April 2021 Shalom
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TheThe MonthlyMonthly NewsletterNewsletter ofof BethBeth ElEl SynagogueSynagogue BETHBETHBETHBETH EL ELELEL SHALOM SHALOMSHALOMSHALOM APRILAPRIL 20212021 NISAN/IYAR 5781 Five days after Pesach no action. We will never forget ends we commemorate those righteous gentiles who Yom HaShoah—Holocaust risked everything to save our Remembrance Day. Why is people as well as those govern- PULL OUT CALENDAR Yom HaShoah observed on ment leaders who did what was Candle Lighting Times, Service Times, & the 27th of Nisan? Did some- necessary behind the scenes Events all in one place, pp 18–19! thing significant take place on to make a difference. Out of Rabbi Nover’s Message that day? the ashes of the Holocaust, See Page 2 It turns out that the 27th three years later the State of President’s Message of Nisan was actually a com- Israel was born. The Jewish See Page 3 promise date. Secular Israelis people were finally in con- trol of their destiny. We have Good & Welfare wanted to commemorate Yom See Page 4 HaShoah on the day that the watched during these almost Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto seventy-three years the growth Donations began their revolt against the of Israel in so many areas. See Page 6 Nazis. This was on April 19, 1943, which was The small nation that was attacked from all Adult Education the 15th of Nisan—the first day of Pesach. It sides on Independence Day is a leader among See Pages 7, 8, 31 was no coincidence that the Nazis looked to nations. Israel has come a long way in such a Genealogy Club destroy the Warsaw Ghetto on one of the most short period of time. We owe it to our children See Pages 8, 22, 23 joyous of Jewish holidays. This day was not and grandchildren to transmit this message to them so they will impart it to future genera- Yom Hashoah Program going to work as a day of Holocaust Remem- See Page 10 brance in Israel because of Pesach. tions. It is a timeless message about never giv- Although no particular Holocaust-related ing up no matter what we face as a nation. Holidays, Festivals, Fasts for 2021–22 event occurred on the 27th of Nisan, it does We, as a Beth El Synagogue commu- See Pages 10, 13 take place during the time that the Warsaw nity, have the opportunity to mark these Women’s League Ghetto uprising continued and falls one week moments together. On Wednesday, April 7, See Pages 11, 15, 17, 35 before Israel Independence Day. The Israeli at 7 p.m., via Zoom, we will commemorate Seniors government wanted to draw a connection Yom HaShoah with a program that has been See Pages 13, 20 between the murder of the Six Million Jews crafted by Marilyn Bellis and Trudi Perlman. Ma’ariv will follow the program at about Israel Affairs / AJC / Mercaz and the creation of the State of Israel three See Pages 14, 28 years later. When the 27th of Nisan falls on a 8:15 p.m. in person and on Zoom. I hope Friday, as it does this year, Yom HaShoah is that you and your family will join us as we moved to the day before, Thursday. pledge to remember and to never forget. what Israel means to our people, we need to This is a powerful message about our One week later, on Wednesday, April experience the pain of Yom HaShoah and in people. In 1945 we were truly in the lowest 14, at 7:30 p.m., in person and on Zoom, order to comprehend the pain of Yom HaSho- depths in our history as we were decimated we will honor the memory of over 23,000 ah, we need to celebrate the triumph of Yom and the world looked on and essentially took members of the Israel Defense Forces who Ha’Atzmaut. These dates may be only one were killed in battle throughout all of Israel’s week apart on the Jewish calendar, but they Have a Happy, wars as well as victims of terrorism. After represent polar opposites in the life of our we pay homage to Israel’s fallen, we will people. We need to try and experience both Kosher Passover! make Havdalah (separation) as we leave the emotions in order to become Shalem – com- Friday, April 2 sadness behind and go right into celebrating Pesach Service, 6 pm plete as individuals and as a people. Let us Light candles, 7:05 pm Yom Ha’Atzmaut—Israel’s Independence remember the tragedy and let us celebrate the Saturday, April 3: Day. Ma’ariv will follow in person or on victory. Day 7 Zoom at about 8 p.m. After the service, you Pesach Service, 9 am I look forward to seeing you on Wednes- Pesach Service, 7:05 pm will be able to pick up a special snack in day, April 7, at 7 p.m., and on Wednesday, Light candles after 8:05 pm honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut. April 14, at 7:30 p.m., as we stand in solidar- Sunday, April 4: As I reflect on this period on the Jewish ity as a community. Day 8 calendar, I am convinced that these days rep- Pesach Service, 9:30 am Best wishes for a Yom Ha’Atzmaut Yizkor recited resent the saddest day and the happiest day Sameach! Holiday Ends, 8:05 pm for our people. In order to truly appreciate —Rabbi Jay M. Kornsgold • 50 Maple Stream Rd., East Windsor, New Jersey 08520 • (609) 443-4454 • Fax: (609) 443-2887 • www.bethel.net • continued on p. 13 BETH EL SHALOM Thank you to all of our faculty for creating Rabbi Nover’s Message these stations, and giving the students a great DEADLINE FOR MAY SHA- experience. LOM (written & e-mail): I also want to thank Tom Beck and Rachel Katz for working on the new Beth El Haggadah, and for all of you who submitted Mon., April 19 your traditions and additions to it. Although E-MAIL ADDRESS: we couldn’t celebrate together physically, we [email protected] all were able to support one another as part All handwritten and typed materials of a community. should be submitted or faxed to the Registration is now open for the 2021–22 Beth El office at 609-443-2887 no school year at Beth El! This year, we are do- later than the 1st of the month (except as noted above). E-mailed materials ing the process completely online. You can must also be received by the 1st of find a link to the form here: https://forms.gle/ the month. Please e-mail to: Sometimes, just before a major action DgiEoY2b2pHGs4GVA [email protected]. shot, everything slows down and suddenly Bonus Challenge: Thank you all for your cooperation. stops. I’ve experienced something like that Eat your favorite Israeli food! (100 only a few times in my life, and all of those points) times were during Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Special Dates: Rememberance Day) and Yom HaZikaron 4/4—No School, Passover Break SYNAGOGUESYNAGOGUE (Israeli Memorial Day) in Israel. On those 4/5—Hebrew High Resumes OFFICEOFFICE HOURS:HOURS: days, a siren sounds throughout the land of 4/7—RS Resumes MondayMonday throughthrough Thursday—Thursday— Israel, and everything just stops. Cars pull to 4/7—Yom HaShoah program at 7 99 a.m.a.m. toto 55 p.m.p.m. the side of the road, people stop talking, stop 4/8—BJC & JC, 6:30 pm (Zoom) WednesdayWednesday (when(when ReligiousReligious SchoolSchool isis inin session)—9:30session)—9:30 a.m.a.m. walking. The entire country pauses, just for 4/11—T4T that moment. toto 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 4/14—Yom HaZikaron – Yom Friday—9 a.m. to 2 p.m. That pause, that time to reflect, remem- Friday—9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ha’atzmaut Program at 7:30 pm SundaySunday (when(when ReligiousReligious SchoolSchool ber, grieve, and experience, is like nothing 4/17—JC, 10:30 am (in person) isis inin session)—9session)—9 a.m.a.m. toto 1212 noonnoon else I’ve ever felt. It seems like it should 4/17—Bar Mitzvah of Max Gertsman feel artificial, should feel forced. And yet, 4/21—Gimmel Class Prayer Showcase in that moment, sharing in the silence, it felt 4/22—BJC & JC, 6:30 pm (Zoom) Contact Beth El by email! profound. 4/25—T4T Rabbi Kornsgold: [email protected] The holidays of Yom HaShoah and Yom 4-30—Lag B’Omer President: [email protected] HaZikaron are less than ten days apart. To 5/1—JC, 10:30 am (in person) Office: [email protected] pause twice in ten days to remember and —Rabbi Matt Nover, Assistant Rabbi Religious School: [email protected] commemorate our loss is hard. Remem- and Education Director Bookkeeper: [email protected] bering the almost unimaginable loss of six Seniors: [email protected] million Jewish souls. Remembering that Men’s Club: [email protected] Women’s League: [email protected] almost every Israeli has someone to mourn Publicity: [email protected] on Israel’s Memorial Day. And also realizing Shalom: [email protected] that these dates were intentional. These are not holidays that are named in the Torah. These were decided by the Israeli govern- ment, and for good reason. PPPLEASE JOIN US! Immediately after Yom HaZikaron, we transition to a holiday of joy: Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israeli Independance Day). It WEEKDAY sometimes feels like a shock, to transition MORNING MINYAN from sadness to celebration, but the message is profound.