Bath Jewish History

May/June 2021
Iyyar / Sivan / Tammuz 5781

President’s Message

by Peggy Brown

The Beth Israel Board of Directors and other leaders within our community have been busy these past months on two big projects in addition to the usual ongoing work of fund-raising, taking care of our buildings and operations, educating our youth and adults, planning for worship and staying connected with fellow congregants.

One of those big projects is the development of a Strategic Plan to take up where the previous plan (which expired in 2018) left off. A core group of four Board members - Gila Cohen-Shaw, Lou Ensel, Steven Paul and Nonny Soifer - took on the project last fall and worked through the winter putting together a framework from which the rest of the Board and committee leaders could build. On the last day of February, all of these leaders met - via Zoom of course - and hashed out what they believe should be our congregational goals over the next three years.

Since that day in February, we’ve been revising, rewording, and scrutinizing our words to make sure we have a blueprint that our Board will be able to use to guide decision making. This latest iteration of our Strategic Plan will be ready for the Beth Israel membership to read and review by the time of our annual meeting in June.

The other big project for Beth Israel is the renovation of the Minnie Brown Center. While this project was included in the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan, the priority of finding and hiring a rabbi took up the Board’s attention at that time and the MBC was put on the back burner.

Under Marty Fox’s leadership we have taken this up again and are moving forward. Our work has included establishing a Design Committee whose members include Marty, Margaret Boyle, Ben Crystal, Susan Horowitz, Rabbi Vinikoor, and Marilyn Weinberg. The architect we chose, Toby Gabranski of Bath, has met several times with our Design Committee to listen and establish the needs and priorities for the renovated building. Since that time Gabranski has been working through various designs which will make the MBC more accessible, more efficient, more structurally sound, more comfortable and nicer to look at.

It will, of course, cost more than we had hoped. Due to the expense, this project will take place in at least two phases. The Board will be considering the proposed designs and the funding at the end of April. Our capital campaign and other donations will be critical to this undertaking. It cannot be overstated how important your support is to all of this work.

Finally, our Covid Response Team met recently to talk about how we can safely meet in person again as more of us are vaccinated and the weather allows us to be outside. With the still high number of Covid cases in the state, we tend to the cautious side but there are several Shabbat Under the Stars in the works and plans to have some in-person, indoor services with simultaneous livestream video from the synagogue sanctuary for B’nai Mitzvah. Keep your eye on our weekly email blasts for more information.

Shabbat Under the Stars Resumes

by Marilyn Weinberg

We have spent so many months meeting together virtually over the year, I think many of us are ready for a change. CDC guidelines have been updated and meeting outside for our services can be done safely. We are all excited about seeing each other in person.

Starting on Friday, May 7 we will gather together in various locations to share our Shabbat outside. If the weather is inclement, we have been working on a hybrid option of using our synagogue space as well as meeting on Zoom.

So, bring your chairs (or blankets), dress warm enough if the temperatures are a little low and wear your masks. No books required.

Directions to specific locations and safety guidelines will be sent out with our weekly email. If you haven’t yet had your covid vaccine, hopefully you will be able to do so soon.

Annual Meeting

Please join us on
Wednesday, June 9
7:00 pm
on Zoom (link to follow)

Whether it's a yearly tradition or your first time, we hope you'll participate in our upcoming 2021 Annual Meeting. We will gather virtually to reflect on our successes, current challenges and goals. We'll review the budget, vote on new board members and more. Mark your calendar now and watch for more details and a Zoom link as June 9 approaches.

Storytelling Project Update

by Marilyn Weinberg

We have had great participation in our Storytelling Project. Already ten members have submitted stories. Some are written with photos attached and some are videos. I think you will want to read or watch all of them on the website to get an idea of how diverse and fascinating they are. The topics are all different, but each one gives you a little more insight into each individual.

Please consider adding to our collection.

All formats are welcome. It can be a written article (maybe with photos) or a video, whichever you are most comfortable.

View the individual entries at:
bethisraelbath.org/our-stories

To help you prepare consider some of these ideas:

• What events sparked your awareness of being Jewish?

• Do you have Jewish rituals, ritual items or a family photo that you find most meaningful and

  spark memories?

• Was there a time when you ever felt fearful or proud of letting people know you are Jewish?

  If you’d like to contribute a story, or have questions or comments contact Marilyn Weinberg

Beth Israel 100 Years Ago

by Marilyn Weinberg

In 1920 the local Jewish families gathered together, pledged to donate and agreed to purchase a house (at 866 Washington St) and an empty lot (862 Washington Street) where the synagogue was built.

100 years ago in June of 1921, the future members of Beth Israel Congregation were busy with construction plans and busy still raising money for this endeavor. It’s wonderful to find these articles in the archives of the local Bath weekly newspaper that document the history of our small community.

Those early members would be so pleased that their hard work and dedication to their community has endured and flourished. As we approach the 100-year anniversary of the synagogue, we ask that you consider pledging to its future so that we might be here for another 100 years.

Hebrew School Graduation

by Marilyn Weinberg

On Friday, April 9, our resilient Hebrew School Class of 2021 joined together to lead a most wonderful Shabbat service.

Featured were our four graduates, Isla Tefft, Spencer D'Alauro, Willow Halpin, and Micah Greenwald, who have spent many years attending classes and who now will be going on to study for their B’nai Mitzvah.

Each graduate thanked their teachers, shared their reflections on their favorite prayers and spoke with much maturity and thoughtfulness on their hopes and wishes for the future. We are all very proud of their achievements.

Welcome New Members

• Joseph and Merna Guttentag

Donations

Memorial Gifts

• Karen and Matthew Filler in loving memory of her father, Gerald Feldman

• Matthew and Karen Filler in loving memory of his parents, Morris and Gladys Filler

• Erich and Pauline Haller in loving memory of his father, Edward Haller

• Erich and Pauline Haller in loving memory of his grandparents, Josef and Marie Haller

• Barrett and Barbara Sllver in loving memory of his mother, Rose Hurwitz Silver

• Margaret Brann in loving memory of her mother, Helen Ruth Charney

• Ellen Kempler Rosen in loving memory of her father, Howard Kempler

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

• Elliot and Helene Lerner in loving memory of his mother, Esther Lerner

• Helene and Ellliot Lerner in loving memory of their friend, Linda Beaumont

• Helene and Elliot Lerner in loving memory of their aunt, Shirley Caplan

• Diane Gilman in loving memory of her mother, Selma Gilman

• Paul Linet in loving memory of his wife, Susan Linet

• Shelia Cohen in loving memory of her mother, Helen Freedman Cohen

• Ellen Hagler in loving memory of her mother, Sarah Goldman

• Robert and Barbara Lenox in loving memory of his mother, Mildred Lenox

• Barbara and Robert Lenox in loving memory of her father, Mishael Selig

• Donald and Mara Giulianti in memory of his mother, Elaine Friedberg Giulianti

• Robert Gersh and Susan Horowitz in loving memory of his father, Fred Gersh

• Micki Gersh in loving memory of her husband, Fred Gersh and her sister Ellen Leavy

• Oscar Starobin in loving memory of his wife, Susan Starobin

• Suzanne and Robert Nusbaum in loving memory of her mother, Virginia King

• Gila Cohen-Shaw and Howard Shaw in loving memory of her stepmother, Rebecca Patt

• Cohen

• Peggy Brown and John Martell in loving memory of her father, Harold Hershenhart

• Sharon Goldsmith in loving memory of her husband, Jerry Goldsmith

• Andrew and Chris Schoenberg in loving memory of his mother, Elayne Schoenberg

• Phyllis and Joseph Lisi in loving memory of her mother, Rose Millstein

• Shari Sage in loving memory of her mother, Rita Pepper

• Joan and Jeremy Fields in loving memory of Peter Haller, son of Erich and

• Pauline Haller

For the Benefit of the Synagogue

• Deborah Silverman

• Phyllis and Joseph Lisi in honor of the 6th grade graduation

• Shari Sage in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day

Centennial Campaign

• Donald and Mara Giulianti

• Jeyn Levison

• Shelia Cohen

• Joseph and Merna Guttentag

• George and Mary Samiljan

• Kate Stern and Cathy Hayes

• Larry and Edna Povich

• Sharon Drake

Rabbi Discretionary Fund

• Rabbis Eric and Jenny Solomon

Remembrances for May–June 2021

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.