CONGREGATION SCHAARAI ZEDEK | TAMPA, FLORIDA You are cordially invited to attend the From Rabbi 2015 CONFIRMATION 5775 Birnholz Sunday, May 17 – 10:00 am A reception honoring our Confi rmands will be held following the service. A saying in the _____________________________________________________________ Midrash Mekhilta Andrew Behrenfeld. Son of Lisa Rohatiner and Craig Behrenfeld goes like this: “Kol Hannah Nicole Bobek. Daughter of Diane and Michael Bobek haschalot kashot”. In English it Sarah Anne Chen . Daughter of Lisa Kiev-Chen and Alex Chen translates to: “All Samuel Zane Feuer. Son of Leigh and Scott Feuer RABBI RICHARD BIRNHOLZ, D.D., R.J.E. beginnings are Hudson Francis Franklin. Son of Mary Frances Holmes and Dean Franklin hard.’’ This may Amber Victoria Heinig . Daughter of Janet and Daniel Heinig be true for some aspects of life, yet it is anything but true when speaking of our Rachel Hirsch . Daughter of Tricia and Andy Hirsch beloved Rabbi Simon. If anything, it is the Garrett Edward Josephson . Son of Jean and Larry Josephson ending that is hard. For while we know he Sophie Hannah Klein . Daughter of Traci and Daniel Klein will stay very much in touch with us, we Tyler Gregory Lynn . Son of Jill and Greg Lynn will miss his daily presence immensely. Harris Townsend Markowitz. Son of Carla and Howard Markowitz We will miss his fun-loving smile, as well as his care and concern. Rabbi Simon has Sophie Jennifer Moss . Daughter of Marilyn and Craig Moss been there for all of us, including me. He is Hillary Elizabeth Perfi t . Daughter of Rosemary Perfi t a great listener and a wise counselor. Julianna Della Reale. Daughter of Marcie and Anthony Reale We will also miss his insights, creativity, Isabella Grace Samson. Daughter of Annette and Paul Samson love of learning and imaginative teaching, his witty conversation, his splendid guitar Maren Scharf . Daughter of Kelly and Alan Scharf playing and singing and his terrifi c latke and Brooke Logan Shapiro . Daughter of Michele and Scott Shapiro Purim parties. Stephen Phillip Szuch. Son of Cantor Deborrah Cannizzaro and James Szuch Most of all I will miss my friend, including Andrew Stephen Watts. Son of Francine and John Watts the multiday chats, the Torah and sermon insights, the give and take of friendly Evan William Watts . Son of Francine and John Watts debates and the personal time I have had the Zachary Jon Weber . Son of Marcy and David Weber privilege of sharing. And, as an added bonus, Marc Harris Weinstein. Son of Seema and Eric Weinstein Donna and I have really enjoyed getting to Micaela Lynn Weinstock . Daughter of Michele and Mark Weinstock know Jacent. Her cheerful personality has touched us all. Hana Brit Yankowitz . Daughter of Diana and Jerry Yankowitz Like you, I am glad that Rabbi Simon is moving to a great opportunity. He more than Celebrate Shabbat honoring deserves to shepherd his own congregation and experience the joy that comes from Rabbi Joel & Jacent Simon doing so. Fortunately, for us, his elevation Friday, May 8 will be felt more like a changed relationship Preneg - 6:30 pm Shabbat Service - 7:30 pm than an ending. We can still talk and skype Oneg Shabbat - 8:30 pm with him and Jacent, and, in time- with their You are invited to celebrate Shabbat and honor Rabbi Joel and Jacent Simon as Rabbi Simon little one to be. And I am sure they will prepares to assume the position of Sr. Rabbi at Shir Ami in Newtown, Pennsylvania. We know you will want to share your mazel tov as the Simons begin this new chapter in their lives. (continued on page 2) President’s WORSHIP CALENDAR IN OUR SYNAGOGUE Message MAY 2015 MAZEL TOV It was an ancient Greek philosopher Friday, May 1 - 7:30 pm Shelby Shoup was recognized as one of ten outstanding high school juniors by the Athena who said, “There is Off to Camp Family Shabbat Service Society at the Dr. Sylvia Richardson Young nothing more certain • Gesher Graduation • Farewell blessing to campers Women of Promise Luncheon. Shelby also than change.” Yet, won the NFTY-STR D’Vor Torah Award. knowing that does • May and June Birthday Blessings • Youth Choir will sing not make it any ALAN WEINER (See Page 6) easier when such ______________________ WELCOME NEW MEMBERS change means saying goodbye. I know that you join me in wishing Rabbi Simon Saturday, May 2 - 10:30 am Julie and Peter Sayer the best of good fortune as he takes on the Kristy Feinberg Bat Mitzvah _____________________ position of Senior Rabbi at Congregation DEATHS Shir Ami outside of Philadelphia. We are Friday, May 8 Sidney Bruskin all sorry to see him leave, yet proud of all Shabbat Service honoring that he has accomplished. We will miss Rabbi Joel & Jacent Simon Howard Epstein Rabbi Simon, but we are also happy for • Preneg: 6:30 pm Father of Abby Blackburn Jacent and him as they begin this next • Shabbat Service: 7:30 pm Raymond David Goldstein chapter of their lives. We can be quite • Oneg Shabbat: 8:30 pm Son of Gloria Barr certain that Rabbi Simon will thrive in his ______________________ new endeavors and know that we will stay Martha Harrow Friday, May 15 - 7:30 pm Mother of Andrew Harrow in close touch with each other. Senior Shabbat Service As Rabbi Simon departs at the end of Our Schaarai Zedek Seniors will speak on Ali Keskiner May, Rabbi Nathan Farb will be joining “Growing Up Jewish in Tampa” Father of Rod Keskiner & us as our Assistant Rabbi. Rabbi Farb (See Page 3) Aydin Keskiner ______________________ arrives in mid-June. Like Rabbi Simon, Gail Hohn Schwartz Rabbi Farb is a native of Colorado and Sunday, May 17 - 10:00 am Sister of Dr. Claudia Hohn comes to us from Hebrew Union College Confi rmation Service in Cincinnati. He has led student pulpits (See Page 1) in Petosky, Michigan and Parkersburg, ______________________ Congregant Condolence Notices West Virginia, in addition to having spent Friday, May 22 - 7:30 pm When a congregant passes away, the Temple considerable time teaching and leading Shabbat Service offers the family of the deceased the option of youth engagement activities. Rabbi Farb Rabbi Birnholz will speak having an email notifi cation of the passing sent has also supplemented his time at HUC ______________________ to all congregants. with work on interfaith programming The sending (or not sending) of this condolence and with Jewish Family Service. Please Saturday, May 23 - 10:30 am Zoe Zepeda Bat Mitzvah notice email is at the choice of the family of the join me in welcoming Rabbi Farb to our ______________________ deceased congregant to protect privacy for the Temple family, as well as to our local family. community. Friday, May 29 - 7:30 pm Shabbat Service I would like to thank each member of the Rabbi Birnholz will speak From Rabbi Birnholz Assistant Rabbi Search Committee (Rabbi ______________________ Birnholz (Ex-Offi cio), and members Gayle (continued from Page 1) Geagen, Beth Gemunder, Kip Goulder, Saturday, May 30 - 4:30 am fi nd their way south when Philly freezes Alexa Gross Bat Mitzvah Mike Haber, David Hochberg, Karen over. Finally, one thing is certain- Holmes, Mike Kass, David Rosenbach, Congregation Schaarai Zedek and each Marlene Rubin, Lori Schwartz, Melinda one of us has been enriched beyond Sheer, Scott Shimberg, Chuck Slonim, Shavout & Shabbat words for Rabbi Simon’s having been Bob Tannenbaum, Joan Wadler and Mark Candle Lighting Times Wolfson), as well as Board members and here. past Presidents, members of our SchZfty Friday, May 1 . 7:46 pm Rabbi Richard J. Birnholz Youth Group, and members of our 20s/30s Friday, May 8 . 7:50 pm group, all of whom contributed to the success of our search. Friday, May 15. 7:54 pm Th e Shofar As our school year comes to a close, Friday, May 22. 7:59 pm Published monthly by special thanks and congratulations Congregation Schaarai Zedek Saturday, May 23 . 8:56 pm 3303 West Swann Avenue 2 (Erev Shavuot) Tampa, Florida 33609-4643 (continued on Page 6) Volume 119, Number 10 Friday, May 29. 8:02 pm ADULT JEWISH LEARNING From Rabbi Simon Th e Role of Government in Our Lives: Just in case A Jewish/American Perspective becoming the senior rabbi at Wednesday, May 6 Congregation Shir 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Ami in Newtown, Teachers: Rabbi Birnholz and Rabbi Simon PA (a suburb of Militarization: America’s Interests vs. Israel’s Philadelphia) RABBI JOEL SIMON Iran has become an American-Israeli battleground. For the fi rst time American Jews have asked: “Am I an wasn’t enough American fi rst or a Jew fi rst?” Should Israel continue to choose sides in American politics? Can she afford transition for one not to? Is there a Jewish precedent? Our Rabbis will answer these questions and summarize for the subject year, as many of you have heard (and of “The Role of Government in Our Lives: A Jewish/American Perspective.” for those who haven’t… surprise!) my wife, Jacent, is pregnant, and we RSVP to the Temple Offi ce at (813) 876-2377 or offi [email protected]. are due in the fall! Jewish custom is not to say “Mazel tov” when hearing of a pregnancy, but rather, “B’sha’ah Weekly Torah Study tovah.” Literally, it means, “a good Led by Rabbi Joel Simon hour,” and it is often translated, “May Saturdays, May 2 and 23 at 9:00 am & May 30 at 10:00 am it happen at the right time,” but I like to translate it, “to good times to Our Saturday morning Torah Study group is now looking at some come.” The phrase is most common of Judaism’s greatest philosophers and their approach to Torah, with pregnancy, but it can be said to God, Israel, and other questions.