TEMPLE TIDINGS MEMBER Volume 37, Issue 9 March 2017 Tevet—Shevet UNION for REFORM Monthly Newsletter of Congregation Beth Yam, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina JUDAISM What is Purim? Purim, which literally means “lots”, is the holiday in which Jews commemorate being saved from prosecution in the ancient Persian Empire. According to the Book of Esther in the Bible, the Jews of the city of Shushan were threatened by the villain Haman (boo!!!) a prime minister who convinces the King Ahaseurus to kill the Jews because the Jew Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman (boo!!!) Haman casts lots, hence the name of the holiday, to determine the date he would carry out his plan: the 13th of Adar. In the end the Jews are saved by the heroic Queen Esther, Mordecai’s niece and adopted daughter who married Ahasuerus after he banished his first wife, rebellious Vahshti. When Ahasuerus discovers that his wife Esther is Jewish he decided to reverse Haman’s ( boo!!!) decree and instead of the Jews being killed, Haman (boo!!!), his sons and other enemies are killed instead. How is Purim Celebrated? Purim is the most raucous holiday on the Jewish calendar. Observance of the holiday begins with dressing up in costume–some people dress as characters from the Purim story. It is a mitzvah, yes, a commandment, to listen to the story of Purim chanted from the Megillah Esther (The Scroll of Esther), which we are so blessed to have in our possession, and to hear every word. It is customary to make noise with a grogger every time Haman’s name is mentioned in order to fulfill the obligation of blotting out Haman’s name. Part of the holiday also includes giving gifts of charity to the poor, called matanot l’evyonim. A fun tradition on the holiday is to perform a Purim spiel, a satirical show dramatizing the Purim story in a humorous way. What kind of foods are eaten on Purim? Mishloach manot (sending of portions) are packages of treats and goodies sent to friends and family on Purim. Drinking alcohol is mandatory on Purim; in fact, the requirement in the Talmud goes so far as to instruct that one should get so drunk that they can’t tell the difference between the phrases Arur Haman (cursed is Haman) and Baruch Mordecai (blessed is Mordecai). Traditional foods include hamentashen, a triangular cookie usually filled with different flavors of jam which is supposed to represent either Haman’s ears or his three-cornered hat. March 2017 Adar—Nisan 5777 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat NOTE: 1 2 3 Candle Lighting 6:18 PM 4 Parashat Terumah 10 AM Sisterhood 3 PM The Hunger 1 PM Library 7 PM Evening to JUDAICA SHOP IS Executive Board Coalition Committee Remember Auction Meeting OPEN 4 PM History of Jewish 7:30 PM Shabbat 4 PM Music Meeting Immigration to US Service with EVERY WEEKDAY Shabbat Choir 5:30 PM Reserved 6:45 PM Reserved FROM 1-3 6 PM MOTL Class Call for appointment at other times 7 PM Shabbat Choir Elaine Lust: (843) 837-1639 Rehearsal 5 6 7 8 9 10 Candle Lighting 6:24 PM 11 Parashat Tetzaveh 9 AM Religious 10 AM Ritual 4 PM Music Meeting FAST OF ESTHER 7:30 PM Shabbat SHABBAT ZACHOR School Committee Service with 5:30 PM Reserved 10 AM Sisterhood Student Cantor MEGILLAH READING 9 AM Purim Carnival 3:30 PM Set up for Board Geigerman the Executive 6 PM High School 10 AM Torah Study with 9:15 AM Religious Committee Seminar 12:30 PM Sisterhood Student Cantor School Committee Book Club Geigerman 4 PM Executive 12:15 PM Hebrew Committee 1:30 PM Outreach 7 PM Purim Megillah School Committee Reading Service with Student Cantor 2 PM Reserved 3 PM Fund Raising Geigerman Committee 6:45 PM Reserved 12 13 14 15 TIDINGS DEADLINE 16 17 Candle Lighting 7:29 PM 18 Parashat Ki Tisa PURIM SHUSHAN PURIM 10:30 AM Men’s Club 12 PM Exploring Our 1 PM Membership 6 PM Kabbalat SHABBAT PARAH Board Meeting Roots: Book Review Committee Shabbat Service 9 AM Religious 3:30 PM Set up for 9 AM Hold for Setup School the Board Meeting 12:15 PM Men’s Club 4 PM Music Meeting Yom HaAtzma’ut Luncheon meeting 2 PM Reserved 4 PM Board Meeting 5:30 PM Reserved 3 PM Back Pack 6 PM MOTL Class Buddies 3:30 PM Adult Ed 6:45 PM Reserved 19 20 21 22 23 24 Candle Lighting 7:34 PM 25 Parashat Vayakhel- Pekude 9 AM Religious 4 PM Music Meeting 6 PM Dine Around- 7:30 PM Family SHABBAT HACHODESH School Wiseguys Shabbat Service 5:30 PM Reserved 12:15 PM Hebrew 6:45 PM Reserved School 7 PM Shabbat Choir Rehearsal 4 PM Wedding 5:30 PM Cocktail Reception 26 27 28 29 30 31 Candle Lighting 7:39 PM Future dates of 9 AM Religious ROSH CHODESH 11 AM Sisterhood 6:45 PM Reserved 7:30 PM Shabbat Student Cantor School Women’s Seder Service 10 AM Set up for Daniel 9:15 AM Parent Women’s Seder 4 PM Music Meeting Geigerman Brunch & Learn 6 PM MOTL Class 5:30 PM Reserved visits 12:15 PM Hebrew School 7 PM Adult B’nai April 21-23 Mitzvah Class 2 PM Reserved May 19-21 June 9-11 2 Temple Tidings Save The Date for April Date Time April Events Date Time April Events 2 9:00 AM Religious School 14 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 11:00 AM Blood Mobile 16 2:00 PM Reserved 2:00 PM Reserved 17 OFFICE CLOSED–PASSOVER VII 3 10:00 AM Ritual Committee 3:30 PM SAC Meeting 3:30 PM Set up for the Executive Committee 18 10:00 AM Passover Yizkor Service 4:00 PM Executive Committee 6:00 PM Men’s Club Dinner Meeting 5 3:00 PM Endowment Trustees 19 4:00 PM Music Meeting 4:00 PM Music Meeting 5:30 PM Reserved 5:30 PM Reserved 6:00 PM High School Seminar 6:00 PM MOTL Class 7:00 PM Shabbat Choir Rehearsal 7:00 PM Shabbat Choir Rehearsal 20 1:00 PM Membership Committee 6 3:00 PM The Hunger Coalition 6:45 PM Reserved 6:45 PM Reserved 21 7:30 PM Shabbat Service with Student Cantor 7 7:30 PM Shabbat Service with Shabbat Choir Geigerman 9 2:00 PM Reserved 22 10:00 AM Hot Topic with Student Cantor 10 9:30 AM Set Up for Community Seder Geigerman 1:00 PM Communications Committee 23 9:00 AM Religious School 3:30 PM Set up for the Board Meeting 9:15 AM Religious School Committee 4:00 PM Board Meeting 1:00 PM Yom HaShoah Service with Student 11 OFFICE CLOSED–PASSOVER I Cantor Geigerman and Shabbat Choir 10:00 AM Passover Festival Service 26 4:00 PM Music Meeting 5:00 PM Sisterhood Community Seder 5:30 PM Reserved 12 4:00 PM Music Meeting 7:00 PM Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class 5:30 PM Reserved 27 6:45 PM Reserved 7:00 PM Shabbat Choir Rehearsal 28 7:30 PM Shabbat Service 13 10:00 AM Sisterhood Board 30 9:00 AM Religious School 1:30 PM Outreach Committee 12:15 PM Hebrew School 3:00 PM Fund Raising Committee 5:30 PM Setup 6:45 PM Reserved 7:00 PM New Member/Ambassador Party Cemetery Committee—Ed Brager, Chair Six Oaks Cemetery will be offering a special promotion on cemetery plots during the period May 1-June 15, 2017. Look for details being mailed around mid April. Membership Committee—Candy Solomon & Michael Weingarten, Co-chairs We are busy planning our annual New Member/Ambassador Party scheduled for Sunday, April 30 and our New Member Shabbat on Friday, May 5. This has been a busy month filled with the addition of some new families. Please welcome: Gail and Jim Titus from Pittsburgh – Affiliates – Sun City Melanie Ludwig and daughter, Elizabeth, from New Hampshire – Resident Single – Windmill Harbor Elizabeth Greenberg and Rex Garniewicz and son, Resident Families 146 Nathaniel, from Albany, NY – Resident Family – Hilton Head Plantation Resident Singles 90 New members Valerie and William O’Keefe and sons, Eli and Leo, who need a Affiliates 70 family directory from NC – Resident Family – Hilton Head (Allenwood) Associates 1 and binder, Andrea Lago – Resident Single – Bluffton please contact Wendy and Steven Lewensohn from Wisconsin – Honorary 6 Sharyn Brager Resident Family – Hampton Lake Total 313 3 Temple Tidings and the Ketubah which is the Jewish Rabbi’s Message wedding contract. The Ketubah outlines their moral and spiritual commitment to This month marks our daughter Leah’s each other. In the service we will raise the wedding to her b’shert Michael chuppah over them which represents their Miller. Many of us who have made first spiritual home. We will say the weddings for their children understand the blessings of nusuin and erusin which excitement and the feelings of seeing a means betrothal. The ring ceremony daughter or a son become married. follows as the bride (kallah) and groom Admittedly, I have officiated at countless (hatan) proclaim, “Behold, you are weddings over the years but for this one it consecrated to me according to the faith feels to some degree like being in uncharted of Moses and Israel.” Then we recite the waters. Both Linda and I are so happy for seven benedictions which highlight the Leah that she has chosen a fine young man joyous occasion including the themes of who loves her and is devoted to her.