Bath Jewish History

November/December 2024
Tishri/Heshvan /Kislev 5785

Rabbi’s Message

Dear Beth Israel Members and Friends,

 It was truly a blessing to pray, sing and connect with so many of you over the High Holidays.

 You can find links to my 5785 High Holiday sermons here:

Rosh Hashanah Sermon

Yom Kippur Sermon

 As we move into the Jewish month of Cheshvan, may the sweetness of being together in Jewish community linger with us. May we continue to feel the sense of being connected to one another through our shared traditions and may being part of this community bolster us to know that we are each an integral part of something larger than ourselves.

 L’Shalom (towards peace),
Rabbi Vinikoor

President’s Message

by Marilyn Weinberg

With our busy holiday season closing we have a little time to reflect and appreciate all the joys we experienced. November will be somewhat back to our more regular routine and yet we want to reach out and find a way to continue that special feeling of togetherness that comes when we gather as a group.

I want to share a few notes and messages we have received from people outside our small community. Sometimes it helps to hear from others about something that we experience and take for granted.

An email we received from an out-of-town visitor:

What a pleasure for me and my family to join you on the weekend to observe Yom Kippur.

We found the service meaningful, the sanctuary exquisite, and the congregation kind. We enjoyed meeting you both at Break-Fast afterwards.

Living as we do on Vinalhaven much of the year, we know the challenge of maintaining Jewish life in small town America. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to join you for the Day of Atonement and to be among our co-religionists in your enduring synagogue, in your charming community.

An email of thanks from the JCA:

Dear Rabbi Vinikoor

On behalf of the JCA of Southern Maine, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for taking part in our statewide commemoration last night! You weren't able to hear or see the JCA audience last night, but you moved our audience members to tears with your beautiful tributes to the victims. We felt their spirits with us. It was an absolutely perfect addition to the program! Thank you so much for helping to bring Jews together from all across the state to mark this occasion.

We will continue to give thanks for our special Beth Israel Congregation, our Rabbi and our community. You are all so special.

Dates for Upcoming Services

November 8-9            Fall Shabbaton at Colby College
November 15             7:00 pm - Shabbat Evening Service
November 16              10:00 am - Family Shabbat Morning Service with potluck lunch

December 6               7:00 pm - Shabbat Evening Service with Carrie Watkins
December 7                10:00 am - Shabbat Nature Walk with Bowdoin College and Beth Israel at Hamilton Preserve, West Bath

December 27             5:00 pm - Shabbat Evening Service followed by potluck meal
December 28             10:00 am - Shabbat Morning Service
December 29             3:00 pm - Community Hanukkah Celebration at the Minnie Brown Center

Torah Study
November 11, 25        1:00 pm - Minnie Brown Center
December 9, 16          1:00 pm - Minnie Brown Center

Fall Shabbaton

by Lucy Flores

November 8–9

Join Rabbi Vinikoor and others from the Maine Jewish community at the annual Fall Shabbaton, sponsored by the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College. Beautiful music, inspiring teaching, kids’ activities, delicious meals and community—you are sure to be inspired and refreshed! If you need a scholarship to sign up, please reach out to Rabbi Vinikoor.

Click here to see the schedule and register!

A Talk with Manli Ho

by Marilyn Weinberg

November 10
2:00 pm
JCA Portland 

We had the opportunity to hear Manli Ho speak this summer at the Patten Free Library. Unfortunately, space was limited and many people who were interested were unable to attend. The good news is that she will talk at the JCA in Portland on November 10 and they have lots of available space.

On the eve World War II, Dr. Feng Shan Ho, a young Chinese diplomat posted in Vienna, Austria, defied all odds and saved thousands of Jews from certain death at the hands of the Nazis. He has been hailed as “the Chinese Schindler.”

On this 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, his daughter, journalist Manli Ho, who spoke in Bath this summer, will share the story of her father’s incredible humanitarian feat, and how one individual faced a cataclysmic time of moral chaos and crisis, with parallels to today.

Manli Ho, the daughter of Dr. Feng Shan Ho, has been painstakingly uncovering and documenting her late father’s humanitarian work for the past two decades and is working on a book. She created the historic photographic exhibit On the Wings of the Phoenix: Feng Shan Ho and the Rescue of Austrian Jews, which has been shown in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York and Israel. Born in Cairo, Egypt, Manli grew up in Mexico, Bolivia and Colombia and is a Smith College graduate.

Register here for this event.

Community Hanukkah Celebration

by Marilyn Weinberg

Sunday, December 29
3:00 pm
Minnie Brown Center 

Get your menorah and candles ready and save the date as we gather together on the fifth night of Hanukkah. We are still in the planning stages, but you can guess there will be singing, menorah lighting and some fried treats to share.

Stay tuned to your weekly emails as final details will be shared.

Computer Donations

by Marilyn Weinberg

With additional classroom space available we have the ability to create a computer room for our Hebrew School students. There is so much Hebrew and Jewish software available.

Clearly this is something that will enhance their Hebrew School experience.

We are seeking donations of iPads or MacBooks or donations of funds to purchase some. In addition, if you have a suggestion for sourcing donated technology let us know.

Interested in helping with this project? Please contact Marilyn at info@bethisraelbath.org.

Thank you!

New Phone Number

by Marilyn Weinberg

Our original phone number now rings in the new elevator at the Minnie Brown Center. We had to give up the line to get the elevator certified. If you need to call the Minnie Brown Center or just leave a message, the new number is (207) 386-5645.

We are just setting up a message system so we should be ready for calls soon. The quickest way to make sure you contact us is to email us at info@bethisraelbath.org

Kulanu – All of Us

by Joanne Rosenthal

In early October the JCA held an in-person session about antisemitism. The event was at capacity with around one hundred people in attendance and more on a waitlist.

This event was organized by a task force addressing antisemitism. Participants were seated at twelve round tables each with a facilitator from the task force at each table.

Each participant had the opportunity to respond to three questions pertaining to the current state of antisemitism in greater Portland; which specific areas, such as schools, local government or broader community should be prioritized in efforts to combat antisemitism; and what are the most effective strategies to combat antisemitism. This format successfully elicited dozens of excellent ideas for fighting this escalating hatred. The JCA will apply this data to inform their next steps.

I can picture a similarly robust session at our wonderful new Minnie Brown Center in the coming months. Stay tuned for an announcement in our Beth Israel communications, and don’t hesitate to contact the Kulanu committee with any questions or comments at kulanu@bethisraelbath.org.

Social Action Committee

by Phyllis Wolfe

This certainly has been a busy fall for our synagogue and the Social Action Committee is about to hit the ground running by engaging on issues of local, national and global concern.

Earlier this month, committee members participated in a Window Dressers Initiative in Bath.

At a community build volunteers built insulating window inserts that keep the heat inside, let more light in, keep out drafts and lower heating costs. The volunteers built a little over 200 inserts for about 35 homes. Two synagogue members helped build the removable and reusable inserts while others provided a delicious lunch meal for the volunteers. Later Marty Fox installed several inserts into our downstairs windows at our Minnie Brown Center.

A committee priority is to educate, inspire and empower our youth to advocate for social justice. We hope that one or more Beth Isreal teens will join other teenagers from Reform Synagogues for four days of advocacy and action in Washington, DC. Stay tuned for more information.

We will make a collective effort to bring our Reform Jewish values to the community at large.

By participating in interfaith coalitions and activities, collaborating with New Mainers, local high school clubs, the Age Friendly Communities of Lower Kennebec, the Hebrew School, and Kulanu, we will advocate for protecting the environment, gun violence prevention, food security, voting and civil rights, and immigration justice.

If you would like to consider, joining in and shaping our efforts, please email socialaction@bethisrealbath.org

Greeters

by Peggy Brown

Our Greeters deserve a hearty thanks from the Beth Israel community for showing up early and staying late at services and events, providing a warm and welcoming presence, keeping an eye on the door and working with our security details to keep us safe.

During our High Holiday season the following Greeters gave their time and service. Thank you to Michelle Lisi-D’Alauro, John Dunn, Robert Gersh, Shira Gersh, Jovi Hilllman, Camille Kauffunger, Steven Paul, Mark Polishook, Bill Racine, Thyle Shartar, Deb Smyth, Marilyn Weinberg and Phyllis Wolfe.

Their service to our community is truly a mitzvah for which we are grateful.

Minnie Brown Center Grand Reopening

by Marilyn Weinberg

In less than a year we were able to re-open our Minnie Brown Center with beautiful new classrooms and a new kitchen, an elevator and all the items that make our building handicapped accessible, safe and bright. We had such a wonderful turnout and amazing support from our entire community. Thank you to all who contributed in every way.

Rosh Hashanah

by Marilyn Weinberg

Our holidays evoke so many images that appeal to all of our senses. Candle lighting, shofar blowing, special holiday tunes, and delicious food. Thanks to all who came to participate and to Rabbi Vinikoor who made the holiday a special one. Shira Gersh gets an additional call out for definitely being “master of the blast.”

Succot

by Marilyn Weinberg

Having our own Sukkah in front of Minnie Brown this year was perfect. Thanks to the Friedel family and Sussman-Mann family for coming out on a Sunday morning to erect our lovely sukkah. And thanks to all of you who made and hung decorations and brought such delicious food to share. It is such a wonderful holiday for all ages.

Simchat Torah

by Marilyn Weinberg

We had all the ingredients for an amazing Simchat Torah celebration. Our children marched the Torahs from the synagogue to Minnie Brown with high enthusiasm. Ben Crystal organized 6 wonderful musicians to play Klezmer music that made you want to dance. And we had a crowd of multiple generations all dancing with the Torahs and waving the flags the children had made. And all had an opportunity to help bless the Torahs as we ended one chapter and began a new one.

REMEMBRANCES FOR november–December 2024

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.