ChronicleSept05 - Temple Israel

TEMPLE ISRAEL
CHRONICLE
“Dor L’Dor — Generation to Generation”
Volume 7, Issue 3 March 2007 ✡ Adar/Nisan 5767
Temple Israel, an
egalitarian Conservative
synagogue rooted in a rich
heritage of traditional
Jewish values, is committed
to enhancing the religious,
spiritual, educational and
cultural life of its members
and the larger Jewish
community through a
commitment to Torah, our
community, and continuity
and growth amid change.
Staff:
Larry G. Kaplan, Rabbi
Ahron Abraham, Cantor
Gerri Kaplan, Principal
Debra Schonfeld, Administrator
Marie Blizzard, Chronicle Editor
Officers:
Larry S. Keiser, Esq., President
Richard M. Goldberg, Esq.,
Chairman of the Board
Rosemary Chromey,
School Board Chair
Sisterhood Presidents:
Herta Ghingold
Tammie Harris
Schedule of Services
Minyan:
Monday & Thursday Mornings,
7:15 AM
(Other days by arrangement with
Cantor Abraham)
Sunday Mornings, 8 AM
Sunday through Saturday
Afternoons, 5:15 PM
Shabbat Services:
Saturday Morning, 9:30 AM
See Detailed Shabbat Schedule
Inside
Phone: (570) 824-8927
Fax: (570) 824-0904
Layout Design courtesy of
Bedwick & Jones Printing.
Western Wall
Comes to
Wilkes-Barre
Our Second Graders have been very busy
learning about Israel. One of the things that
we concentrated on was the Kotel – the
Western Wall, the only remaining part of the
Holy Temple in Jerusalem. We thought that it
would be nice if we could build one of our
own. Putting our thinking caps on, as always
our School of Excellence came up with a
great idea of how to build this wall.
We have replicated the actual stone of
the Western Wall by taking computer paper
and soaking it in brewed tea and then
crumpling up the dry, stained paper into a
stone-like shape. [Gerri thought for sure, at
this point, that we were a little meshuga. We
had paper drying from one end of the snack
room to the other.] When we came back to
school two days later, we started stapling the
crinkly, stained paper onto a 10-foot by 8-foot
section of the snack room wall. [Thank you,
Andrew Greenwald, for all the stapling.] It
Second grade students, left to right, Sarah Schulman,
Lainy Goldstein, Zeke Berger, Elizabeth Abraham
and Maya Kornfeld.
took us a couple of hours to staple it all up but when we got finished it was amazing. We had a wall.
Once the wall was up, we added moss and grass to certain spots just like at the Kotel. Then we
created some people praying at our Kotel by stuffing two of the shul’s Tallitim and hanging them on
the wall. In learning about the Kotel, we learned that people go there and put little pieces of paper
into the cracks in the wall either to remember someone or to ask G*d for his help. Sometimes it is
just a short prayer. So the entire school then participated in putting their little notes in the wall. The
students all sat down and really thought hard about what they would like to write. It was really
something. Someone wanted their dog’s hip not to hurt. Someone wished for their family’s health.
Someone else wished there would no more homeless people. Yet someone else wished all children
would have a coat to wear.
The best part about the notes is that Rabbi Kaplan will take notes with him to the real Kotel on
his next trip there.
The great part about this project is that everyone walking by would stop and pitch in to help,
especially Einat Davidowitz and her class. May this be an inspiration for all of us to pray for health,
happiness, peace and prosperity. Please drop in and see our Wall and insert a little note. Like we
say at Passover time: next year in Jerusalem.
Karen Marcus
visit our website at: http://www.templewb.org
e-mail us at: office@templewb.org

Rabbi Kaplan
Dear Friends,
Due to the
snow in February
we had to
postpone our
Lunch and Learn
session dealing
with the highly
charged topic of
homosexuality
and the Conservative Movement. We’ll
try again at our next scheduled Lunch
and Learn on Thursday, March 22 at
noon. The topic for that day was to be
the historicity of the Exodus from Egypt.
In other words, did it actually take
place? Don’t fret. You can still find out
by joining Rabbi Linda Steigman and
me on Saturday night, March 10 at 7
pm at Temple B’nai Brith where we will
endeavor to answer that and other
Pesach related questions.
The Movement-wide discussion and
debate over the gay issue fascinates me
because it means treating Jewish Law,
known as Halacha, in a way that has
not been traditionally taken before. On
March 22nd we will, barring severe
weather, study the Halachic issues
involved in ordaining gay rabbis and
performing same sex union ceremonies.
But what is clear and new for the
Conservative Movement is that the old
reliable traditional approach to Jewish
Law did not work easily in this case.
While I hesitate to oversimplify the
immense amount of research and
diligent scholarly work that went into
the various Teshuvot (rabbinic responsa)
on this matter, the main Teshuvah that
was accepted by the Committee on
Jewish Law and Standards pretty much
said: The Torah forbids sex between two
Writes...
men, and we are not about to abrogate
a law of the Torah. Therefore we will
accept that law and rule, out of great
compassion, that we may ordain gay
rabbis and solemnize gay unions.
Now compassion and a sense of
justice can lead rational folks to make
all kinds of new decisions. But this one
seems to be at the expense of a pretty
clear Biblical law. Did the authors of
the Teshuvah mean, we won’t abrogate
the law- we’ll just kind of ignore it? Or
we’ll join two men together in a ritual
of union, and hope that they never
sleep together?
Now I have been waiting for this
decision for a long time. Because to
me, at least, it says that we need to look
at Halacha, at Jewish Law, from new
perspectives. To four of the members of
the exclusive Committee on Jewish Law
and Standards, one of whom was my
dean at rabbinical school and another
is a close friend, such is not the case.
Indeed, after these new Teshuvot were
voted in, the four vacated their
positions on the Committee indicating
that these rabbinic responsa were
outside of the bounds of traditional
Jewish Law.
They may be right. But we seem to
have moved those boundaries a bit, and
I hope that will mean that many more
issues, though perhaps not as crucial,
will be viewed in a new light.
On my short list would be a review
of the rules about our fixed liturgy. I
know it’s irksome to bring up changing
the way we davven because we’re so
used to davvening the same way, but I
honestly believe we’ve been sacrificing
the meaning, the Kavvanah of worship
on the altar of tradition. One of my pet
peeves has been the recitation of the
daily afternoon Amidah and the daily
evening Amidah within a few minutes
of each other. How can these words
possibly be meaningful to us if we
mumble them twice within a ten
minute time span? And teaching a
Mishneh in between the afternoon and
evening service doesn’t cut it. The idea
was originally to stop and pray
morning, noon, and night. But out of
convenience, combined with the need
to fulfill the letter of the law, we ended
up combining Mincha and Ma’ariv,
afternoon and evening, which means
repeating all kinds of prayers twice
within a few minutes. Again, in the
scheme of things, it may not be of
paramount importance, but I’m hoping
it’s at least on the radar.
And don’t get me started on my
idea of a pot luck dairy/pareve Shabbat
lunch following Shabbat morning
services! As the Conservative Movement
looks anew at Halacha and the Jewish
legal process, I’m hoping that the day
will soon come where we can welcome
kugels of all backgrounds and creeds
into our synagogoue, following some
basic parameters of Kashrut, of course,
without having to worry that someone’s
kitchen isn’t kosher enough for a
community meal. But once again, first
things first. I’m merely providing food
for thought.
So join Rabbi Steigman and me on
March 10 after Havdalah at B’nai Brith
and come to our Lunch and Learn on
March 22nd. May we continue to grow
in deed and in thought, and be a
blessing to our heritage because of it!
Rabbi Kaplan
Hebrew High School Study Sessions
for 8th, 9th & 10th Graders
Following Creative Shabbat Services:
March 17
April 14
What you never learned about Purim in Hebrew School
Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Any common ground?
Page 2

Cantor’s Notes
This month we celebrate the joyous holiday of Purim with the reading of the Megillah,
costumes, songs and treats. Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, which falls on March 4
this year.
Like a well-written show, the music and “lyrics” of the Megillah make it quite enjoyable to read
and to listen to. It’s trope, or cantillation system is musically unique, and is not used in the reading
of any other book of the Bible. It is perhaps the best suited to the text of all the trope systems,
revealing innuendo and enhancing the drama throughout the story.
The book of Esther is unusual in that it is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the
name of God. In fact, it includes virtually no divine reference. Mordecai vaguely alludes to the fact
Cantor Ahron Abraham
that the Jews will be saved by someone else, if not by Esther, but that is the closest the book comes
to mentioning the possibility of divine help. We learn from this that God often works in ways that are not apparent, in ways
that appear to be chance, coincidence or even good luck. As I pointed out to my class at Wyoming Seminary, Judaism
believes that we are more than mere puppets; God wants us to be involved in directing our destiny.
Two very important mitzvot of Purim that I encourage you to observe are mishloach manot (gifts of food to friends) and
matanot laevyonim (charitable gifts to the poor). Both come directly from the Megillah, where Mordecai prescribes these
practices as part of the first Purim celebration. They add a very “Jewish” aspect to what might otherwise become nothing
more than partying and revelry.
So come and hear the Megillah (see Chronicle for schedule), have a party, dress your kids up (and yourselves) in
outlandish costumes, and perform the neighborly and charitable acts mentioned above. If you miss the reading, it’s not too
late to celebrate. Visit our website and listen to Megillah excerpts and Purim songs.
Hebrew School
Students
Celebrate
Tu B’ Shevat
Sisterhood Update
The Interfaith Tea, hosted by Temple Israel this year on February 13, 2007, was an event of which we can all be
proud. Under the chairmanship of Rhondi Nachlis, along with her committee, the afternoon was very enjoyable.
Rabbi Kaplan and Cantor Abraham provided a lovely musical interlude, and the speakers were representatives of our
Sisterhood as well as the Sisterhood of Temple B’nai B’rith. Margaret Gannon, IHM, PhD., Professor of History at
Marywood University, was the guest speaker. Her topic was “The Trafficking of Children and Adults,”a serious problem
worldwide. A highlight of the afternoon was “The Prayer,” sung by by Dana Feigenblatt and Cantor Abraham. Tea and
coffee were served in the vestry from handsome silver tea services, the tables were covered with beautiful white cloths,
and trays of cookies and cakes were delicious centerpieces. Obviously, much time and effort went into this annual
event, and our guests were warm in their praise of the entire program. Our thanks to everyone who made this annual
event a huge success!
Page 3

School Notes
HAPPY
MARCH
BIRTHDAYS
TO OUR
STUDENTS
Page 4
March 2
March 2
March 2
March 4
March 6
March 6
March 6
March 14
March 16
March 20
March 21
March 23
March 24
March 28
Asa Saidman
Kelsey Kayton
Haley Friedman
Casey Bloch
Danielle Ghingold
Max Schwager
Melissa Schwager
Zev Kornfeld
Matthew Nogin
Nathan Gelb-Dyller
Sarah Schulman
Daniel Davidowitz
Sophia Soifer
Leah Goldberg
Funding Available for
Jewish Studies
The Max & Tillie Ungar Family Memorial
Endowment provides tuition reimbursement for college
students who have successfully completed courses in
Jewish studies. Requests for re-imbursement and a
copy of the grades for courses taken during the 2006-
07 school year must be received by the Temple office
by May 31, 2007. All awards will be made after May
31st. For more information, please call Debbie
Schonfeld at the Temple office.
Scholarship Aid
Available for USCJ
Summer Programs
Limited financial aid is available for USCJapproved
summer programs, including Camp Ramah,
USY on Wheels, and student trips to Israel. Assistance
is based on both financial need and merit. Letters of
request must be submitted to the Temple office by
March 15, 2007.
Bar Mitzvah
of Nathan
Gelb-Dyller
Nathan Gelb-Dyller, a seventh grade
student at Temple Israel’s Religious School, will celebrate his
Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, March 31, 2007. Aside from
religious school, Nathan goes to Solomon Plains Junior High
School. He wrestles for his school and is an A student.
Nathan also plays piano and plays the clarinet for his school.
In the summer, Nathan goes to Pinemere Camp, a Jewish
sleep-away camp located in the Poconos. In the winter,
Nathan is an enthusiastic and excellent skier. He is the envy
of the slopes. Nathan has been an active member of Temple
Israel for 13 years and counting, and he intends to remain an
active member after his Bar Mitzvah.
Bat Mitzvah of
Maegan Coulter
My name is Maegan Nicole Coulter. I
am a 6th grade student at Wyoming
Seminary Lower School. This is my first
year at Wyoming Seminary. I previously
attended Appletree Nursery School/Susquehanna Prep from
pre-school through 5th grade. I have many interests including
soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and dance, reading and music. I
have played a musical instrument most of my life. I started
playing Suzuki violin at the age of 5 and switched to the piano
three years ago. I also enjoy being with my friends, going to
movies, and especially having fun with our dogs, Chloe and
Abbie! My parents are Gary and Donna Kornfeld and Kenneth
Gerard Coulter. My grandparents are Peter and Cynthia
Mahalick, Irma Mahalick and Gerard and Claudia Coulter. I
have many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who are very
excited to be able to be with me on my Bat Mitzvah!
People in the News
Congratulations to medical oncologists, Dr. David
Greenwald and Dr. Bruce Saidman, who were recently
appointed as Clinical Assistant Professors of Medicine to the
Penn State College of Medicine. Both are highly regarded
medical professionals who compassionately care for thousands
of cancer patients here in the Wyoming Valley.
transportation?
We Care
Want to attend services or
Temple aadvance events, but have no
Just call the Temple office a few days in
and we will try to arrange a ride for you.

Book Club
The Book Club will meet on
Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 7:00
p.m. at the home of Dick
Goldberg and Rosemary Chromey.
The selection is The Memory
Keeper’s Daughter by Kim
Edwards.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Award-winning writer Kim
Edwards’s The Memory Keeper’s
Daughter is a brilliantly crafted
family drama that explores every
mother’s silent fear: what would
happen if you lost your child and
she grew up without you?
On a winter night in 1964,
Dr. David Henry is forced by a
blizzard to deliver his own twins.
His son, born first, is perfectly
healthy. Yet when his daughter is
born, he sees immediately that she
has Down’s syndrome.
Rationalizing it as a need to
protect Norah, his wife, he makes
a split second decision that will
alter all of their lives forever. He
asks his nurse to take the baby
away to an institution and never to
reveal the secret. But Caroline, the
nurse, cannot leave the infant.
Instead, she disappears into
another city to raise the child
herself. So begins this beautifully
told story that unfolds over a
quarter of a century in which
these two families, ignorant of
each other, are yet bound by
David Henry’s fateful decision that
long-ago winter night.
A rich and deeply moving
page-turner, The Memory Keeper’s
Daughter captures the way life
takes unexpected turns and how
the mysterious ties that hold a
family together help us survive the
heartache that occurs when longburied
secrets burst into the open.
It is an
astonishing
tale of
redemptive
love.
SHABBA
SHABBAT
SCHEDULE
SHABBAT ZACHOR
Tetzaveh
Friday, March 2
Candlelighting time .......5:27 p.m.
Saturday, March 3 ...............9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by
Harold Frank
Minchah ........................5:15 p.m.
Purim Pizza Party..........5:45 p.m.
Maariv & Havdallah ......6:30 p.m.
followed by Megillah reading
& parade
Sunday, March 4
Megillah reading............9:00 a.m.
(note change of minyan time)
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
SHABBAT PARAH
Ki Tisa
Friday, March 9
Candlelighting time .......5:35 p.m.
Friday Night Live/Girl Scout
Shabbat
Saturday, March 10 ..............9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by
David Bravman
Minchah ........................5:15 p.m.
SHABBAT HACHODESH
Vayakhel/Pekude
Friday, March 16
Candlelighting time .......6:43 p.m.
Saturday, March 17
Study Session .................9:30 a.m.
Creative Shabbat .........10:00 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by
Max Schwager
Minchah ........................5:15 p.m.
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
VAYIKRA
Friday, March 23
Candlelighting time .......6:50 p.m.
Saturday, March 24 ..............9:30 a.m.
Bat Mitzvah of Maegan Coulter
Minchah ........................5:15 p.m.
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
SHABBAT HAGADOL
Tzav
Friday, March 30
Candlelighting time .......6:58 p.m.
Saturday, March 31 ..............9:30 a.m.
Bar Mitzvah of Nathan
Gelb-Dyller
Minchah ........................5:15 p.m.
Condolences to:
• Gladys Cohen on the passing of her husband, Sam Cohen
• Mark Cohen on the passing of his father, Sam Cohen
• Charles Fortinsky on the passing of his wife, Davida Fortinsky
• Ruth Levey on the passing of her brother, Joe Zatcoff
• Lev Libman on the passing of his wife, Fanya Libman
• The family of Eleanor Popky on her passing
• Lena Siegel on the passing of her husband, Leonard Siegel
• Lewis Siegel on the passing of his father, Leonard Siegel
SAVE THE DATE
Health Care Professionals Shabbat, April 14, 2007.
The featured speaker will be
Tom Pugh, Senior Vice-President,
Allied Services/John Heinz Institute.
Any health care professional interested in participating,
please call the Temple office.
Page 5

✡ March Yahrzeits ✡
Week of March 1 – March 8: Harry Anker, Morris Brand, Harold Coblentz, Rosalie F. Cohen, Reichel Dunner,
Bessie Frank, Milton Friedman, Sara Goldstein, Philip Gorgold, Louis Heisler, Rose Heisler, Hilda M. Hertz, Jacob
Isaacs, Howard Klein, Isadore Krasno, Bessie Lantz, Ben Libenson, Richard May, Helen Nachlis, Doris Newman, Edith
Rome, Isadore Rome, J. M. Ross, Jacob Schiffman, Alan Shuman, Karen Smulowitz, Bernard Thalenfeld, Benjamin Toiv,
Pearl Wolfe
Week of March 9 – March 15: Gerald Amerman, Louis Bachman, Joseph P. Berk, Morton Blum, Murray
Bratkowsky, Louis Bravman, Ruth Breslaw, Albert Danoff, Fannie Ehrenreich, Herman Eisen, Menashe Ender, Abe
Fierman, Jesse Hyman, Henry Ibsen, Charlotte Jackier, Harold Kislin, Max Krotick, Anna Levey, Harry Lieberman, Jacob
Loefflad, Florette Marcus, Bertha Meyer, Nat Meyer, Rose Meyer, Gertrude Monsky, Harry Nachlis, Gennaro Pascale,
Isadore Reichlin, Rose Rittenberg, Esther Rosenfeld, Martin Rosenthal, Gerald Seeherman, Jack Trompetter, Bertha
Weisberger
Week of March 16 – March 22: Rose Bransdorf, Lloyd Cadbury, Rose Celender, Raymond Coblentz, Jack Edley,
Sidney Falkowitz, Israel Fleischman, Isadore Goldstein, Minnie Grossman, Edward Kanner, Harriet Kelley, Rose
Klavonski, Miriam Landau, May Marcus, Ethel Mardo, Kenneth Miller, Max Minkoff, Myer Mittleman, Marie Morgan,
Morris Moses, George Nelban, Joseph Schiffer, Joseph Schiffman, Jeanette Shapiro, Lottie Sherin, Max Silverman, Sol
Trompetter, Irving Valen, Dorothy Webber, Elinor Weisbrod
Week of March 23 – March 31: Seymour Bachman, Aaron Beck, Max Benovitz, Tillie Bergsman, Clara Briskin,
Benjamin Cohen, Mary Coplan, Ada Eichler, Elizabeth Feldman, Lillian Finley, Jerome Foreman, Eleanor Freedman,
Janet Gale, Sylvia U. Glassberg, Fred Goldstein, Bernard Harris, Fred Harrison, Larry Hollander, Dora Krasno, Leroy
Landau, Sam Lebenson, Sarah Libenson, Gertrude Meyer, Joshua I. Morris, Virginia Nelson, Lucille Newman, Abraham
Novzen, Louis Popky, Rebecca Rome, Sam Rothman, Phyllis Savitz, Rae Shepard, Samuel Singer, Max Smith, Rose
Turoff, Aaron Weiss, Alice C. Zemler
Please note the following local members who are observing yahrzeits during the month of March and try to attend
minyan with them in order that they may say Kaddish:
March 1
Lois May, Muriel Klein
March 16
Sarah Newmark, Eileen Trompetter
March 2
March 3
Albert Frank, Syvia Klein, Pam Klein, June
Golubock, Arthur Shuman
Gary Brand, Rita Wolberg, Bill Isaacs, Ina
Lubin, Celia Krasno, Constance Stern
March 17
March 18
Ida Miller, Naomi Meyer, Leo Minkoff
Simon Coblentz, Belle Weisberger,
Fannie Goldstein, Helena Prashker,
Richard J. Levy
March 4
March 5
March 6
March 8
March 9
March 10
Sally Connor, Adolph Heisler
Simon Coblentz
Joseph Cutler, Harriet Gray, Freda Popky
Hannah Ibsen, Adolph Heisler
Sally Connor, Dr. Arthur Meyer,
Atty. Martin Meyer, Janet Popky,
Natalie Kellner, Edith Seeherman
Dr. Paul Bachman, Hannah Ibsen,
Betty Frier
March 19
March 20
March 21
March 22
March 23
March 24
Shirley Schoenholtz, Dr. Gil Fleischman,
Judy Geller, Isabelle Savitz
Audrey Zinman, Charlotte Klavonski
Nancy Messinger
Atty. Elliot Edley, Janice Yelen,
Jeanne Schoenholtz
Dr. Paul Bachman, Ruth Hollander,
Atty. Alan Hollander
Eva Shaiman, Sandra Feldman, Judy Null
March 11
David E. Bravman, Alan Jackier
March 25
Terry Nelson
March 12
March 13
March 14
March 15
Marion Frank, Joel Kislin,
Richard Rosenthal, Dr. Daniel Weisberger,
Gerry Hyman
Shirley Abelson, Eunice Luka,
Herta Ghingold, Dr. Michael Rittenberg
Irene Blum, Atty. Jonathan Blum, Sheila
Nachlis, Arnold Nachlis, Gerri Kaplan,
Charlotte Cutler, Eileen Trompetter
Esther Bratkowsky
March 26
March 27
March 28
March 29
March 30
March 31
Larry Lebenson, Arnold Libenson,
Marvin Smith
Celia Krasno, Sheila Seeherman,
Margaret Novzen, Jesse Savitz
Dr. Phyllis Berger, Norman Weiss
Julius Coplan, Roz Friedman,
Atty. David Harris, Lenore Harris
Dr. Milton Freedman
Merryl Eng
Page 6

From Our President. . .
Now that it
is March, spring
can’t be far
behind. Temple
Israel has many
events to look
forward to
throughout the
spring season
Larry S. Keiser, Esq. that will
educate, inspire
and spiritually revitalize you.
As you receive this issue of the
Chronicle, we will begin the
celebration of Purim. So, be happy
that it is Adar and join in all the Purim
fun! On Saturday, March 3rd, we start
with Mincha services, followed by a
Purim Pizza Party, sponsored by the
Mark Slomowitz Memorial
Endowment. Maariv services and
Havdallah will follow and the evening
will conclude with the traditional
Megillah reading and costume parade.
Where else can you get such a deal,
two services, a meal and a costume
parade (and all in one evening)? If you
miss the Megillah reading on Saturday,
no worries, since we will do the whole
thing (Megillah) over again on Sunday,
March 4th, starting at 9:00 a.m. during
a special morning minyan. We provide
the groggers!
Speaking of holidays, we know that
once it is Purim, then Pesach can’t be
far behind. The Siyyum for the first
born will be held Monday morning,
April 2nd, during morning minyan.
Remember (all first born males), if you
participate in this prayer and learning
session, you don’t have to fast. It is
also a good time to sell chometz! The
first Seder is Monday evening, April
2nd. Wouldn’t it be exciting for you to
invite a college student, or a young
professional with no local family, into
your home. If you want to welcome
someone to your house for the festival
meal, we can help make the
connection. Call the Temple office for
more information. We invite you to
enjoy the full measure of Pesach by
joining us for festival services in the
sanctuary on Tuesday, April 3rd, and
Wednesday, April 4th, and then on
Monday, April 9th, and for Yizkor on,
Tuesday, April 10th.
Other March events not to be
missed include our monthly Creative
Shabbat. If you haven’t come recently,
you are missing out on a great
opportunity to participate in a
meaningful and spiritual manner. Many
honors, including chanting of the
Haftarah, leyning Torah and other aliyot
are yours for the asking. Take a
chance, jump into this uplifting
experience and reconnect to the
traditions of Shabbat worship. Friday
Night Live this month will be our
annual Girl Scout Shabbat. I
particularly suggest that our seniors
attend FNL to see for themselves how
well our Hebrew school students know
the service and the joy and enthusiasm
that they bring with them.
March will also bring with it two
B’nai Mitzvot. Maegan Coulter will
celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on March 24,
and Nathan Gelb-Dyller will be called
to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on March
31. Please plan to join with these
young adults as they show how much
they have learned during their many
weeks of preparation. They have
worked hard and deserve your support
and good wishes.
Looking ahead just a bit, I want
you all to save three important dates
and plan now to attend these special
Temple Israel functions. First, on April
14th, we will reprise our Health Care
Professionals Shabbat. Under the
enthusiastic Chairmanship of Roxanne
Schulman and her co-chair, Jane
Nakkache, this Shabbat will be one of
the highlight events of our year.
Richard Blum, M.D., will chant the
Haftarah and many physicians, dentists
and other members of the vital health
care professions will be participating.
Second, on May 5th, we will again be
part of the national celebration of Law
Day. Our guest speaker will be U.S.
District Court Judge Thomas I.
Vanaskie. Many members of the
Wilkes-Barre Law and Library
Association (Luzerne County Bar
Association) will join us for services,
including Bar Association President,
Attorney Joseph Cosgrove, and Bar
Association Vice-President, our own
Attorney Sheila Saidman. Attorney
Jennifer Dressler will chant the
Haftarah. Last year, over 20 lawyer
members of Temple Israel took part in
the service.
Lastly, I remind you that our
Annual Dinner is scheduled for
Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at the
Woodlands. Dinner chairs, Sherry
Davidowitz and Lynn Keiser, assure
you that it will be a memorable evening
and a high point of the year for the
congregation. The coveted Amudei
Tzibor Award will be presented during
the Annual Dinner Program to a very
well deserving couple, Essy and Bill
Davidowitz. We know you won’t want
to miss this opportunity to say “Yasher
Koach” to the Davidowitz’ for a lifetime
of devotion to Temple Israel.
I remind you that I am anxious to
hear your comments, suggestions and
ideas on how to make Temple Israel the
best it can be.
Larry S. Keiser
president@templewb.org
USY Northern Exposure
USY is offering High School students trips to Northern Israel. Anyone who is now in 10th, 11th or 12th grades and
was on any teen trip to Israel last summer is invited to join USY in Israel this summer. The trip will run from
July 16 – 31, 2007. If you are not a current USY member, you will have to join before the trip. For more information,
go to USY’s website at www.usy.org/programs/northern or contact Aviva Tilles, USY Israel Pilgrimage Coordinator by
phone (212) 533-7800 ext. 2316.
Page 7

Temple Israel
236 S. River St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18702
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Permit No. 105
March 2007
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Megillah reading,
9:00 a.m.;
JCC Purim Carnival,
11:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
at the Movies,
3:00 p.m.
Book Club
at the home of
Dick Goldberg &
Rosemary Chromey,
7:00 p.m.
Hebrew School
Minyan, 5:15 p.m.
1 2 3
Purim Pizza Party,
5:45 p.m.
Maariv & Havdallah,
Megillah reading and
parade, 6:30 p.m.
Hebrew School
Hebrew School Friday Night
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Live/Girl Scout
Board of Trustees,
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat,
7:00 p.m.
Hebrew School Hebrew School Creative Shabbat,
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
10:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m. Study
Session
Hebrew School
Lunch & Learn,
Bat Mitzvah of
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
12 noon
Maegan Coulter,
Hebrew School
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
9:00 a.m.
Hebrew School Hebrew School Bar Mitzvah of
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Nathan
Gelb-Dyller,
9:30 a.m.
Temple Israel Funds
The following is a listing of Temple Israel funds to which donors may contribute for memorials, simchas, recoveries, etc.
Minimum contribution is $5.00 unless otherwise noted.
THE HAROLD BERSON FUND
THE MURIEL BRAVMAN MEMORIAL FUND
BUILDING FUND
BIBLE FUND ($10)
CHAI CONTRIBUTIONS ($18)
SALLY & RALPH CONNOR
HIDDUR MITZVAH FUND
JOSEPH N. COPLAN PRAYER BOOK FUND
CHARLOTTE & JOE CUTLER FUND
ETZ CHAIM BIBLE ($118)
FRIEDMAN INTERFAITH ENDOWMENT
ROBERT FRIEDMAN LITURGICAL MUSIC FUND
HAPPY DAY FUND
ENID HERSHEY KIDDUSH CUP FUND
HIGH HOLIDAY PRAYER BOOK FUND ($7.50)
LAWRENCE HOLLANDER B'NAI MITZVAH
PRAYER BOOK FUND
FEED THE HOMELESS FUND
DORIS & SIDNEY KEISER KERUV FUND
ESTHER & NATHAN KLEIN
PASSOVER ENDOWMENT
HANNAH & WILLIAM S. KLINE LIBRARY FUND
LANDAU PAVILION FUND
LEVY CHAPEL FUND
BEN LIBENSON MEMORIAL ART FUND
FRANK & HILDA LUBIN
FEED THE HOMELESS FUND
LYONS EDUCATION FUND
MINNIE MORRELL MUSIC FUND
MINYAN FUND
BARBARA NEWSBAUM MILLER
PRAYER BOOK FUND
SAM NELSON CARE PACKAGE FUND
DORIS & JEROME NEWMAN
EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT FUND
PRAYER BOOK FUND
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
RABINOWITZ TALLIT FUND
JOAN F. & HERBERT L. RITTENBERG FAMILY
ENDOWMENT
SALLYANNE, HAROLD & FRANK SCOTT ROSENN
COMMUNITY SERVICE ENDOWMENT
SAIDMAN-GREENWALD TORAH FUND
($18 MINIMUM)
SANCTUARY FUND ($25)
SHAFFER SHABBAT KIDDUSH FUND
SHAFFER SUKKAH ENDOWMENT
SIDDUR HADASH ($36)
SILBERMAN MEZUZZAH FUND
MIRIAM K. SIMS ENDOWMENT
USY/KADIMA FUND