (home of services, assist with special events and To help you with this Planned Giving Jolene’s mother) in 1979 where they always perform their tasks cheerfully. process, Jessica Bicoll, a certifi ed got married. They attended graduate The couple has appeared in the annual school and earned master’s degrees in Purim Spiel (who could forget Jolene as Financial Advisor, has graciously Teaching ESL. Queen Vashti, doing her own version of offered a free one-hour consultation They were accepted in a Ph.D. program the Dance of the Seven Veils or Robert, as on how to proceed. Jessica can be at The University of Texas at Austin Narrator, delivering his lines with gravitas reached by phone: 505.795.7678 or where they lived for three years. But the enhanced by a British accent?) and by email: [email protected]. wanderlust struck again so they dusted Jolene provides piano music for Shabbat off their passports and moved to Kuwait services. and Bahrain to teach before moving to Factoids Our Weekly E-Blast Finland. Following this they accepted -Robert is a licensed airplane pilot teaching positions in Oman. Our weekly e-newsletter is the -He is a published writer of short stories After Robert’s mother died they best way to stay current with all and articles. Robert also enjoys hiking moved to England to look after his dad our Congregation’s happenings. and reading. and when he passed they moved back -The couple has two children, Lindsay Please contact Windy Dankoff , to Iowa. However, the bitter Midwest and Alexander, and a grandson, Bryn. windydankoff @mac.com to join the winter left them longing for a warmer Robert joined the Board in 2019 with e-blast list. Or, go to: climate and Santa Fe fi t the bill. Arriving an interest in expanding the temple’s in 2017, they booked accommodations www.beittikvasantafe.org and click educational programs to attract at the Pecos Trail Inn and noticed Beit on the blue button, top right. prospective new members.

7 Congregation NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION Beit Tikva U.S. POSTAGE PAID P.O. BOX 24094 PERMIT #660 SANTA FE, NM 87502 SANTA FE, NM

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 TORAH PASSAGES FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 SERVICES February 5 March 5 Exodus Exodus Until further notice, our regular Yitro 18.1 – 20.23 Ki Tisa 30.11 – 34.35 “Jethro” the father-in-law of Moses Rules for a census, the golden calf, Moses & services are recorded and can be Arrival at Sinai, the Ten Commandments the broken tablets viewed on our YouTube.com channel by searching within YouTube for February 12 March 12 Exodus Exodus Congregation Beit Tikva. Or, go to Mishpatim 21.1 – 24.18 Vayakhel 35.1 – 38.20 Ordinances, civil legislation, morality & Moses gathers and explains rules regarding our website and click on the link for ethical behavior construction of the Tabernacle, recorded services on the right side of Shabbat Shekalim Pekude 38.21 – 40.38 the home page. Contributions to the building of the www.beittikvasantafe.org/homee February 19 Exodus tabernacle Terumah 25.1 – 27.19 Shabbat Shabbat Hahodesh: the new moon before Zachor (remembrance before Purim) Passover The tabernacle, building of the ark, free will offering March 19 Leviticus Vayikra 1.1-5.26 February 26 Exodus General rules for offerings Tetzaveh 27.20 – 30.10 Rules of the Kohanim March 26 Leviticus Commandments regarding bringing pure oil Tzav 6.1-8.36 and the construction of the attar Continuation of the laws of sacrifi ce and offerings, commandments for Aaron & his February 25 Purim sons Shabbat Hagadol; Search for Chametz The Great Sabbath, always precedes Passover March 28 Passover, Second Night Seder April 4 Passover Yizkor