Vassar Temple Where You Belong

Congregation Brethren of Founded 1848 Bulletin Volume 162 No. 11 July-August 2016

Cereal Counts! May Drive Brings Summer Breakfasts to Many

“Cereal Counts!” is an annual spring- stored the boxes until the final day try sites hosted by Dutchess Outreach; time, Dutchess County-wide cereal box when a spirited group of volunteers, the Community Action Partnership for food drive aimed at reducing breakfast including our own members, packed their pantries in Poughkeepsie Dover, hunger now in its 10th year. Once again, the entire collection into cartons Beacon and Red Hook; Beulah Baptist we thank everyone at Vassar Temple who provided by Arnoff Moving Company Church; Hudson River Housing/Hillcrest helped make the drive a success and donat- and loaded them into trucks provided Shelter; Hudson River Housing/Gannett ed boxes. Cereal Counts! indeed enjoyed by Jacob Levian of Performance House; Interfaith Senior Housing, Pleasant widespread support this Motors of Wappingers Valley Ecumenical Food Pantry; and Zion year. Preschool, elementa- and UHaul. Poughkeep- Episcopal Church. An additional load ry, middle and high school sie Mayor Rolison, State coming in this month will be delivered to communities held wonder- Senator Sue Serino, Chair- St. Paul’s Episcopal in Poughkeepsie. ful school-based drives to woman Lynda Biskup and collect boxes. Other faith County Executive Mark Thanks to the members of our Temple organizations, businesses, Molinaro brought boxes and other citizens of Dutchess County, libraries, county and and provided their support truckloads of good morning health made government offices, sports to this incredible all county their way to those in need. Breakfast hun- teams, hobby and various effort culminating on Mitz- ger is intolerable. interest groups collected, vah Day, May 15th. too. We had great news- Nancy and David Samson​ paper and radio spon- On May 16th, 1,134 sors that encouraged box boxes and an additional donations throughout the load that came in over- county. Temple Beth El of Poughkeepsie, night were delivered to food pan- headquarters for Mitzvah Day this year,

Homeless Shelter Needs Help!

Vassar Temple members have long other faith-based communities, prepare been important supporters of the 60 bed and serve a meal to the shelter guests. shelter for homeless adults located in the Our night is the 4th Thursday of each Town of Poughkeepsie. Unfortunately, the month. We also have a donation box years have not decreased the need for this in the East chapel for toiletries, sheets, support system because other agencies towels, and other bedding supplies for the which would, in a perfect world, deal shelter. Toiletries can be dropped off at with the problems that lead to homeless- any time ness are underfunded and overwhelmed. Many of you have already helped. If Into this situation step volunteers. Here’s you are a new volunteer and want to get how you can help. started with food and/or serving, please Once a month the Jewish community contact Judy Harkavy at of Dutchess County, with help from a lot 845-471- 4973 or [email protected]. of non-Jews who are not affiliated with

1 ’s Message: So What Do DO in the Summer?

There’s a myth that Special Projects! I’m on a team tasked search for role models in the Bible. Check rabbis have the summers with imagining what a High Holy Day it out! off, since some of us prayer experience for young children and Working! Summer is a time to regroup don’t lead summer Shab- their families should look like, so that the and recharge and also a time to determine bat services. But while CCAR can create a new machzor for fam- our course for the coming year. Julie, the rhythm of Jewish life ily services. Sherrie, and I, along with the Vassar may slow down in the Simchas! Summer is wedding season, Temple leadership, will spend much of the summer, there is always and I am working with several couples summer hard at work, getting things in or- plenty to keep a rabbi busy. What do rab- to prepare for their upcoming marriages. der for the High Holy Days and preparing bis do in the summer if they aren’t on the Weddings give me the opportunity to en- for an amazing school year! pulpit? Here’s my summer To-Do list: gage with couples—often interfaith—who Vacation! I travel a lot: for professional Camping! I will spend a week each at haven’t yet found their way into syna- conferences, destination weddings, and URJ Eisner and Crane Lake Camps and gogue life. I love learning their stories, to see family. But I haven’t taken an URJ Six-Points Sci-Tech Academy. Camp creating rituals with them, and giving honest-to-goodness vacation in over two is a fabulous opportunity to witness what them the tools they need to make Jewish years. While I’ll mostly be around in the the next generation of Reform Jews is up choices in the future. Hudson Valley (Look for me at Power- to firsthand. Jewish professionals through- Reading! My vision of a perfect summer house!), I’m hoping to take a few days out the region donate a week or two to run day is reading in a beach chair. While away to do, well, nothing. And I hope Limud (Jewish learning) for 2nd through summer can be a time to catch up on that you do, too! 10th graders, tutor b’nai mitzvah, and lead pleasure reading, I also explore materi- In short, rabbis do just as much in daily prayers. I’m also creating electives als that will help me prepare for the High the summer as they do during the year, for older campers: a social justice module Holy Days, Adult Education courses, but we’re never too busy to spend time called “Game of Loans,” and a class on and shaping our vision for the congrega- with you! I hope we’ll see each other at “The Science of Miracles.” tion. On my list this summer are Ron Vassar Temple and around town. In the Teaching! Since 2001, I have given an Wolfson’s Relational Judaism and The meantime, have a wonderful, safe, relax- annual lecture to the Women’s Spiritual- Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women ing, and meaningful summer! ity Group at my home synagogue, Temple in the Rabbinate, an anthology highlight- ing the triumphs and challenges of the Sholom in Broomall, PA. This year’s topic Rabbi Leah Rabbi Berkowitz is “Fifty Shades of Play: The Rabbis’ first generations of women rabbis. The Approach to Love and Intimacy.” latter includes my own essay about my

From Our New President, Mark Metzger

It was a tremen- equally as important. The hard work and To that end, in September, Rabbi and the dous honor to have commitment of the rabbis, past presidents, Temple board will engage in a develop- been elected and board members, committee members, con- ment workshop with a URJ facilitator. We installed as president of our wonder- gregants and Temple staff have made our look forward to exploring future growth ful congregation, Vassar Temple. The temple stronger and a very pleasant place of our temple. Your vision and ideas are good wishes and offers of support are to share. I thank everyone who has helped also important--please share your thoughts sincerely appreciated. To paraphrase with the many holidays, Temple functions, with me and other board members so that Deuteronomy Rabbah 1.10, a congrega- community projects, events, outreach and our congregation may thrive and prosper. tion “... is too heavy for anyone to carry numerous other activities during the past I look forward to working with the entire alone.” I look forward to working with few years. Vassar Temple family. It is often said by Rabbi Berkowitz, the officers and direc- visitors that we are a warm and welcoming tors, committee members, congregants A special thanks must go to Bob Ritter place, something in which we should all and Temple staff to continue to build for the time and love he has given to our take pride. Thank you for this opportunity upon the foundation laid by our prede- temple. His tenure as president was ex- and your support and guidance. cessors. tremely productive, energetic and innova- tive. I know we can count on Bob for his Mark Metzger So much was accomplished during continued, valued support. these past few years with the leadership of our rabbis and past presidents. All Moving forward, there is still much to one has to do is look in, and around, the do to maintain and improve upon our posi- beautiful synagogue to see some of the tion as a temple. “Where there is no vision, accomplishments. Many more achieve- the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18) ments are not visible, however, and are That is true for a congregation as well.

2 Special Summer Worship Services Scriptural Readings

During July and August, Vassar Temple will hold weekly Friday night services July led by a wonderful series of specially trained lay leaders. The services will be held at 7:30pm in an intimate and relaxed setting in the air conditioned social hall. Each will be a complete service including kaddish, will be enhanced with special music, and will 2 Sh’lah L’kha Num. 15:8-41; reflect the unique perspective of the leader. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to Joshua 2:1-24 enjoy light seasonal refreshments (often ice cream!), and, of course, to socialize and share news with friends. Be sure to join us! 9 Korah Num. 17:25-18:32; I Samuel 11:14 – 12:22 If you are interested in co-leading or leading one of the services, an upcoming train- ing session is scheduled. Music mavens, your help is especially welcome to complement 16 Hukat Num. 21:11-22:1; the rest of the service, whether with prerecorded songs or live song leading. Judges 11:1-33 For further information about attending, co-leading or leading, please contact Sandra Mamis at [email protected] or 914-456-3524. 23 Balak Num. 23:27- 25:9; Micah 5:6 – 6:8

30 Pin’has Num. 23:27-30:1; Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:3

August

6 Matot-Ma’sei Num. 33:50- New Paths Saturday Morning Worship 36:13; Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4 13 Shabbat Chazon Join us at the New Paths sabbath unique and thoughtful shabbat morning D’varim Deut. 2:31-3:22; morning service Saturday, July 16th at experience. A brief mini-kiddush fol- Isaiah 1:1-27 10:00am in the informal setting of Vas- lows. For more information, and dates of sar Temple’s East Chapel. The moving other upcoming New Paths services this 20 Shabbat Nachamu liturgy of the New Paths prayer book in- summer, please contact Marian Schwartz Va’et-hanan Deut. 5:1 – 7:11; cludes both traditional and contemporary at [email protected] or the Temple Isaiah 40:1-26 writings, mostly in English, and partici- at 845-454-2570. pants may bring supplemental materi- 27‘ Eikev Deut. 10:12- als to share. Each New Paths service, 11:25; Isaiah 49:14 – 51:3 whether lay led or rabbi led, provides a

3 Mazel Tov to… Refuah Shelemah

th Barbara Stern celebrating her 90 birth- Sanford Metlis being hospitalized; day; Harry Mamis recovering. Gloria and Shelley & Steven Turk being honored for their philanthropy to The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley;

Bob & Mary Ritter on the wedding of their daughter Sarah to Michael Marino in August;

Bob & Mary Ritter who are excited to become 1st time grandparents in Decem- ber;

Harry & Sandra Mamis celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary.

We Need Your Help! Pulpit Flowers Donors We are, once again, asking that you be the eyes and ears in the lives of our There are no pulpit flowers during summer services, but you can congregational family. Federal patient appreciate the ones in the ground outside the Temple! privacy regulations limit the information that hospitals make available to clergy and Anyone who wishes to honor the memory of a loved one or commemorate a special volunteers. occasion can do so by sponsoring the sanctuary flowers with a donation to the We are encouraging you to contact the Vassar Temple Sisterhood Bimah Flower Fund. The donation to the Fund is $55. Temple office when a congregant is admit- Just call the Vassar Temple Office at 454-2570. ted to a hospital and wishes to have Rabbi visit during the hospital stay. Our goal is to meet the needs of all our congregants, and we can only do this with your help.

Follow Rabbi Berkowitz!

Rabbi Berkowitz is on Facebook, Vassar Temple Bulletin Published monthly Twitter, Wordpress, and Instagram. Publisher: Marianne Abrams Follow her and join the conversation! Editors: Sue Lesser and Twitter/Instagram: @RabbiLRB Donna Loshin Facebook: RabbiLeah Berkowitz Technical Support: Bob Abrams Read Rabbi Berkowitz’s blog at: Articles for the September Bulletin must be http://thisiswhatarabbilookslike.wordpress.com submitted to the Temple office by August st.1 Articles may be sent via email to publicity@ vassartemple.org. The editors reserve the right to edit articles for style, accuracy and length.

A pre tion for Temple health

4 Hello from the Religious School Director: Julie Makowsky

Shalom! My Studies degree. In the Fall of 1988 I lived and worked in Traverse City, Michi- name is Julie found myself in where I spent gan, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, New Haven, Makowsky and on the next two years studying and learn- Connecticut, Atlantic City, NJ and finally July 1st, I will begin ing about Jewish Text and Hebrew. After Columbus, Ohio. my new position returning to the States, I was awarded a as the Education Director for the Vassar Melton Fellowship at The Jewish Theo- We moved to Rhinebeck, NY in 2008 Temple Religious School. Over the course logical Seminary. and promised our children that they would of this coming school year I hope to share be able to complete High School without with you news from the Religious School In 1992 I graduated with a Masters moving again! Since moving to the area as well as information about our school Degree in Jewish Education and also I have served both the Woodstock Jewish programs and curriculum. At this time, I married my husband, Bob. We lived in Congregation and Congregation Emanuel would like to use this forum to tell you a Brooklyn and then moved to Long Is- of the Hudson Valley as Education Direc- little bit about myself. land. I served a number of congregations tor. while Bob served the United States Coast I have called the Hudson Valley home Guard as a Search & Rescue pilot at Air I am excited to begin the next phase for 8 years. That is a record for our family Station Brooklyn. of my journey serving the Vassar Temple as my husband, Bob, was in the Coast community as the new Education Director. Guard for the first 14 years of our marriage In the following years we added I look forward to getting to know each and and we moved around a lot. daughter, Talia, and son, Noah, to our every one of you in the coming months! family. The Coast Guard moved us fre- I began my career as a Jewish Educa- quently which gave me opportunities to Julie Makowsky tor many years ago after graduating from work in a number of Jewish communities The Ohio State University with a Jewish in a number of different capacities. We

RJVNYS Albany Advocacy Day 2016

On May 9th Reform Jews from all around New York State gathered in Albany for RJV’s annual Advocacy Day. They came together to articulate a vision for tzedek (justice) in the Empire State and to share that vision with their Assembly members and State Senators as the legislature set its priorities for the waning days of the 2016 session. Participating were two members of our local community, Rabbi Berkowitz and Howard Susser. The day began with briefings by experts on several critical issues coming up in the legislature. In the afternoon, the par- ticipants headed out to meetings in the offices of nearly 30 of the State’s legislators to discuss three priority issues: support for measures curbing the growing influence of money in politics, opposition to the Education Tax Credit which would weaken public education and threaten church-state separation, and support for an upcoming proposal that would empower the Commissioner of the State Education Department to approve fiscal decisions made by the East Ramapo School Board and provide the District with much needed funds. You are encouraged to contact your state legislators to raise your own voice on the issues, whatever your personal positions may be. If you would like to join with others in advocating to our legislators at their local offices, please contact socialaction@ vassartemple.org. For more information on the RJVNYS and these issues, visit rjvnys.org.

NY Legislative Building

5 College News

UNDERGRADUATE Lisa Rosenfeld graduated from the GRADUATE STUDENTS STUDENTS University of Rochester with a Bach- elor’s degree in Math and Financial Danielle Abrams recently completed Emily Brundage was one of six students Economics, a minor in Spanish, and a the M.S. requirements of her degree to graduate from Muhlenberg College certificate in Mathematical Modeling at Georgia State University, working with a B.A. in Public Health, a major in Political Science and Economics. toward a PhD in Clinical Neuro-Psy- offered for the first time this year. She also Lisa will be working for the FDIC in chology, specializing in autism. completed a minor in political science. their Pittsburgh office as a Financial Emily is looking forward to furthering Institution Specialist. Jennifer Greenberg finished her first her love for public health and policy by year at George Washington University finding a job within the public sector. Ilana Wolf graduated Magna Cum in Washington DC. pursuing her MPH On campus, Emily was actively involved Laude from Ithaca College with a in Epidemiology. She will be doing an and held leadership positions in Peer B.S. in Clinical Health Studies and a internship at the District of Columbia Health Advocates at Muhlenberg, Active minor in Nutrition. Ilana founded the Dept. of Health for the summer. Minds, Students for Queer Advocacy, Ithaca College chapter of Challah for and Alpha Phi Omega. She was also a One Hunger, an organization that bakes Julieta Gruszko will attend Love Facilitator, a Resident Advisor and challah to raise awareness for social the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in researched female college students› per- justice issues and causes, and will Germany this June where she will ceptions of pregnancy and childbirth. continue being active in the national be amongst Nobel laureates and the organization as an advisor next year. brightest young scientists from around Molly Duvall graduated from Oberlin Col- Ilana will be doing a clinical intern- the world. The fact that Julieta was lege with a B.A. in Musical Studies and ship in Physical Therapy in Detroit chosen this year is especially exciting History. She received the George G. and this summer and will continue in the because this year’s meeting is focused Carrie C. Life Scholarship award. Start- Doctor of Physical Therapy program on physics, and the 2015 Nobel Prize ing this summer she will be teaching cello for the next two years. in Physics was just awarded in her re- at the Renaissance Arts Academy, a Los search field of neutrino physics. Julieta Angeles City Public School District char- NEWS OF ADDITIONAL continues to work on her PhD. ter school. She will be joining her older MEMBERS OF THE CLASS… sister, Becky, who is also in LA teaching Mariel Gruszko finished the fourth strings and performing. Marissa Gally finished her fourth year of the Anthropology PhD pro- year at Montclair State University gram at the University of California- Rachel Erlebacher graduated from Cor- in New Jersey. In the upcoming fall Irvine, where her focus is on socio- nell University with a B.S. in Environmen- semester she will be finishing her last cultural anthropology. Following a tal and Sustainability Science with a Dis- undergraduate semester then starting Fulbright Scholarship researching the tinction in Research and minor in Jewish her Master’s Degree in Elementary relationship between participatory Studies. She received the CALS Academic Special Education. This past year architecture and democracy this past Excellence Award for ESS and gradu- Marissa was president of the Theta year, she will remain in Barcelona, ated Summa Cum Laude. Other honors Kappa Chi Sorority and director of Spain on a Wenner-Gren Foundation include: Cornell University Dean’s List, the American Cancer Society’s Relay grant until December 2016 completing CALS Honor Society Ho Nun de Kah; for Life. her field work prior to working on her Research Honors (“Assessing Community dissertation. Support and Feasibility for Bioenergy in David Greenberg is pursuing his the Northern Rivers Region, Australia). computer engineering degree at Uni- Shelby Quackenbush graduated from Rachel will be moving to Washington D.C. versity at Albany. He is participating NYU Wagner with a Master of Public this summer to work for the USDA Of- in a co-op at IBM Poughkeepsie for Administration, Public & Nonprofit fice of Budget and Program Analysis as a the summer. Management & Policy with an Inter- Program Analyst. national specialization. She is pres- Aaron Morgenstern will be finish- ently looking at NYC, Washington DC Ben Marcus graduated from Springfield ing at SUNY New Paltz in 2017 with & and internationally for employment. College with a B.S. degree in Athletic degrees in Accounting and Finance. Training. He passed the Board of Certifica- He is a full-time employee at JPM- Michelle Silverman is approximately tion Exam. Over the summer he will be organ and Chase as a relationship midway through a doctoral program interning with NYC FC, a Major League banker. in School Psychology at Columbia Soccer team, again, while he applies to Teacher’s College. Her focus is on graduate school. working with at-risk adolescents.

Jessica Susser has finished her st1 year of a master’s degree at University of Toledo.

6 Rachel Susser is finishing her at [email protected]: Fulbright research grant on Bulkan National Conference in Kansas City. flute music. She returns to the US in • student’s name July to again work for Apple for the Terri Will, daughter of Ralph & Mar- • student’s email address summer. She is auditioning for grad ian Schwartz, was one of 15 Queens • address schools. artists selected to show her photogra- • college graduation year phy at the Bayside Historical Society • name of school Jennifer Wolf completed her third summer pop-up exhibit. Terri retired • parent’s email address year at Wayne State School of Medi- from the U.S. Army one year ago and is • parent’s phone number cine where she earned clinical and currently a full-time student pursuing a • other pertinent info such as academic honors. She was inducted career as a registered nurse. awards/ special activities into the Gold Humanism Honor The Vassar Temple Sisterhood College Society which recognizes “individu- Reminder: Care Package Committee sends registered als who are exemplars of humanistic students at least two care packages during patient care and who can serve as If you have a student still in college/ the year, one for Chanukah and one for role models, mentors, and leaders in graduate school or starting in Fall 2016, Purim. medicine.” Jen was also awarded a please send the following to Fern Wolf scholarship to attend the 2016 Ameri- can Academy of Family Physicians

Let’s Help the Children Learn Social Action Spring Sweep

As you are probably aware, 87% of Our Purim Pasta drive, organized by the children right here in Poughkeepsie Nancy Samson, with pasta delivery expe- come from economically disadvantaged dited by Ralph Schwartz, was likely our homes. And we all know how important best yet due to the overwhelming sup- education is, especially to these children port of so many in the congregation. so that they will be able to make a brighter Tthanks to everyone who helped make future for themselves and for their own children. Dutchess County Mitzvah Day a success, To help these children succeed in especially those who worked on projects school, we at Vassar Temple are collect- led by our Temple members such as the ing money to help provide them with the Birthday Project (Jasmine & Jordan), the school supplies they will need during the Appalachian Trail clearing (Ron), the coming school year, and which a great cemetery cleanup (Rabbi Golomb & CJ), many of their families cannot afford. Just the Teen Car Wash (Shira & Craig), and bring your tax-deductible check in any the Grace Smith House projects (Men’s amount to the Temple or mail it to Vassar Club), not to omit Cereal Counts (Nancy Temple, 140 Hooker Ave., Poughkeep- & Dave), or Perla Kaufman who worked sie, NY 12601. Checks should be made for months on the Mitzvah Day planning payable to “Vassar Temple” with “School Supplies” on the memo line. committee. And special mention goes to We are currently working with Morse the Temple Board (captain Bob Ritter) School, located on Mansion St. in Pough- and the Study Class (co-captains keepsie, which has 500 students, and will Mary Solomon & Ron Rosen) for assist children in additional schools if sponsoring their first ever group Lunch possible. Please help the children learn Boxes! We hope that will they become by donating to this project today. Money annual traditions! collected in the tzedakah box by the stairs during July and August will also go toward school supplies for the children.

7 Yahrzeits:July-August

JULY 1 JULY 8 JULY 15 JULY 22 JULY 29 Sallie Cohen Estelle Cohen Jerry Bass Meta Altman David Albenda Rosalind Gellert Lloyd Fertig Morton Bloch Dr. Alan E. Apfel Fanny Bronfeld Dr. Jacob Kronman Anne Kahn Leon R. Bloom Martin Brenner Dr. Irving Dreishpoon Fay Menken Lillian Lampell Shirley Green Cher- David Clearfield Martin L. Dreyfuss, MD Audrey S. Morgenstern Lawrence L. Landau tock Minnie Schudroff Hortense Feldman John Muehl Hillard Mann Ida Cohen Coleman Siegfried Frank M. Fred Praeger Edith Posner Philip Cohen Robert J. Creedon, Sr. Louis Gellert Celia Ribbi James Quackenbush Dr. Sidney S. Cohen James Effron David Krevolin Cornelius Saperstein Marie Robinowitz Marshall Effron Joshua Aaron Julius Lazarus Ethel Scheer Dora Rosenmann Cynthia R. Feldman Himelstein Sam Lessin Seymour Scheer Winona Rosenthal Kalmen Izraelewicz Flora M. Hoffman Robert H. Lipschutz Morris Silberman Michael L. Solomon Max Kapner Herbert Klein Cecelia Riechman Dr. Sheldon J. Solomon Samuel E. Trivers Henry Klein Dr. Robert Kohan Gertrude Rosenthal Sandor D. Strauss Linda Fertig Waldman Gertrude Krugman Saul A. Lazarus Irving Schwartz Eva Tofel Michael Wrobel Merlin B. Lass Cary Lutwin Adele Stern Blanche Weber Emil M. Zullo Minnie Lass Ethel Marcus Charlotte Wechsler Dolores Weisman Edward Moffit, Jr. Sol Present Fred Weiss Hyman Schwartz Ed Stoller Nay Wisdom Sylvia Reifler Silber- Ludwig Willner Dr. Camilla Reznikoff man Wygan Max Uttal

AUGUST 5 AUGUST 12 AUGUST 19 AUGUST 26 Mae Berger Howard S. Abrams Blanche Adler Anna Baum Janice Fink Dr. Harry Barbash Oscar Charwat W. Carlton Bernard Marjorie Gluck Gloria Berlin Dorothy Rauh Fogle Tillie Haber Walter B. Goldfinger Dr. Richard Slater Jack Goldman Morris Kaufman Helen Goldman Cohen Beatrice A. Goodman Dr. Saul R. Kelson Kurt Harlam Alexander D’Imperio Nettie Jacobs Dick Kronman Florence Levitch Eve Canter Goldberg Norman Keiser Joseph LaLone Melvin Matlin, MD Evelyn Herman Edna Z. Kleiner Rose Markowitz Hy Miller George Izraelewicz Marion Lieberman Max Matlin Katherine Moffit Ruth Kapner MaryLouise Parke William Miller Phillip R. Moselle Dr. Burton Katz Jeanne M. Payne Edward J. Newman, MD Saul Norman Nectow Lillian Lox Bernard Reifler Mary Elizabeth Margot Similes Jacov Markowvitch Lee Schwartz O’Donnell-Moore Louis Temlock Frances Myer Zerline Lehman Simon Sara G. Rice Muriel Weingart Yetta Prisansky Clara Abraham Stein Rose Ritter Jack Wiseman Aaron Reifler Samuel Sumner Sarah Peles Samuels Louis I. Worona Anna Saperstein Mary Weiss Hyman Silverman Minnie Toroker Emanuel Zimmer Melvin Stolack Frederick C. Tuchmann Paul S. Waxman Tobias Wolfson

8 Contributions

RABBI’S FUND Dorothy Lewis In Honor of: HINENI FUND Reuben Lewis Polly Lewis Rabbi Leah Berkowitz In Honor of: Eugene Jacobs Oliver Mackson Rachel Erlebacher’s graduation Douglas, Tessa & Molly from Cornell Doi Cohen Woodward & Fran Jacobs SPECIAL DONATION Joseph Wrobel In support of the Himelstein MUSIC FUND Lewis & Hilary Wrobel Patio Project In Memory of: Irving H. Dreishpoon Gilbert and Arlene Seligman Ruth Lenger Ed & Vivian Garber Zerline Lehman Simon Georgene Dreishpoon SUSTAINING FUND TZEDAKAH LUNCH BOX FUND Sidney S. Cohen Doi Cohen In Honor of: In Honor of: Margo Similes Howard & Emily Himelstein The Lunch Box Fund Harry & Sandra Mamis on the birth of granddaughter, Nigella Louis & Candace Lewis Julius Lazarus Matt & Muriel Lampell In Memory of: Saul Lazarus Marge Lazarus Barbara Stone’s 90th birthday Robert H. Lipschutz

Arnie & Libby Rubenstein David Clearfield Sol C. Present Debbie Tierney Bob & Marianne Abrams’ Elaine Lipschutz & Brain Landesman 35th wedding anniversary Irving Schwartz Jim & Marianne Robinowitz GROTEN FUND Steven, Shelly, Samantha Talking Books & Stefanie Turk In Memory of: Joel & Claudia Kelson Marie Robinowitz Lillian Lampell Jim & Maryann Robinowitz Ann Kahn Bernard Rheingold Irma Jacobs Matthew & Muriel Lampell Sheldon J Solomon Kurt Lemberger Cora F. Solomon Alan & Barbara Lemberger Michael L. Solomon Alan Solomon Eugene Jacobs Irma Jacobs Joseph Wrobel Gertrude Rosenthal Michael Wrobel Loren & Charlene Rosenthal Lewis & Hilary Wrobel Philip Cohen Joel & Linda Babas Pearl Goldstein The Friedman Family

FUND FACTS: Social Action Matters

I am so proud of Vassar Temple! Our social action efforts. This fund, es- our commitment through other impor- congregation’s recent social action initia- tablished by Marge and Art Groten in tant social action projects such as the tives are a testament to our collective memory of Art’s parents, Harris and Michaelson Shabbaton, the Complicit commitment to Tikkun Olam. I wrote Gertrude Groten, supports social action program, and the refugee resettlement about Tikkun Olam in my October 2015 programming and underwrites initia- project. FUND FACTS article, but our Temple’s tives of the Social Action Committee, recent social action-related activities currently chaired by the incomparable Projects like these are how the world is – specifically the Shabbaton with Jay Marian Schwartz. Projects funded in repaired; Vassar Temple’s social action Michaelson, the Complicit program, the past have included speakers for the matters. You can make a distinct dif- and our commitment to supporting the annual joint Shabbaton, supplying au- ference by contributing to The Groten resettlement of a refugee family -- have dio equipment and other materials for Fund and sustaining it as a robust, im- inspired me to now write about The the Talking Books program, and, further pactful source of support to help repair Groten Fund. afield, a special effort a few years ago the world. to purchase solar ovens to help women Jennifer Sachs Dahnert As many people know, The Groten in sub-Saharan Africa. It is this base Fund is the backbone of our Temple’s of support upon which we continue

9 Vassar Temple Bulletin 140 Hooker Avenue PRSTD STD U.S. Postage Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601 Paid 845-454-2570 Permit # 11 www.vassartemple.org Newburgh, N.Y.

DATED MAIL

PLEASE RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED RUSH Rabbi: Leah Berkowitz Rabbi Emeritus: Stephen Arnold Senior Scholar: Paul Golomb Religious School Director: Julie Makowsky Cantorial Soloist Elisa Dugatkin Organist: Joseph Bertolozzi President: Mark Metzger 1st Vice-President OPEN 2nd Vice- President: Ron Rosen Secretary: Susan Karnes Hecht Treasurer: Len Greenberg Sisterhood Co-Presidents: Laura Brundage & Danah Moore Men’s Club Co-Presidents: Dave Samson & Dave Wolf Immediate Past President: Bob Youth Group President: OPEN

July 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 7:30pm Shabbat 9am Torah Study Service

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Office Closed Office Closed Office Closed Office Closed Office Closed 9am Torah Study No SEP 7:30pm Shabbat No Study Service 6:30pm Ritual Cmte

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 2pm R/S Cmte BBQ 10am SEP 10am SEP 7:30pm Shabbat 10am New Paths Pool Party 12pm Talmud Study 7pm Exec Cmte Service Service Meeting

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 10am SEP Finance Cmte 10am SEP 7:30pm Shabbat 9am Torah Study 12pm Talmud Study Meeting Service

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 10am SEP 10am SEP 7:30pm Shabbat 9am Torah Study 12pm Talmud Study 7pm Board Meeting Service

31

10 Note: The August calendar will be published at a later date.