Bath Jewish History

July/August 2018
Tammuz /Av/Elul 5778

Rabbi’s Message

by Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor

Since I first visited Beth Israel on a sun-filled and snowy weekend in February, over a year ago, I have consistently been impressed with the commitment, generosity of spirit, and pride in community that you all have shown in so many ways. While I find it hard to believe, this August will mark my one-year anniversary of serving as your rabbi. Over the past year it has been a privilege to get to know many of you, to hear your stories, to share meals in your homes, to listen to your visions for the world, to study and teach with you, to learn from you and to pray with you. 

In the 6th century BCE, the prophet Jeremiah, called on the Israelites saying, “Pray for the city and seek peace in the city, for if the city has peace, you too will know peace” (Jeremiah 29:5-8). This enduring message rings true for us today, for our cities and towns here in Mid-Coast, our entire state and our nation. In numerous conversations this year, many of you have expressed a passion for doing social justice work as part of the Jewish community. In the coming year, I hope that we will have the opportunity to stand together as community members in solidarity with others to seek peace and security for all people, especially the most vulnerable among us. As Jews we are charged with being rodfei shalom—seekers of peace. I look forward to taking on this journey with you.

President’s Message
Join Our Community

by Marilyn Weinberg

 By the time you are reading this article the discussion and vote to raise the dues at our Annual Meeting has already taken place and you know that a new dues structure has been adopted. 

The issue of membership dues has always been a difficult balancing act for our Beth Israel board. Although we rely on voluntary donations to manage our finances, dues are the backbone of our budget and are instrumental of keeping the doors of Beth Israel open. What I think many of us have difficulty with is the actual word Membership. The major flaw in the traditional membership model is not necessarily the fixed cost typically associated with membership dues but, rather, the notion of membership itself.

A member of an organization is typically one who pays some sort of premium in order to receive certain benefits that organization provides at no additional cost like Amazon Prime or the YMCA. It is, therefore, the very definition of fee-for-service. We offer many things at Beth Israel including services, celebrations and lectures to name a few. Yet we never specifically charge for any of them. We welcome all and feel that it is important to do so. We do not charge non members for High Holiday seats or stand at the door to collect money from those who choose to enter. 

So I would like to propose that instead of using the phrase “become a member” we consider an alternate expression of “Join Our Community.” Using this term, you now become a partner, a builder and a supporter. In fact the Hebrew word “haver,” that is often associated with synagogue membership, is actually defined as “friend.” 

While a member of an organization is primarily interested in what he or she is receiving for him or herself, a participant in a community is interested in the welfare of his or her neighbors and in the success of the community as a whole. By joining Beth Israel, you of course benefit from all of our activities, but you also serve a higher purpose. When you become a friend of Beth Israel you become part of a community that supports each other and maintains an interest in the welfare of all.

So if you haven’t already done so, please join our wonderful community. You will make a difference.

We Have a New Website

by Marilyn Weinberg

If you haven’t already checked, we have a new website. I think you will be impressed.

https://www.bethisraelbath.org

And the biggest change is that on line donations can finally be accepted. At this time the synagogue has to pay credit card processing fees to make it work so if you pay online we are asking that you to help with those fees. 

For now old and new sites are still operating as we continue to transfer all of our information to our new site. Thanks to Piper Panzeri and Fred Weinberg for putting in the hours to make this happen. Definitely check it out and bookmark it.

Rabbi Installation

by Marilyn Weinberg

Friday, July 6
5:30 p.m.    Shabbat Evening Service at the Synagogue
6:30 p.m.    Dinner and Music at Minnie Brown  

Typically, when a new Rabbi arrives, a synagogue celebrates with a formal installation. When Rabbi Vinikoor arrived, she immediately was inundated with visits to people’s homes to share a meal and begin the process of meeting her congregants. Then the High Holidays arrived and Hebrew School began. And in January we celebrated the arrival of Shira Dorit. There was no time.

So on Friday, July 6, Beth Israel Congregation in Bath will be officially celebrating the arrival of Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor to our synagogue with a formal installation. 

We will begin our celebration with a Shabbat Evening Service at 5:30 p.m. at the synagogue. We chose that time so that people young and old (and in between) would be able to attend. Rabbi Erica Asch (from Augusta) and Rabbi Sruli Dresdner (from Auburn) will co-officiate. Rabbi Nancy Wiener will also be sharing the bimah. Rabbi Wiener is the Clinical Director of the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Center for Pastoral Counseling at the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and has been a teacher, friend and mentor for Rabbi Vinikoor.

At 6:30 p.m., following our service, we will walk to Minnie Brown where we will share a meal and listen (and maybe dance) to music performed by Rabbi Dresdner and his wife Lisa Mayer. 

Please do not miss this very special occasion. Come and share your joy with Rabbi Vinikoor.

Shabbat and Poetry

by Marilyn Weinberg

Friday, July 20
7:00 p.m. 
Synagogue 

We have learned that a member of our congregation, Eliza Gouverneur has recently published a book of poetry called Kiddushin. Eliza and her husband Richard Cohen live in Amherst Massachusetts for part of the year and on the Pemaquid peninsular during warmer months. She describes her collection as ”moments in the life of a contemporary Jewish family.”

We will begin with a somewhat shortened Shabbat service led by Maurie Libner and then have Eliza share some her poetry. 

Adult Learning Opportunities this Summer

by Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor

Join Rabbi Vinikoor for these upcoming Adult Learning Sessions.

Death and Mourning in the Jewish Tradition
Wednesday, July 11
Wednesday, August 1
6:30 p.m.
Location TBD

What does Jewish tradition say about caring for someone who has died? What customs can help us as a Jewish community support those who experience a loss? Join us for this 2-part adult learning session where we will delve into the ancient Jewish rituals and customs concerning death and mourning. All are welcome.  

Spiritual Preparation for the High Holidays
Wednesday, August 22
6:30 p.m. 
location TBD

The Jewish month of Elul is traditionally the month set aside for spiritual preparation for the High Holidays. Come learn about Jewish teachings and practices to help you prepare for this important time of year. All are welcome. 

Shabbat Under The Stars

by Marilyn Weinberg

July 27        6:30 p.m. 
August 24    6:30 p.m.

In keeping with a summer of Beth Israel outreach programs, we will be hosting two additional Shabbat Under the Stars programs this summer. Taking services outside seems like a perfect way to celebrate Shabbat. In each home we will have a brief prayer service and D’var Torah, and then have time to connect with each other over dessert. 

On Friday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m., we will gather at the home of Barbara and Barrett Silver in Bristol. 

On Friday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m., we will gather at the home of Norma Dreyfus and Stan Lane in Arrowsic. 

We will send out an email reminder and directions to each home. Bring your lawn chairs and let’s hope for good weather.

News from the Hebrew School

by Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor

In May, we ended our year of Hebrew School with giving, fun and leading our community in prayer.  Our students counted up the tzedakah collected each Thursday at school and chose to donate our funds to the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program and the Coastal Maine Humane Society. On our last day of school we celebrated by playing fun Hebrew games (red light-green light and freeze tag—in Hebrew!), planting seedlings behind Minnie Brown and enjoying ice cream sundaes! On June 1, our students led the congregation in a beautiful and musical Kabbalat Shabbat service highlighting our Hebrew and prayer skills.

It has been a pleasure to teach our bright, caring and thoughtful Hebrew School students and we can’t wait to see you all in the fall!

Speaking of the fall, Hebrew School registration for next year is now open! See the School Enrollment Form on the Hebrew School web page to register:
https://www.bethisraelbath.org/religious-school/

If you are new or considering enrolling in our program, please contact Rabbi Vinikoor at education@bethisraelbath.org. She is happy to speak with you about our program and answer any questions.

In Search of Israeli Cuisine

by Laura McCandlish

On the springy Sunday afternoon of April 22, Beth Israel Congregation collaborated with Bowdoin College Hillel to host an on-campus screening of the acclaimed documentary In Search of Israeli Cuisine, followed by a scrumptious Middle Eastern feast, as 52 synagogue members broke pita bread together with Jewish students back at Bowdoin's Multicultural Center. The successful event marked Israeli Independence Day with a delicious feast catered by Hull, Mass.-based To Dine For, whose addictive Lebanese-Syrian prepared foods are delivered fresh to Morning Glory Natural Market in Brunswick every Thursday afternoon. The film, narrated by Israeli-born and Pittsburgh-raised, James Beard-nominated chef Michael Solomonov, underscores the diversity of Israel's relatively new cuisine, a tasting amalgam of Middle Eastern, Eastern European and African (i.e., Ethiopian) ethnic influences.

Attendees feasted on To Dine For homemade Syrian pita-like bread dipped in three varieties of hummus (including fresh cilantro and Za'atar-spiced versions) served alongside falafel and vegetarian pumpkin kibbeh (stuffed with greens). To Dine For's habit-forming garlic sauce—a surprisingly simple concoction of fresh garlic, olive and lemon juice that emulsifies into a wonderous white spread when whipped—paired perfectly with fresh crudités from the shoulder-season Ft. Andross winter farmers' market. The Boyle-Lardie and Stone family children in attendance also enjoyed Israel's famous Bamba peanut snack puffs found for sale at Trader Joe's. Nothing brings our Jewish community together quite like the promise of good food.
 
If you missed the event, we hope to have another opportunity in the fall to gather watch the film and share a meal. Also, check out Michael Solomonov's Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking.  Stay tuned for more Beth Israel food and food justice programming!

Siyahamba–We Are Marching

by Joanne Rosenthal

The Zulu folk song “Siyahamba” meaning “We are Marching,” originated in South Africa, later becoming a Christian hymn and sung in times of peaceful protest and marches. It comes to my mind now having just marched in the Portland Pride Parade yesterday as part of the Jewish Community of Southern Maine delegation. I have watched the parade several times, always finding it a positive and uplifting experience. This time, being “in” the parade was a wonderful experience of solidarity with the LGBTQ community. Walking down Congress St., flanked by thousands of cheering supporters felt like a giant hug from the best of humanity. I am proud that our Jewish community publicly declared its commitment to acceptance and speaking out against hatred.

The “evolving” Social Action Committee is continuing to plan for engagement around the issues of immigrant justice and voter engagement. Stay tuned for special programs and opportunities to exercise our civic responsibilities in the months prior to the November elections. Please be in touch with your ideas for engaging in Tikkun Olam.

Remembrances for July–August 2018

May their memories be for a blessing.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Listing the birthdays and anniversaries of those in our immediate family creates a wonderful opportunity for our community/shul family to have an excuse to celebrate with each other. 

Welcome New Members

• Anna Jordan

Donations

Memorial Gifts

• Marilyn and Fred Weinberg in loving memory of Alfred Loeb

• Sharon Drake in loving memory of her father, Edward Kravitz

• Glenn and Beth Eisman in loving memory of his father, Morris Eisman

• Lenore and Jay Friedland in loving memory of Alfred Loeb

• Jay and Lenore Friedland in loving memory of his father, Edward Friedland

• Marc and Chrissy Swartz in loving memory of his sister, Lauren Beth Dunleavy

• John and Marilyn Darack in loving memory of his mother, Marion Darack

• Donald and Mara Giulianti in loving memory of his father, Nicholas Giulianti

• Marina and Steve Singer in loving memory of her father, Victor Shapiro and her brother, Sam Shapiro

• Norma Dreyfus and Stan Lane in loving memory of her mother, Dr. Rose Goldberg

• Norma Dreyfus and Stan Lane in memory of her father, Dr. Morris Goldberg

• Daniel Morgenstern and Moriah Moser in loving memory of his father, Frederic Morgenstern

• Evelyn and Morton Panish in loving memory of her friend Berytl Metz

• Maurice Libner and Sharon Bouchard in loving memory of his father, Robert Libner

• Barbara and Barrett Silver in loving memory of her mother, Jean Malman Becker

• Erich and Pauline Haller in loving memory of his aunt, Rose Popper Roman

 In Support of the Synagogue

• Shelia Lucente

• Debra and Richard Finn in honor of Rabbi Vinikoor, Alyssa Finn and Shira Dorit

• Robert and Suzanne Nussbaum with thanks to the Sunshine Committee

• Elliot Rosen and Sharon Cohen

Rabbi Discretionary Fund

• Nathan Cogan with thanks to Rabbi Vinikoor

Beth Israel by the Numbers – Close the Gap

• Margaret Boyle and Andrew Lardie

• Jeff Cohen and Nancy Heiser

• Richard Cohen and Elizabeth Gouverneur

• John and Marilyn Darack 

• Donald and Mara Giulianti

• Marji Greenhut

• Dr. Louis and Janet Gross

• Erich and Pauline Haller

• Reginald and Pauline Hannaford

• Barbara and Steven Inkellis

• George and Margaret Isaacson 

• George Krassner

• Herb and Harriet Paris

• Anita Lichman and Steven Paul

• David and Constance Povich

• Harry and Kathy-Ann Reissman

• Alina Shumsky

• Deborah and Kermit Smyth

• Denise and Sheldon Tepler

• Lisa Tessler and Mark Ireland

• Gary Torow

• Doris Weinberg

• Fred and Marilyn Weinberg

• Joan and Jeremy Fields

• Lynn Frank

• Adelle Rubin

• Rosalind Gorin and Matthew Budd

• Norma Dreyfus and Stan Lane

• Ellen Kempler and Ken Rosen

• Chris and Andy Schoenberg

• Barbara and Stephen Baseman

• Ansel and Zira Schiffer

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