Adath Israel Tradition

Serving the Adath Israel Chavurah since 1904 Newtown, Monroe, Bethel, Brookfield, Southbury, Trumbull, Oxford, Danbury

(The Little Synagogue that Could: First building: 1919, First rabbi: 1923) Ritual: Conservative Social: Progressive Oneg Shabbats: Priceless

October 22 Tishrei 5778 - 2018 22 Cheshvan 5779

Please support our FALL FUNDRAISER

Buy Your TICKETS TODAY! https://adath.ticketleap.com/another-tequila-sunrise/

More about “Another Tequila Sunrise” on page 3

Come Experience Congregation Adath Israel’s

“Shabbat Before Bedtime” Friday OCTOBER 12th at 6:00 pm

Calling all families with young children… Join us for a joyous, raucous, percussion and dance filled 45 minutes as we welcome the Sabbath -- young and young at heart are all invited. In- fuse your children with the joy of Judaism and then on to bed!!

In This Issue From the Ritual Committee 5, 6, Activities, Clubs and Committees Announcements 1 11,12 Sukkot Photos 7 Community Programs & Events From the Rabbi’s Study In Memoriam 2 High Holiday Food Drive Photos 8 13 President’s Message Contact Information Donations Another Tequila Sunrise 3 The Nezvesky School 9 14 Hosting an Oneg / Kiddush Parade Photos 3, 4 KOSHER CREATIONS 10 October Calendar 15

From the Rabbi’s Study

This month our Sabbath Morning Service will be held on October 20th. We will be reading and discussing the beginning of the role of our first ancestor Abraham. Who was he? There is a historical hypothesis that he was not a Semite as the Torah presents him, but that he actu- ally came from a different unknown origin.

Rather than ignore or take things for granted that we learned on a child's level of under- standing, we should try to update our knowledge of Judaism on an adult level. Torah study at our monthly Sabbath Morning services will help accomplish this updating.

I look forward to being able to read and discuss our Torah portion this month with a minyan.

~ Rabbi Barukh Schectman

President’s Message

Dear Congregants,

Florence and I were so very pleased to see everyone over the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur Holy Days. There were some that I had not seen for some time and it was good to catch up as to the progress of their children, some of whom were with me when I was teaching 4th and 5th grade. It is my hope that they join us on Shabbat and other festive occasions in the coming year.

So many took the time to be part of the service. I would love to acknowledge each and every one personally but that would be impossible without my omitting some well-deserved congregant. A loud and deserved shout out to Steve Bamberg, Art Gruber, Rabbi Schectman and Cantor Rabin for your work on behalf of the synagogue. It was so impressive. To Katherine Kohrman, you have the unique ability to bring it all together, you understand the needs of all who participate so that they are relaxed and comforted with the knowledge that you and others are right there to assist when assistance is required.

When there is a project to complete you can count on our congregants. The sukkah was erected in just a couple of hours, thanks to the many that showed up. Dave Smith took several minutes away from his duties as education chairman to give us the layout and Steve Vine, our Men's Club chairman, brought the coffee that kept everyone going. Again, I will not mention all those who participated for fear of leaving someone out.

Because of time constraints I did not complete all my thoughts during my appeal for volunteerism. Sponsoring an oneg is important as it takes the burden off the synagogue to buy the necessary items and all that goes into making it a delightful time to mingle and nosh. Certainly, singularly it is not costly but the accumulative effect on our treas- ury can be most beneficial.

One other item that can be most beneficial and that is our Tree of Life. Our very talented Meyer Glaser created the sculpture that is on the wall in the foyer. There is no better way to show your love for our Jewish Community than by adding your family name to it. It can be a lasting memento for your family to see and cherish.

Please call or write to any board member if you have an idea that can bring us together in harmony and friendship. We welcome all suggestions.

With Blessings of Shalom, Bob & Florence Rubinstein

It’s “Another Tequila Sunrise” in Monroe for Eagles’ Fans

“Another Tequila Sunrise,” will be performing on Saturday, October 13th at 7:30pm at Masuk High School, 1014 Monroe Turnpike, in Monroe, CT. Doors will open at 6:00pm. In addition to bringing you an evening of your favorite Eagles’ hits, there will be a bake sale and silent auction showcasing a wide array of goods from area retail- ers and services from restaurants, popular sporting events and golfing opportunities.

As America’s top Eagles tribute band, Another Tequila Sunrise’s performance makes audiences feel like they are attending an Eagles concert. Their performance replicates details running the gamut from voice imitation to in- strument authentication. Band members also inject humor and high energy to cap off their concerts.

Another Tequila Sunrise was formed in 2001 as “Spread Eagle: A Tribute to the Eagles.” The band was later re- named “Another Tequila Sunrise” in 2009. With the formation of “Another Tequila Sunrise, LLC” in 2012, the band has emerged with an all-star lineup of musicians incorporating songs from the Eagles catalog along with solo ma- terial from Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh.

Band members are: Rick Steinau as “Randy Meisner – Timothy B. Schmidt,” Keith Brindle as “Don Henley,” Jeff Griffith as “Glenn Frey,” Mike Fretwell as “Joe Walsh,” Jeremy Beek as “Don Felder – Stewart Smith,” Jon Audette as “Joe Vitale” and Steve Brodi as “Scott Crago.”

If you’ve been an Eagles fan since 1972 or are new to their sound, discover what Rolling Stone Magazine calls ‘The Best Eagles Tribute Band on Earth.’

Individual tickets are priced in advance at $35 for adults and $25 for seniors as well as students. Tickets are also available at the door: $40 for adults and $30 for seniors/students. Tickets are available by phone: 203-426-5188 or can also be reserved by visiting https://adath.ticketleap.com/another-tequila-sunrise/

Thank you to all Parade Participants

We appreciate all the time and effort several of our members pro- vided during the last few weeks of August so that we could have a float in this year’s Newtown Labor Day Parade.

Thank you to Darryl Newman for volunteering his truck and work- ing with David Smith to come up with the parade float theme of our celebrating our 100th anniversary with a small replica of the original building from 1919 and a wedding chuppah.

Thank you to Marc Rubin for the design of the building so that it could easily be taken apart for transport and storage. To Susan & Marc Rubin for several Home Depot runs for building supplies. To Darryl Newman, Chuck Newman, David Smith and Marc Rubin for the construction and Susan Rubin for painting the float structure. Also, thank you to John Littlefield for cutting and painting all the door and window trim pieces.

Thank you to the Sachs, Nahoum and Bogdanoff families for providing the candy which we tossed to the kids along the route.

We also wish to thank everyone who walked or rode with us on the Labor Day parade route: Tod Bog- danoff, Bonnie & Bob Goldstein, Lauren Miller, Jack Nahmias, Darryl Newman, Matt Parkhurst, Dara Ru- bin, Susan Rubin, Florence & Bob Rubinstein, Jessica Sachs, Ian Sachs, Rabbi Schectman, David Smith and Lynn Wiener. And thanks to those who cheered us on!

From The Ritual Committee High Holidays 5779

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur have just recently come and gone. We joyfully celebrated and prayed together as a congregation under the leadership of Rabbi Schectman, Cantor Jill Rabin, and congregant Arthur Gruber. They were assisted on the Bimah by Ritual Committee Chair, Katherine Kohrman. We had other lay leaders assisting as well: Congregant Steve Bamberg chanted the early morning prayers and led Torah stud- ies on both holidays. Lynn Wiener and Meyer Glaser led Children and Youth services. We had five Gabbai’im assisting at our Torah Services: Katherine Kohrman, David Smith, Dan Federman, Lori Brault and Bob Rubin- stein. We had two Shofar blowers again this year: Bill Hillman was our Ba’al Tekiyah in the sanctuary and Mark Rebb blew the shofar for our children’s service. Bill also gave us one grand Tekiyah Gedolah at the con- clusion of the Neilah service on Yom Kippur. Thanks to all of you.

There are many others to thank as well:

For beautifying our synagogue, we thank Meyer Glaser for the bimah flowers, Chuck Newman for the out- door plantings, landscaping and potted plants and Rita Frost for the flowers in our lobby.

For polishing the silver on our Torahs, we thank Bonnie Goldstein and her Sisterhood crew: Carlyn Win- ton, Nancy Bamberg, Janis Nezvesky, Lynn Wiener, Sonja Ikenson and Silvia Pena.

For forming our minyans, we thank many congregants: Bill Berk; Jack Nahmias; Marty, Janis & Floren Schertzer; David Smith; Lori & Sophie Brault; Jodi, Rebecca & Jacob Markowsky; Mark Rebb; Laura Goldstein and Steve & Eric Vine; Steve Bamberg; Art & Louise Gruber; Bill Hillman; Rita Frost; Rabbi Schectman & daughter Bina; Katherine Kohrman; Sonja Ikenson; Stephanie Wachman; Ben Glazer; and Aaron Nezvesky; Most of these people helped with more than one minyan. Thanks so much to all of you. We all benefited from our holiday services being able to start on time. If someone was inadvertently forgotten and left off this list, our sincere apologies and our deepest appreciation.

For chanting Torah and Haftarah, we have 15 congregants and children of congregants to thank. Many have been chanting the same portions for years. Readers were Steve Bamberg, Eric Vine, Harrison Silverman, Michael Arena, David Wiener, Amy Greenfield, Katherine Kohrman, Mark Rebb, David Smith, Bonnie Gold- stein, Lori Brault, Rabbi Schectman and Cantor Rabin. We welcomed our newest Haftarah readers, newly minted B’not Mitzvah, Sophie Brault and Rebecca Markowsky. They shared the Yom Kippur Haftarah this year and chanted beautifully. In addition, we had Jodi Markowsky and daughter Rebecca do a dramatic Eng- lish reading on Yom Kippur afternoon of the Haftarah story of Jonah and the Whale. Thanks to all! You really enriched our services. And thanks to Bonnie Goldstein who organizes all of these readers year after year. She also ran two rehearsals for readers, with the help of Katherine Kohrman, Lori Brault and David Smith.

For ushering, we thank Mark Silverman.

For staffing our table in the foyer, we thank Marina Arena, Tod Bogdanoff, Amy Greenfield, Jack Nahmias, Lori Brault, Floren and Janis Schertzer, Rhonda Greifinger and Rosalie Newman. And we had a lot of teenag- ers helping there as well: Justin Bogdanoff, Jacob Markowsky, Jonathan Nahmias, Matt & Jacob Schumer, So- phie Brault and Michael Arena.

For assisting with security, we thank Jack Nahmias.

For helping with the Break Fast, we thank Susan Rubin and a team of helpers: Elaine Schwartz, Leslie & George Silver, Marc Rubin, David & Mardi Smith, Jacob Markowsky and Janis and Marty Schertzer

For switching the prayer books, we thank our 7th and 8th grade families: The Arenas, Markowskys and Braults as well as Bonnie Goldstein.

For moving furniture and walls, we thank Mark Rebb who organized a small crew of helpers to set up, as well as the large crew of helpers who stayed after Yizkor to pack away all of the folding chairs and close the partitions. You are too numerous to list. But each of you pitching in made it lighter work for everyone else. Thank you all.

For special readings from the Bimah during our services, we thank Marin Marcus, Silvia Pena, Bob and Florence Rubinstein for the reading of the memorial booklet, and Ruth Theaman and Nancy Bamberg for additional Yizkor readings.

For special Hebrew prayers during our services, we thank a group of teens and young adults who chanted so beautifully in the Sanctuary: Michael Arena, Jonathan Nahmias, Sophie Brault, Rebecca Markowsky, Joshua Rosen, Jacob Markowsky, Eliana Kohrman-Glaser and Miryam Wilson. We also thank Lynn Wiener for her lovely prayer over the holiday candles on Erev Rosh Hashanah.

For making a myriad of arrangements, we thank Susan Rubin, our synagogue Executive Director, without whom nothing would run smoothly. Each year it is her attention to detail and her advance planning that as- sures that our holiday services are welcoming and comfortable for all.

Bob Goldstein receives Shem Tov Award

This award, of the good name, is presented to a congregant for their volunteerism and dedication to Adath Is- rael. This year’s award was presented to Bob Goldstein on the evening of the September 18th Kol Nidre service.

Bob and his family have been members of the congregation since the 1990’s. Bob has always volunteered to help with many activities. From setting up for events, helping to build the sukkah and bringing Bingo to Adath Israel; if something needs to be done, you can count on Bob to help.

In recent years, Bob has taken on the task of being the marketing representative for our yearly fundraiser. He has tirelessly contacted and visited area businesses to sell ads for our program booklet and procure silent auction items that would be of interest to our attendees. Bob is very motivated, each year trying to surpass the year before in sales of ads and number of auction items donated. You may also see him around town putting up flyers and lawn signs advertising our events. It is Bob’s hard work and dedication that make our fundraisers a success. Thank you, Bob!

A fun time in the Sukkah! Sunday September 16th was a beautiful morning, perfect for building the sukkah! Men’s Club brought the coffee and many volunteers, of all ages, came to help out. The following Sunday, children in Ms. Ikenson’s and Ms. Bialik’s classes decorated the sukkah with decorations they made in class.

That evening, about 40 people celebrated Sukkot with a Pizza dinner, but first Darryl Newman treated us to a les- son about wheat in honor of this Harvest festival. The children were fascinated as he showed them how wheatber- ries are turned into flour by grinding them up. He also talked about how everything used to make the pizza they would be eating came from a farm.

David Smith recited the kiddush and motzi blessings for Sukkot. Chuck Newman recited the blessing for the Lulav & Etrog. After dinner, David Smith showed everyone how to shake the lulav and etrog. The children were all very ea- ger to take their turn as they waited in line patiently.

Thank you to the Kindergarten and first grade families for providing the dessert.

Happy Sukkot!

High Holiday Food Drive

Caring Committee Update

The Community Care and Share Committee sponsored our 1st (and hopefully) annual food drive to help out our local food pantries as tzedaka during the High Holy days. We were very pleased with the tremendous response from the members of our congregation. It was a huge success. We divided the bags up between the Monroe and Newtown food pantries. Thank you again to those who generously donated.

Please contact Sue Morse at [email protected] if anyone is in need of our assistance, or knows of someone in our congregation that has a need for our diverse support.

~ Susan Littlefield, Secretary

Students in our upper school helped load he cars with the bags of food on Sunday September 23rd.

THE NEZVESKY SCHOOL

Shana Tovah!

This year started with a lot of fun activities, including Pizza in the Hut and our special children's and youth services for the High Holidays. I'd like to thank Meyer Glaser and especially Lynn Wiener for stepping in and teaching these services at the last minute. There are pictures of setting up the sukkah elsewhere in this issue. In the next week we are celebrating Simchat Torah and the children are especially invited to come and dance with the Torah scrolls. It's on Monday, October 1 from 6:30 to 7:30. There will also be a Yizkor service at 6 for adults.

As we discussed on the opening day, the 4th grade will take place on Tuesday to ameliorate the im- pact of extra-curricular activities on the sched- ule. The 6th and 7th grades will continue to meet on Wednesday. In order for this to work, we will need to have an additional adult in the building for Tuesday and Wednesday, to be able to handle any issues where the children and teachers need to be in multiple places at once. During midweek classes the doors are kept locked so children coming to the classes will be let in by the teacher as they arrive.

We will be locking the main doors on Sunday after classes start at 9:30. Please have your children arrive beforehand so we can avoid having to buzz them in. We are also looking into additional security procedures, including hiring trained security personnel, and changing our doors to using elec- tronic key fobs. We will keep you posted as these alternatives are fleshed out and priced.

In the next few weeks we will be holding our first fire drill of the year. We usually combine this with a school photo, so we will let you know when that day occurs.

David Smith, Education Chair [email protected] 203-770-1685

Free Jewish themed books and music CD’s for children ages 6 months through 8 years.

KOSHER CREATIONS

We hope you will enjoy trying out these tasty treats each month. Bonnie Goldstein will be collecting and compiling the recipes for the newsletter. If you would like to contribute a favorite recipe for this section, please email it to her at [email protected]. If you have a photo of your dish to include with the recipe, send that too! Recipes must follow Kosher guidelines.

Oven-Roasted Chicken Shwarma

Published from NYTimes Cooking by Sam Sifton From the Kitchen of Rhonda Greifinger

Ingredients:

2 lemons, juiced 1/2 cup plus 1 TBS olive oil 6 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and minced 1 tsp. Kosher salt 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 2 tsp. ground cumin 2 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. tumeric A pinch of ground cinnamon Red pepper flakes, to taste 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1 large red onion, peeled and quartered 2 TBS. chopped fresh parsley

Step 1 Prepare a marinade for the chicken. Combine the lemon juice, 1/2 cup of olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, tumeric, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then whisk to combine. Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Cover and store in refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.

Step 2 When ready to cook, heat oven to 425 degrees. Use the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to grease a rimmed sheet pan. Add the quartered onion to the chicken and marinade, and toss once to combine. Remove the chicken and onion from the marinade, and place on the pan, spreading everything evenly across it.

Step 3 Put the chicken in the oven and roast until it is browned, crisp at the edges and cooked through, about 30 -40 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow it to rest a few minutes, then slice into bits. Scatter parsley over the top and serve with tomatoes, cucumbers, pita, tahini (white sauce - plain yogurt with mayo and lemon juice and garlic), hot sauce, olives, fried eggplant, feta, rice, hummus - really anything you desire.

ACTIVITIES, CLUBS & COMMITTEES Israeli Folk Dancing SISTERHOOD Join us on the following Thursday, Tuesdays at 7:30 PM October 18th at 7:00 PM October 9 Contact Bonnie Goldstein at: October 23 [email protected] November 13 November 27

In the Social Hall. Wear comfortable shoes.

JOIN MEN’S CLUB Good aerobic workout! TODAY!

Contact Steve Vine Adath Israel [email protected] Women’s Book Club

MAH JONG MADNESS The next meeting of the Adath Israel book club will be on Mon- day November 5 at 7:30 PM at the home of Susan Littlefield. The current book we are reading is:

THE GREAT ALONE By Kristin Hannah

We invite all members to join our club. We choose a variety of 7:00 PM at genres of literature to discuss. Even if you haven’t read the book, Adath Israel consider joining us and helping to choose our next book. We usually meet bimonthly. If interested, please email Amy Green- For both experienced and field at [email protected]. beginner players [email protected] Have an opinion? Like to write? Shop at Newsletter contributions are and Amazon will make a donation to: always welcome…

Have family or student news you would like Congregation Adath Israel to share?

Support Congregation Adath Israel Contact: [email protected] by starting your shopping at: Newsletter article submittal deadline is the 23rd of http://smile.amazon.com/ch/06-1365965 each month.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & EVENTS

The Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County

Check out the many Programs, Book talks, Classes, Archives, and more

Visit: http://jhsfc-ct.org

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut

A member of the International Association of Jewish Genea- logical Societies. Library Collection housed at Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Rd., Newington, CT

For additional information, please visit www.jgsct.org.

IN MEMORIAM Yahrzeits: October 2018 CONTACT INFORMATION

Office Phone: 203-426-5188 1 Oct 22 Tishri Blanche Naidich, Mother of Michelle Tenenbaum 2 Oct 23 Tishri Lillian Greifinger, Mother of Rhonda Greifinger Rabbi Barukh Schectman [email protected] 7 Oct 28 Tishri Coleman Carl Kramer, Grandfather of Gabrielle Joshpe Administrator: Susan Rubin 11 Oct 2 Heshvan Joseph Rosen, Grandfather of David Rosen [email protected]

15 Oct 6 Heshvan Muriel Rosenthal, Mother of Jonas Rosenthal 2018 – 2019 Officers of the Board 15 Oct 6 Heshvan Janis Slomka, Sister of Jay Slomka President: Bob Rubinstein 19 Oct 10 Heshvan Miriam Newman, Mother of Charles Newman [email protected] 21 Oct 12 Heshvan Louise Gross, Aunt of Mardi Smith Vice - President: Amy Greenfield 26 Oct 17 Heshvan Bob Zank, Brother of Sue Morse Vice - President: Susan Littlefield 29 Oct 20 Heshvan June Greller, Mother of Susan Littlefield [email protected]

Treasurer: Dan Greenberg [email protected] … and let us not forget Secretary: Jim Arena 5 Oct 26 Tishri Samuel Glaser [email protected] 11 Oct 2 Heshvan Fannie Goosman Member at Large: Ben Glazer 11 Oct 2 Heshvan Harry Koffman Member at Large: Darryl Newman 12 Oct 3 Heshvan Lillian Koslow Member at Large: Jessica Sachs 14 Oct 5 Heshvan Esther Redalje [email protected]

23 Oct 14 Heshvan Gertrude Danziger 2018 – 2019 Committee Chairpersons 29 Oct 20 Heshvan Benjamin Alan Bernstein Birthday Books: Mardi Smith

Education Chairperson: David Smith [email protected] BRONZE MEMORIAL NAMEPLATE School Parent Coordinator: Gabrielle Joshpe If you wish to install a memorial nameplate in the sanctuary, [email protected]

please contact Susan Rubin at 203-426-5188 Caring Committee: Susan Morse [email protected] or by email [email protected] Fundraising: available [email protected]

Honorarium: Susan Rubin [email protected] CEMETERY PLOTS AVAILABLE

Adath Israel Cemetery House: Mark Silverman [email protected] (a division of B’nai Israel Cemetery) Membership: Leah Newman 472 Moose Hill Road, Monroe, CT [email protected]

Information packets are available. Please contact Susan Rubin at Men’s Club: Steve Vine [email protected] or call 203-426-5188. [email protected]

Newsletter: Susan Rubin [email protected]

Programs: available ADVERTISING IN THE NEWSLETTER [email protected]

Publicity: Karen Klein Business card : $10 mo. / $90 yr. [email protected]

1/4 page: $15 mo. / $135 yr. Ritual: Katherine Kohrman [email protected] 1/2 page: $25 mo. / $225 yr. Safety: David Wiener

Full page: $45 mo. / $405 yr. [email protected]

Email: [email protected] Sisterhood: Bonnie Goldstein [email protected]

DONATIONS HOST

We gratefully acknowledge the following contributions to temple funds: AN ONEG General Fund OR KIDDUSH Bonnie & Bob Goldstein in memory of Bob's father, Sidney Goldstein Susan Rubenstein in memory of her mother, Sylvia Fox Hosting a Friday Oneg or Saturday Kid- Caring Community Fund dush is performing a Mitzvah for our Rhonda Greifinger in memory of her mother, Lillian Greifinger community. After services is a time Susan & John Littlefield in memory of Susan’s mother, June Greller when we have a chance to slow down

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund and catch up on the weekly events Bill Berk with our fellow congregants.

High Holiday Donors will be listed in next month’s newsletter. It’s not only a Mitzvah, but a way for you to celebrate an event in your family and share the good news with our congregation. Many people host to THANK YOU commemorate birthdays, anniver- TO OUR SEPTEMBER ONEG & HOLIDAY SPONSORS saries, engagements, awards, gradua- tions, victories and other happy occa- Friday September 7—Susan & John Littlefield sions. You may also host in memory of Sunday September 23— Dessert after Pizza in the Hut— a loved one. Of course, you don’t The Kindergarten and First Grade Families need a reason to host and you may also buddy up and host with a friend.

If you wish to participate in this Mitz- Dear Congregants, vah or for more information, please e-mail the office at: Want to thank all who wished me well after my surgery [email protected] and convalescence. Thank you for the beautiful flowers. Friday Oneg Dates Available

It was uplifting to know you were all thinking of me and October 5, 12, 19, 26 sending healing thoughts. I’m doing fine now and have November 2, 9, 30 December 7, 14, 21, 28 put all of this behind me where it belongs. January 4, 11, 18 February 1, 8, 15, 22 Best wishes for a Happy Healthy New Year. March 8, 15, 22, 29 Ellen Baff April 5, 12, 19, 26 May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 June 7, 14, 21, 28

“LEAVE YOUR LEGACY ON THE TREE OF LIFE” Saturday Kiddush Dates Available

A great way to honor past and present October 20, November 3 family members and friends December 1, January 19 February 23, April 27 Large Leaf—$1800. each; May 11, June22 Small Leaf—$180. each

Order forms available at the synagogue Do a mitzvah! or by emailing: Reserve your date now! [email protected]

OCTOBER 2018