February 2010 ~ Shvat/Adar 5770 A VIEW FROM THE BIMAH Following the catastrophic the only country of which I am aware whose motivation earthquake in Haiti, in which at last has been questioned; indeed Israel has been accused of count upwards of 150,000 or more duplicity by extremists who are using the Internet to persons lost their lives, countries circulate the notion that Israel’s sole motivation has been throughout the world began the to redirect the world’s attention away from Israel’s extremely challenging rescue and aid presumed treatment of Palestinians. Using Google, you work, on almost unprecedented a scale, can quickly locate any number of websites hell-bent on that has captivated all who have been ruining Israel’s reputation, no matter the facts. The following this most dramatic story. deplorable way that the truth is bent to fill extremists’ pre- Many hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised, existing assumptions is another example of how the “big with airlines and ships finally being able to unload lie” coupled with the Internet can give currency to even supplies around the clock. the most contemptible ideas. Israel was among the first responders. The first major Once again, I call to mind one of my favorite Israeli team to arrive was a medical response field unit of definitions, that of the zealot, which I believe I first saw in the Israel Defense Forces [IDF]. Within a day of the the Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce: A zealot is disaster, the IDF had set up a well-equipped field hospital, one whose passionate views on a subject are inversely and had brought in military and civilian medical proportional to his or her knowledge of it. personnel, rescue teams, search dogs and supplies. Later, the Magen David Adom - Israel’s version of the Red Another canard circulating recently is that Israel, as Cross - brought in paramedics overland from the national policy, kills Palestinians to harvest their organs. Dominican Republic when they couldn’t land in Port-au- A hospital in Tel Aviv acknowledges that in the early Prince, and set up field hospitals in conjunction with the 1990’s, they would use corneas and sometimes other Norwegian Red Cross. A group from the Israeli disaster organs after a patient’s death, without seeking proper relief organization ZAKA, which had a team in Mexico permissions. These corneas and other organs came from following a helicopter crash there, was soon on the scene, Jews, Christians and Arabs, and the program was as was the Fast Israeli Rescue and Search Team [FIRST]; discontinued after the Israeli government learned about it. the Jerusalem AIDS Project, Isra-Aid, the Pirchey Refua- But death squads? Targeting Palestinians? National Israeli Youth Medical Cadets and others, supplementing policy? There isn’t a shred of evidence, yet the charges the major aid efforts of the American Jewish Committee, circulate. One is reminded of the charges that health care B’nai B’rith International, UJA-Federation, the American legislation before Congress would lead to “death panels” Jewish denominational in this country. movements and many Shabbat Morning Such extremism, in any guise, rarely has anything to do others. Services with truth or justice; is rarely productive and only leads to Saturday morning, February Of course, countries further disunity and anger, whether on how Israel and her 13th, Rabbi Stevens will lead a around the world neighbors relate to each other, or how we relate to each child friendly Shabbat morning responded similarly, other on the dysfunctional American political scene. service (see corresponding for the most part, but I am not advocating that those with strongly-held views article on page 4) and a regular with this exception: modify their views. I do advocate, as the Jewish way, that service on February 27, along Israel is the only we form our views judiciously, take care to evaluate with Student Cantor Andrea country, to my seemingly wild claims, and be moderate in our discourse. Rae Markowicz. Services knowledge, which has include Torah study and a light been castigated for brunch which will run from these efforts. Israel is 9:30 – 11:15 a.m. Volume 158, Number 8 February 2010 ~ Shvat/Adar 5770 TBO PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Shalom, Celebrating Our 158th Year It seems to me that while we live in an advanced ELLIOT L. STEVENS, D. D., RABBI information age complete with numerous modes of Andrea Rae Markowicz, Student Cantor communication, our Temple community must strive for David A. Baylinson, D.D., Rabbi Emeritus communication that is “High Touch.” This concept does Temple Beth Or Officers not involve some new technological device, but does Morris Capouya ...............................................President involve the ability to empathize with one another, to foster Jenny Ives ............................. Vice-President: Programs meaningful human interaction, and to pursue some purpose Jamie Loeb............................... Vice-President: Finance Steve Wallace ................................................. Treasurer and meaning in our Judaism. I admit that I am one who Corinne C. Capilouto.......................................Secretary needs to relax the analytical, calculating portion of my Alan Weil, Jr.......................... Immediate Past President brain and let the creative an empathetic side come alive. Board of Trustees Gay Winter ........................................... Adult Education While we are on the topic of communication, it is very Lynne Ginsburg ...............Arts, Decorations & Archives Sharon McDaniel....................Attendance & Hospitality important for all congregants to: Charles Strasburger..........................................Cemetery Rusty Levy........................................................ Grounds 1. Push information “upstream” to Temple management Ricky Loeb ...........................................................House and leadership regarding another congregant’s poor Karen Goldstein.......................................... Membership health, unfortunate circumstances and joyous occasions Kent Long.................................... Men’s Club President Sharon Berry.........................Religion School & Library so that we are all informed about such matters in order Lisa Weil........................................Sisterhood President for us to reach out, lend a helping hand or share in their Louisa Weinrib ......... Social Concerns/L’Chaim League joy or sorrow. We all make a difference in each others’ Joy Kaplan .....................................Youth & Scholarship lives. Temple Beth Or Staff 2. Broadcast the date and time of our Annual Food Gina Friday.................................. Temple Administrator Andrea Rae Markowicz ..........................Student Cantor Festival to the greater Montgomery community so they Sharon Berry........................... Religion School Director can join us and experience the delectable delights our Linda Smith ......................................... L’Chaim League tradition has to offer and shop in our newly-expanded Marlon Cotton.............................Maintenance Manager Treasure market. Elizabeth French .................. Organist & Choir Director Office Hours Monday CLOSED All the best, Tues., Wed. & Thurs. 9-5 Friday 9-2 2246 Narrow Lane Road Montgomery, AL 36106 Morris E. Capouya (334) 262-3314 Tel (334) 263-5183 Fax Office: [email protected] Rabbi: [email protected] www.templebethor.net Please call Gina Friday at 262-3314 to report any corrections or inaccuracies in the bulletin. Carol Hart’s telephone number in Atlanta is SEPHARDIC COOKBOOK Mazel Tov! 404-816-5052 The Food Fest is planning to add a section devoted To Gaby Capp on to Sephardic recipes to our very successful The Renaissance cookbook, “L'Dor V'Dor, From Generation to the January 14th Generation.” 3755 Peachtree Road NE #1203 birth of her Atlanta, Georgia 30319 great-grandson Please send your recipes to Louisa Weinrib or to the Cell (334) 207-8434 Hanan Eli Miller. Temple office during the next three months. For questions call 262-6155. Thank you! 2 Contributions to Funds We greatly appreciate the people who Birthday and Anniversary Blessings support Temple Beth Or by remembering on February 5th. YAHRZEITS and honoring their friends and loved ones through their generous contributions. To be read 2/5/2010 Those that are received after the 20th of the - - - - - - - - - - month will be in the next bulletin. Abraham Feinman Dr. John Herzfeld CAROL LOBMAN HART FUND In Honor of Sol Katz Carol Hart ANNIVERSARIES Dr. Joseph Weinrib Sharon McDaniel To be read 2/12/2010 In Honor of 10. Gracie & Jack Hanchrow Carol Hart's Birthday Bernard Bolen Frances and Ralph Capouya 21. Steve & LaNette Clein Simanto Franco 28. Susan & Robert Kohn Nancy Riley FLORAL FUND Edith Scheuer Weil In Honor of the 85th Birthday of Joe Capilouto To be read 2/19/2010 Joan Hanan - - - - - - - - - - Matilde Alhadeff In Memory of Mathilde “Teal” L. Kohn Fortunee De Botton Carol R. Loeb Jeanette and Richard Hanan Carolyn Abraham May BIRTHDAYS GITENSTEIN FOUNDATION Edward A. Posner The Memory of Gloria Haas Shwarts Nellie Weil 3........Mark Franco Larry Toney Ann & Seymour Gitenstein Foundation 3........Alan Weil, Jr. Rossie Weil 5........Gilson Capilouto Edwin S. Wise, Jr. GITENSTEIN FOUNDATION The Memory of 5........Daniel Markstein Cecily Wool Mr. Adolph Weil, Jr. 7........Allen Dees Harold Yellin Ann & Seymour Gitenstein Foundation 9........Tony Piel 12......Hugh Bolen To be read 2/26/2010