CHRONICLE CHRONICLE CHRONICLE - Temple Israel

Volume 8, Issue 5 May 2008 ✡ Nisan/Iyar 5768
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
Alan S. Hollander, Esq.,
Chairman of the Board
Rosemary Chromey,
School Board Chair
Sisterhood President:
Dr. Dana Goldstein
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.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
CHRONICLE
“Dor L’Dor — Generation to Generation”
Law Day Shabbat
May 10, 2008
Larry S. Keiser, Esquire, Chair, is pleased to welcome The Honorable
Thomas F. Burke, Jr., Judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas,
the 11th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as the
featured speaker for Law Day Shabbat. Joining him on the program will be
several other prominent local attorneys. David E. Schwager, Esquire will
chant the Haftarah.
Prior to his tenure on the Luzerne County Bench, Judge Thomas Burke
was engaged in the practice of law for twenty-five years and was a partner
with his brother, Atty. Joseph D. Burke, in the Law Offices of Burke and
Judge Thomas F. Burke
Burke. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library
Association and served as a director and president of The First Bank of Greater Pittston and its
successor banking institutions. Judge Burke is an honors graduate with a B.A. in Finance from
Lehigh University and received his Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law. An
army veteran, Judge Burke received the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service in the Republic of
Vietnam and was honored as “Man of the Year” by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in
2007. He and his wife Peggy are the proud parents of five children and have been a host family to
students from Ireland, Japan and France.
The law has a central role in Jewish society. In Deuteronomy 16:20, we are implored, “Justice,
justice shalt thou pursue.” Law Day Shabbat serves to remind us of the importance of the law in
both civil and religious society. Over twenty lawyer members of Temple Israel will be called to the
Bimah for honors recited in Hebrew or English. We also expect several Gentile members of the Bar
Association to join in our service with special readings and remarks.
Law Day underscores the positive role of attorneys in the community. The Temple Israel bar
members will sponsor a Kiddush catered by Supreme Cuisine.
Friday Evening Service with
Temple B'nai B'rith featuring
Dr. Ilan Peleg Friday, May 16, 2008
Please join us for a joint Friday Evening Service with Temple B’nai B’rith on May 16, 2008
at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel. Guest speaker will be Dr. Ilan Peleg, Professor of Government
and Law at Lafayette College. Dr. Peleg is the author of several books, including the
forthcoming, The Foreign Policy of George W. Bush. He is editor-in-chief of Israel Studies
Forum: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Dr. Peleg has delivered hundreds of lectures in academic,
civic and religious settings and has been interviewed on CNN, Voice of America, NPR, the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporations and many more. Don’t miss this exciting, informative
lecture, enhancing an evening of music and spirituality.
visit our website at: http://www.templewb.org
e-mail us at: office@templewb.org

Rabbi Kaplan
Dear Friends,
I offered
these remarks at
the B’nai Mitzvah
of Mallory and
Joshua Lefkowitz,
and I’d like to
share them with
you. They were
my reactions to
the ceremony held on the steps of the
Ohav Zedek synagogue before the anti-
Semitic graffiti was removed:
I should take this opportunity to
address the unfortunate matter of the
anti-Semitic graffiti that was removed
from the Ohav Zedek synagogue last
week. There were a number of
messages given at the gathering on the
steps of the synagogue last Thursday,
and they were not the same message.
The entire community gathered to show
support and solidarity; clergy and
neighbors and county and state
representatives, Jews and Gentiles alike.
It was impressive, and it was
heartwarming. I received many e-mails
and phone calls from concerned
members of the community and
beyond, including from a non-Jewish
family from our area now living in
Mexico.
But despite the solidarity and the
outpouring of support, the messages
were not consistent. Nobody said they
had to be, but it was interesting
listening to how different people
reacted so differently to the hurtful
words spray painted on the doors
behind them.
One of the messages was the
familiar theme of never again. We won’t
let this heinous crime happen again.
We will find the perpetrators and we
will bring them to justice, we will send
the message that this must not repeat
itself in our community. Another was
that hatred still exists in our ranks, and
we must root it out and quash it. The
words hate and hatred resounded from
the podium that day.
Some of the speakers spoke with
determination, and some with anger in
their voices. There was palpable anger
in the air. Anger at the hatred, anger
that someone would dare to violate
sacred space. Anger that the memory of
Page 2
Writes...
the Holocaust was being stirred up. We
weren’t the ones doing the stirring. In
other words, each year we recall the
Holocaust on Yom HaSho’ah, as we will
again at the end of this month. Each
year we bring back to mind the images
of those flames as we light six candles
to memorialize the six million who
were slaughtered. Each year we hand
out yellow stickers that remind us of the
yellow patches our forbears were forced
to wear to identify themselves as Jews.
But each year we do this of our
own volition, we don’t expect to walk
up the steps of our synagogue and see
those reminders emblazoned on the
doors of our holy sanctuary. It wasn’t
the sign of the Jewish star that so
offended us, it was that it was put there
with the intent to intimidate, with the
intent to remind us.
And we also heard a message of
hope, a simple assurance that we can
end the anger and we can end the
animosity and that will happen when
we take the first step. We must give up
on our anger, we must end the hatred
by making sure that we do not hate.
That means, not even to hate the
perpetrator who did this hateful act.
I don’t think that message got
through to most of the crowd. Because
after it was delivered, the mayor was
introduced, along with a string of
accolades about our local law
enforcement, and then we were told
that those who committed this heinous
crime had been caught, and even
named publicly in front of us and the
TV cameras, and there was sincere
applause. But when I looked down from
those doors at the applauding crowd
below, for a moment I imagined that
they were holding pitchforks and
torches, almost calling for blood.
I know I was just imagining it. I
know that people were relieved. I was
relieved that it wasn’t the work of some
sinister neo-Nazi gang rearing its ugly
head in our community. But my mood
immediately changed and I began to
focus on the two teenage girls who had
brought this community together in
solidarity, although that wasn’t their
goal, I’m sure.
And while many were stunned to
hear that it was done by two teenage
girls, we needn’t be stunned anymore.
It’s true that Mallory stands on our
pulpit next to her brother, and they both
chant from the Torah and Haftorah as
equals, although Mallory is much
prettier than her handsome brother. But
the pride we have in the egalitarianism
that we value in our Jewish ritual is not
the pride we have that we now are
witness to teenage girls committing
horrible crimes and violent acts that we
have heretofore only associated with
unbridled young men.
Yesterday’s national news included
a group of teenage girls who proudly
videotaped themselves luring an
unsuspecting peer into a home to be
beaten and broken for thirty minutes by
her fellow students. She lies in a
hospital bed recovering from the
injuries inflicted with malice and
contempt by girls who have learned to
behave like criminals.
Blurring the differences between
boys and girls, between men and
women has its consequences. Some of
them are good, but some of them are
not. We have lost sight of one of our
most important roles as parents and
teachers of the next generation, to instill
in our young men the respect and
honor that is part of becoming a
gentleman, and to inculcate in our
young women the grace and maturity
and sophistication that is part of
becoming a lady. Youtube does not
teach our children to become ladies
and gentlemen. Myspace does not
encourage the values of ages past that
generate a civil and honorable citizenry.
Judaism plays its part, and today we
are all a part of that education. A young
man must take time from his sports
regimen, from his academic endeavors,
and sit and learn a Prophetic scriptural
reading in an ancient language and
then dress in clothing to which he is not
accustomed and stand before a
congregation and chant those ancient
words. And a young woman must
dismount from the horseback riding she
loves and take time from her young life
and friends and study for this day where
she stands before her family and
community dressed like a princess, and
together they must, for a few hours at
least, behave like the perfect gentleman
continued on page 7

Cantor’s Notes
The music of Israel is a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish musical traditions which have
come together to form a very unique and vibrant musical culture. It is almost impossible to label
one specific style of music as “Israeli.” The Israeli music scene is rich in musical as well as cultural
diversity. Classical, jazz, folk and rock music are all part of that scene. In my next several
installments, I will comment on various styles of Israeli music as we celebrate our homeland’s 60th
birthday.
The beginnings of Israeli music can be traced back to 1882. This was the year of the First
Aliyah, when the first chalutzim (pioneers) immigrated to Palestine. Zionist youth groups in Europe
created songs based on German and other folk melodies, with Hebrew texts. It was during this
Cantor Ahron Abraham period that Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem was born. Poet Naftali Herz Imber’s text expresses
the Jewish people’s yearning for a homeland. The melody was a popular folk tune from Eastern Europe, which can also be
heard in Czech composer Bedrich Smetana’s Moldau.
Ethnomusicology, the study of nationalistic and cultural musical roots was quite popular at the turn of the century.
Consequently, Jewish musicians and ethnomusicologists from Europe (notably A.Z. Idelsohn, Gershon Ephros and Joel
Engel) immigrated to Palestine, studying and disseminating traditional musical idioms from Yemenite, Hassidic, Syrian and
other ethnic groups. The chalutzim brought with them the folk tunes and musical styles of Russia and Eastern Europe, and
composers started to mingle elements of Arab and Yemenite music with them. The “New Hebrew” style was born. These
early pioneer songs were modal, homophonic(one melody, all the voices and accompaniments move rhythmically together)
and written in a range comfortable for the average person (check templewb.org for examples).
Café and cabaret music became popular in Palestine in the 1920’s. Many of Israel’s early musical stars got their start in
the cabarets, including Shoshana Damari and Yaffa Yarkoni (who performed at Temple Israel several years ago). Cabaret
songs were light and popular, in contrast to the new Hebrew style of the pioneers. Major keys were favored, and upbeat
rhythms including Latin styles were incorporated. Cabarets and coffee houses continued in popularity even after the
establishment of the state in 1948.
Temple Israel Hosts Musical Event
Celebrating Israel’s 60th Birthday
Temple Israel of Wilkes Barre invites you to join in the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the
State of Israel with an afternoon of choral music featuring six local choirs. The concert will be held on Sunday, May 4,
2008 at 3:30 p.m. in Temple Israel’s sanctuary. The Wyoming Seminary Madrigal Singers, members of First Presbyterian
and St. Stephens church choirs, the Temple Israel and Temple B’nai B’rith combined choir, the Jewish Community Youth
Choir and the Choral Society of Northeast Pennsylvania will participate. The entire community is invited to attend this
outstanding musical celebration.
Admission is free. Families are encouraged to participate. Parking is available at Temple Israel and Wilkes
University parking lots.
Torah Workshop Sponsored by
the Saidman-Greenwald Torah Project
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner teaching Hebrew
School children scribal arts
Sefer Torah being repaired by Rabbi Lerner
Dr. David Greenwald, Dr. Steve Kafrissen and
Delilah Skaistis examining the Torah scroll
Page 3

School Notes
Happy
May
Birthdays to
Our Students
May 16
May 17
May 25
Chloe Winters
Jacob Berger
Nora Fierman
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 2007-08 school year must
be received by the Temple office by May 30, 2008.
All awards will be made after May 31st. For more
information, please call Debbie Schonfeld at the
Temple office.
People In the News
Freda Popky, Temple Israel’s only centenarian,
celebrated her 100th birthday on April 12, 2008 and was
recognized on the Today Show by Willard Scott on
Thursday, April 10, 2008. Deborah Chariton, Freda’s niece,
submitted her bio and was thrilled when Willard Scott’s
assistant notified her that Freda’s name would be
announced. Mrs. Popky recently moved from Scranton to
Heritage House in Wilkes-Barre. Mazel tov to Freda on this
milestone birthday – we wish her many more healthy,
happy years to come.
Mazal Tov to:
• Surita Coplan on the Bat Mitzvah of her granddaughter,
Sarah Coplan
• Carol & David Greewald on the birth of their grandson,
Levi Bodie Skaistis
• Marcie & Barry Iscovitz on the birth of their
granddaughter, Auden
• Judy & Harvey Klein on the marriage of their son, Jeffrey
to Gayle Rosenstein
• Marilyn Rosenberg on the Bat Mitzvah of her
granddaughter, Sylvia
Condolences to:
• Irving Moskow on the passing of his brother, Morris
Moskow
• Melvin Warshal on the passing of his wife, Sandra
Slate of Officers, 2008-2009
The Nominating Committee, chaired by Jack Savitz, is
pleased to present the following slate of officers and board
members to be elected at the Annual Dinner on June 22,
2008:
Proposed Slate of Officers
President..........................................................David Smith
First Vice President...............................................Fred Levy
Second Vice President ..........................Rosemary Chromey
Secretary .............................................................Lesa Gelb
Treasurer .........................................................David Harris
Financial Secretary........................................Rob Friedman
Assistant Financial Secretary .................................Lisa Klee
Board Members for Re-Election
to Second Term
Sally Berman
Dan Messinger
New Board Members
Max Bartikowsky
Jennifer Dressler
Alan Frank
Spencer Green
Steven Libenson
Terry Nelson
Michael Rittenberg
Nominating Committee:
Jack Savitz, Chair
Alan Hollander, Ex Officio
Larry S. Keiser, Ex Officio
Alan Frank
Spencer Green
Fred Levy
Ellen Rifkin
Michael Rittenberg
David Schwager
David Smith
Page 4

Book Club
The Book Club will meet on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at
7:00 p.m. at the home of Ann & Marvin Smith. The
selection is Peony in Love by Lisa See.
From the Publisher
Steeped in traditions and ritual, this story brings to life
another time and place–even the intricate realm of the
afterworld, with its protocols, pathways, and stages of
existence, a vividly imagined place where one’s soul is
divided into three, ancestors offer
guidance, misdeeds are punished,
and hungry ghostswander the
earth. Immersed in the
richness and magic of the
Chinese vision of the
afterlife, transcending even
death, Peony in Love
explores, beautifully, the many
manifestations of love.
Ultimately, Lisa See’s new
novel addresses universal themes:
the bonds of friendship, the
power of words, and the age-old
desire of women to be heard.
Cemetery Plantings
Spring is here and people will begin planting flowers
and shrubs on the graves of their loved ones. If you need
assistance, please
contact Carla Lehman at
814-6834. Please note
that no garbage cans are
available in the
cemetery, so when you
finish, please take your
trash with you.
Sisterhood Update
Dr. Dana Goldstein, Sisterhood President,
announces the Sisterhood Closing
Meeting, "Business and Brunch" will be
held on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at
11:00 a.m. in the Temple vestry. We look
forward to seeing all Sisterhood members
at this very important meeting.
SHABBAT
SCHEDULE
KEDOSHIM
Friday, May 2
Candlelighting time...................................7:44 p.m.
Saturday, May 3 ................................................9:30 a.m.
Bat Mitzvah of Miriam Finkelstein
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
EMOR
Friday, May 9
Candlelighting time....................................7:51 p.m.
Saturday, May 10 ..............................................9:30 a.m.
Law Day Shabbat
Guest speaker is Judge Thomas F. Burke, Jr.
Haftarah will be chanted by Atty. David Schwager
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
BEHAR
Friday, May 16
Candlelighting time....................................7:58 p.m.
Saturday, May 17 ..............................................9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by Sara Williams
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
BECHUKOTAI
Friday, May 23
Candlelighting time...................................8:05 p.m.
Saturday, May 24 ..............................................9:30 a.m.
Haftarah will be chanted by Shelly Smulowitz
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
BEMIDBAR
Friday, May 30
Candlelighting time....................................8:11 p.m.
Saturday, May 31
Haftarah will be chanted by Atty. Harold Rosenn
Minchah ....................................................5:15 p.m.
Page 5

✡ May Yahrzeits ✡
Week of May 1 – May 8: Evely Baum, Lydia Berman, Marvin Blum, Benjamin Chernus, Freda Feldman, Isaac E.
Frank, Rose Friedman, Ruth Hess, Daniel Hinerfeld, Mildred Isser, Robert Jaffe, Pauline Janowsky, Sheldon Kluger,
Fannie Kuffler, Robert Kutner, Arthur Lee, B.J. Levin, Leon Levine, David Meyer, Janice Null, Dr. W. Pearlman, Sidney
Picker, Myron Rifkin, Earl Rome, Samuel Rosenberg, Jennie Rosenn, Louis Rosenthal, Morton Schiffer, Harold Smith,
Vera Smith, Reba Winkler
Week of May 9 – May 15: Robert Bachman, Sidney Baldinger, Minnie Barras, A.W. Berman, Maurice Cimmet, Leah
Cutler, Melvin Ehrich, Marat Elkin, Gertrude Garber, Henrietta Ginsburgh, Lillian Gutterman, William Kaufman, Philip
Kluger, Frank Lubin, Harry Meyer, Edith Miller, Sadie Moses, Rose Nelson, Ethel Reichlin, Arthur Rosenberg, Claire
Rosenberg, Lois Rosensweig, Sylvia Savitz, Ida Smith, Tillie Ungar, Hannah Weisberger, Abe Zatcoff
Week of May 16 – May 22: Muriel Burnat, Samuel P. Cohen, Sarah Cohen, Maxwell Crames, Franklyn Davis, Arthur
Dorf, Sadie Goldstein, Hannah Hacker, Wolfe Harris, Anna G. Hyman, Dora Jordan, Robert Klein, Mania Kornblau,
Clarence K. Levin, Harold Meyer, Abe Morris, Jacob Rabinowitz, Gerald Savitz, Miriam Sims, Harry Sulkes, Sam
Sumner, Hanne Tischler, Frances Wasserstrom, Morris Yelen
Week of May 23 – May 31: Ruth Berman, Jack Breslaw, Annie Burnat, Harrison Coplan, Joseph Dorf, Yolanda Engel,
Mary Fierman, Anne Finkelstein, Maynard Finkelstein, Edith Friedman, Ruth Greenwald, Harry Hershey, Leroy Hurwitz,
Arthur S. Hymen, Hyman Kaplan, Morton Kaufman, Flora Kohn, Zelda Kurlansky, Saul Lang, Dora Levy, Sarah Luka,
Edward Popky, Edward Popky, Dr. Lester Saidman, Jeanne Sherman, Harry Y. Smulyan, Sylvia Steiner, Elsa Stern, Lillian
Sullum, Isadore Thalenfeld, Alan Trompetter, Harold Weber, Faye Weinstock, Dorothy Weissberger, Herbert Winkler
Please note the following local members who are observing yahrzeits during the month of May and try to attend
minyan with them in order that they may say Kaddish:
May 1 Ann Rifkin, Dr. Frank Berman
May 17 Sally Alinikoff, Diane Rabinowitz, Atty. Sandor
May 2
May 3
May 4
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 8
May 9
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 13
May 14
May 15
Atty. Harold Rosenn, Marvin Smith
Lorry Weisberger, Sallyanne Rosenn, Debby
Chernus, Leonard Chernus, Dr. Phyllis Berger,
Helena Prashker, Ellen Rifkin
Velma Smith, David Smith, Jeff Picker, Stanley
Pearlman, Dr. Jeffrey Null
Debra Rosenberg
Mimi Sirkin, Atty. Allan Kluger
Celia Connor, Lois Pensak, Naomi Meyer
Dr. Richard Blum, June Golubock, Dr. David
Barras, Sidney Friedman
Richard J. Levy, Charlotte Cutler
Dr. Paul Bachman, Judy Bachman, Estelle Karp
Randi Feno, Lev Libman
Sheldon Nelson, Ruth Levey, Marilyn Rosenberg,
Debra Rosenberg
Bruce Gutterman, Carol Anne Jackier King,
Sheldon Lubin
David Ginsburgh, Molly Cohen
Harvey Miller, Dr. David Barras, Joe Cutler
May 18
May 19
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
Yelen, Linda Williams, Trudy Harris
Lenore Harris
Harold Golubock, Cookie Savitz, Jan Picker
Tweedy Cohen, Shirley Fortinsky, Bill
Rabinowitz, Phyllis Mitchneck, Gladys
Weisberger, Jesse Savitz
Brenda Vilensky, Judy Gelb, Annabel Morris
Fannie Goldstein, Lynn Keiser
Shirley Abelson
Carol Greenwald, Sheila Saidman, Dr. Bruce
Saidman
Ruth Silver, Irene Lyons, Dr. Robert Engel
Sharon Cohen, Constance Stern, Ruth Mertz
Dr. David Greenwald, Lois Rittenberg, Mark
Finkelstein, Jay Finkelstein, Roz Friedman, Julius
Coplan, Eleanor Cohen, Liz Newsbaum
Chester Hymen, Harold Hymen
Freda Popky, Harriet Gray, Bea Weber, Ellen
Feder, Joe Cutler
Eileen Trompetter, Dr. Stephen Hurwitz
We Care
Want to attend services or Temple events, but have no transportation?
Just call the Temple office a few days in advance and
we will try to arrange a ride for you.
Page 6

From Our President. . .
The Spring has
been exciting and
very busy at Temple
Israel. We started off
the month of April
with a special Friday
Night service of
Consecration. Nine
Larry S. Keiser, Esq. beautiful third
graders were well
prepared and eager to recite their parts
for the assembled families and
congregation. The students truly made
those in attendance feel comfortable that
our Hebrew School is preparing our
youth to face the future as committed
Jews. There was palpable enthusiasm
among the students and they were
clearly stimulated by their teachers and
our school administration. Much thanks
to Principal Gerri Kaplan and teacher,
Karen Marcus on a job well done. After
the services, everyone shared in a festive
and most tasty Oneg Shabbat reception.
On Sunday, April 6, 2008,
Rabbi/Sofer Barry Dov Lerner brought his
exuberant personality and considerable
religious training and background to
Temple Israel when he presented a
program on the art of Torah writing and
the repair of sacred documents. Rabbi
Lerner mesmerized the youngsters and
adults with his intimate knowledge of the
tools and techniques used in creating or
repairing sacred documents. After
showing how pens and other writing
instruments are made, or prepared, by
the Sofer, Rabbi Lerner did give a turkey
feather quill as a souvenir to each of the
children who took part. Ultimately, after
a fine lunch, Rabbi Lerner actually
repaired one of our Torah scrolls to
restore it to kosher status. The program
was well attended and most informative,
in addition to being a lot of fun. We
have re-started the Saidman-Greenwald
Torah project and we thank those
families for their ongoing support.
I want to take this opportunity to
thank Jack Savitz for his most capable
handling of the duties of Nominating
Committee Chair. Along with his
Committee of Alan Frank, Ellen Rifkin,
Spencer Green, David Smith, David
Schwager, Mike Rittenberg, Fred Levy
and ex-officio members, Alan Hollander
and me, meetings were held and a slate
of officers and board members was
recommended for 2008-2009. The
committee slated David Smith for
President, Fred Levy and Rosemary
Chromey for Vice Presidents, David
Harris, Treasurer, Lesa Gelb, Secretary,
and Rob Friedman and Lisa Klee will
serve as Financial Secretary and Assistant
Financial Secretary. New board
positions will be filled by Max
Bartikowsky, Mike Rittenberg, Spencer
Green, Alan Frank, Terry Nelson, Steve
Libenson and Jennifer Dressler. Sally
Berman and Dan Messinger have been
slated to continue on the board for a
second two year term. Yasher Koach to
Jack and the committee for a job well
done!
We are also moving forward towards
our change in Temple leadership, which
takes place at the Annual Dinner and
Meeting to be held June 22, 2008. I am
pleased to announce that Carol
Greenwald will chair the Annual Dinner
Committee and the following members
will serve with her: Lynn Keiser, Missy
Saidman and Debbie Hollander,
Arrangements; Lisa Klee and Debbie
Schonfeld, Program Book; Bob Fortinsky,
Music; Joel Zitofsky, Decorations. The
committee also includes Rabbi Kaplan,
Cantor Abraham, Geraldine Hyman,
Jeanne Schoenholtz, Ellen Smith, Judy
Smith, Velma Smith, Sally Connor,
Shirley Fortinsky, Jeanne Fainberg, Sally
Lee Sagenkahn, Sheila Saidman, Lynda
Newirth, Ann Rifkin, Ellen Rifkin and
Sherry Davidowitz.
We continue to move forward
towards our goal of restoration of the
sanctuary and vestry. The Board is
simultaneously interviewing architects
and formalizing plans and specifications
for the needed restoration, while also
looking to raise the needed funds to pay
for the work. We will work diligently to
do only such work that is required to
restore the Temple to a safe, functional
and spiritual environment and to
preserve it for worship into the
generations of the future. Our
fundraising campaign will be led by
some of the most respected members of
the congregation. Honorary Chairs are
Harold Rosenn and Allan Kluger. The
general chairs selected to lead our
campaign are Carol and David
Greenwald. Many others will be drafted
to assist our leaders; I ask you to be
generous when called upon! Yasher
Koach to all – we look forward to a
successful campaign.
One last note in light of the recent
desecration at Ohav Zedek. I have
appointed a Security Committee which
Ed Connor will chair. Ed is taking the
safety of our members and our property
very seriously. He has already been in
contact with several resources, and I
expect that the committee will submit
suggestions for implementation in the
near future.
All the Best,
Larry S. Keiser
president@templewb.org
Rabbi Kaplan continued from page 2
and lady, with poise and composure
and dignity.
I have no doubt that the teenagers
responsible for the hateful graffiti did
not have the opportunity to learn such
values in their lifetime. And I know that
if we do not make this training a crucial
part of every teenager’s formative years,
we will see much more egalitarianism
in the prison system in the future.
Josh and Mallory, that graffiti on the
Ohav Zedek which we could see from
our front doors a couple of weeks ago,
was very scary. I hope that neither of
you were unduly afraid by it, but today
symbolizes the first day that you carry
your Jewish heritage with you wherever
you go. Becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah
means that you now have not only
privileges as Jews, but responsibilities
and obligations to fulfill. And you may
encounter some who aren’t happy with
that part of you. Don’t be afraid of that,
but if you do see it, try not to be filled
with hate. Instead, continue to be the
gentleman and lady that you have
become today and you will always
make us proud.
Rabbi Kaplan
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
May 2008
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Bat Mitzvah of
1 2 Miriam Finkelstein 3
Israel 60th
Anniversary
Concert, 3:30 p.m.
Board of Trustees,
Law Day
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat
Friday Night
Confirmation
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Service with TBB class, 4:00 p.m.
at Temple Israel,
7:30 p.m.
Executive
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Committee,
7:30 p.m.
Memorial Day
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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.
DR. AND MRS. 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)
FEED THE HOMELESS FUND
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
MARION & JACOB ISAACS ENDOWMENT
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
SIMS ENDOWMENT
MARK SLOMOWITZ MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT
USY/KADIMA FUND