Ha’Shofar VOLUME X, ISSUE 11 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL November 2018 Inside Prayer Corner ..................... p. 2 Ongoing Events ..................... p. 3 Friday Noon Study Group ....... ......................p. 4 CBI Committee News............ p. 7 Gift Shop ..................... p. 7 Donations .... p. 12 November Calendar .... p. 14 The more I speak to colleagues, other Jewish professionals, non-profit directors, and professional fundraisers about our Capital Campaign success, the more I hear about how unusual and incredible it is to have accomplished what we have accomplished. For a community our size to raise the funds we’ve been able to raise, in the amount of time we were able to raise it, and to receive those contributions from such a significant percentage of our relatively small community, let’s just say the people whom I’ve spoken to have been shocked. What began in early 2015 as a process of looking into a modest beautification, in just a few months evolved into a major renovation project. By the end of 2015 we had secured our design, architecture, and construction firm. By mid-2016 we had received pledges constituting ¾ of our total goal from 60% of our congregation. By the end of 2016, an incredibly generous anonymous donor stepped up to offer a matching donation to anyone who would expand their existing pledge. By the fall of 2017, we had moved out of our building and the renovation com- menced. To date, we have raised nearly $1.3 million from an overwhelming percentage of our member- ship. And now, we find ourselves standing on the figurative plains of Moab, overlooking the Promised Land, awaiting our entry back into Beth Israel. It has been an absolutely incredible journey, and we couldn’t have done it without you. I would like to thank Mike Weizman for taking on the mantle of leadership in organizing the fundraising campaign, and each of the numerous members of the Capital Campaign Oversight Group over the last few years, including the original beautification commit- tee and architect selection team both overseen by Jay Jacoby. Also deserving mention is the behind-the- scenes efforts of Lauren Malinoff and Mark Gold- stein acting as liaisons between the architects and the congregation. Without the generosity of our anony- mous donor we would not have been able to include certain aspects of the project, and for that we are exceedingly grateful. Having a stable location in which we have been able to hold our Shabbat and holiday services, as well as communal events and classes, has made this last year as smooth as it could have been. Thank you to Eva Blinder and others who volunteered their time for ensuring that we had locations in which to gather weekly and for the High Holy Days. On that front, of course it is with the highest gratitude and humble appreciation that we thank our friends and neighbors at Congregation Beth HaTephila – Craig Frustaci and the CBHT staff and volunteers for everything they did to help make this time as easy and comfortable for us as possible; and to the entire CBHT community for helping us feel welcome and at home. This time should be remembered as a special moment in the history of the Jewish commu- nity of Asheville. Our sincere gratitude to our High Holiday hosts, the Unitarian Universalist Congrega- tion of Asheville, and to everyone who labored and worked to make our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services possible and a great success. Of course, we never would have made it into our space at CBHT were it not for the leadership efforts of Tamar and Norman Katzwer, who coordinated moving us out of CBI and into our temporary home. A special thank you goes out to Jeremy Samsky and everyone who helped to create our temporary Aron Kodesh so we could have a functioning ark for our Torah scrolls. Overlooking the Promised Land By: Rabbi Justin Goldstein Thanksgiving Day Novemeber 22 continued on next page
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Ha’ShofarVOLUME X, ISSUE 11
CONGREGATION
BETH ISRAEL
November 2018
InsidePrayer Corner
..................... p. 2
Ongoing Events
..................... p. 3
Friday Noon
Study Group .......
......................p. 4
CBI Committee
News............ p. 7
Gift Shop
..................... p. 7
Donations .... p. 12
November
Calendar .... p. 14
The more I speak to colleagues, other Jewish
professionals, non-profit directors, and professional
fundraisers about our Capital Campaign success, the
more I hear about how unusual and incredible it is to
have accomplished what we have accomplished. For
a community our size to raise the funds we’ve been
able to raise, in the amount of time we were able to
raise it, and to receive those contributions from such
a significant percentage of our relatively small
community, let’s just say the people whom I’ve
spoken to have been shocked.
What began in early 2015 as a process of looking into
a modest beautification, in just a few months evolved
into a major renovation project. By the end of 2015
we had secured our design, architecture, and
construction firm. By mid-2016 we had received
pledges constituting ¾ of our total goal from 60% of
our congregation. By the end of 2016, an incredibly
generous anonymous donor stepped up to offer a
matching donation to anyone who would expand
their existing pledge. By the fall of 2017, we had
moved out of our building and the renovation com-
menced. To date, we have raised nearly $1.3 million
from an overwhelming percentage of our member-
ship. And now, we find ourselves standing on the
figurative plains of Moab, overlooking the Promised
Land, awaiting our entry back into Beth Israel. It has
been an absolutely incredible journey, and we
couldn’t have done it without you.
I would like to thank Mike Weizman for taking on
the mantle of leadership in organizing the fundraising
campaign, and each of the numerous members of the
Capital Campaign Oversight Group over the last few
years, including the original beautification commit-
tee and architect selection team both overseen by Jay
Jacoby. Also deserving mention is the behind-the-
scenes efforts of Lauren Malinoff and Mark Gold-
stein acting as liaisons between the architects and the
congregation. Without the generosity of our anony-
mous donor we would not have been able to include
certain aspects of the project, and for that we are
exceedingly grateful. Having a stable location in
which we have been able to hold our Shabbat and
holiday services, as well as communal events and
classes, has made this last year as smooth as it could
have been. Thank you to Eva Blinder and others who
volunteered their time for ensuring that we had
locations in which to gather weekly and for the High
Holy Days.
On that front, of course it is with the highest gratitude
and humble appreciation that we thank our friends
and neighbors at Congregation Beth HaTephila –
Craig Frustaci and the CBHT staff and volunteers for
everything they did to help make this time as easy
and comfortable for us as possible; and to the entire
CBHT community for helping us feel welcome and
at home. This time should be remembered as a
special moment in the history of the Jewish commu-
nity of Asheville. Our sincere gratitude to our High
Holiday hosts, the Unitarian Universalist Congrega-
tion of Asheville, and to everyone who labored and
worked to make our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
services possible and a great success.
Of course, we never would have made it into our
space at CBHT were it not for the leadership efforts
of Tamar and Norman Katzwer, who coordinated
moving us out of CBI and into our temporary home.
A special thank you goes out to Jeremy Samsky and
everyone who helped to create our temporary Aron
Kodesh so we could have a functioning ark for our
Torah scrolls.
Overlooking the Promised LandBy: Rabbi Justin Goldstein
Thanksgiving
Day
Novemeber 22
continued on next page
A monthly tour through the Siddur:
the meaning, significance, customs, laws,
history and choreography of prayer
Ezrat Avoteinu (pg. 157 of Lev Shalem) – Due to two occurrences of the word emet, it would be reasonable to presume this
poem is a part of emet v’yatziv, however it is a stand-alone prayer integrated into the blessings following the Shema. The
structure of the prayer has the reciter look back to the ancestors, recognize his or her current obligation to observe the precepts
of the Torah, while at the same time looking forward to the collective redemption of the people. In other words, our connection
to the past should inspire our actions in the moment which has the potential to herald in a future of justice.
Next month … mi’mitzrayim ge’altanu
HA’SHOFAR PAGE 2
Have You Tried Our Dip Jar?As you know, most of our programs are FREE and open to all. The Dip Jar resides in the temporary
CBI office at CBHT alongside a donation jug. It is an easy way to make a $5 contribution to Beth
Israel by inserting your credit or debit card. Or feel free to leave a check or cash in the donation
jug.
If you have enjoyed a program at CBI, please make a donation the next time you are in the building
(except on Shabbat).
https://www.facebook.com/bethisraelnc/
We also are indebted to Jewish Family Services and the Jewish
Community Center for allowing us access to their facilities, which
allowed for us to continue to serve food prepared in a kosher
kitchen and to hold our Sunday school classes.
There are many more thanks to go around. If you were not named,
your contributions are recognized and appreciated nonetheless.
Most especially, a resounding thanks is in order to each and every
one of you, and the myriad ways you continue to support this
community by your financial contributions, and equally or more
importantly, the contributions of your time, skills, talents, gifts,
presence, and helping us connect with one another.
Overlooking the Promised Land(continued from page 1)