Volume V Elul / Tishrei 5781- 5782 / September 2021 No. 37
Rabbi's Message: It Isn't Over It was supposed to be over by now. In March of 2019, we shut it all down and moved everything to Zoom and YouTube. We were patient; we made the best of it that we could. We felt sad and unsure when we decided last year that our services for the Days of Awe needed to be online only, but it was the right decision. Schooling and work moved online for many, something that was hugely stressful for parents, especially parents of young children. Healthcare workers had to deal with overwhelming numbers of the sick and dying. We were collectively traumatized by the pandemic. Last winter, when vaccines began to be available, we saw a light at the end of the tunnel. During services, when we shared what we were grateful for, more and more of us shared that we’d been vaccinated, so much so that I began to jokingly refer to it as the vaccine report. A couple of months later, when most of us had been vaccinated, the gratitude portion of the service filled with reports of seeing relatives in person for the first time in over a year. This past Shavuot, we gathered in person, outdoors, and the feeling was exciting; people were a little giddy. We planned a few multi-access services to begin working out the technological kinks before this fall’s Days of Awe. We published a beautiful journal sharing our experiences of “A Year Like No Other.” It was supposed to be over by now. We have endured enough. But the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 emerged. Across the country children too young to be vaccinated are filling up pediatric ICUs. We have learned from what is happening in Israel that vaccine effectiveness wanes over time. Breakthrough infections, when someone who is vaccinated gets COVID, are appearing, and while the illness is usually less severe, it isn’t always. Proof of vaccination is no longer proof that a person doesn’t have COVID. It isn’t over. We have made the heart-wrenching decision that our services for the Days of Awe will need to be online only again this year (except for outdoor Tashlich and children’s services), for the safety of our service leaders and our community, both vaccinated and unvaccinated. I know that online services are not the same, are not as good, and don’t work at all for some of you. I am so deeply sorry. Being in person is so much better for me, too. And it was supposed to be over by now. Our slow-motion trauma continues. Our tempers are frayed. We are so tired. But we will go on. We will keep doing our best. We will make the best decisions that we can with the information we have, and we will be unsure whether those decisions are correct. We will all have to do this on an individual level and on a community level. We have come this far by relying on one another in community. We will continue to do so. Let us help and support one another as much as we can. As we enter the new year of 5782, may we be compassionate with ourselves and others, and may the coming year bring sweetness and goodness. I look forward to seeing you soon. Rabbi Heidi Hoover
voice of truth
Trees of Life
President's Message: Still Cautious Unless you happen to be a member of our community for whom Zoom is the sole means of accessing B’ShERT services and activities, this year’s High Holy Days observances may seem like an unwelcome continuation of the “year like no other.” This is both true and not true. While congregants will indeed be virtual again, the clergy, cantorial soloist, and musicians will be in the sanctuary — the actual sanctuary, and not just a Zoom background — which will bring us closer to the kind of majesty and beauty we’re accustomed to experiencing during our High Holy Days services. It’s clearly not enough, but it’s a significant improvement. For most of us, our attitude toward COVID has changed dramatically from a year ago. We’re less overwhelmed, less scared, and more optimistic, especially with the promise of a booster shot to give us additional protection against Delta and, it is hoped, other variants that may appear down the road. We’re less patient with the limitations imposed on our lives — COVID fatigue — and angry that the situation has lasted this long. It’s also important to note that pre-COVID life has resumed in earnest for many people, both in terms of required activities (work and school) as well as optional activities like traveling, shopping in malls, and dining inside restaurants. This last point made a few congregants question our decision to go all-virtual for High Holy Days services. As the new president, I found it instructive to hear from these congregants, not just because they made valid points but because they brought up systemic issues that merit further discussion, especially in the area of family engagement. We value our younger families and need to make sure they are represented and encouraged to participate fully in Temple life. As Rabbi Hoover indicated in her message in this newsletter, and as we wrote in our letter to the congregation in mid-August, eliminating in-person High Holy Days services was a difficult decision, but it was one that we, clergy and Temple leadership, deemed necessary in light of waning vaccine efficacy, a large number of vulnerable congregants (including seniors and kids not yet eligible for the vaccine), and the knowledge that fully vaccinated people can still be infected with and transmit COVID. According to an online customizable risk analysis tool called the microCOVID Project, if everyone remains six feet apart, wears a mask, and is vaccinated, the risk level for High Holy Days services in our sanctuary is considered “moderate.” (Thank you to the member of our community who send this helpful tool.) While risk aversion, of course, varies by a person’s comfort level, for those of us who were tasked with considering the health and safety of the entire congregation, a “moderate” risk was simply too high. We made the most responsible decision we could. ••• This summer was an active time for B’ShERT in spite of the COVID challenges. Some thanks: The Ritual Committee chaired by Fran Silverman and Diane Figueroa did an outstanding job of assembling a group of volunteers who led Shabbat services (some for the first time), sang, and delivered insightful d’var Torahs. (The president’s dog, Teddy, made his vocal presence known during several Friday night services, but that is part of our homespun charm.) Thanks to Diane Figueroa for leading B’Yachad. The Membership Committee, chaired by Ellyn Rothstein and Joanie Holland Schaffer, oversaw and implemented a number of successful programs, including an Open Mic event that spotlighted some of our congregation’s musical and comedic talents. Read the Membership report in this newsletter to see what the committee is working on. The Brotherhood affiliate, chaired by Joel Moss, did an incredible job of attracting interest in Jewish Heritage Day at Maimonides Park — 80+ tickets were sold — and organizing a day that went off seamlessly in spite of the weather’s intermittent misbehavior. Thanks to Alan Zarrow, Gene Guskin, Sheldon Greenberg, and Matt Holland for their hard work and good cheer. A great day was had by all, including the president, who stayed long enough to eat an order of Nathan’s fries and half a burrito. (Did the Cyclones win? I have no idea.) The Fundraising Committee, chaired by Pam Glantzman and Yvette Pomeranz, rolled out another Honey from the Heart initiative, this time to benefit our Stained Glass Restoration Fund. You can buy honey through September 5th at bshert.org/honey. Thanks to the Long-Term Planning Committee, chaired by Jeff Levinson, for their work on the Temple’s master plan project; the Building Committee, chaired by Sheldon Greenberg and Sam Silverman, for supervising the ongoing work in our building; the Reopening Committee, chaired by Phyllis Schweiger, for wrestling with the complex issues surrounding B’ShERT’s reopening; and to Faye Levine Guskin for her continuing work with the stained glass project and on developing our security protocols. My appreciation, too, to my predecessor in this role, immediate past president Eric Platt, for answering the frazzled new president’s questions with limitless patience and wisdom. Feel free to reach out to me at president@bshert.org. A happy and healthy New Year to all — Adrienne Adrienne Knoll President, B’ShERT
Selichot Saturday, August 28th, 8 pm Erev Rosh Hashanah Monday, September 6th, 8 pm Rosh Hashanah (Day 1) Morning Service Tuesday, September 7th, 10 am Family Service (outdoors), 1 pm Tashlich, approx. 2:30 pm (Prospect Park Lake) Rosh Hashanah (Day 2) Wednesday, September 8th, 10 am Tashlich, approx. 1:30 pm (Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park) Shofar Across Brooklyn Wednesday, September 8th, 5 pm Yom Kippur - Kol Nidre Wednesday, September 15th, 7:30 pm Yom Kippur (Day) Morning Service Thursday, September 16th, 10 am Yizkor (Zoom), 12:30 pm Family Service (outdoors), 2 pm Yizkor (outdoors), 3:30 pm Study Session, 5 pm Concluding Services, 6 pm NOTE: Unless indicated otherwise, all services will be conducted virtually Masks required for services in front of synagogue
High Holidays 5782 / 2021
I'm delighted to take on the mantle of Editor of the Voice of Truth, following in the footsteps of our new Temple President, Adrienne Knoll, who so brilliantly managed this job for the last three years. I bring many years as a professional art book editor, currently with the Brooklyn Museum, to this position, and am grateful to be working alongside layout editor Bob Fried. I have been a participant in the life of B'ShERT for about 15 years, starting with taking my now-teenage son to Tot Shabbat when he was barely a toddler. I have found in B'ShERT a warm and supportive community that has become dear to my heart, and it is my hope to serve you well in the coming years. As a reminder, please send all Voice of Truth submissions to news@bshert.org. You can reach me directly at audrey.walen@bshert.org I look forward to working with all of you. Audrey Walen Editor, Voice of Truth
We welcome your Voice of Truth news. Let the B'ShERT community know of events in your community, family or your own life. Send your news to news@bshert.org.
Social Action Committee Report
The Committee is up and running. There is always a pressing need for social action. Our annual Rosh Hashanah Food Drive is taking place from August 30th through September 29th. Please bring non-perishable unexpired food to the Temple to be donated to our own Little Pantry and to Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church Food Pantry. You must contact Alice first to ensure that there will be someone available in the Temple Office when you come. In addition, or in the alternative, you may donate to Mazon, a Jewish organization which combats food insecurity at give.mazon.org/give/347319/#!/donation/checkout. We have reached out to the Good Shepherd Church, which meets in our building and has many congregants of Haitian background, to ask about assisting Haiti in this time of crisis. We will be collecting items such as clothing, medical supplies, and water. Monetary donations are also welcome. More information will be provided in a separate e-mail. We will be conducting a voter registration drive on Sunday, September 19th at the Flatbush Frolic, which takes place on Cortelyou Road. Future plans include a beach cleanup and a program on Jews of Color, conducted by rabbinical student Kelly Whitehead, daughter of our own Emily Whitehead. The Interfaith Coalition, too, has been busy. A book discussion group has been launched. In addition, by the time that you read this report, the film Arranged (the story of the friendship between a Jewish and a Muslim woman) will have been presented outdoors at the Brooklyn Amity School. We thank everyone for their support. Yvette Pomeranz and Lori Silverman Co-Chairs, Social Action Committee
Audrey Walen: New Editor of B'ShERT Voice of Truth
Alan Antopol Amelia Bloom Kenneth Brown Avi Cozine Lisa Draho Karen Eichel Robert Elstein Candi Friedman Robin Friedman Nathan Frost Harold Gleiberman Jane Gleiberman Joshua Goldstein Deborah Lorberg Patrick Luib Joel Moss Nancy Ostrover Michael Rose Charlotte Russell Joanie Holland Schaffer Julie Subrin Michael Tornick Sara West Betsy Zimiles
..and Happy Anniversary to Fran & Manny Arnowitz, Jane & Harold Gleiberman
Simcha Corner Happy Birthday, September Babies!
Mazel Tov!!
Emily Cedriana Donato, daughter of B'ShERT's cantorial soloist Nonie Schuster Donato and member James Donato, won first place in the Oratorio Society of New York's 44th Annual Lyndon Woodside Oratorio Solo Competition Finals Concert on August 21. Emily was one of six finalists selected from the more than 120 singers who participated in the 2020 competition, before the pandemic forced its cancellation. Each finalist was required to sing two contrasting oratorio works. Emily attended religious school and celebrated her bat mitzvah at our Temple[a]. She is a familiar face to many congregants who have heard her sing at services and at our 2020 talent show, "Another Saturday Night." Congratulations, Emily! — Adrienne Knoll
Karen and Marty Eichel are thrilled to announce the marriage of their son, Joshua, to Rachel Feinstein on July 17, 2021! The couple honeymooned in Hawaii. Karen and Marty are pleased to welcome Rachel and the Feinsteins into their family!
We are happy to welcome back the Voice of Truth, and also to welcome back our B’ShERT community! Whether you stayed near or traveled far this summer, we hope you had a peaceful and relaxing break. At our last writing in the June 2021 issue of the Voice of Truth, we were talking about ways we could spend more time in person together given the reduction in positive COVID rates. By the time August rolled around, these trends were reversing, due to the more transmissible Delta variant, and we were reminded that we are still in the midst of a pandemic and need to remain vigilant. For our committee, as for all other groups at Temple, this means that we must remain flexible in balancing the needs of those members who wish to be together (safely) in person with the needs of our members who can’t or aren’t ready to share physical space yet. Although this is a challenge, it’s one we’re confident we can resolve by thinking really hard and working together. Whichever group you fall into, we welcome your thoughts about ways we can best support you and meet your needs. This summer, we hosted two events, one on Zoom, and one in person. On July 14, Tyi Marx and Sara Belasco from the Center for Jewish History (CJH) presented a workshop on “Preserving Your Family Photos and Documents.” This was very informative on a general and a personal level, and attendees were able to ask specific questions about preserving their own photos, documents, and books. This was one of three workshops CJH presented for us this year, and we are very grateful to them. Also, we are excited that CJH has reopened for visitors as of August 23. Visit www.cjh.org to learn more about their collections and services, and to reserve timed tickets to schedule your visit. On August 14, we hosted an in-person Open Mic in the sanctuary (intended to be “al fresco,” or outdoors, but moved indoors due to the threat of thunderstorms). We had a great lineup of acts including a comedian, sing-alongs, vocalists, a comedic reading, and instrumental musicians who performed for an enthusiastic crowd of about thirty B’ShERT members and friends. This was a many-hands-on-deck event. Our sincere thanks to everyone who played a role in making it happen! If you missed it or if you loved it so much you want to watch again, the video is streaming on the B’ShERT Facebook page. And, last but not least, registration is open for the Fall session (September through November) of Gentle Chair Yoga and Gentle Qi Gong on Zoom with Drs. Gail Levine-Fried and Bob Fried. These classes have proven to be very popular, and participants report improved flexibility and movement along with lower stress levels. Space is limited! Register at bshertyoga.eventbrite.com. The first meeting of the Membership Committee in 5782 will be on Tuesday, October 5, at 7 pm. All are welcome and we would love for you to join us. Please Email Ellyn (pr@bshert.org) or Joanie (jmhschaffer@gmail.com) for the Zoom link. Wishing you all a Shana Tova u’Metuka, Ellyn Rothstein and Joanie Holland Schaffer Co-Chairs, Membership Committee
Report From the Membership Committee
News from Women of B'ShERT: A Sisterhood Organization
Welcome back after our unexpected lockout from the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a long time in coming — welcome to a new old world. We hope that everyone is well and adjusting to life as it is now. Please know that all of us extend our sympathies, concern, and support for the trials and frustrations you’ve experienced and continue to experience. As we prepare for a New Year, our beloved sanctuary is starting to be gussied up. The stained-glass windows have been removed and are in the process of being repaired. There is more being planned so we thought perhaps it was time we take a look at the Women of B’ShERT, a Sisterhood Organization and freshen ourselves as well. So, we ask you, our members and hope-to-be members: What do you want from us? What can we or should we do for you? Our membership is diverse as to age, marital status, sexual orientation, and family make-up (kids or not). Please think about this and respond. Nothing is off the table. We’re listing some suggested activities below to give you a start. Please review and say yay or nay. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Please remember that we are here to serve you. If we aren’t doing a good job, please step up and let us know. This is our survival we are talking about. Membership dues are $36. We thank you in advance for your payment. Checks should be made out to Women of B’ShERT. Please send your check with your name, address, phone number, and e-mail to: Fran Arnowitz, 3301 Nostrand Avenue – Apt. 5K, Brooklyn, NY 11229. The women of B'ShERT wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. Mona Goldberg, Charlotte Russell, Sara Meyer West Co-Chairs, Women of B’ShERT, A Sisterhood Organization
The following is a list of events that we have thought of to share together and sponsor for the congregation. The activities are varied. They are in Temple, outdoors, and/or in public spaces and by appointment only. Some are meant for right now and others are for that wonderful future where we are all healthy and safe. Please review this list and provide your suggestions and feedback. We have come through this far together and together we will continue to get through one day at a time, one event at a time. Some possibilities: * What did you learn from your kids and grandkids during the pandemic? * Poetry reading and bagels. Read your own work or a meaningful poem by another author. * Brunches and lectures. * Vegas night (poker, blackjack, etc.). * Mah-jongg, canasta, bridge or other card games. * Ceramics or painting — learn how to unleash your inner creativity. * A visit to the Brooklyn Museum with a docent and lunch on your own. * Chocolate, anyone? Visit to Jacques Torres in DUMBO. * Tea, anyone? Bubble, Chai, Lady Grey tea. Learn how to brew, serve and savor the world’s oldest flavored drink in the ambience of a teahouse. * Wine-tasting. * Your own suggestions. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Women of B'ShERT — Ideas for Activities for the New Year
The Jewish Cultural Committee wishes everyone a very happy, healthy, and sweet New Year. Like everyone else, we are trying to navigate our current situation regarding COVID-19 with appropriate protocols. At our last meeting, we realized that we are not yet comfortable scheduling in-person events. Hopefully things will improve and this will change. Luckily, there is no shortage of Jewish cultural events on-line and we plan to periodically apprise you of what is happening. At this time, we are in the process of planning two great virtual activities. Debra Davies of the Cork Jewish Community has very graciously invited us to her Sukkah on Saturday, September 25th, at 1 pm our time. We will observe the holiday with the lulav and etrog. Those of you with your own Sukkah can send us photos or perhaps join the session from your Sukkah so that we can share it with you. We will participate in a discussion, so that we can learn from each other. At the end we will experience Havdallah. “Jews Across The Pond” certainly rocks! And coming soon we look forward to a screening of the film The Jews of Ecuador, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. This film comes highly recommended by my dedicated co-chair Helene Smith and our dedicated member Lori Silverman. More information to follow! Yvette Pomeranz Co-Chair, Jewish Cultural Committee
Stained Glass and NY Landmarks Updates
Our Moses and Solomon stained glass windows are at the studio being cleaned and restored. The wood window frames are being restored in the sanctuary in August and September. We are hoping to have the windows reinstalled in October, along with the protective laminated glass to be installed over them. Thanks to everyone for your support of the Fundraising Committee’s efforts for this important project. We are also kvelling about B’ShERT’s involvement with the NY Landmarks Conservancy, in addition to the $25,000 matching grant for the window restoration project. Rabbi Hoover was a featured panelist on August 12 in a virtual discussion with clergy and lay leaders on “Virtual Worship, Community Programming, and Reopening During COVID-19.” The event was part of the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 2021 Sacred Sites Open House. In the Summer 2021 issue of Common Bond 31, no. 1, nylandmarks.org/what-we-do/grants-loans/sacred-sites/common-bond, there are two articles of note. “Onward and Outward: How Covid-19 Broadened the Reach of Sacred Sites” features B’ShERT with a shout out to our Social Action Committee among other endeavors. In addition, our stained glass consultant, Brianne Van Vorst, of Liberty Stained Glass Conservation, wrote an article about the Stained Glass Conservation Project at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, which she has worked on extensively. Faye Levine Guskin Charity Committee
Jewish Cultural Committee Report
The Membership Committee is seeking volunteers to help with our table at the Flatbush Frolic on Sunday, September 19, 2021. You can sign up to volunteer at this web-address: www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D49A4AE2C7-2021 or keep reading for more information. For those who are not familiar, the Flatbush Frolic is a street fair that takes place annually along Cortelyou Road from Ocean Ave to Coney Island Ave from 11 am to 6 pm. It attracts a lot of foot traffic from the neighborhood and is a great opportunity for people to discover or get to know us better. We are going to need volunteers to help transport our equipment from B'ShERT, set-up, sit at the table and be ambassadors throughout the day, and then at the end of the day we'll need help with breaking down and transporting the equipment back to B'ShERT. Phew, that was a mouthful. As you can tell, a lot goes into making this event a success for us. We've set up a SignUp Genius with these different volunteer opportunities, and we hope you'll consider helping out for a couple of hours. As of right now, we have no one signed up to break-down and transport equipment at the end of the day. If you have a car and can assist with this, we would ESPECIALLY appreciate it. Thanks! Ellyn Rothstein and Joanie Holland Schaffer Co-Chairs[ Membership Committee
Bob Fried: Layout Editor of Newsletter
Hello, Friends, At the annual Brotherhood Breakfast this past June, I overheard Michael Rose discussing with another brother the need for someone to assist with preparing the Newsletter. I volunteered. Here I am. I have laid out fliers and announcements. These are single paged. A newsletter is different. For one thing, it is larger. It is humbling to be following in the footsteps of Adrienne Knoll, our congregation's new president. Guided by her skill, experience, and, most importantly, patience, I shall work assiduously to create an attractive and readable. Voice of Truth. Together with Audrey Walen, our new editor, I look forward to serving our community. Bob Fried Layout Editor
September 19th 11 am to 6 pm Cortelyou Road
B'ShERT Needs Volunteers at Flatbush Frolic
Fundraising Committee Report
B'ShERT's Rosh Hashanah Food Drive
For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor … – Deuteronomy 15.11 There are many ways to donate: Starting August 30 through September 29, unexpired, unopened, non-perishable items can be dropped off at the Temple, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 1:30 pm. Please call Alice at the B’ShERT office (718.282.1596) before you make the drop off to confirm there will be someone at the Temple. If you are unable to bring items to the Temple, Social Action Committee volunteers will pick up your unexpired, unopened, non-perishable items from your home. Again, please call Alice at the B’ShERT office (718-282-1596) to connect with a volunteer and arrange pickup. These food items will be donated to our Little Pantry and to Our Lady of Refuge Church Food Pantry We will also have Mazon envelopes at Temple should you wish to make a monetary donation. If you wish to use your own envelope, please send your donation to Mazon, P.O. Box 96119, Washington, D.C. 20090. You can also donate directly to Mazon at https://give.mazon.org/give/347319/#!/donation/checkout. Thank you – L’Shanah Tovah! Yvette Pomeranz and Lori Silverman Co-Chairs, Social Action Committee
The Fundraising Committee is pleased to announce that you still can place orders through Honey From The Heart until 11 pm on Sunday, September 5th. ORT America has extended the sale this year, so if you were stuck in the summer holiday mode, there is still time. As it says in our High Holy Day Siddur, this is the time of turning. If you would like to remember friends and family with a gift of holiday honey that also supports our Temple, go honey.bshert.org. Enter code BSH. Each jar is $14. There is a $5.50 shipping fee per jar, unless you are sending 8 or more jars to a single address. Honey will arrive before the end of Sukkot. If you have any questions, call me at (917) 453-9004 or email me at homeoffice777@aol.com. Best wishes for a sweet & well rounded New Year, Pam Glantzman Fundraising Committee
Laurie Bassi, Social Action Co-Chair and liaison to the Interfaith Coalition, has resigned from this position. She and Herb will be moving out of New York in the near future. Thank you, Laurie, for your commitment, hard work and inspiration. Yvette Pomeranz from the Social Action Committee has been appointed liaison to the Interfaith Coalition. On Saturday, April 18, at 1 pm (after services), please attend a Social Action Lunch and Learn in the Community Room. The topic is Climate Change: Response to Urgency. The discussion will be moderated by Yvette Pomeranz and the two resource books will be We Are The Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer and Let There Be Water by Seth Segal. The discussion will center around concrete actions we can take as individuals, as a temple entity and as society and what is needed to galvanize us to take action. Our annual Passover Food Drive will take place in March. Please bring your UNOPENED, UNEXPIRED food to Temple by Friday, March 27. We will be donating this food to Our Lady of Refuge Church Food Pantry (OLRC), which is part of our Interfaith Coalition, and our Little Pantry. We are also happy to once again be able to support seniors in need at this time of year at the Marks JCH. Your donation to our Dr. Janet L. Haynes Social Action Fund will allow us to provide individuals and couples with funds to purchase food for their seder tables. See the flyer in this Voice of Truth with date and other details. We’re pleased that the children of the Religious School will also participate by helping to sort items. Please save the dates for the following Interfaith Coalition program and watch for flyers with complete details: • Abraham’s Table: Sunday, March 29, 3:30 - 5:30 pm at the Amity School on Knapp Street. Topic: The Environment in the Light of Our Three Traditions. • Interfaith Iftar dinner combined with Abraham’s Table: Sunday, April 26 at OLRC. Theme: What Is Your Most Important Religious Holiday? • Movie Night: Thursday, August 6 in the parking lot of the Amity School. Time, movie and other details will be announced at a later date. The next meeting of the Social Action Committee will take place on Thursday, April 30 at 7 pm in the Community Room. Susan Sysler Co-Chair, Social Action Committee
B'ShERT Brotherhood Report
Thank you, Eric Platt For your years of dedicated service as President of B'ShERT
Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed your summer as much as possible despite these trying times. Brotherhood hosted two wonderful events this summer. At the end of June many of our members met at the Mirage Diner for a Thank-You Breakfast hosted by Brotherhood. It was great to see so many of our members in person rather than on Zoom. Thank you Shelly Greenberg for making the arrangements. Then, on August 8, around eighty of our Temple members and their friends attended Jewish Heritage Day with the Cyclones in Coney Island. Despite the off-and-on drizzle, many of us had a great time with our two free hats and $5 food credit. The Cyclones even won the game 5 to 4. A huge thank you must go to Brotherhood members Alan Zarrow, Matt Holland, Gene Guskin, and Shelly Greenberg for the enormous effort they put in to make this event possible. Like everyone else, we were hoping by this time we could throw away our masks and return to normalcy. Unfortunately, as I write this, the Delta strain of the virus has made this impossible. Thus Brotherhood plans for this coming calendar year have not been finalized, though we are working on them. Current plans include inviting important speakers, such as our financial advisor Mitch Nelson, as well as other speakers and events, all of which will of course depend on the conditions in our community and nation at that time. Right now we will remain on Zoom until further notice. Our next Brotherhood meeting on Zoom is scheduled for Sunday, September 12th at 9:30 am. It is essential that as many men of our Temple as possible attend, as we value your input on future Brotherhood events. New members are warmly encouraged to join us! Brotherhood dues remain at $36, but you do not have to be a dues-paying member to join meetings and events. On behalf of the Brotherhood, I wish everyone a safe and especially healthy New Year as well as a successful fast on Yom Kippur and an enjoyable time during the holidays that follow. Take care, be safe and stay well, Joel Moss Brotherhood Affiliate of B'ShERT
L’Shanah Tovah from B'ShERT!
Open Mic at B'ShERT
Thanks to our talented performers: Rabbi Alexis Pinsky (songleader), Jim Donato (flugelhorn), Michael Tornick (piano), Rebecca Kaplan (comedian), Jane Gleiberman (singer), Luke Krafka (cello), Joanie, Bill, and Naz Schaffer (musical trio), Gail Levine-Fried (songleader), Bob Fried (reader) Special Thanks to our Emcee: Emma Tattenbaum-Fine Also thanks to Ellyn Rothstein for all her assistance.
Body text
(Photos by Joanie Holland Schaffer)
Record Turnout from B'ShERT at Cyclones' Jewish Heritage Day
(Photos by Alan Zarrow)
On Sunday, August 8th, B’ShERT members, family, and friends participated in the Brooklyn Cyclones’annual Jewish Heritage Day as they played against the Hudson Valley Renegades. An amazing 81 people purchased tickets and were rewarded with a day of fun, food, two baseball caps, scoreboard recognition, photos with “The Mensch on a Bench”, and (most of all) people. The day started out with questionable weather and we were all anxiously watching our phone apps and the Cyclones web site. But, even with a bit of a left-over drizzle as game time approached, we saw that the tarp was being removed from the field and the batters boxes were being stenciled. That’s when we knew the Cyclones staff definitely knew something we didn’t. And, as always, they were right. The “Baseball Gods” gave us a little over two hours to watch our future Mets take on the hated New York Yankees affiliate from Dutchess County. As the song goes, we “root, root[ed] for the home team”. To me, though, the most heart-warming part of the day was observing the people who were not watching the game. They were up on the concourse talking, laughing, and maybe even crying a bit with people they have not seen in person in 18 months. Although the rain returned towards the end of the game, the Cyclones brought a ray of sunshine to the people that stuck it out with an exciting 5-4 win. Special thanks for the success of the day’s success must go out to Matt Holland who helped organize the event with our Cyclones Account Representative Mordechai Twersky, Gene Guskin who kept track of every penny of ticket payment that came in, Mike rose for setting up the Shul Cloud account for ticket payments, Shelly Greenberg who helped carry the hats back to our seats, and especially to Fran Levine who stood with me in that waning drizzle and helped me give out the hats. In 2022, may we shoot for even more people to join us – and hope for better weather. Alan Zarrow
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Maxine Feldman Teaches… Piano, Voice, Guitar, Sight-Singing Ms. Feldman has 35 years of experience teaching all ages. She has served on the music faculties of NYU, Brooklyn College, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and Hebrew Union College. She has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, the United Nations, at PTBAS and now at the new consolidated congregation! For further information, please call Maxine at 718-490-7556
You Are Invited to Join THE HANNAH SENESH SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. The Hannah Senesh Society honors the memory of one of the greatest heroines in modern Jewish history during World War II. Membership: Family —$20 Individual —$10 Lifetime—$100 Contact: Jacqueline Mizrahi, Co-President (718) 666-7418
B'ShERT's Caring Chesed Committee: We're Here to Help Volunteers are needed to make phone calls and/or visits to those who are ill or have suffered a loss. It is especially important to keep in touch with those who are grieving after the initial mourning period. If you know that someone is in need of a visit or a call, please contact one of our co-chairs. We are always looking for new members and would appreciate any ideas to make the committee more effective. "It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it…" Pirke Avot Gene Guskin (917) 533-6231 Ruth Bile (646) 732-2650 Frema Schneier (917) 459-0904 Debbie Belsky (718) 252-8030 B'ShERT Caring Chesed Committee
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