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Rabbi Carl M. Perkins |
Stephen Baum, President Gil Brodsky, Editor |
August 28, 2009, Friday, Elul 7, 5769 |
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Our condolences go out to Natalie Kadis and her husband William Murphy and their family on the loss of Natalie’s mother, Gladys Kadis. Graveside services will be held on Friday, August 28th, at 12:30, at the Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park, on Centre Street, West Roxbury. (There is no address marker at the cemetery, but it is located in the 2600 block, opposite #2659.) Memorial observance will be held at Natalie’s home, 108 Douglas Road in Needham, on Friday until sundown, on Saturday evening, and on Sunday and Monday from 1-5 and 6-9. Minyans will be held Sunday and Monday evenings at 7:00 pm.
Hamakom yinachem otam... May the Divine Presence comfort them, among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
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Back-to-Shul Picnic — Sunday, September 13
The annual “Back to Shul” picnic is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, September 13, at the Defazio Field Tot Lot, from 4-7 pm. This is a wonderful family get-together for all ages. “The Summer Isn’t Over Yet.” For more information, contact Julie Berger.
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First Minyan Shirah of the Year — Friday, September 4
The first Minyan Shirah of the season (on September 4th) will soon be upon us. As Rabbi Perkins notes, “I don’t know about you, but I’ve missed our opportunity to welcome Shabbat together as a community. I did have the opportunity to attend services at Shirah Hadashah in Jerusalem (the congregation that sparked the world-wide interest in Friday evening “Carlbach-style” minyanim) a few weeks ago. It was wonderful to take in the atmosphere there and the feeling of being in a room full of devoted, soulful, earnest voices joined in singing those familiar melodies. There is nothing like the passionate spirituality of Jerusalem on a Shabbat eve. On the other hand, I was conscious that I was not in our own community, and it only whetted my appetite to, once again, gather with all of you in our chapel and welcome Shabbat together.”
Refreshments will be put out at 6:00 pm; services will begin, as usual, at 6:15 pm. We will be joined that evening by Eitan Bloostein, who will be celebrating his bar mitzvah the following morning, and his family. Aviva Jezer and Marc Bloostein, Eitan’s parents, have kindly agreed to provide refreshments that evening. If you know that you will be able to join us, could you kindly RSVP to Rachel, so that we can pass on the numbers to the Bloosteins.
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Volunteers needed by Hesed Committee to drive for Temple member
The Hesed committee is reaching out to the Temple community to ask for your help providing rides for a Temple member family in the upcoming weeks. One of our long-time members is currently at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale. His wife gets a ride to to Hebrew Rehab in the morning, but needs a ride home to Newbridge in Dedham (just a little past Needham off Rt 135). She would like to be picked up at 6:00pm in Roslindale, giving her time to help her husband with dinner. Starting the week of August 31, we are hoping to provide rides Monday through Friday for the next 3 to 4 weeks. If you are able to help, please contact Diane Piper.
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Welcome our new Community Educator, Bryan Wexler
We would like to say Shalom and Baruch Ha-ba to Bryan Wexler, our new Community Educator and Youth Director. Bryan, a recent Brandeis University graduate, brings tremendous experience, energy and enthusiasm to our kehillah. At Brandeis, Bryan served as President of Brandeis Hillel his senior year and also taught religious school at Temple Isaiah in Lexington and tutored bar/bat mitzvah students, all while undertaking his studies. In addition, he worked with teens in Jewish youth movements and camps. Bryan has studied in Israel at the Pardes Institute.
At Temple Aliyah, Bryan will direct Family and Adult Education, tutor our bar/bat mitzvah students along with Cantor Bogomolni, and oversee Youth activities, including serving as Senior USY advisor. In addition, Bryan will be a teacher for the Zayin class. We are very excited to have Bryan join our professional staff.
A more extensive bio and photo can be found on our web site. Please stop by and introduce yourself to Bryan when you are in the Temple. Also feel free to contact Bryan at bryan@templealiyah.com.
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High Holidays
The High Holiday booklet and the Yom Kippur Remembrances and Supplemental Readings booklet are already available online, as pdf files. You’ll be receiving the printed copy of the High Holiday booklet soon; the Yom Kippur booklet will be distributed at the Temple on the Holiday.
Selichot: On the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashanah (this year, on September 12th), it’s traditional to recite selichot (penitential prayers). This year, in lieu of our usual service, Cantor Bogomolni will lead, along with the congregation, an “American-Jewish” Selichot service. The Cantor will bring together an ensemble of singers and musicians from the congregation. This creative service will, in the Cantor’s words, intersperse speaking, teaching, davening, participation, and performance. Renditions will vary from traditional Selichot chanting and melodies, congregational singing, nigunnim, spoken and sung English poetry, narration, contemporary and soulful renditions, as well as meditative time for all. The service starts at 7:00 pm.
The Nashir chorus will participate this year within the High Holiday services by singing one of the repetitions of the Kol Nidre prayer with Cantor Bogomolni. Anyone interested in joining the chorus for this and future musical events should contact the Cantor.
High Holiday Tickets: Tickets for High Holiday Services have just been mailed along with your High Holiday Booklet. If you need additional tickets, please contact Jan either by calling the synagogue office or by emailing jan@templealiyah.com. Tickets for immediate family members may be purchased for $100 each; for extended relatives, guests and/or friends, the cost is $360 per person. Tickets are not needed for our college-age students. For security purposes, please be sure to give us the name(s) of the individual(s) for whom you are purchasing any additional tickets.
High Holiday Booklet: When you do receive your High Holiday Booklet, please make some time for yourself to sit down and enjoy some of the many interesting articles. Rabbi Perkins reviews how we observe the High Holidays and conduct High Holiday services at Temple Aliyah and describes several innovations that we’re introducing this year and Cantor Bogomolni treats us to a High Holidays Music Tour! Enjoy!
Also coming in the mail with the booklet will be information and a reservation form for High Holiday babysitting. Please remember to sign up early to reserve your child’s spot.
Sisterhood Gift Shop: Please consider purchasing your Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur items at the Gift Shop. We have apple and honey dishes, books, aprons, and more. For other Judaica, come by and browse the shop, next to the Chapel. We have new yarzheit glass holders, beautiful one-of-a-kind kippot from Maya Works, interesting books, children’s plush toys, and much more. Contact Nancy Magier with any questions or to make an appointment. All proceeds help support the Temple.
New Video available in the Library
Our thanks go out to the Milgram family, who recently viewed the documentary film Praying With Lior. The film is about a boy with Down’s Syndrome and his life, his family, and his desire to become Bar Mitzvah. The Milgrams were so moved by it that they decided to purchase the DVD and donate it to the Temple, so that Temple Aliyah congregants can borrow it and view it for themselves.
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Meditation shabbat dates
Our once-a-month pre-davening meditation series resumes on Shabbat morning, September 12, in the Board Room. Please join us for an hour of meditative prayer and contemplation which enables you to leave with a sense of spirituality and well being. Other dates for the fall are October 3, November 14, and December 5. Newcomers are encouraged. For more information, contact Naomi Litrownik.
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Sign up for USY Basketball
The Senior USY boys basketball team is looking to go “back to back” with another successful season in 09/10. We are looking for new players to fill out the rosters for two Senior teams (grades 10-12) this year, as well as one Junior team (grades 7-9). All Temple Aliyah members in these grades are eligible, as are other Jewish teens in these grades who live in Needham. Priority will be given to Temple Aliyah members. All players must be members of Temple Aliyah USY, and payment in full of USY dues and basketball fees will be required before the season begins. Practices and games begin in November and continue through February, usually on Sunday evenings and an occasional weekday. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Bruce Berns.
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Rosh Hodesh Group — Monday, September 14
Our Rosh Hodesh group will begin the New Year with a meeting at the home of Lynn Dennis on September 14 at 7:15 pm. Rosh Hodesh is a monthly gathering of women for study, friendship and celebration. Women of all ages and levels of knowledge are welcome. We meet monthly, generally on Monday evenings, at members' homes. Study topics are chosen by concensus. This fall our study will be guided by Judith Plaskow’s book, Standing Again at Sinai. If you are interested in participating, please contact Lynn Dennis.
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Save the Dates
Rabbi Manes Kogan, author of a book on Jewish legends, will be coming to TA on Tuesday, October 13th and will speak after minyan at 7:45. In addition to being a learned rabbi and a thoughtful, respected rabbi, he happens to be the brother-in-law of Rabbi Gustavo Surazki, the scribe who wrote our Sefer Torah.
This year’s annual New England Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs “Keeper of the Flame” award dinner will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2009, at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road in Lexington. This year’s honoree is Gil Brodsky. Wine and hors d’oeuvres at 6:00 pm, service and awards at 7:00 pm, followed by dinner. For more information or to RSVP, contact Men’s Club President Howard Hirsh.
Our Shabbaton weekend this year will be on December 11-12. The program this year will honor Rabbi Perkins, on his 18th (chai) year of being our spiritual leader. Our scholar-in-residence for Shabbat will be Rabbi Harold Kushner. There will be a special entertaining tribute program on Saturday night, with a special tribute-ad booklet. Many more details to follow. Anyone interested in participating in any way should contact Nancy Finn.
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Edward M. Kennedy z”l
Teddy Kennedy was not Jewish. Of course
we all know that he was a devout Catholic. Yet one of the many remarkable aspects of this Irish American’s life is that he was the youngest son of an avowed anti-Semite, at a time and in a society where anti-Semitism was not only tolerated but fashionable. Defying this background, Kennedy became the Senate’s staunchest supporter of Israel and advocate for Jewish causes. Sarah Wildman’s article in Tablet Magazine describes how
Ted Kennedy—friend of Israel, champion of social justice, advocate for Soviet Jews—became part of our mishpachah.
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