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Mark Your CalendarsRabbi Weinstein will be here: March 7th & March 21st; April 4th & 18th - Services 6 PM
Torah Study with Rabbi on March 8th & March 22nd; April 5th & 19th at 10 AM
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, Tuesday, March 18,2014 at 7 PM
ANNUAL CORNED BEEF SANDWICH SALE, Monday, March 24*
CONGREGATIONAL FIRST NIGHT PASSOVER SEDER - Monday, April 14th at 6:30 PM
Linda Weinstein Ladies Spirituality/ Men's Lunch with Rabbi - Saturday, March 1st & April 19th at Noon
2"" ANNUAL SHABBATON WEEKEND - May 9 & 10
MazelTov....Sarah Congiundi, on her successful Bat Mitzvah,
Mindy Desadier on her engagement and upcomingwedding to Adel Barkat.
Bekah Goldman on her engagement to Saul Mag.
Thank You....To those who helped with the Camp Jacobs hot dogfundraiser: Judy and Bruce Katz for ail their helpwith set up and kitchen; Diane McCarthy for gettingtables set up and ready; and the following for theirfood contributions: Ellen Congiundi, Kayla Lacomb,Tevya O'Quain, and Sandy Desadier,
Also thanks to everyone who attended services anddonated money to help our children attend CampJacobs!
Mark Your CalendarChange in date for the
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGTuesday, March 18,2014 at 7 PM
Bulletin Deadlines
May/June Bulletin: Deadline April 23rd- 6 PMJuly/August Bulletin: Deadline June 18th - 6 PMSept/Oct Bulletin: Deadline August 20th - 6 PM
AH submissions are to be sent by e-mail in a worddocument attachment ready to be printed.Please submit your articles on time as with postalcuts it may take for 3 to 5 days for the bulletin tobe delivered!
February 28th - Services 6 PMSaturday, March 1st-Torah Study 10AMNoon: Women's Spirituality/Men's Lunch
March 7*h - Services 6 PMSaturday, March 8* - Torah Study 10 AM
March 21st- Services 6 PMSaturday, March 22™« - Torah Study 10 AM
April 4th - Services 6 PMSaturday, April 5th - Torah Study, 10 AM
April 14th - Congregational SederRabbi Weinstein
ApriH 8th-Services 6PMSaturday, April 19th Torah Study
Noon: Women's Spirituality/Men Lunch
May 9/10Shabbaton Weekend
May 23rd - Services 6 PMSaturday, May 24th Torah Study
June 13th-Services 6PMJune 14th-Torah Study
Noon: Women's Spirituality/ Men Lunch
SERVICE LEADERS
Feb. 28 - Rabbi WeinsteinMarch 7 - Rabbi WeinsetinMarch 14 - David ReinauerMarch 21 - Rabbi WeinsteinMarch 28 - Melissa BenderApril 4 - Rabbi WeinsteinApril 11 - Paul LabovichApril 18 - Rabbi WeinsteinApril 24 - Michael & Brenda Goldman
We always need Lay Leaders!!!If you are interested please contact:
Charlie St. Dizier at 439-8119 (H) or 540-3303 (C)
Message from the Rabbi:
Bringing The Highest Jewish Values into Our Daily LivesRabbi Barry Weinstein
Please at your convenience take a look at page 105 in Gates of Prayer For Shabbat and Weekdays, oursmall, gray prayer book.
There you will read:
"These are duties whose worth cannot be measured: honoring one's father and mother, acts of love andkindness, diligent pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, hospitality to strangers, visiting the sick, celebratingwith bride and groom, consoling the bereaved, praying with sincerity, and making peace where there isstrife, And the study of Torah leads to them all."
I believe that as Jews we are to do our best to translate these beautiful words into the reality of oureveryday lives.
Long before I ever thought of becoming a rabbi, long before I had ever seen these words, I learned theseunique Jewish values from my mother and father of blessed memory, from my grandfather of blessedmemory, and surely from my brother who lives now in Israel with his wife and sons.
During the years of my youth, many decades before the publication of our current prayer book, the yearswhen I had no rabbi in our very small village in upstate New York, I doubt that I had read these particularwords.
Nonetheless, the manner in which my mother, father, brother and grandfather did their best to live withcompassion and concern for others surely spoke volumes to me about the importance of treating otherswith kindness, support, and love.
This is why when we gather for our Shabbat morning prayers and read together these teachings, I againam filled with gratitude for Jewish concern with others at these so very special times in our lives : visitingthe sick, celebrating with bride and groom, consoling the bereaved, praying with sincerity, and makingpeace where there is strife - these Mitzvot, these duties, surely bring lasting love and concern to thoseabout us.
In these few lines from the Mishnah, reaching us from about two thousand years ago, we have a preciousset of moral, ethical guidelines for living honorable, gentle, loving lives.
Those of us fortunate to have our parents do our best to honor our father and mother through ourdevotion to them and their needs, while those of us blessed with loving memories of our moms and dadscan look back with love and gratitude for the sterling example of their lives and their devotion to us.
Each Mitzvah in this beautiful Shabbat morning prayer could easily be understood as an "act of love andkindness."I believe from these "acts of love and kindness" throughout our lives we have within reach the opportunityto lighten one another's lives and at the same time honor God and know we are doing our best to carryout in our lives' "duties whose worth cannot be measured."
May these words become part of each day that we are given, for us, for our loving families, children andgrandchildren, and for generations to come.
From the President's Desk.
I would/ like/ to- begin/ by thanking' cM/ of you/ who- were/ present at our HSJ(Henry S. Jacobs) presentation/ and/ fundraiser. Assistant director, Gary'Brandt, and/ s&ng/ leader, Nick May, lead/ a/ wonderful/ "camp" Stervice that
efreshing/ change-.
I aUo- would/ tike to- take/ thfe opportunity to- giue a/ hearty Ma%el Tov to-Sarah/ConguAnd^forher accovvipli^hm^ent^her hard/ work/ in/ preparation/ for this* Inty day wots c\u£fce/ apparent.
Our Annualf Con^egationai Meetings \oCtts lye/ on/ March/ 18°" at 7:00 PM.make bure/yow duefr are current (by March 11th1) zo-thatyour vote-
I hope you/ wul/ make- plant* to- caravan/ to- Temple/ Shalom/ in/ Lafayette/ forPurim/ on/ Sunday, March 1 6°". They have worked/ very hard/ to- make/ thifr a/fun/time for all/.
Hopefully everyone/ {& tyecwiMfr up for our annual/ Corned/ Beef Sandwichfundraiser on/ Monday, March 24 .̂ To- make- thifr the most MACcettful/ yearever, it wiH take the commitment of aU/ of u&. Plea&e/ do- your part bygetting' out there, jelltngf', and/ Joining in/ on/ the fun/ of fluffing, stuffing/,pickle- packaging/, cookie bagging/ on/ Sunday, March 23''^, and/
on/ Monday, March 24th/. There foplenty to- do- for everyone/I
Mark your calendar^ for 1st night Passover Seder on/ April l^. (More on/thifrto- come later.)
In/ closings, I'd/ Hke to- share a few thought^. "Because we are iiuch/ a/congregation/, we especially need/ each and/ every 'one to- be- involved/ and/ be-there for each other and/ our Temple. We are K>- lucky to- have a/ beautifulhoute of worship and/ warm/, caring^ members* Plea&e/ let ufr be- an/ example/of tolerance and/ acceptance for the- entire community. It i& much easierto- Sfit back and' be/ criticc^ than/ step forward/ and/be- active. I pray that weaU/tryju£t a little harder to- make Temple Sinai/ a/place where/ we can/ find/comfort, companionship, ^iritual/healin^, and/ a feeling/ of belonging*:
Sandy Ve^adier
At the request of several congregants, Rabbi Barry's February 14, 2014 Sermon isreprinted below.
To Become A Jew Today
Of all my duties as a rabbi, assisting those who want to join their lives to AM Yisrael, our Jewish People, surely isamong the most gratifying.
Of course, most of us are aware that we are taught to turn away at least three times a person expressing desireto convert to Judaism. Surely this is to be certain the individual is sincere and truly understands the seriousnessof what it means to become Jewish.
The Talmud teaches: "when a person seeks to convert to Judaism, we say to him, "Do you know that the Jewstoday are oppressed and persecuted, that they live in a lowly state, and that terrible suffering is their lot ?"
If he replies, "I know all this, and I pray that I might be worthy to share their fate," he is accepted without delay."
As Rabbi Mark Washofsky teaches," To become a Jew means to accept the Torah and its commandments withno reservations whatsoever." (p. 207 Jewish Living: A Guide to Contemporary Reform Practice. Revised Edition,URJ Press, 2012)
Jewish law gives the decision about who is really sincere to the discretion of the rabbi. Some persons want toadopt Judaism to have the faith of their prospective mate. These persons may in fact eventually come to loveJudaism and to identify fully as a member of the Jewish people." (Jewish Living, p. 207)
- •
We find examples of such persons in the Talmud.
Others might want to become Jewish as the consequence of years and years of heartfelt searching for a spiritualhome. Some believe that there is in fact such a thing as a "Jewish Soul", a Jewish Neshama, and that it can takeyears for this innate Soul to find its expression in the life of the individual.
As Rabbi Washofsky explains, for us in the Reform movement, the following are the minimum requirements for aperson who comes to us with the wish to join herself or himself to our People:
We insist that the convert declare his or her free choice to enter the covenant between God and the JewishPeople, that she or he renounces his or her previous faith and all other faiths and religions, that he pledge loyaltyto the Jewish People and promise to raise his or her children as Jews.
We insist that the decision to convert is a religious decision, that the individual clearly affirms belief in andacknowledges the existence of God and God's covenant with Israel, the Jewish People.
While we surely know of Jews born Jewish who claim to be agnostic or atheist, we insist that the prospectiveconvent clearly affirms faith in God. Thus, as part of the ritual of conversion, the individual recites the Sh ma torepresent his or her firm faith in the God of Israel.
Thus, we expect the person wishing to become Jewish to be an active participant in the life of the synagogue asmuch as his or her life circumstance and situation permits.
Even more, one who wishes to convert must complete an extensive reading list with me together with lengthypersonal counseling with me.To complete the process of adopting Judaism, the candidate must appear at Bet Din, Rabbinical Court, with meand my two rabbinical colleagues in Baton Rouge.
Thus The decision about the acceptability of someone who wants to become Jewish does not rest solely with me,but also with my two rabbinical colleagues in Baton Rouge.
Each of us is extremely dedicated to being as sure as humanly possible about the sincerity of a prospectiveconvert, We do not take the decision lightly, and we are very thorough in our discussion with each person abouthis or her commitment to Judaism.
This is our Baton Rouge Rabbinical Court within the framework of our contemporary American ReformMovement.
I wish you could be with me after we confer, having met with the individual and excusing him or her while wemeet privately, and then bring the person back with us to tell him or her that he or she is now "welcome" tobecome part of Am Yisrael!
This is truly a most beautiful, deeply spiritual moment. More than a few tears have been shed by both theindividual becoming Jewish as well as my colleagues and myself.
Then we arrange for immersion in Mikveh of the candidate, and for circumcised males the ritual of symboliccircumcision.
For a full and complete understanding of the approach of contemporary reform Judaism to conversion, see themost important and very detailed, scholarly discussion in Jewish Living, cited earlier.
As I reflect upon the 44 years of my Rabbinate, including 12 years as associate rabbi in Temple Israel Omahaand 25 years as the incumbent in Congregation B'nai Israel in Baton Rouge together with my years servingTemple Sinai and Temple Shalom in Lafayette, I am so very grateful I've been able to guide, teach and supportso many wonderful men and women in their decision to become Jewish.
Now I'm truly blessed to see their children and grandchildren in our Religious Schools, becoming Bar and BatMitzvah, Confirmed, active in Youth Group and loving Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica Mississippi!
To observe them leading thoroughly Jewish lives in nothing less than a veritable thrill!
I recognize that not all have same viewpoint, and some regard being Jewish as more an ethnic group, that onemust be born of a Jewish mother to be fully regarded as a Jew. I fully understand their point of view, and respecttheir opinions, but I hasten to note that our reform Jewish Movement actively reaches out to those who sincerelywant to learn our traditions and our heritage.
Karen Kleinman has beautifully described in an earlier newsletter hearing Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of theUnion of Reform Judaism, at the recent national URJ Biennial, describe his vision of the "enthusiastic welcoming"that we in the Reform Movement provide to those sincerely wishing to become Jewish.
As part of the prayer service when one becomes Jewish, the candidate reads the following passage from theBook of Ruth:
"And Ruth said: entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee; for whitherthou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thyGod my god; where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and morealso, if aught but death part thee and me." (Ruth 1:16-17)
These works clearly describe the commitment of each person joining herself or himself to our faith and ourPeople.
I know that we shall never replace all those of our People whose lives were snuffed out during Shoah, Holocaust.
:ill I believe that we deny victory to Hitler each time we embrace those who adopt Judaism from their own freewill.
Today these very special men and women are often described as "Jews by Choice."
I believe that each and every one of us as Jewish individuals is a "Jew by Choice." Every day with which we areblessed, we thank God for the privilege of being part of our Eternal Jewish People, devoting our lives to the Godof Israel.
Kayn Yehi Ration, May This Be God's WillShabbat Shalom and Amen.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS
January 24th- TuB'Shevat Ice Cream Seder; I
have to admit I was somewhat
apprehensive when compiling a Children's
Seder Booklet for the Holiday of the New
Year of the Trees that would fit our young
students, especially one which would
substitute four flavors of ice cream to
represent the four seasons instead of the
usual cups of white and purple grape juices.
To my delight, the children (and the
attending adults) were very excited at the
prospect of eating a sampling of vanilla,
strawberry, chocolate, and mint green
chocolate chip ice cream, along with a
sampling of 4 fruits, nuts, and carob chips at
10:00 o'clock in the morning. Requests are
in to do it again next year- so the
experiment was a success! Thank you to
Tony DiBartolo for doing the shopping and
helping me make ice cream sandwiches,
Rabbi Barry for leading the Seder, Sarah
Hodnet, Marie Cuilla, and Ellen Congiundi
for helping with set-up and serving, Sandy
Desadier for reading the story of Honi and
the Carob Tree, and the students and adults
who read so beautifully. The coming weeks
should reveal if the Celeste Fig Tree planted
in the courtyard 2 years ago will survive last
fall's ant attack and this winter's below
freezing temperatures.
February 15th- Sarah Congiundi's Bat
Mitzvah: What an awesome job Sarah did in
leading the congregation, her family and
friends in the Saturday morning worship
service, reading from the Sefer Torah Scroll,
and playing L'Cha Dodi and Ahavat Olam,
and a duet with Rabbi Barry at the piano.
Sarah, everyone is so proud of you!
Sunday, March 16th- Purim Carnival 2014:
Temple Shalom/Lafayette Religious School
will be hosting the Purim Carnival this year.
Gemilut Chasadim/Alexandria, and Temple
Sinai Religious Schools will be participating.
Our students will be pantomiming the
Purim song, "All Aboard for Shushan."
Adults from the congregation may join us,
but will need to get their reservations in to
Diane or me by Monday, March 10th.
Please check the Purim Carnival
Announcement in this bulletin for
the details.
Barbara DiBartolo
TEMPLE CONTRIBUTIONS:Tree of Life Fund:
In Memory of Joey StonerFrom: Tootsie Fournet, Wendy & Mark
In Honor of Temple Sinai:From: Cheryl Leichliter
Maurice Gold
Camp Fund:
In Memory of Jean Van Os:From: Karen & Harry Kleinman
In Honor of Judy Ginsburgh's Ordination:From: Karen & Harry Kleinman
In Honor of Sarah Conqiundi's Bat Mitzvah:From: Karen & Harry Kleinman
In Honor of Rabbi Martin Hinchin's 95 Birthday:From: Karen & Harry Kleinman
General Fund:
in Memory of Joey StonerFrom: Sandy Desadier
Si & Corene DavidsonJacob EckerHilda Beth & John DupaquierMr. & Mrs. John Crawford, Jr,Peggy Baggett
In Memory of Edna Toerner:From: Peggy Baggett
In Memory of David Love:From: Leann & Ed Greer
In Honor of Speedy Recovery Bertha Stoner& Fave Barnhart:
From: Sandy Desadier
In Honor of Temple Sinai:From: Lesley & Donald Knight
George Bodin
:Music Fund:
In Memory of Daniel Prater:From: Hilda Beth & John Dupaquier
Rabbi Discretionary Fund:
In Honor of Bertha Stoner for healinq and qood health:From: Tony & Barbara Di Bartolo
In Honor of Linda Weinstein for thanksgiving forgood surgery and healinq:
From: Tony & Barbara Di Bartolo
SISTERHOOD CONTRIBUTIONS:
Meal of Consolation:In Memory of Gay Lipsey Gold:
From: Vic & Rochelle K, Miesel
In Memory of Blanche Michel:From: Vic & Rochelle K. Miesel
General Fund:In Memory of David Love:
From: Calvin & Shirley Riff Billings
In Memory of Betsy Ecker:From: Calvin & Shirley Riff Billings
in Memory of Claudia A. Newton:From: Calvin & Shirley Riff Billings
We extend our heart/pit sgmpathg to:
The Toerner f amilgOn the loss oj
6dna ToprngrWi/sz, mother, grandmother,
and sister in law.
The §toner f amilgOn the loss of
Merrill f . "Joeg" §ton£rWife;, father, brother .grandfather
and brother in law.
The§tegermanOn the loss oj
Christel !>tegerman
YAHRZEITS:WEEK ENDING:
March 7. 2014James S. GreenbergJulian DondisHelen Marx Zander
The annual Congregational Meeting will be onTuesday, March 18th, 2014 at 7:00 PM,
Deadline for dues: March 11 **Need to becurrent for voting privileges!
A Tree For BetsyOur daughter Stephanie and "honorary" daughter Susan suggested that we have some sort ofphysical memorial for Betsy Ecker. Considering Betsy's love of nature and special love for the beautyof autumn leaves, they decided that planting a red maple tree would be appropriate. Afterconsiderable discussion with many people in the City of Lake Charles Parks department, it was finallydecided that we could plant the tree in Tuten Park, but we would not be able to place a plaqueidentifying it as Betsy's tree. That is OK, WE KNOW \\s Betsy's tree.
Then the planning proceeded. Our first hope was that we would be able to plant the tree onDecember 22, 2013, which would have been our 54th wedding anniversary. That turned out to not bepractical due to the work and travel limitations of some of the people that wanted to attend. Isuggested that we do it "sometime" in January. It would have to be on a Saturday to allow peoplewho would be traveling to be able to get home in time to go to work on Monday. So I picked aSaturday in the middle of January, January 18, 2014. Nobody objected to the date, so it became theplanned date of tree planting. We were all concerned about the possibility of bad weather whenmaking a schedule a month in advance.
A week or two before the scheduled date, I realized that Tu BiShvat, the Jewish new year for treeswas January 16 this year. So we would have a tree for Betsy that was planted early in the Tu BiShvatcycle. We hadn't planned it that way, but it is wonderful that it worked out for us.
We did it, the weather was beautiful, the tree is planted. All of our children were there, all of Betsy'ssiblings were there, many of our grandchildren were there. Many hands make light work, andeveryone seemed to enjoy shoveling and raking and planting.