MARCH 2020 Adar -Nisan 5780 1011 N. Market Street Frederick, MD 21701 Volume 21 301-663-3437 Issue 9 [email protected] www.bethsholomfrederick.org Annual Purim Carnival SUNDAY, MARCH 8 11:30 am - 2:00 pm Doors open early at 10:30 am for children under 5 & their parents • Moonbounce • Prizes • Costume Contest • Food • Hamentashen and • Games! Don’t miss the fun! $25 PER FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES LUNCH AND 20 TICKETS ADDITIONAL TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR VOTE IN THE WORLD PURIM FUN ALL ABOUT PURIM SEUDAH SHLISHIT ZIONIST CONGRESS EVENTS (THIRD SHABBAT P2 P6 P7 P11 MEAL) Rabbinic Reflections RABBI JORDAN HERSH | [email protected] We all care deeply about the State of other smaller interest groups representing the rainbow of Zionist Israel, a place which represents the and religious causes…In 2015, ARZA got 56 delegates, MERCAZ dreams and hopes of the collective got 25 delegates and Mizrachi got 24. The remaining votes were Jewish People. Israel is a place that broken up between the smaller parties, by percentage. reflects the Jewish spirit and yet, as a modern democratic nation state, I URGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE AND VOTE! affords only its citizens the right to vote. As non-Israeli Jews, we can This election is your opportunity to take a stand. There is too much often feel like mere observers to the at stake. A vote for MERCAZ (The Masorti-Conservative slate) is cultural and political shape of the state. a powerful way to send a clear message to the Israeli government that Jewish diversity is important. The outcome of these elections However, conscious of what it means to be the Jewish State, Israel has a significant financial impact, influencing our institutions in has embedded within its institutions the ability for Jews all around Israel and worldwide. the world to have a voice in its future through the World Zionist Congress. Founded in 1887 by Theodore Herzl to promote the Every US resident over 18 who identifies as Jewish is eligible to establishment of a Jewish State in our ancestral homeland, this body vote online (as long as they have not voted in the last Israeli elec- functions as an elected body of world Jewry and enables those of us tion). It takes just a few minutes and a $7.50 registration fee, ($5.00 who live outside the State of Israel to participate in decision-making for people 18-25). for the Jewish community in Israel and around the world. To vote and learn more about the MERCAZ slate, visit www. The World Zionist Congress elections give Diaspora Jews a say mercaz2020.org. in the use and disbursement of about a billion dollars, and a rare opportunity to exert an influence on what happens in Israel in the most direct way possible for anyone who is not a citizen of the Jewish state. This is accomplished most powerfully through the disbursement of about one billion dollars towards various Jewish organizations and interests within the state. Just like any political body, the Congress is made of parties which represent different interests in the Jewish world. The party affiliated with the Conservative Movement and which works to broaden reli- gious and cultural pluralism in Israel is MERCAZ. The more votes MERCAZ gets, the larger the financial allocation to Conservative affiliated institutions in Israel like The Masorti Movement, NOAM youth movement, TALI, Machon Schechter, Masorti Olami, and more. Since the last World Zionist Congress election in 2015, it is safe to say that these institutions together have received around $10,000,000. So, we are not talking about small sums! Here is more detailed information: 1) Every 5 years, Jews around the world are asked to step-up and be counted in the World Zionist Congress election. The elections are taking place right now until March 11th. There are 507 total representatives in the Congress which are divided amongst different countries around the world: 190 representatives come from Israel, 165 from the Diaspora (excluding the US), and 152 from the United States, by far the largest contingent from a single country outside of Israel, comprising almost one third of all elected representatives. Lunch & Learn 2) The 152 seats are divided up between various American Jew- ish lobbies in the US, similar to the way seats are allocated in the With Rabbi Jordan Hersh following Kiddush Knesset, in proportion to how many votes a party gets. 3) Other groups vying for the 152 seats include: The Reform Move- SATURDAY, MARCH 14 AT 12:30 PM ment (ARZA), Mizrachi-the Orthodox Israel Coalition and 12 2 Beth Sholom Congregation From the Executive Director MARCIA NEWFELD | [email protected] Casino Night 2020 was a big success! ing a pre-Megillah Reading Pizza dinner at 5:30pm. The Family Everyone had a great time and the eve- Megillah Reading will be at 6:00pm and the full Megillah Reading ning kept everyone entertained. There followed by the Purim Bash will be at 7:30pm. On Tuesday, March was good food, and plenty of it, thanks 10 we will read the Megillah once again followed by a light brunch. to our fabulous kitchen crew of Eileen We hope that everyone comes in costume! Marcus, Elaine Neufeld, Judy Poiley- Nelson, Mark Vallon, Joan Elkon and And then around the next corner, before we know it, it will Stacee Springer. Ezra Elkon donated all be Passover! of his delicious recipes, of course. The room set up by Michael Elkon, Spencer Neufeld and Brian Saltzmann made the evening feel extremely intimate. Many thanks to Marla Elkon and Brian Saltzmann for setting up and manning the silent on-line auction, and to Ross Torah STUDY Elkon and his friend for helping everyone place their bids that JOIN US EVERY SATURDAY evening. Our coat check girls, Sydnee Elkon and her friend Abby, greeted everyone with a smile. AT 12:30 P.M. (Does Not Meet When There is Lunch And Learn A special thanks to Sonia who is always willing to take down or B’nai Mitzvah) bingo tables and set the tables in the room for whatever event we have coming up and reset bingo tables until the wee hours of the morning. And to the newest member of our synagogue team, a big thank you to Katelyn Vaughan who, at the last minute, put the pro- MINYAN AT BSC grams together, made table signs and generally did anything that needed to be done. Thanks also to Joanna Sieger who helped to Please join us every staple programs. There was also an entire committee who helped to plan and Thursday at 8:00 AM execute this wonderful evening. The committee is Brian Saltzmann, chair (who I don’t think realized just how big an for minyan event this was when he agreed to take over for Ezra who couldn’t be here, but Brian rose to the occasion and did a great job!) Roz Nasher, Sharon Botkin, Shoshana Staffone, Eileen Marcus, Marla & Ezra Elkon, Elaine & Spencer Neufeld, and Howard & Jamie Wetrogan. Mazal Tov to The DJ and Photo Booth were provided by Electric Entertainment, Jennifer and Adam Emral Shaool DC and the gaming tables, lighting and dealers were provided by on the birth of their son, Ezra Irving Shaool. Talk of the Town. Born January 29, 2020. I hope that everyone who attended had a good time. If you didn’t have a chance to attend this year, make your calendars for next year. Casino Night is usually the last weekend in January or the first weekend in February. As soon as we have a definite date, we We Want to Know…. will let you know. And remember…WHAT HAPPENS AT BETH Are you under the weather? Do you know someone who is? SHOLOM STAYS AT BETH SHOLOM! Please let us know. We want to reach out! If a member of our community is sick or in need of a call or visit, please The next big event coming up is the Purim Carnival and Purim call Marcia or Katelyn in the office at 301-663-3437 or email Bash. Want to help coordinate either of these events? Your help is us at [email protected]. We need their always appreciated. Please let me know. names in order to say a Mi Sheberach (prayer for all those in need of healing) from the bima on Shabbat. If you know The Purim Carnival is March 8. We open at 10:30am for pre- their and their mothers’ Hebrew names, please give us this school age and younger children and at 11:30am for everyone else. information also. Please help to keep us informed because Lunch will be available. Also, on Monday, March 9 we are hold- we care about you. Beth Sholom Congregation 3 Message from the President DAN PEARLMAN | [email protected] I want to thank all who volunteer on away, the preacher was grumbling about the meager pay. The behalf of the synagogue. Everyone’s input son listened for a bit and said “Dad, if you wanted more out, and contribution makes Beth Sholom a why didn’t you put more in?” We always get out of life (and better and closer community and house volunteering) pretty much what we put into it! of prayer. I want to give a special shout out to those currently or in the past have 3. In Korea, there is a legend about a native warrior who died served on the Board and on our stand- and went to heaven. “Before I enter,” he said to the gatekeeper, ing and special committees.