TempleTemple TimesTimes Apr 2019 • Adar II/Nisan 5779 Volume 308 • URJ Affiliated Temple Emanu-El Sarasota, Florida • Founded 1956 Jewish community could discuss community. Rabbi’s Message more openly is alcoholism and Temple Emanu-El is grateful addiction. This Passover season, to partner with the Jewish Federa- along with eating matzah and at- tion of Sarasota-Manatee in spon- tending or hosting a Seder, I invite soring this important and compel- you to attend a unique and special ling performance. The national performance in our sanctuary. touring show comes from Los “Freedom Song” is a live, Angeles’s Beit T’Shuvah (House of on-stage musical that brilliantly Return), a residential treatment interweaves a Passover Seder with center and spiritual community personal stories of addiction. The that integrates Jewish spirituality, cast of Freedom Song is not a cast psychotherapy, the Twelve Steps, of actors; they are actual addicts and creative arts. in recovery that have broken free Freedom Song will be per- from the shackles of drugs, alco- formed on Sunday, April 14th at hol, gambling, and other destruc- 2:00 pm in the temple sanctuary. tive behaviors. Using song and It is free and open to the commu- dance, tears and laughter, and an nity. Please bring friends. The per- intimate post-show discussion formance is appropriate for ages Rabbi Michael Shefrin with the cast, Freedom Song will 13 and up and teens are strongly open your eyes to the real-life encouraged to attend. struggle against the disease of ad- May this Passover help you What are you a slave to? diction that is being fought every find freedom from whatever en- day in our world and in the Jewish slaves you. The story of Israelite freedom from Egyptian bondage is central to Passover. According to our INSIDE: Shabbat Dinner Photo Gallery. 10 sages, each of us is obligated to Brotherhood. 2 A Very Special Weekend at TEE ......11 see ourselves as though we had News from Israel Committee . 3 Mitzvah Day Donations Accepted 12 personally come out of slavery. To Susan Schwaid Early Learning Ctr 3 Adult Education Update. 13 do this, one must ask “what are Endowment . 4 Social Singles . 13 you a slave to?” Sisterhood. .5 Philanthropy Committee. 14 If we are honest, we are likely Dr. Helen Fagin Holocaust Collection . 6-7 Confirmation Class Report. 15 enslaved to more things in our Staff Spotlight: Judy Dean. 8 Library . 15 modern lives than we expect. Seder Dinner Reservations. 9 STEEMY. 16 One form of slavery that the Neighborhood Gatherings. 9 Sisterhood Gift Shop. 17 On Sunday, March 17, we had the last of our breakfast programs for the season. Our own Gary Rosenbaum talked about his amazing journey from heart failure Brotherhood to heart transplant and finally to a life- changing “new beginning.” An avid cyclist who participates in the Transplant Games in the US and abroad, Gary described his experience as well as his volunteering with Brotherhood the LifeLink Foundation. He did an out- standing job, and we all certainly appreci- It’s that time of year again. We’re ap- ate his willingness to share with us. proaching Passover, one of my favorite Looking ahead, Brotherhood is holidays. We read the story of the exodus Guest Ringmaster, Rabbbi Brenner sponsoring a bus trip to the Edison-Ford from Egypt into the Promised Land. The Glickman Museum in Fort Myers. The trip will take word “exodus” comes from the Greek place on Sunday, April 14. After riding on and means departure, generally used to a comfortable air-conditioned bus with describe the departure of a large mass of an Orioles spring training game. We tried your temple friends, you’ll have the oppor- people. On a much smaller scale, many something new this year—attending an tunity to have lunch. At 2 pm we will have of us had our own exodus, moving from a evening game on a Fireworks Night. Once the unique opportunity for docent-led home where we lived for many years. Our again this was a sell-out, ably handled by tours of the estate, including the inside of destination was sunny Florida, and here Steve Leavitt. the houses, something not usually offered we found our place in Sarasota, at Temple Early in March, we had our first ever to the general public. Flyers with reser- Emanu-El, and, for many of us, in Broth- Night at the Circus. The evening was vation forms are available in the temple erhood. the brainchild of our program director lobby and office. As is always the case “in season”, this extraordinaire, Don Malawsky. What an For those into long-term planning, is a particularly busy time of year. Broth- event! The evening started with a dinner our annual Brotherhood Shabbat is being erhood sponsored a host of activities in catered by Michael Lauber, assisted by held on Friday, May 24. This includes March. We had a lecture by Professor Rob- daughter Miranda along with David Stein- dinner, free to Brotherhood members and ert Lieber at the beginning of the month. bach and daughter Becca. After schmooz- one guest. On Saturday, June 1 we have Our thanks to Alvan Morris for linking ing, noshing, and dining, we moved into our annual picnic at Turtle Beach, co- us up with Professor Lieber last year. the arena for the main show. Much to the sponsored with Sisterhood, also free for Shortly thereafter we had our first ever delight of all, the show was kicked off by members. In the meantime, Happy Pesach softball game for some of the temple men. none other than guest ringmaster Rabbi to all! Thanks to Neil Klaber for organizing it. Brenner Glickman. He did an amazing The following day Brotherhood once again job, delighting all with a Talmudic story, Bob Meisel provided food for the Purim carnival. This welcoming children of all ages, and blow- Brotherhood President was coordinated by David Steinbach and ing the whistle to officially start the show. Michael Lauber, assisted by other Broth- Temple Emanu-El filled an entire section erhood members. Toward the end of the of the arena and went on to enjoy some month, we made our annual appearance at wonderful international acts. 2 Hadashot (News) from February also brought two long- as committee members enjoyed Israeli awaited Israeli cooking demonstrations, wine, homemade salad prepared with the Israel Committee facilitated by Evie Shen-Tal. Evie’s recipe, delicious almond cookies, nuts directly from Israel, and more, and Participants learned how to make a studied the Hebrew poem “Tikvatenu,” What an exciting month it has been for variety of delicious, fresh Israeli foods— “Our Hope,” on which Israel’s national the Israel Committee! February featured from tabouleh salad and beet borscht anthem, Hatikvah, is based. an intriguing, successful and very well- to tahini cookies—while exploring the attended adult education class focused on cultures and history of the various ethnic The Israel Committee will gather modern Israeli short stories, facilitated groups who call Israel home. Evie’s again Tuesday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m. for a by Rabbi Brenner Glickman. The stories expertise as a chef and as an educator very special presentation by Philip Meltzer proved so popular that collections by made these Israeli cooking demonstrations about the upcoming Israeli elections and the authors have been purchased by our very special indeed! an insider’s view of Israel’s political parties Temple library! All are encouraged to and political system. All are warmly read these works and to explore some of As February turned to March, the invited. Israel’s best contemporary short fiction. Israel Committee turned to celebration— Many thanks—todah rabbah—to the Adult celebrating the happy month of Adar, to L’hitraot and Shalom from the Temple Education Committee for partnering with be exact. The Israel Committee’s March 5 Emanu-El Israel Committee the Israel Committee on this terrific event. meeting was highlighted by an Adar Party and read Fox in Socks. In addition, Registration for our fall 2019- Susan Schwaid Early the children wore red and blue and 2020 year is open and, if you would Learning Center did some fishy activities for Red Fish, like any information, please give us a Blue Fish. We all know that one of the call at (941) 377-8074. Tif Taf our Hebrew class with Re- children’s favorite ligious School Director, Sabrina stories is The Cat Silverberg, has been very busy. This in the Hat, and month the children worked on their the children wore numbers, the Aleph Bet (Hebrew their favorite crazy Alphabet) and practiced many action hat to school. The words. The action words were incor- week ended with porated with learning the various children bringing body parts. The students also learned “Wockets in their about the holiday of Purim and sang Pockets”. At the a very lively song titled Hag Purim. end of the week, Ask your children to sing it for you! the children were For the holiday, the children made asked what they hamantaschen, groggers, and deco- liked about the rated crowns to wear for the annual Dr. Seuss books Purim parade. (i.e.: “I like how “The more that you read, the Dr. Seuss dresses.” more things you will know. The more “I like the details that you learn, the more places you he puts into it,” will go.” and “I like that While honoring Dr. Seuss’ birth- the books are re- day the children at the Susan Schwaid ally silly and really Early Learning Center celebrated the funny.”) The staff joy and importance of reading.