November 2024

Letter from the Rabbi

Dear Temple Israel Community,

Hodesh Tov! I am wishing you a happy month of Cheshvan on our Hebrew calendar and November in the Gregorian calendar. As we welcome these new months, we can definitively look back on the successful and meaningful Fall season of Jewish holidays we observed together. We gathered in great numbers and with heartfulness to pray and to be in community over Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah! Thank you to everyone who worked hard to prepare for the High Holidays, and especially to Cantor Joel Nathanson who we welcomed to lead us this year. As we do every year, we have shared a survey with the community and we would love to see your honest and specific feedback about the slate of services we worked hard to coordinate. You can find the link in your email or at this site: https://tinyurl.com/TIVHHDSurvey.

There were a number of people who joined us over the holidays who either have not before been a part of our community or who joined us again after some time away. If you or your friend were one of these folks, I would love to connect with you more now that we are on the other side of the holidays! Please, reach out to me or to Tammy in the office so that we can sit down together, go for a walk, or get a cup of coffee this Fall! In our efforts to strengthen our local Jewish community, each of us can make a big impact and together we can deepen our connection to our evolving vibrant Jewish tradition! You can sign up to meet with me here. Or, email me or call the office at 607-723-7461.

In the spirit of deepening our connection with Judaism, this year I intend to organize a variety of learning opportunities for adults to explore fascinating and enriching aspects of our tradition. So, I created a survey where you can tell me what topics you are most interested in learning about and when it works well for your schedule. Please, take a few minutes to complete the survey and set aside some time for one of the most important mitzvot in Jewish tradition: Talmud Torah – learning Torah: Survey. Of course, you can also reach out to me personally and we can set up some time to learn together!

This month we have several special events on the horizon! On Shabbat Noach, the first of November and Cheshvan, we will celebrate an adult Bar Mitzvah of a new official member of TI: Dan Sokol! Dan offers us a profound example of how an adult can choose to deepen their learning and connection to Judaism. Mazel tov for him and for all of us. Then, on Friday evening 11/15 we will pilot a new program for all ages by adapting our regular Kabbalat Shabbat services for a younger audience and offering  Shabbat dinner for all ages and fun learning activities for young children as we welcome Shabbat. All children are welcome and encouraged to participate – whether or not they regularly participate in our weekly Wednesday Hebrew School program! Then, on Sunday 11/17, we will host the annual Global Day of Jewish Learning in partnership with Temple Concord and Beth David.

Finally, it is important to acknowledge that we find ourselves now more than a year after 10/7, and we continue to pray with urgency for the speedy return of the hostages held in Gaza as well as a peaceful conclusion to the armed hostilities between the State of Israel and her neighbors. In our backyard, this month we mark a monumental election season and across the political map nerves are high. I pray that our American democracy will persevere through this year and that our synagogue community will continue to provide us with a space where we can share our lives with others who hold different political perspectives than ourselves. To that end, a week after the election on 11/12, before our weekly minyan, I will hold space for an exploration of Jewish teachings to allow folks to share about their experience of the election as well as to learn about and practice the Jewish values of respectful discourse with others. Let us pray together for strength and resilience in these times and continue to gather together joyously in community!

Rabbi Micah R. Friedman

הרב מיכה שמחה פרידמן 

November 2024

Letter from the President

Dear Members and Friends of Temple Israel,

     I hope that you found our High Holiday services meaningful and inspiring, a safe space from the challenges of the world around us. Our Rabbi Micah Friedman and Cantor Joel Nathanson created this space with traditional and new melodies, thought-provoking lessons, and congregational engagement. Yasher koach and sincere thanks to each of them, as well as to our lay leaders: Rita Bleier, David Channin, Shayna Foreman (shofar), Mika Friedman, Randy Friedman, Steve Gilbert, Phil Goodman, Jeff Horowitz, Mark Hubal, Alan Piaker, Julie Piaker, Richard Schneierson, and Howard Schwartz. 

Our thanks to the many volunteers who worked to ensure our services were safe and ran smoothly, including High Holiday Oversight Committee chair Steve Gilbert, Ritual Committee chair Howard Schwartz, and the Safety and Security Committee under the leadership of Debra Martinez. Active committee members included: Sue Austenfeld, Rita Bleier, David Channin, Naoma & Len Feld, Lynne Green, Tara Kaminsky, Rhonda Levine, Steve Malkin, Roy Paston, Beverly and Hersh Rozen, Richard Schneierson, Howard Warner, and Barbara Zelter. Ushering was organized by Steve Malkin, and those who participated in this and other preparation included: Mike Azersky, Bonnie Brown, Carol Herz, Shelley Hubal, Larry Hurwitz, Jim Mason, Joe Newmark, Kathy Storm, Wendy & Melissa Wolff. We appreciate our staff: Tammy Kunsman and Irina Orlovskya. (I’ve surely left some out, for which I apologize!) Special thanks to Sandra and Fred Weitsman for further beautification of our building and grounds, and to the Rozen Foundation for again underwriting the major expenses of delivering our High Holiday Services.

Whether you participated on the bimah, in the sanctuary, or via zoom, we hope your experience was fulfilling. We are always looking to improve, so please complete the survey you received via email, or check the TI website, or send us an email with your comments.

We raised our beautiful Sukkah and were privileged to enjoy a meaningful and educational week of Sukkot, reflective Shemini Atzeret (Yizkor) services, and a joyous Simchat Torah celebration, all in brilliant fair weather. Thanks to the Sukkah-raising (and deconstructing) team of Mike Azersky, Dave Channin, Rabbi Friedman, Jeff Greenblott, Carol Herz, Steve Malkin, Jim Mason, Joe Newmark, Roy Paston, Richard Schneierson, Suzanne Siegel, Howard Warner, and Jonathan Weissberg. Check the website templeisraelvestal.org for pictures!

We hope that your Honeygram provided a sweet start for the New Year! Thanks to our Queen Bees, all our sponsors, and all of you for supporting  this program, our first successful fundraiser of 5785. Hebrew School is underway, our libraries are operating, our Adult Ed committee is planning several sessions, and TI hosted a wonderful Inter-Sisterhood event. There is something for everyone, and Temple Israel is here to celebrate your simchas and support all your life cycle events. I remind you that we can only deliver these programs, education, and services through your continued generous support with dues and donations, which are needed as much as ever. Weekly Shabbat Kiddush is usually sponsored by one of our Board members, but voluntary sponsorship to celebrate any occasion is welcome.

We are delighted to welcome several new members this year, some with children, validating our optimism for the long-term future of our synagogue. New or existing, I encourage each of you to engage, participate and enjoy!

b’shalom,
Art

Arthur B. Siegel
President – Temple Israel