Shofar THE VOICE OF CONGREGATION BETH EL – NER TAMID A Community Supporting Family, Spirituality, Tradition and Lifelong Learning July/August 2021 Av / Elul 5781 715 Paxon Hollow Rd Broomall, PA 19008 610-356-8700 [email protected]Website: www.cbent.org WEEKLY MINYAN TIMES Sunday 9:00am Wednesday 6:30pm Monday 7:15am Thursday 7:15am Tuesday 6:30pm Friday 7:00pm (6:30pm 1st of month) Shabbat 10:00am UPCOMING CBENT EVENTS July 17th Tisha B’Av Service 8:00pm July 23rd Devoon by the Ocean 6:00pm August 7th Baby Naming Evelyn Pastor 10:00am August 18th Membership Open House 5:30pm September 6th Erev Rosh Hashanah September 7th Rosh Hashanah, Day 1 September 8th Rosh Hashanah September 15th Kol Nidre September 16th Yom Kippur September 21st Sukkot, Day 1 September 22nd Sukkot September 28th Shemini Atzeret, Yizkor
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That’s the prevailing question in congregational life. Building a spiritual community is a sacred obligation for all
clergy. Cantor and I often discuss how to continue to engage congregants who are already active in
congregational life while engaging those who have yet to feel comfortable walking into our synagogue. One way
we try to do this is by experimenting with services. Shabbat services are not only a communal experience but also
a very personal experience- everyone has a different barometer for what they need in order to feel engaged
spiritually. The same exact service can be both too much Hebrew and too much English, too “stuffy” and too
“alternative” depending on the comfort level of the person.
The ancient rabbis understood this challenge as well. Take a glance at the siddur and you’ll see an attempt by the
rabbis to incorporate all kinds of styles to engage people spiritually. Our morning service contains something for
everyone. For those who want to sing and read poetry there’s Pesukei d’Zimra. For those who want time for
personal reflection and quiet, there’s the Amidah. For those who want to engage intellectually, there’s the Torah
service with a d’var Torah/text study. The rabbis also understood that no one wants to sit idly for three hours.
This is why throughout the service congregants are invited to stand and move their body through shukling (a
traditional swaying motion while praying). This is also why we invite congregants to come up and participate by
being called to Torah. Services are not a passive spectator sport! Congregants are expected to be involved.
But how do we get people in the door? We continue to try. Every growing, dynamic congregation that I have ever
been a part of has this in common: a willingness to experiment, even if it fails. We must try to engage
congregants in different ways, knowing that some ideas may work, and others may be less successful. The only
way to grow spiritually is to move outside our comfort zone, see what other ways we can be engaged, and hope
that by trying something different we can continue to engage our regulars and also connect with those who often
feel left out. This is the purpose of Shabbat for the Soul, our once a month alternative Shabbat service. Shabbat
for the Soul was an idea that came out of several conversations I had with members who expressed a desire for
“something different.” Shabbat for the Soul is an attempt to make Saturday morning services more approachable
using more English, some meditation, some learning, and an emphasis on kavanah/intention over kevah/routine.
For those in our congregation who aren’t yet comfortable attending services, I invite you to come to the first
Saturday each month for Shabbat for the Soul. This can be a great opportunity to begin to feel more comfortable
and engaged.
For those in our congregation who aren’t sure Shabbat for the Soul is for them, I invite you to come and support
the effort as a way of building a sacred community. As our regulars you have the benefit of already feeling
comfortable in our sanctuary and you can help Cantor and I welcome more people into our rich congregational
life.
If we at CBENT are serious about community and serious about the longevity of our congregation, we must
support all kinds of spiritual needs, both traditional and alternative. So please, mark your calendar and come to
Shabbat for the Soul on October 2nd. You may discover a new favorite way to participate in services. You may
even discover something new about yourself along the way.
Vance DiCristo
Co-President
Shofar President’s Article – July 2021 Edition
We’re Back!! Shabbat services are on site, the knitters are meeting in-person, we had a number of Bar and Bat
Mitzvah ceremonies in the sanctuary in the Spring, and we have even had a few events in the last month on the
synagogue grounds. Our Pathways to Israel event on June 6 was a big success – fun and informative, and just a
nice day to catch up and see each other, as well as introduce all of our services to the community at large. Kudos
to the Membership Committee and all who volunteered for putting together a very complex all-day event. On June
25, Terry Rudnitsky prepared a delicious Friday evening Shabbat dinner which was followed by services on the
front lawn with close to 50 attendees, and again a good time was had by all. Please note, we are following CDC
guidelines for all in-person synagogue events.
Another event which just took place within the last month was the burial of religious books and religious articles.
Thanks to Scot Goldberg for arranging the pickup and delivery of 57 boxes to various cemeteries throughout the
Philadelphia area. Thanks also to all the volunteers who picked up and delivered those boxes.
Although the summer tends to be a quieter time of the year as we prepare for the High Holidays (early this year
beginning on the evening of September 6), the office staff and the Rabbi are in and available to service your needs,
and we have a few upcoming events actively being planned. Tisha B’Av services will be held on Saturday evening
July 17 and Sunday morning July 18. Devotion by the Ocean is back this year, scheduled for July 23. Services
will be followed by a community dinner with reservations (for the dinner) by July 15 required. On August 7, the
Rabbi’s daughter will be named at Saturday morning services, to be followed by a luncheon and all are invited.
Again reservations are required and more information will be forthcoming as the date approaches. Finally, we are
planning an open house for prospective new members for August 18, which is currently in the planning stages. If
you know of anyone who may be interested in joining, please forward pertinent information to the office so that we
can make contact.
Since this is my first article, I will take a few minutes to say thanks to Amy Blake for her many years of service to
the congregation, and especially for the last three years serving as President . I know I have very big shoes to fill,
but I take comfort knowing that Amy (still) does not leave the Executive Committee, but will continue to serve as
advisor in the role of Immediate Past President. David Wolfe will be leaving the Executive Committee, and I
thank him for his service. I will be serving as Co-President with Dr. Gary Bernett, and I would be remiss if I didn’t
say that I am looking forward to working with Gary, as well as the Executive Board, General Board, and
synagogue staff in helping to guide the congregation into the future.
I welcome two new members to the Executive Committee: Adlai Joseph who will be serving as Corresponding
Secretary and Joyce Brody who rejoins the committee serving as Third Vice President responsible for building and
administration. On the General Board we have a few changes as well: Alan Gorberg and Marc Jaffe are leaving
the board after a number of years, and I thank them for their service. Lauren Homel, Andi Joseph, and Harriet
Bissey will be joining the board and we welcome them as well.
Vance DiCristo
Cantor Larisa Averbakh
Education Director
The summer is in full swing, but we at Or Tamid Religious School are already planning our reopening in the fall. Our first festive day of school will be unusually early this year, on Sunday, August 29th, as Rosh Hashanah falls on the Labor Day. As you know, we bade a fond good-bye to our administrator, Annie Weiss, and now we have a new administrator, Saundra Boyd. Saundra, who is no stranger to CBENT, as she has been working in the office for the last year and she is excited to join our school team! I look forward to our collaboration.! Please make sure to say “hi” and introduce yourself when you see Saundra. We hope to introduce new initiatives to Or Tamid this coming year. I am thrilled that our school will be partnering with Moving Traditions (www.movingtraditions.org) to pioneer a new and exciting approach to b’nai mitzvah that connects Jewish wisdom to the interpersonal and social elements of this coming-of-age ritual. This organization already partners with over 70 synagogues across the country with their b’nai mitzvah program, and we are happy to join the ranks! Moving Traditions’ mission is to embolden teens by fostering self-discovery, challenging sexism, and inspiring a commitment to Jewish life and learning. “Pre-teens today are confronted with tremendous academic and social pressures at an earlier age, magnified by the prism of social media,” says Deborah Meyer, Moving Traditions’ Founder and CEO. “Our new program for 6th and 7th graders and their families lays a critical foundation for healthy family communication as children enter the teen years..” This year we’ll be adding Moving Traditions’ family education and pre-teen sessions to our b’nai mitzvah preparation. Through games, activities and discussion, the Moving Traditions’ sessions—created by rabbis and social workers—will help parents and pre-teens explore what it means to celebrate in the aftermath of a pandemic, to be the center of attention during a life cycle ritual, to navigate expectations from friends and family, to find Jewish meaning in the ceremony, as well as exploring other social-emotional challenges and joys associated with the b’nai mitzvah. We will offer six sessions altogether throughout the year (three just for students and three for family sessions), right after the Sunday School with a light lunch for our 6th and 7th graders. The sessions will be led by CBENT and OR Shalom Clergy, Morah Ruth, myself, and guest educators from Moving Traditions. Their Philadelphia and Mid-Atlantic Director, Eve Berger spoke last spring at the CBENT Kabbalat Shabbat services, and will be happy to talk to the parents and answer all your questions before the start of the program. Parents of the students and prospective students of Or Tamid, please send your registration forms ASAP, if you haven’t done already. Enjoy your summer, and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions and concerns, or just to catch up! Hoping to see many of you at the Jersey Shore for Devotion by the Ocean, Morah Larisa
Marilyn Bamash
Sisterhood President
Sisterhood has been busy this summer planning for the fall and continuing our knitting programs. All our
knitters have been vaccinated, so we are able to meet in person at CBENT. We Sent 17 hats to Israel for the
IDF Soldiers with our friend Pearl Elias. We also knit for a Woman’s Shelter in Israel and the Domestic Abuse
Program in Media. Everyone is welcome to join us. Please encourage your friends who knit and crochet to join
us twice a month for friendship and learning.
Please join us on August 25 for our annual Whine and Cheese - in person-on the front lawn at CBENT. This is
a great opportunity to reconnect with friends or be welcomed as a Sisterhood new member. We will send out
reminders as time gets near, but P-L-E-A-S-E mark you calendar to attend on the special evening. Have a safe
and happy summer.
Marilyn Bamash
Dr. Marc Belitsky
It has been a better summer than the last one. We are beginning to return to normal activities and see one another again in person. CBENT Men’s club softball team is off to an excellent start. We had a great season finishing 8-1 and are heading into the playoffs as the second seed. We have a bye in the first round and for us the playoffs will be August 1st and then August 8th at 9:45 if we advance. The locations TBA. The finals will be on September 6th 12:00 noon. Please come and cheer on the team.
August 29th at 12:00 PM will be the opening barbecue for our religious school. Once again men's club will provide the food and entertainment. If you would like to help, please contact me.
Hold the date, Saturday Sept 18th in the evening. We are working on a BIG party to welcome everyone back to the synagogue. We will also be honoring David Wolfe as we have not had the opportunity as originally planned last year. Dance, drink, eat and kibitz with old friends and congregants. More information will be forthcoming.
Marc Belitsky
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Last year was an aberration, but we are in recovery mode and it is time for
2021 New Year Mazelgrams!
The summer is just starting, but Labor Day and Rosh Hashana will be here quickly. We hope you will support this Sisterhood fundraiser, which enables you to extend wishes for a wonderful New Year to your second family at Beth El-Ner Tamid!
There are two ways to send your greetings. Please circle one:
Send Mazelgrams to the entire congregation for a flat fee of $118.00.
Pay per name at a cost of $2.00 for each member circled.
Mail your list and a check payable to Beth El-Ner Tamid Sisterhood to:
Laura Schreiber
6000 Village Way, #404
Upper Chichester, PA 19061
PLEASE DO NOT MAIL TO THE SYNAGOGUE!
The deadline is August 20, 2021. Requests received after this date will not be processed.
Book of Remembrance 2021
To memorialize one name ........................................................................................................ $20.00
Each additional name ................................................................................................................. $10.00
Each listing on the page in memory of the Six Million .................................................. $15.00
Each listing in memory of the Israeli War Martyrs ........................................................ $15.00
____ I would like to contribute in memory of the Six Million Jews @ $15.00 per listing
____ I would like to contribute in memory of the Israeli War Martyrs @ $15.00 per listing
Total Contribution $________________
Congregant’s Name and Address:
Submit this form together with your check made payable to: Beth El - Ner Tamid/Book of Remembrance 715 Paxon Hollow Road Broomall, PA 19008
RETURN NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 10th, 2021
Donations to Designated, Non–Designated & Rabbi’s Fund
Congregation Beth El – Ner Tamid has many worthy Designated Funds. Below you will find the mission statement for each of these funds. Please consider making a donation in memory/honor of someone to one or more of these funds. In addition, donations can be made to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund.
Please note that there are also opportunities to donate to the General Fund of the synagogue in the name of Funds that do not meet the requirements to be a Designated Fund. See the section labeled “Undesignated Funds” on the following pages for donations made to undesignated funds this past month.
DICK PACKEL LEARNING SUPPORT FUND
The funds defray the cost of the Dick Packel Special Needs Education Program and any other special education needs for the children of the Religious School. In addition, the funds help defray the cost of Religious School tuition for families in need.
THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
To help defray, augment and enhance the programming for Beth El - Ner Tamid's Religious School students.
THE SHAMES SCHOLARSHIP FUND
To provide money for families in need of financial assistance in order to pay for Religious School fees, tutoring, textbooks, trips and items necessary to the education of the children involved. This fund will be allocated jointly with the Shames family, the Rabbi, Principal of the Religious School and Executive Director.
THE DOROTHY & WILLIAM SAMPSON FUND
The funds will defray the cost of bringing lecturers, speakers and programming for educational purposes or whatever capacity the Board and Founder/s may determine.
ADULT EDUCATION FUND
To provide funding towards Jewish and Israel themed educational program, classes and speakers for the CBENT adult community 18 years and older. The Adult Education Committee shall allocate funds for programming. In lieu of an Adult Education Committee, Rabbi, Hazzan and the Education Director will have input on adult educational
programming.
THE RABBI & AMY BLUM SOCIAL ACTION FUND
A designed fund to honor Rabbi Barry Blum on his retirement, The Rabbi Barry and Amy Blum Social Action Fund
will in the best tradition of Jewish Tzedakah, identify and support programs that address food insecurity, increase self-sufficiency, provide acts of loving kindness, and promote social justice to enrich the quality of life for those in need. Suggestions for disbursement of the fund’s monies will be done by Barry and Amy Blum in partnership with the Designated Fund Chair.
THE JULIE LYNN GORSON-MARROW MEMORIAL MUSIC FUND
The Julie Lynn Gorson-Marrow Memorial Fund is established for the musical education and enjoyment of Beth El – Ner Tamid children.
ELLEN GLASSMAN MITZVAH FUND
The purpose of this fund is to continue Ellen Glassman’s legacy of kind, compassionate and generous mitzvot. Funds may be used to help others in ways that will enhance their lives.
MEMORIAL PLAQUES
Honor a deceased loved one by purchasing a Memorial Plaque. Plaques are placed in the Hall of Remembrance and
provide a lasting memory. On the yahrzeit date, the plaque is brought to the sanctuary entrance and mounted on the yahrzeit memorial wall located outside the Minyan chapel
entrance.
Cost is $350.00
UNDESIGNATED FUNDS
Davidow Fund Prayer Book Fund
Hulnick Fund K’Tonton Fund
Library Fund Orloff Fund
J.Jay Wolf Fund Landscaping Fund
Judy Linder Fund Dori Riesenfeld Fund
David Schwartz Florence Friedlander
Scholarship Fund Fund
Cantorial Fund Morris & Esther Bernett Book Fund
AVAILABLE FOR DEDICATION
AVAILABLE FOR DEDICATION AMOUNT
Eternal Light $ 36,000
School Entrance $ 10,000
Chapel Chairs (group of 10) $ 2,500
Sound System $ 5,000
Chapel Built-In $ 3,000
Kipah Holders (2) $ 2,500
Founder $ 1,500 -$ 1,999
Jr. Congregation Ark $ 1,000
Sanctuary Seats $ 500
Chapel Mezuzah $ 500
Sponsor $ 100 -$ 499
*Some members already gave $5,000
CHAI WALL Celebrate a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Wedding
Anniversary, significant Birthday
or Wedding by purchasing a Chai
Wall Plaque.
Cost is only $175.00.
Your Simcha will always be remembered in our Synagogue!