1836 Rohrerstown Road Lancaster, PA 17601 [email protected] 717-581-7891 www.tbelancaster.org Volume 71, No. 8 PASSOVER APRIL 2019 Mission Statement APRIL EVENTS The mission of Temple Beth El is to pro- April 2 Executive Committee meeting @7:00 PM vide a house of Conservative Jewish April 4 Sisterhood Calendar meeting @Randi Jacobs’ home @7:00 PM worship which fosters spiritual fulfill- April 7 Women’s Seder @3:00 PM ment, Jewish theology, life-long Jewish April 8 Temple Board meeting @7:15 PM education, and community support April 11 Ethical Life Course @7:15 PM - 8:45 PM throughout the cycles of the seasons. April 14 Men’s Club Board of Directors April 28 Parent–Child Text Study from 12 Noon to 1:15 PM Co-Pres. - David Ehrlich & Gary Kogon Schedule of Shabbat Services 2nd VP - Steve Gordon Secy - Harold Koplin April 5 Shabbat Services Treasurer - Samantha Besnoff 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors:Andi & Herb Shiroff in honor of their 35th Financial Secy - Linda Hutt Wedding Anniversary AND Lynn & Chris Brooks in honor of family birthdays Lynn Brooks, Bob Brosbe, Abshalom Cooper, Sue Friedman, Yitzie Gans, Arne April 6 Torah Reading:Tazria Ostroff, Dolly Shuster, Earl Stein & Marc 9:30 AM Weiner Sisterhood Rep. - Joan Goldman April 12 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors: Numa & Dick Lavy in memory of Numa’s Rabbi Daniela Szuster & father, M. Alfred Kolman Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky Principals - Rabbi Daniela & Rabbi Rami April 13 Torah Reading:Metzora Men’s Club - Steve Kleinman 9:30 AM Sisterhood - Sisterhood Board Membership - Susan Friedman April 19 Shabbat Services 1ST PASSOVER SEDER @7:00 PM (Reservations required) Inside this issue: Weekend sponsors needed Rabbi’s Message 3 April 20 1st day of Passover-Service @9:30 AM President’s Message 4 Principal’s Message 7 RSVP form for Temple’s Seder 12&13 Food Festival Work Signup April 26 Shabbat Services @7:30 PM form back page Passover Service @9:30 AM Weekend sponsors needed Insert: Selling Hametz form April 27 8th day of Passover-Service @9:30 AM (Yizkor) Candle Lighting Times April 5 7:15 PM April 12 7:22 PM April 19 7:30 PM April 26 7:37 PM Volume 71, No. 8 PASSOVER April 2019 Temple Beth El Page 3 MESSAGE FROM version was written probably more Jewish way of living in the Diaspora. RABBI RAMI than two thousand year ago. The Abileah became part of a movement “original” Ma Nishtana text is found in that created music for a new kind of the Mishnah and, subsequently, in Hebrew culture. In 1936, he com- variations in the Talmud. posed an oratorio called “Chag Ha- It is fascinating to learn how the text Cherut,” the holiday of freedom. It of the Ma Nishtana changed with tells the story of the Exodus from a The Melody of Ma Nishtana and time, how an old question was for- Zionist perspective. a Surprising Twist in a gotten and two new questions ap- “Chag Ha-Cherut” was performed in Jewish Tradition peared. However, at this time, I would its entirety only once, in the city of like to say a word about the tradition- By Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky Haifa. But the sound of a children's al melody of the Ma Nishtana that we chorus singing Abileah's melody in The Passover Seder is probably the all know. I have to confess that while I his original oratorio introduced the Jewish ritual that is celebrated more was preparing to write a piece about traditional melody we associate with than any other at home. For many of the meaning of the Ma Nishtana, I was Ma Nishtana, the one we sing every us, hearing the words “Passover Se- surprised to learn interesting facts year at the Passover Seder. der” triggers memories of childhood about its melody. celebrations, full of magic aromas, It is remarkable that a tune com- You may think that such a traditional posed for an oratorio in Israel less special dishes and traditional melo- text like the one of the Four Questions dies. than 90 years ago (before YouTube!) deserves a traditional melody. Actual- has become the most well-known If I had to choose a Jewish ritual to ly, many believe that today’s almost melody for Ma Nishtana around the exemplify what tradition means, no universally known melody for the Ma Jewish world, and not only in Ashke- doubt I would choose the Passover Nishtana has been sung by genera- nazi circles. It is a sign that the Jewish Seder. The cleaning of the house, the tions and, perhaps, for hundreds, if tradition is alive and fluid. It also shopping for Passover items, the not thousands, of years. Wait, was not means that things we call traditional cooking for the Seder, the family Moses the original composer of this are not always old and well estab- gathering around the table, the tune? lished. reading of the Haggadah, the follow- Well, it turns out that the melody of Traditional Jewish melodies imagina- ing the Seder steps, the singing of Ma Nishtana was composed less than melodies, the recounting of the sto- tively transport us to our childhood a hundred years ago. It was not or to times and places we believe we ry, the hiding of the Hafikoman… written in the old country, but in the Where can you find a more tradition- associate with these melodies. Ma modern State of Israel (although, Nishtana is all yours, and you can al Jewish experience than in the Pass- technically, the state did not exist over Seder? continue being inspired by its beauti- yet). The composer’s name is Ephraim ful tune the way you prefer. Still, One of the most anticipated mo- Abileah. Abileah was born in Russia in when you sing Ma Nishtana during ments of the Passover Seder is the 1881 and was named Leo Nesviski. His the Passover Seder this year, perhaps singing of the Ma Nishtana (Why is father was a cantor. Recognized as a you can think about the young ideal- this night different?). After all, each talented musician, he came to value istic Zionists who lived in Haifa during year Jewish children around the music as integral to Jewish life and the years before the declaration of world learn how to sing Ma Nishtana, founded The Society for Jewish Folk independence of the State of Israel. I also known as “the Four Questions.” Music in St. Petersburg. A proud Zion- know that for many of you that may Many of us still remember ourselves ist, he made Aliyah to Israel in 1922, sound not very traditional… But Jew- as children singing it. And if children and Hebraized his name. ish tradition has many surprising are present at our Seder table, we all Like many of the young Zionists, twists! In any case, you may want to want to hear them sing Ma Nishtana! Ephraim Abileah was part of the effort ask, why is this melody different from Perhaps because of this, the text and to create a “new Hebrew man” in the all other melodies? the melody of the Ma Nishtana are Land of Israel. The goal was to create so well known in the Jewish world. a new Hebrew culture for the reborn The text of the Ma Nishtana is a clas- and independent Jewish people living sic text because it comes directly on their ancestral land. The new cul- from the rabbinic tradition. Its first ture was meant to replace the old Volume 71, No. 8 PASSOVER April 2019 Temple Beth El Page 4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE tion of Office Administrator and will Week and we thank all of you who keep you posted on our progress. work so hard on behalf of Temple Beth El. The group of organizations in Lancas- ter that has been meeting since last Passover is this month and we hope summer to assess the state of the lo- to see many of you at the syna- cal Jewish community now and in the gogue’s Seder and at services. Happy future continues to get together. We, Passover. along with the Rabbis, have been par- Dave Ehrlich Gary Kogon ticipating in this group, which is now As we write this column, the Scholar in the process of seeking a consultant/ -In-Residence weekend is still fresh facilitator to guide its work. Nominating Committee Seeking in our minds. Rabbi Nevins’ talks Candidates for Board gave us interesting insights on a We have written in past columns and variety of topics. Many thanks to have spoken from the bimah about Lynn Brooks, Francine Koplin, Diane the need to develop new leaders- The Nominating Committee will Penchansky, Becky Rhoads, and officers and board members- to guide soon meet to prepare a roster of Rabbi Daniela - the members of the Temple Beth El into the future. As we candidates to serve as officers and Life Long Learning Committee- for wrote in this column last November on the Board of Directors for the all the work they did to make the “…. a number of our volunteers have 2019 – 2020 year which begins July weekend so successful. been very involved in Temple 1. To be sure, being an officer or ‘committee/Board life’ for quite some serving on the Board involves We had written you last July about time. We need new people to be- attending meetings and working on staffing at the synagogue. Due to come committee members and Board committees. But in the process, changing needs at Temple Beth El, members. …..It is not practical to ex- officers and Board members get to the Executive Committee and the pect our current leadership to contin- know their fellow congregants, Board decided to restructure the ue indefinitely.