Bath Jewish History

September/October 2021
Elul 5781 / Tishri / Heshvan 5782

Rabbi’s Message

Dear Beth Israel Members and Friends,

In a few short weeks we’ll sound the shofar as we bring in the new year of 5782. The sounds of the shofar have many interpretations. The shofar’s tekiah gets our attention. The broken notes of shevarim cry out to us. The staccato of teruah wakes us up. Tekiah gedolah brings the sound of hope.  

Not only is hearing the shofar’s blast a beloved tradition, but according to Jewish law we are obligated to hear the shofar on the New Year. But how are we to hear it? What do we need to do?

Our ancient rabbis taught that the obligation to hear the shofar’s sound must be fulfilled by having the intention to hear the shofar’s sound. 

 They teach:

If someone was passing behind a synagogue, or his house was adjacent to the synagogue, and he heard the sound of the shofar, if he focused his heart to fulfill his obligation (to hear the shofar), he has fulfilled his obligation; but if he did not focus hi heart, he has not fulfilled his obligation (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 3:7)

We learn here that fulfilling our obligation to hear the shofar does not take a lot of planning, in fact you can fulfill the mitzvah as you are walking by the shul (!) provided you stop and pay attention to what you hear. In Hebrew the term for bringing intention to the moment is כִּוֵּן לִבּוֹ to “focus one’s heart.” The shofar’s listener must be fully present and focused to actually hear the sound (and fulfill the obligation.) 

Whether you will be at the synagogue in person to hear the shofar or you tune-in online, I pray that we’ll focus our hearts as one community to the turning of the new year. May you and your family be inscribed in the book of life and may this new year of 5782 bring us blessings of good health, sustenance, beloved community and peace.

L’Shana Tova,
Rabbi Vinikoor

High Holiday Schedule

by Marilyn Weinberg

Below is a brief outline of dates and times of our upcoming holiday services. If we do make any changes, we will update the website  https://www.bethisraelbath.org/new-events . Whether it be in person or online we hope you can join us to share in this very special time of year.

President’s Message

by Peggy Brown

Recently we posted a survey regarding the High Holidays to which we received 94 responses. A good cross section of Beth Israel members, donors and email subscribers were included in those responses. The results provided us with the information we needed to plan for three options: 

• in-person indoor services

• in-person outdoor services, and 

• remote attendance to indoor services via Zoom

Surprisingly, but happily, the responses were divided pretty evenly among those three choices with 35% indoor services, 36% preferring outdoor services, and 29% virtual. Because of this split and because of the planning and organizing of a few dedicated people, we will be able to include multiple options for each holiday celebration.

A schedule of services will soon be coming via our weekly email and is included in this newsletter. Anyone wishing to attend services at the synagogue will be required to pre-register, be vaccinated, wear a mask and maintain some space between family groups. Those of you who will be participating from home will be able to see and hear the activity in the sanctuary and those in the sanctuary will be able to see virtual participants projected on the wall. There will be outdoor options on both holidays for families with young children who cannot be vaccinated and others who prefer the outdoor venue. 

While we were really hoping we could get back to “normal” for this new year, we will do the best we can with what we have. I’m very grateful to the rabbi and all of the hardworking volunteers who are putting their heads and hearts together to plan for services. 

A few other notes: 
Congratulations to our b’nai mitzvah: Sam Dunham, Alva Gandler, Edyie Kaplan, Eric Ensel and Molly Tefft who have recently been (or soon will be) called to the Torah. They and their families have had some challenges presented to them, trying to organize an event for family and friends during a pandemic. Sam, Alva, Edyie, Eric and Molly—we’re so proud of you and hope this milestone is one of many you’ll achieve in your Jewish education.

 Hebrew School planning is well under way. The rabbi has met with teachers, and they are planning a year of learning and engagement for our K–6 students. Besides the challenge of trying to plan during a Covid resurgence is the added difficulty of finding alternative meeting space while renovations are underway at the Minnie Brown Center. The Unitarian Church in Brunswick is working with us on using their space, but they have not yet determined if they are allowing in-person gatherings in their building in Brunswick. For the months of September and October, the rabbi is planning for learning to happen in outdoor spaces. More news on that to follow.

Looking forward to seeing you all—virtually and in person. Wishing you a good and sweet year! 

L’shana tovah! 
Peggy

Joey Glick - Rabbinical Student Fellow

I am so excited to begin serving Beth Israel and the Center for Small Town Jewish Life. I am a descendant of three generations of small-town Jews. Inspired by family stories of shopkeepers and craftspeople building Jewish life in the rural Midwest, I’ve spent much of the last decade serving small Jewish communities in the Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. I am entering my final year of rabbinical school at Hebrew College. I live in Boston with my partner Adele and our doberman mutt, Charlie Brown. On top of Jewish communal service, I am passionate about inter-religious dialogue, old time music, and my hometown Pittsburgh Pirates.  

I will be in town the weekend of August 27 and so look forward to spending time with the community. On Sunday, August 29, I’ll be teaching an adult education class outside.

The Spiritual Lost and Found: 
a Pre-High Holiday Journaling and Text Study Session

by Joey Glick

Sunday, August 29

Rabbi student fellow Joey Glick will lead us in person in a thought provoking lead up to the High Holidays. We will gather outside so bring a chair to sit in.

What parts of this last year do you hope to carry with you and what do you hope to leave behind? What do you wish to find in this year to come?  

We’ll consider these big questions through the lens of Talmudic discussions of losing and finding items. With a combination of text study and journaling, this class will provide a chance to consider our past and future in conversation with Jewish wisdom. 

Mitzvah Meals 

by Debbie Smyth 

A mitzvah is waiting for you! We are seeking volunteers to be on a list of folks willing to prepare meals for members who need help due to medical situations such as surgeries and injuries, the birth of new babies, and shivas. Might this be a way you'd like to get involved in your synagogue? 

 Intermittently throughout the year, we receive requests from members for help with food for a limited time. We then solicit assistance from our list of volunteers who sign up for a specific date and indicate the meal they will provide. 

Please help us help our members. By volunteering, your name will be added to our list. When a need arises, we will notify you that a Meal Train has been set up, and you can decide if and how to participate. Won't you please join us?

To sign up for our list of volunteers or to obtain more information. please contact Debbie Smyth by email at info@bethisraelbath.org.

Yachad—Beth Israel’s Jewish Programming for Preschool Children

by Rachel Connelly

Once a month (mostly the first Sunday of the month), plan to spend Sunday morning b’yachad (together), learning, playing, and hanging out with other Jewish families. Yachad programs are designed to engage toddlers and preschoolers and their parents or other caregivers in activities related to the annual cycle of Jewish holidays and core Jewish values such as kindness to others and careful stewardship of the planet. September 19, October 3, and November 7 we will meet outside in the Bath library park across from the Minnie Brown at 10:00 am. After that we will reassess to decide if we are staying outside, coming inside, or going remote. 

Our first Yachad program of the school year is September 19. Rabbi Vinikoor will be joining us, and the theme will be Rosh Hashanah. 

No RSVP is needed, come when you can. Check email and Facebook if the weather does not cooperate.

Complete list of Yachad dates for 2021-2022

September 19 
October 3
November 7 
December 5
January 9
February 6
March 6
April 3
May 1

Toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners and older siblings—all are welcome. 

For more information contact Rachel Connelly.

Molly Tefft’s Bat Mitzvah

by Rachel Tefft

Molly is 13 years old and an 8th grader at Brunswick Junior High School. Her favorite subjects in school are math and science. The combination of the two has brought her to enjoy engineering. She has attended a computer building camp and a robotics/space camp at USM. 

 She loves playing soccer, tennis, and chess and getting in at least 10,000 steps a day. She's been playing soccer on her elite Seacoast United club team since she was 8 years old and is known for her quick footwork and passing abilities. Tennis has been a nice compliment to soccer and as with all sports, she excels and enjoys playing. 

Molly's passion for playing chess was born during the pandemic. She played online as well as with her family members (she finally beat her dad last year!) and has been a leading member of Brunswick's newly formed Scholastic Chess Club.  

We look forward to celebrating Molly's bat mitzvah on October 16 with family, friends, and our synagogue community.

 Molly is selling chocolate from the organization Peace by Chocolate for her bat mitzvah project. Follow this link to learn more about it and place your chocolate order today! https://www.sites.google.com/view/mymitzvahproject/home?authuser=0

Eric Ensel’s Bar Mitzvah

by Lou Ensel

Eric Ensel will begin his 8th grade year at Bath Middle School. He has many friends, loves to be outdoors, and enjoys swimming. He enjoys playing street hockey and floor hockey. He plays video games, is a fan of anime and likes to read manga. 

Eric is happiest when hanging out with friends and playing with his dog, Harpo. He enjoys discussing issues of social and environmental justice at home or in the classroom. His bar mitzvah project will engage students in a clean-up effort around his school.  

Eric is a wonderful son and brother and friend to all. We are very proud of him. His bar mitzvah will be October 9. 

Minnie Brown Center Update

by Marty Fox

The Beth Israel Congregation Board has approved funds for Phase 1 of the Minnie Brown Center renovations. This includes a larger Rabbi’s office, a larger, more beautiful entryway, an elevator to the lower level with ADA compliant bathroom stalls and new lighting in the social hall. 

Phase 2, which has not been completely funded yet, includes larger Hebrew School classrooms and a larger and better functioning kitchen. An air ventilation system is being designed into the plans for both phases. If you’re interested in donating funds to support these projects, we have naming opportunities available. We are building for the Congregation's future.

The design plans by architect Tobias Gabranski of Bath have been submitted to the state and the City of Bath for permitting. The plans have also been submitted to a contractor for a more precise cost estimate. Permitting is expected to be completed by mid- September. If approved, construction is expected to begin in early October.  

The MBC design committee includes Marilyn Weinberg, Margaret Boyle, Susan Horowitz, Stan Lane, Ben Crystal and Marty Fox. Beth Israel members interested in seeing the design plans or with questions should contact Marty Fox.

Update for our “Planting the Seeds—Centennial Fundraising Campaign"

by Rachel Connelly

If you have not yet made your pledge to the campaign, right now, before Rosh Hashana, would be a great time to do it! Those who have made a pledge can expect a reminder letter in November for the amount you pledged for the year. The great news is our Centennial Fundraising Campaign has surpassed the half-way mark! Thanks to our many generous members and friends, we now have around $550,000 in pledges and one-time gifts. 

Of course, there is the half empty side of this news flash as well. That is, we still have a way to go towards our one-million-dollar goal. But we are not discouraged. Some of you (you know who you are) are still planning to send in your pledge. In addition, it is time to add in the legacy gifts. Even if you have made a pledge to the campaign, please consider making a gift to Beth Israel in your will or naming Beth Israel as a beneficiary of your IRA. 

After Rosh Hashana, look for an envelope from Beth Israel containing a description of our Minnie Brown Society—those individuals who have made a legacy gift to the congregation. The mailing will also contain a form to let us know you have done so and sample language for adding an amendment (a codicil) to your will. No rewriting of your will needed. If you have already put Beth Israel in your will, please let us know via that form so we can add that future contribution to our centennial balance. Together we can make this happen! 

REMEMBRANCES FOR MONTH–MONTH YEAR

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.