B'er Chayim Bulletin
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B’er Chayim Bulletin February 2018 Shevat - Adar 5778 107 Union Street Cumberland, Md. 21502 301-722-5688 Cumberland Theatre production to feature Temple members B’er Chayim’s own Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab and Doug Schwab will be reprising the roles played years ago by Doug’s parents, Jane and Leonard Schwab, in two productions of the play Love Letters at the Cumberland Theatre. The show will be performed Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18 as a fundraiser for the theatre’s Capital Improvement Fund. Written by A.R. Gurney, Love Letters was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play centers on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, who sit side by side at tables and read the notes, letters, and cards that have passed between them throughout their separated lives. In them, they discuss their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats. Tickets are available on the Cumberland Theatre website and at the box office before each performance. B’er Chayim plans variety of activities to celebrate Purim Purim begins this year on the evening of Thursday, March 1 and will be celebrated at B’er Chayim over the course of several days. On Sunday, February 25 at 1 p.m., the Temple will host an after- noon of Hamantaschen baking. Some supplies will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their favorite dough, fillings, and tools. If you are interesting in joining in the fun, please call the Temple for more information and to RSVP. A combined Shabbat and Purim service will be held on Friday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. and a Megillah reading and study session will take place on Saturday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. “Purim will be a lot of fun this year,” said Rabbi Perman. “We will ask the children (and the adults) to come in costume as we cheer the heroine Esther and boo the evil Haman at our combined Purim Spiel and Shabbat service Friday night. On Saturday morning we will look at the Megillah more closely and try to understand the ori- Liora and Aiden Speir participate in gins of Purim and why it became an integral part of our tradition.” last year’s Hamantaschen baking. From the Rabbi A book by esteemed professor of law, Alan Dershowitz, written some time ago, suggests that what has kept the Jewish people intact over the centuries is our willingness to stick together and maintain our faith tradition despite centuries of persecution, oppression and antisemitism. He also makes another curious observation which is that as conditions for Jews across the globe have improved over time, the urge to assimilate and forget about one’s Jewish roots has become greater. He actually points out several examples where rabbis in shtetl communities living under oppressive rulers feared too much freedom for their people. They understood that the price of liberation is often a loss of connection and commitment to Judaism itself. And yet, Dershowitz articulates a plan for the future which is in place, believe it or not, in many Reform congregations today. Rather than seeking to return to the shtetl or to draw strength from being “perennially victimized,” today’s Reform Judaism seeks to integrate Judaism with modernity and create a mode of Jewish expression that is modern, innovative, and engaging. It asks us to be proud of who we are as Jews rather than always looking over our shoulder for the next threat of antisemitism. We at B’er Chayim are doing our best to follow that model with an increased emphasis on creativity and fun in the religious school classroom, doubling our efforts to be welcoming to intermarried couples and anyone else who seeks to join our community, and encouraging innovative and fun musical and arts programs that encompass all generations. For example, we will soon be selecting our Purim spiel for the year and inviting any of you who are interested to participate in that. If, over time, you have any thoughts for our new congregational president, Doug Schwab (who will be doing a great job for our synagogue) or myself please feel free to speak to either one of us. Please let me know your thoughts as to how we can meet your spiritual needs at B’er Chayim and help evolve our community into something that can inspire and instill a love for Judaism and Jewish values for many generations to come. Shalom U’vracha. Peace and blessings. Rabbi Mark Perman Purim traditions focus on giving to family, friends, the poor The Book of Esther instructs the Mishloach manot, literally, pastry eaten on Purim, but may Jewish people to observe the "sending of portions", are gifts also include a wide variety of days of Purim "as days of feast- of food or drink that are sent foods and treats. These gifts are ing and gladness, and sending to family, friends and others on frequently referred to by their portions of food to one anoth- Purim day. It is meant to ensure Yiddish name, shalachmanos. er, and gifts to the poor.” This that everyone has enough food verse refers to three different for the Purim feast held later in Matanot l'evyonim (gifts to mitzvot: eating a Purim meal, the day, and to increase love the poor) are gifts given at this the sending of ready-to-eat food and friendship among Jews and season to those in need. Many to friends (mishloach manot), their neighbors. Often present- families have committed to and the distribution of charitable ed in baskets, most mishloach participating in this important donations (Matanot l’evyonim) manot include hamantaschen, social justice aspect of the to the poor. the traditional three-sided holiday. President’s Corner Did you Just a follow up from last month’s bulletin article. At our March 19th board meeting we will hear from Amy Asin, the URJ Vice President know? of Strengthening Congregations. She will attend our meeting using a video conferencing system called Zoom. Please join us if you are interested in hearing how our congregation can be helped by the • Esther is the only URJ. It should be very interesting. This will be a two-way conversa- Book of the Bible tion. In the meantime, visit the URJ website and learn what they do in which God is not and how they do it. mentioned. Thanks to Gregg Schaaf, Debra Schaaf, Larry Brock, Marilyn Brock, Tamar Clarke, Marlene Sallerson, Rabbi Perman, Jen • Queen Esther’s Hartlove, Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab, and Doug Schwab for their Hebrew name was participation in our Mitzvah day at WMHS. Thanks to Deb Litman Hadasaah (“Esther” for taking over the temple bulletin and to Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab is Persian). for doing it for so many years. Thanks to Debbie Lang, Gayle, and the Rabbi for a great calendar planning meeting. I am excited about the events we have planned and am very open to sugges- • Achashverosh tions for future events. It is important to me that all of you are as searched four years informed as possible about what is planned at temple. If you are in- for a queen, during terested in viewing the temple calendar online check it out via this which he considered link and bookmark it in your browser. https://tinyurl.com/y78r8m3s . more than 1,400 We have begun work on a Goods and Services Auction for contestants, before October 6, 2018 and are looking for donations of goods and choosing Esther. services. If you have something of interest, please let me know. Bake a challah or three, make a batch of matzo ball soup or • Mordecai is thought chocolate raspberry bars, or donate some great artwork. Call me by many to be the if you have questions. first person to be I have been in contact with the Allegany County Sheriff’s Depart- referred to as a ment regarding their new initiative to meet with religious institu- Jew rather than an tions in the county to review their buildings for security purposes. Israelite or Hebrew. After the sheriff’s department inspects our building they will do a presentation after a Friday night service. While that may not seem appropriate, it will allow us to connect with the target audience for the presentation. We will let you know when this will take place in a future Shabbat update. One last thing. When you are at Temple in the sanctuary please silence or preferably turn off your cell phone. The sanctuary is a sacred space and we need to respect that. Thank you and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns, suggestions, or ideas to make B’er Chayim a better place for all of us. Doug Schwab – [email protected] - 240-580-0403 Donations to B’er Chayim B’er Chayim Movie Night March 10, 2018 January Yahrzeits - corrected 7:00PM Donor In memory of Howard & Carol Bertha Mendelsohn Mendelsohn Marlene & Seymour Florence Sallerson Sallerson Judi Lazarus-Haag Margaret Markley Elena Manasse Helene Manansse Betsey Weisman Ruth Bacon & Bill Hirsch Emerson Miller Philip Miller Debbie Feinstein Maury Feinstein, Dorothy Feinstein, Movie Night is free and open to all Temple members and guests. BYOB, Popcorn and some soda will be available. Max Feinstein Donations to make future movie nights more fun will be accepted. February Yahrzeits Donor In memory of Sue Peskin Morton Peskin Howard & Carol Bertha Mendelsohn Looking for Mendelsohn Jewish-themed podcasts? Ira Rosenbaum Jr. Ira Rosenbaum Take a listen to these. Other contributions Stories We Tell - Judaism has a deep and rich tradition of passing down stories from Missy Corley one generation to the next.