Vassar Temple Where You Belong Congregation Brethren of Israel Founded 1848 Bulletin Volume 162 No. 11 July-August 2016 Cereal Counts! May Drive Brings Summer Breakfasts to Many “Cereal Counts!” is an annual spring- stored the boxes until the final day try sites hosted by Dutchess Outreach; time, Dutchess County-wide cereal box when a spirited group of volunteers, the Community Action Partnership for food drive aimed at reducing breakfast including our own members, packed their pantries in Poughkeepsie Dover, hunger now in its 10th year. Once again, the entire collection into cartons Beacon and Red Hook; Beulah Baptist we thank everyone at Vassar Temple who provided by Arnoff Moving Company Church; Hudson River Housing/Hillcrest helped make the drive a success and donat- and loaded them into trucks provided Shelter; Hudson River Housing/Gannett ed boxes. Cereal Counts! indeed enjoyed by Jacob Levian of Performance House; Interfaith Senior Housing, Pleasant widespread support this Motors of Wappingers Valley Ecumenical Food Pantry; and Zion year. Preschool, elementa- and UHaul. Poughkeep- Episcopal Church. An additional load ry, middle and high school sie Mayor Rolison, State coming in this month will be delivered to communities held wonder- Senator Sue Serino, Chair- St. Paul’s Episcopal in Poughkeepsie. ful school-based drives to woman Lynda Biskup and collect boxes. Other faith County Executive Mark Thanks to the members of our Temple organizations, businesses, Molinaro brought boxes and other citizens of Dutchess County, libraries, county and and provided their support truckloads of good morning health made government offices, sports to this incredible all county their way to those in need. Breakfast hun- teams, hobby and various effort culminating on Mitz- ger is intolerable. interest groups collected, vah Day, May 15th. too. We had great news- Nancy and David Samson paper and radio spon- On May 16th, 1,134 sors that encouraged box boxes and an additional donations throughout the load that came in over- county. Temple Beth El of Poughkeepsie, night were delivered to food pan- headquarters for Mitzvah Day this year, Homeless Shelter Needs Help! Vassar Temple members have long other faith-based communities, prepare been important supporters of the 60 bed and serve a meal to the shelter guests. shelter for homeless adults located in the Our night is the 4th Thursday of each Town of Poughkeepsie. Unfortunately, the month. We also have a donation box years have not decreased the need for this in the East chapel for toiletries, sheets, support system because other agencies towels, and other bedding supplies for the which would, in a perfect world, deal shelter. Toiletries can be dropped off at with the problems that lead to homeless- any time ness are underfunded and overwhelmed. Many of you have already helped. If Into this situation step volunteers. Here’s you are a new volunteer and want to get how you can help. started with food and/or serving, please Once a month the Jewish community contact Judy Harkavy at of Dutchess County, with help from a lot 845-471- 4973 or [email protected]. of non-Jews who are not affiliated with 1 Rabbi’s Message: So What Do Rabbis DO in the Summer? There’s a myth that Special Projects! I’m on a team tasked search for role models in the Bible. Check rabbis have the summers with imagining what a High Holy Day it out! off, since some of us prayer experience for young children and Working! Summer is a time to regroup don’t lead summer Shab- their families should look like, so that the and recharge and also a time to determine bat services. But while CCAR can create a new machzor for fam- our course for the coming year. Julie, the rhythm of Jewish life ily services. Sherrie, and I, along with the Vassar may slow down in the Simchas! Summer is wedding season, Temple leadership, will spend much of the summer, there is always and I am working with several couples summer hard at work, getting things in or- plenty to keep a rabbi busy. What do rab- to prepare for their upcoming marriages. der for the High Holy Days and preparing bis do in the summer if they aren’t on the Weddings give me the opportunity to en- for an amazing school year! pulpit? Here’s my summer To-Do list: gage with couples—often interfaith—who Vacation! I travel a lot: for professional Camping! I will spend a week each at haven’t yet found their way into syna- conferences, destination weddings, and URJ Eisner and Crane Lake Camps and gogue life. I love learning their stories, to see family. But I haven’t taken an URJ Six-Points Sci-Tech Academy. Camp creating rituals with them, and giving honest-to-goodness vacation in over two is a fabulous opportunity to witness what them the tools they need to make Jewish years. While I’ll mostly be around in the the next generation of Reform Jews is up choices in the future. Hudson Valley (Look for me at Power- to firsthand. Jewish professionals through- Reading! My vision of a perfect summer house!), I’m hoping to take a few days out the region donate a week or two to run day is reading in a beach chair. While away to do, well, nothing. And I hope Limud (Jewish learning) for 2nd through summer can be a time to catch up on that you do, too! 10th graders, tutor b’nai mitzvah, and lead pleasure reading, I also explore materi- In short, rabbis do just as much in daily prayers. I’m also creating electives als that will help me prepare for the High the summer as they do during the year, for older campers: a social justice module Holy Days, Adult Education courses, but we’re never too busy to spend time called “Game of Loans,” and a class on and shaping our vision for the congrega- with you! I hope we’ll see each other at “The Science of Miracles.” tion. On my list this summer are Ron Vassar Temple and around town. In the Teaching! Since 2001, I have given an Wolfson’s Relational Judaism and The meantime, have a wonderful, safe, relax- annual lecture to the Women’s Spiritual- Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women ing, and meaningful summer! ity Group at my home synagogue, Temple in the Rabbinate, an anthology highlight- ing the triumphs and challenges of the Sholom in Broomall, PA. This year’s topic Rabbi Leah Rabbi Berkowitz is “Fifty Shades of Play: The Rabbis’ first generations of women rabbis. The Approach to Love and Intimacy.” latter includes my own essay about my From Our New President, Mark Metzger It was a tremen- equally as important. The hard work and To that end, in September, Rabbi and the dous honor to have commitment of the rabbis, past presidents, Temple board will engage in a develop- been elected and board members, committee members, con- ment workshop with a URJ facilitator. We installed as president of our wonder- gregants and Temple staff have made our look forward to exploring future growth ful congregation, Vassar Temple. The temple stronger and a very pleasant place of our temple. Your vision and ideas are good wishes and offers of support are to share. I thank everyone who has helped also important--please share your thoughts sincerely appreciated. To paraphrase with the many holidays, Temple functions, with me and other board members so that Deuteronomy Rabbah 1.10, a congrega- community projects, events, outreach and our congregation may thrive and prosper. tion “... is too heavy for anyone to carry numerous other activities during the past I look forward to working with the entire alone.” I look forward to working with few years. Vassar Temple family. It is often said by Rabbi Berkowitz, the officers and direc- visitors that we are a warm and welcoming tors, committee members, congregants A special thanks must go to Bob Ritter place, something in which we should all and Temple staff to continue to build for the time and love he has given to our take pride. Thank you for this opportunity upon the foundation laid by our prede- temple. His tenure as president was ex- and your support and guidance. cessors. tremely productive, energetic and innova- tive. I know we can count on Bob for his Mark Metzger So much was accomplished during continued, valued support. these past few years with the leadership of our rabbis and past presidents. All Moving forward, there is still much to one has to do is look in, and around, the do to maintain and improve upon our posi- beautiful synagogue to see some of the tion as a temple. “Where there is no vision, accomplishments. Many more achieve- the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18) ments are not visible, however, and are That is true for a congregation as well. 2 Special Summer Worship Services Scriptural Readings During July and August, Vassar Temple will hold weekly Friday night services July led by a wonderful series of specially trained lay leaders. The services will be held at 7:30pm in an intimate and relaxed setting in the air conditioned social hall. Each will be a complete service including kaddish, will be enhanced with special music, and will 2 Sh’lah L’kha Num. 15:8-41; reflect the unique perspective of the leader. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to Joshua 2:1-24 enjoy light seasonal refreshments (often ice cream!), and, of course, to socialize and share news with friends. Be sure to join us! 9 Korah Num.