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FROM THE OFFICE:
The Office will be closed on Tuesday, Feb 11th
The Rabbi will be here - call ahead to meet with him.
Board Meeting
Monday, Feb 10th
7:30 pm
for board members only
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Teen Shabbat Lunch
February 22, 2013
All Beth David Teens are invited to Rabbi Dan and Hannah's for Shabbat Lunch. Details to follow. Email Rabbi Dan if you would like to pre-register. |
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MOTHER'S DAY MARKET
and SILENT AUCTION
Save the Date MAY 11, 2014 THIS EVENT IS IN JEOPARDY OF BEING POSTPONED OR CANCELED DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPPORT BY VOLUNTEERS.
This is our major fundraiser for the year and our budget depends on this income. We strive to keep dues as low as possible and this is how. We need everyone's help to run this and are looking for committee chairs to help in organizing volunteers. If you have not participated in a leadership role at Beth David, this is your chance. If you can only dedicate a few hours, you can make phone calls, pick up auction items, or design marketing materials - get involved. Every member MUST obtain at least one item for the auction. Look to businesses and services you already use and ask for gift certificates for lawn care or window washing. Provide a service yourself such as cooking a Shabbat meal, tutoring sessions or babysitting. Make it an outing with a few friends and walk through Blue Back, Bishops Corner or Park Road and stop in to businesses to ask for donations. All auction items should be in new, unused condition. Committees: Solicitations of Goods and Services Event Planning Auction Item Organization and Marketing General Event Marketing All of your little efforts add up to one huge success. Contact Tracy in the office 860-236-1241 or by e-mail: [email protected]
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Kol HaChadoshot
"What's news and 'nu' in the Beth David community"
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From The Rabbi
There is a remarkable Midrash on the series of Torah portions that we will be reading and studying in the coming weeks. The Midrash suggests a dialogue between three sages. "Ben Azzai said, 'I found the most inclusive passage in the Torah, 'Shema Yisrael - Hear O' Israel, The Lord is our God, the lord is One'. Ben Nanes said, 'I found another passage that is even more inclusive, V'ahavta lereiacha kamocha - love your neighbor as yourself.' Ben Pazi said, 'I found the most inclusive passage of all: Et hakeves h'echad taase baboker, v'et hakeves hasheni ta'ase bein ha'arbayim - and one calf shall you offer in the morning and the other calf shall you offer in the afternoon'"
What does this Midrash mean? What is it talking about? Ben Azzai and Ben Nanes are clear. 'Shema Yisrael' is the foundation of our faith. The Torah itself is based on our acceptance of the yoke of the kingdom of heaven. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" is also understandable. Ben Nanes said it is even more inclusive than 'Shema' because the Torah is designed to help us fashion ourselves into the types of people that truly care for and value each other; and that is one of the main purposes of Torah. But Ben Pazi says that the most inclusive and basic passage in the entire Torah refers to the daily sacrifice. He is saying simply, that in order to be able to serve God truly in the spirit of Shema Yisrael, and in order to serve man properly and truly in the spirit of V'ahavta lereacha kamocha, we must also be ready to sacrifice. Such sacrifice, a willingness to give, is what we are called upon to do whenever unity and mission are calling for redefinition.
With the Torah portions of the coming weeks, we will review and study many of all the instructions and work involved in the building of the mishkan (desert tabernacle); and in virtually all matters, the instructions began with "v'asita - and you [Moshe] shall do". The exception was the aron/ark, about which the instruction was "v'asu - and they [Israel] shall do". Why the difference? What distinguished the ark of the covenant from all the other fixtures of holy service and function? The answer is that the ark was to be the home of the Torah and the Tablets, and the Torah was be equally franchised to all Jews; hence, its construction was to be an inclusive group project. Yet, by definition if not by function, every group project represents group compromise and individual compromise. What a person or a group gets is often commensurate with what he or they are willing to give; and success is usually the measure of that exercise. The sacrifice might be measured in time or amount of individual involvement; but when everyone gives, everyone gets.
When he taught about the lesson of v'asu, the Chofetz Chaim talked about Kol Yisroel, all of Israel being impacted by and involved with the project of the ark, yet within his words there is a double entendre. Kol Yisroel can mean "all of the people", it can also mean "all of the person". What we do as a community must be for all of us, yet it will be incomplete unless it represents a commitment from each of us.
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COMMUNITY HAVDALLAH AND STUDY EVENT
The annual inter-congregational event, involving over tebn synagogues, will take place on the Saturday night of February 8, 6:45pm, hosted by Congregation Beth Israel. There will be music, study, food and friendship. There is a charge of $5.00/person with a family max of $20.00. Reservations may be made by calling Beth Israel at 860-233-8215.
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Hebrew School Planning Meeting
Sunday, February 2 @ 1:00pm NEW TIME
Recent Beth David bulletins have announced the exploration of the possibility of launching a Hebrew School for children not currently enrolled in either of the two local Jewish elementary day schools. There has been enough interest expressed to bring the process to the next level. Parents of potential students are invited to a parlor-type meeting at Beth David to meet with our consultant, Mrs. Susan Fried, to learn more about the vision, to ask questions, and to share in assessing the genuine potential for this initiative. This will be a very important meeting. If you are the parent of a potential student, please make every effort to be in attendance on February 2.
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Teen Activities
T-B-S
Sunday morning, 8:30-10:15 am, February 2,
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BDS YOUNG ADULTS CLUB February 2, 2014, 6:00 PM SUPER BOWL PARTY WHY: Food, drinks, FOOTBALL! Watch the Super Bowl with Beth David Yound Adult's Club. Food will be meat/parve. WHERE: Michael Fox's home - contact Ben Abrams at [email protected] for address. RSVP: For planning purposes please let us know if you will be attending: [email protected]
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Women's Shabbat Minchah Tefilah
February 8
One of the ways in which girls may choose to mark the occasion of becoming a Bat Mitzvah at Beth David is to participate in a Shabbat Mincha women's prayer group. In order to model this option for the 9-11 year old girls in our congregation, we are planning a Shabbat Mincha women's prayer group that will take place immediately following Kiddush on the Shabbat of February 8. All girls and women of all ages are invited to join us. If you would like to have a active participatory role in the service, please contact Galya Greenberg at [email protected] Participants are needed to read Torah, to be shlichot tzibbur*, to open and close the ark, carry the Torah, lift and wrap the Torah, etc.
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Bnot Mitzvah,
February 9, 4:00-5:30pm
Location to be announced. A parent-child text study and activity will be led by Galya Greenberg. Please RSVP to Tracey in the Beth David office [email protected] or to Galya at [email protected]
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Kiddush Text Study
special presentation by Dr. Tony Perry
Tony Perry, a new member (and old friend) of our congregation, will be presenting a text study on the Shabbat of February 22 on the topic of "Psalm 19 - The Hymn of Unification". Tony is an acclaimed and published scholar who has served as faculty at several in-state schools of higher learning including UConn and The Hartford Seminary. His lectures are well received, and we look forward to his first formal presentation at Beth David.
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Understanding Judaism Via Prayer
Tuesdays @7:00-8:00pm This class meets in the Beth David Library. Each week a different prayer is examined and studied to extract what it says about Jewish belief.
The Weekly Parsha Wednesdays @ 12:30-1:30pm This class is a "lunch-n-learn", and no previous text study is required. This group convenes in the library of Beth David Synagogue.
Talmud Sanhedrin, Thursdays @ 12:00-1:00pm This class studies a passage from the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin addresses matters pertaining to the Jewish legal system. The group is hosted by Mr. Harry Weller and meets at the Rocky Hill offices of the Connecticut States Attorney, 300 Corporate Place.
Classes resume beginning January 2.
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Within the Congregation
Mazel Tov to Aaron and Fanny Cohen on the engagement of their son Jack to Rachel Jakob of Brooklyn, NY.
Mazel Tov to Jonathan and Galya Greenberg on the birth of a grandson in Miami. The proud parents are Ezra and Caroline Greenberg.
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Fundraising Opportunities at Beth David
SCRIP-Purchase gift cards to Big Y, Crown, Stop & Shop and Shop Rite. Beth David receives 5% of all sales. This is a great fundraiser because there is no cost involved to Beth David or the scrip purchaser. Simply come to the Beth David office, purchases these cards in multiples of $100; and then use them like cash at the store. Crown gift cards can be reloaded in the store at the cash register.
TREE OF LIFE-Honor yourself or family with a leaf on the Tree of Life. Bronze, silver & gold leaves available. Our "tree" adorns the synagogue lobby, with many leaves ready to be engraved. Call Tracy to negotiate prices.
MEMORIAL PLAQUES-Remember a loved one with a bronze memorial plaque. Each plaque costs $360 and will be illuminared on the anniversary of your loved one's passing as well as all holidays when Yizkor is recited.
BINGO-This is Beth David's largest on-going fundraiser. It supports the majority portion of the Beth David's yearly fundraising goal. Volunteering is an opportunity to meet other shul members and work off your MEP.
Call Tracy in the office with any questions about any of the above fundraising opportunities.
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DONATIONS
"Todah Rabah" - Thank You for Your Support
We acknowledge our recent contributors and the generosity that has benefitted the mission and the cause of our congregation.
RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND:
In Memory of
Harry Karpman, yahrzeit
Mimi Kaplan
Avi Lapidus, yahrzeit
Laurence Coe
Barbara Ungar
J. Goldenberg, yahrzeit
Minnie Goldenberg
Hadassah Israel Gordon, yahrzeit
Naomi and Bruce Cohen
Harold Bromberg, yahrzeit
Richard Bromberg
Louis Budkofsky, yahrzeit
Harvey Budkofsky
In Honor of
The Birth of Noam Tzvi, grandson of Rabbi and Leslie Adler
Laurence Coe
Helen Neumann
Barry and Harriet Goldsher
Rabbi Adler
David Hollander
Jason Pariser
Jordan Hollander
KIDDUSH FUND
In Memory of
Jacob Kassow, yahrzeit
Sam and Lisa Kassow
Leo and Harriet Lapidus, yahrzeit
Jay and Susan Lapidus
Avi Lapidus, yahrzeit
Jay and Susan Lapidus
Ruth Yancovich
Leah Eckstein, yahrzeit
Marianna and David Eckstein
Mary Louise Denis
Ed and Elaine Schwartz
The Weller Family
In Honor of
Masha Stambler's Birthday
Boris Stambler
Nakhman Margolin's 103rd Birthday
Bella and Mikhail Klebanov
CHESED FUND
In Memory of
Marilyn Wolfe, yahrzeit
Joel and Bonnie Wolfe
Sam Gordon, yahrzeit
Mark Gordon
Frances Hoffman, yahrzeit
Bob and Cynthia Hoffman
Avi Lapidus, yahrzeit
Helen Neumann
In Honor of
The engagement of Jack Cohen to Rachel Jakob
The engagement of Danny Cohen to Madison Dennis
Barry and Harriet Goldsher
Joyce Solomon
David Gibeley
Amy Goldstein
David and Hilary Silver
GENERAL FUND
In Memory of
Sylvia White, yahrzeit
Richard Bromberg
Albert Gibeley, yahrzeit
David Gibeley
In Honor of
The Birth of Noam Tzvi, grandson of Rabbi and Leslie Adler
Stuart and Karen Adler
Sam and Lisa Kassow
The engagement of Jack Cohen to Rachel Jakob
The engagement of Danny Cohen to Madison Dennis
Sam and Lisa Kassow
Rabbi William Cohen Sacred Books Library
In Memory of
Mendel Sicklick, yahrzeit
Isaac Milkowitz, yahrzeit
Beatrice Cohn Levy
Fannie and Abraham Schoolnik Scholarship Fund
In Memory of
Louis Hochheiser, yahrzeit
Arlene Levine
Susan Kronich Scholarship Fund
In Memory of
Henrietta Roth Friedman, yahrzeit
Bayla Friedman Treiger
Sylvia Bland Memorial Fund
In Memory of
Joan Segal, yahrzeit
Marge and Bill Glater
Claire, Lew and Glenn Yaffa
Maurice Wise
Marge and Bill Glater
In honor of
The birth of Noam Tzvi, grandson to Rabbi and Leslie Adler
Marge and Bill Glater
Claire, Lew and Glenn Yaffa
Good Health for Bill Glater
Claire, Lew and Glenn Yaffa
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Happy Birthday
Feliks Alper
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February 1
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Matthew Braunshweiger
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February 3
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Eli Gold
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February 3
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Roza Keyser
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February 3
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Elissa Freedman
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February 4
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Asher Korenstein
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February 4
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Tobias Lichtenstein
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February 5
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Jacob Gershon
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February 9
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Joshua Holtzberg
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February 11
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Noam Benjamin
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February 12
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Loren Gelber
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February 13
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David Jacobs
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February 15
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Serenie Cohen
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February 16
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Nadov Chatinover
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February 16
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Matthew Berson
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February 18
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Harry Gold
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February 18
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Sarra Pekar
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February 18
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Jennifer Strassfeld
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February 19
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Leo Gold
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February 20
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Jonah Gershon
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February 21
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Kreina Eleanor Lomasky
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February 21
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Ben Abrams
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February 23
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Ariel Pinchover
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February 24
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Brian Federman
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February 24
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Maya Ungar
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February 25
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Alyssa Norwood
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February 26
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Happy Anniversary
Bruce & Judy Brenner
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February 16
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"Where coming to shul is like coming home."
Our pledge is to make every visit to Beth David a warm, welcoming and satisfying experience. Let us know how we are doing. Your input helps us measure our success.
Sincerely,
Beth David Synagogue
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