December - Temple Israel

Volume 

85, Number 

3 

The Messenger 

Temple Israel 

December 2005 

Heshvan-Kislev 5766 

Inside 

Issue 

2 

2 

4 

4 

this 

Rabbi's 

Message 

Schedule 

Services 

of 

President's 

Message 

Cantor's 

Message 

Mr. Louis Nivert 

President, Temple Israel in Scranton 

Dear Mr. President: 

This is to challenge you to a 

latke cook-off!! 

5 School News 

6 

Sisterhood 

News 

7 Contributions 

11 

Leagrams 

13 

Sisterhood 

Gift Shop 

(pick your flavor!) 

Sunday, December 25, at 6:00p.m. in Temple Israel’s 

main kitchen. 

 

15 

16 

Mazal Tov & 

Condolences 

Daily Minyan 

Schedule 

16 

Cultural Arts 

TEMPLE ISRAEL 

918 E. GIBSON ST 

SCRANTON PA 18510 

“Rabbi Joe” Mendelsohn 

Temple Israel in Scranton 

Dear Rabbi: 

I accept your challenge. 

The challenge has been made and accepted. Share the first 

night of Hanukkah with Temple Israel as we celebrate with supper, 

song, lighting the first night lights, playing dreidels, enjoying each 

others’ friendship and, of course, latkes! 

See page 5 for details. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Friday, December 2, 2005 

Rosh Hodesh Kislev 

Shaharit 

Minha/Kabbalat Shabbat 

Light candles 

Tot Shabbat Oneg 

SHABBAT, December 3, 2005 

Service 

Minha/Ma’ariv 

Havdalah 

7:00 am 

4:10 pm 

4:19 pm 

6:30 pm 

8:45 am 

4:35 pm 

5:22 pm 

Friday evening, December 9, 2005 

Minha/Kabbalat Shabbat 4:10 pm 

Light candles 

4:19 pm 


Service 


Havdalah 

8:45 am 

4:35 pm 

5:22 pm 



Light candles 

4:20 pm 


Service 


Havdalah 

8:45 am 

4:35 pm 

5:23 pm 



Light candles 

4:23 pm 


Service 


Havdalah 

Sunday, December 25, 2005 

Erev Hanukkah-light first candle 


Hanukkah Celebration 

8:45 am 

4:45 pm 

5:27 pm 

5:45 pm 

6:00 pm 

Monday, December 26, 2005 

1st Day of Hanukkah-light second candle 

Shaharit 

7:00 am 


5:45 pm 

Tuesday, December 27, 2005 

2nd Day of Hanukkah-light third candle 

Shaharit 

7:00 am 


5:45 pm 

Wednesday, December 28, 2004 

3rd Day of Hanukkah-light fourth candle 

Shaharit 

7:00 am 


5:45 pm 

Our Torah readings have been dealing with the beginning of the Jewish 

people, our ancestors whom we revere to this day: 

“…Ubhœ¥,Ic£t h¥vOt¯u Ubhœ¥vO¡t ²h±h v¨T©t QUrœC – Blessed are you, LORD our God, our 

God and the God of our ancestors….” Along with a sense of continuity, this 

reverence for our ancestors provides us guidelines for understanding Judaism. 

Our ancestors were human beings with frailties, each saying things and 

performing acts which reflect human traits that are not considered admirable – 

deception (all seven ancestors at different times), haughtiness between Sarah 

and Hagar, theft when Rachel stole Lavan’s household gods, pettiness, etc. Yet, 

they were chosen by God to be the originators of the Jewish people – the first of 

God’s partners. 

Why? Many will tell you it is because they had faith in God – a new God, 

One Who could not be seen, felt or heard (except by certain special individuals) 

– far different from the gods of the time. The Torah says it is because of Avraham: 

God to Avraham: Breishit 17:1-9 “I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways and be 

blameless. 2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will make 

you exceedingly numerous…” 4 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You 

shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 And you shall no longer be called 

Avram, but your name shall be Avraham, for I make you the father of a multitude 

of nations…” 

God to Yitzhak: Breishit 26:24 “I am the God of your father Abraham. Fear 

not, for I am with you, and I will bless you and increase your offspring for the 

sake of My servant Abraham.” 

In fact, we find two covenants in TaNaKh: Sinaitic and Davidic. At Sinai we 

were told that God would protect and care for us if we followed God’s mitzvot – 

the covenant we remember every time we pray. The Davidic covenant comes 

from II Samuel 7:10-11, when David’s priest, Nathan, tells him God will make his 

name great and will protect us without asking for anything in return: “ 10 I will 

establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they 

shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Evil men shall not oppress them 

any more as in the past, 11 ever since I appointed chieftains over My people 

Israel. I will give you safety from all your enemies.” Again we find God giving us 

a covenant via an ancestor – one who was great, but also had human frailties 

(remember Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?). 

So what were the special traits common to our ancestors – so special that 

God would protect us, give us a home and protect us from our enemies – all on 

account of them? They acted on God’s behalf. They chose to be partners with 

God, attempting to do what is right. In other words, they strove to be holy. 

Striving for holiness is a concept that seems strange for normal human beings, 

yet Avraham and David were not made from better stock than the rest of us. Here 

are excerpts from Chapter 19 of Vayikra which explain how to strive for holiness: 

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the whole Israelite community 

and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy. 3 You shall 

each revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I the LORD am 

your God... 

9 

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to 

the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not 

continued on page 3 

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Temple Israel Messenger 

Rabbi’s message - continued from page 2 

pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall 

leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the LORD am your God. 11 You shall 

not steal; you shall not deal deceitfully or falsely with one another. 12 You 

shall not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God: I am the 

LORD. 13 You shall not defraud your fellow. You shall not commit robbery. The 

wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning. 14 You shall not 

insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind. You shall fear 

your God: I am the LORD. 15 You shall not render an unfair decision: do not 

favor the poor or show deference to the rich; judge your kinsman fairly. 16 Do 

not deal basely with your countrymen. Do not profit by the blood of your 

fellow: I am the LORD. 17 You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove 

your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him. 18 You shall not take 

vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as 

yourself: I am the LORD. 

32 

You shall rise before the aged and show deference to the old; you shall 

fear your God: I am the LORD. 33 When a stranger resides with you in your land, 

you shall not wrong him. 34 The stranger who resides with you shall be to you 

as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers 

in the land of Egypt: I the LORD am your God. 35 You shall not falsify measures 

of length, weight, or capacity. 36 You shall have a just balance, just weights, a 

just measure of volume, and a just measure of liquid. 

These instructions – all simple actions – are all ways to strive for holiness. 

In doing them, we create a better community for ourselves and for our neighbors. 

By doing them on a daily basis we become partners with God, thereby 

raising the bar on our own expectations as we bring holiness into our daily 

lives. 

Now that our Jewish New Year observances are over, let’s not forget our 

commitment to work towards a better year. Take some time now and decide how 

you can be partners with God, striving to be holy. Then, this year as you recite 

the sheheheyanu on the first night of Hanukkah, you will bring new meaning to 

the brakha, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, for 

granting us life, for sustaining us and for helping us to reach this day.” 

“Rabbi Joe” Mendelsohn 

Thursday, December 29, 2005 

4th Day of Hanukkah-light fifth candle 

Shaharit 

7:00 am 


5:45 pm 

Friday, December 30, 2005 

5th Day of Hanukkah-light sixth candle 

Shaharit 

7:00 am 


Light Hanukkah candles 4:25 pm 

Light Shabbat candles 

4:28 pm 


Rosh Hodesh Tevet 

6th Day of Hanukkah-light seventh candle 

Service 

8:45 am 


4:50 pm 

Havdalah 

5:32 pm 

Light Hanukkah candles 5:35 pm 

(In the synagogue we light Hanukkah candles 

and then the Havdalah candle.) 

Sunday, January 1, 2006 

Rosh Hodesh Tevet 

New Year’s Day 

7th Day of Hanukkah-light eighth candle 

Shaharit 

8:00 am 


5:45 pm 

Monday, January 2, 2006 

8th Day of Hanukkah 

Shaharit 


7:00 am 

5:45 pm 

Drivers needed in Lackawanna County 

Lend a helping hand in your community by becoming a volunteer driver for the 

American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. As a volunteer, you will 

offer cancer patients safe and friendly access by transporting them to and from 

treatments they need. The American Cancer Society offers use of its own Road 

to Recovery Van for transporting patients. Volunteer drivers do not have to use 

their own vehicle or pay for gas or maintenance on the van. If you are interested 

contact the American Cancer Society by calling 383-4701. 

Let Us Notify You by Email 

We would like to be able to notify our members 

of Temple happenings in a timelier manner and 

also save on postage. We are compiling an email 

list to notify congregants of events, meetings, 

and deaths in a timely way. To be added to the 

list, please send us an email at tiscran@epix.net 

from the email account where you would like to 

receive the notices. 

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I recently received a letter from Sam Maiman, 

resigning as chairman of the Cemetery committee. 

I accepted it, with great regret, remembering his 

many years of service to our Temple, and what 

he has accomplished. 

Since Sam accepted the position, nearly four 

decades ago, he has built up the cemetery’s 

finances, until it is now financially self-sustaining. 

He saw that proper care of the cemetery must 

always continue, regardless of the fortunes, or 

even existence, of the Temple itself. 

Thank you, Sam. Our congregation is grateful 

for the foresight, diligence and ability you have 

shown in attending to every detail of cemetery 

administration. I am sorry to see you step down 

from your position, and know that you are eager 

to work with the next chairperson. 

Louis Nivert, President 

TEMPLE ISRAEL MESSENGER NOW 

AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE 

As of November 2005, the Messenger is 

available electronically on our website: 

www.jfednepa.org/tis. If your Messenger 

doesn’t arrive in the mail, if the dog eats it, if 

you used it to wrap the garbage, it will still be 

available online. 

from the cantor 

Famous Cantors of the 20th-21st century, Part 1 

In this first article in a series about famous cantors of the 20 th and 21 st centuries, 

I am going to share with you information about the very well-known, and highly 

talented cantor Sol Zim. 

The very first time I met him goes back to the mid 1990’s. We sang in a concert 

together in Florida. I was in the Moscow Synagogue choir as a soloist and 

Cantor Zim was one of the concert soloists. We sang some numbers together. 

This was just an unforgettable evening. At this time I’d like to introduce you to 

some of the highlights of his life. 

Sol Zim’s musical career began at an early age when he served as a child soloist 

with his father, Cantor Samuel Zimelman in Portland, Maine. Sol received his 

cantorial training from one of the great masters of cantorial prayer, Joshua Weisser. 

At the same time he was acquiring a general music education under the tutelage 

of the grand choir master, Oscar Julius. Continuing his education, Sol graduated 

from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Brooklyn College and earned 

his Masters degree at NYU. 

Sol has served the Hollis Hills Jewish Center in Queens, New York, for more than 

thirty-eight years and has been awarded a life-time contract. To develop his 

cantorial art and technique, he studied privately with the Cantor Moshe 

Koussevitsky, and Sholom Secunda. Sol is internationally recognized as one of 

the world’s leading cantors. 

Zim has composed hundreds of songs and Hassidic nigunim which are sung by 

Jews the world over. He believes that a cantor should not merely sing and daven 

to a congregation but that he should involve people in prayer. Sol represented 

the United States at the Israeli Chassidic Festival. He was the first American 

composer to win honors in the competition. During successive festivals he 

entered various winning songs, such as, Sheybane, Shalom Alechem,and 

V’erstich Li L’olam. Sol has published nine song books of his own original 

music. These collections known as The Joy Series have been acclaimed as 

innovative, inspiring, and a key to continued Jewish musical culture. 

From the popular ballad, Yiddish and Israeli folk songs to the operatic aria, Sol is 

a unique singer and a rare entertainer. Richard Tucker encouraged Sol to study 

opera and under the tutelage of Maestro Julius Riedel and Kurt Baum, he learned 

twenty operatic roles. Although he was offered a contract with the Vienna State 

Opera theatre and Israeli Opera Company in Tel Aviv, Sol decided to devote 

himself solely to Jewish music. 

Sol has recorded fifteen record albums by himself and with the Brothers Zim. Sol 

is perhaps best known as one of the Brothers Zim, a group which he founded. 

In addition to his musical achievements, Sol has dedicated his time and energy to 

philanthropy and Jewish causes. Today he is one of the musical Jewish leaders 

who makes a significant contribution to the Jewish world bringing Jewish music 

to far flung communities. 

It would be an honor for our community and for me to have this Jewish musical 

star present a concert for us one day in the future. 

Cantor Vladimir Aronzon 

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


The Cook-Off is On!! 

The gloves are off and the aprons are on, as our Rabbi and President go fryer 

to fryer, making latkes to be tasted by you!! Come to Temple Israel’s First 

Night Hanukkah Celebration – Sunday, December 25, at 6:00 p.m., in Levy 

Hall. Temple Hesed members have been invited to celebrate with us for supper, 

song, lighting the first night lights, playing dreidels, enjoying each others’ 

friendship and, of course, latkes! Just fill out the form below and join us on 

the 25 th . 

B.Y.O.H. (Bring your own Hanukkiah.) 

I wish to come to the Temple Israel Latke Cook-off and supper 

on December 25 at 6:00 p.m. 

The enclosed check is my reservation: 

_________________________ 

Name 

_______________ 

Phone number 

# of adults _______ @$11 ________ 

# of children _______ @ $7 ________ 

TOTAL 

________ 

SCHOOL NEWS 

Hebrew school students will be busy during the 

month of Kislev solidifying their Hebrew and 

prayer skills, learning Torah, and celebrating 

Hanukkah. I hope everyone will join us for the 

Hanukkah celebration scheduled for Sunday 

evening, December 25. 

The last day of school before winter break is 

Thursday, December 22. Vacation will run from 

December 24 through January 1. School will 

resume on Tuesday, January 3. 

We are excited to welcome our new Student Rabbi, 

Adam Rosenthal. He will lead a Family Service 

on our first Shabbat after winter vacation, 

January 7. Adam is very enthusiastic about 

working with our children, and should be a great 

asset to our Hebrew School program. 

I wish everybody a Happy Hanukkah and a great 

vacation. 

Lisa Golden, Educational Director 

Amir Peretz - the New Israeli Leader 

by Rabbi Emeritus David Geffen 

When Peretz began his campaign against Peres to wrest away the leadership of the Labor party of Israel, most people laughed. How 

could this "Pied Piper of Sderot"(hometown of Amir Peretz) defeat the last survivor of the Labor party's glory? For weeks following the 

disengagement in Gaza, Peres, a minister in Sharon's government and the titular leader of his party, seemed to grow in stature. However, 

it was clear that the Likud rebels were not happy with Sharon for taking all those settlers out of Gaza. Hence, when they had a chance, 

they demonstrated their strength in the Knesset by thwarting the Prime Minister's efforts to 'annoint' two new ministers. That was ten 

days ago, and then came the Labor Party primaries - Shimon Peres versus Amir Peretz. Mr. Ashkenazi against Mr. Sephardi; Mr. Veteran 

politician versus a relative newcomer; Mr. Sharon-Teamplayer with an individual who wants to move mountains. Add all this up - 

remember that a former party leader "Fuad" was also in the race and you have the ingredients for the "Political Earthquake" in which 

Peretz pinned Peres to the mat. Not by much but by enough to win. 

One letter to the press by a middle-class urban voter put it this way. "Perets has come to lead his flock of development-town citizens(as 

well as the rest of us) to glory! Peretz, supported by the neglected ones, those who rarely benefit from wage-agreements, increase in 

salaries, and the honor they should receive for their efforts, defeated by Peres." With his ascendancy to the party leadership, Amir 

Peretz is about to bring a new vitality to the Laborites. Can he become Prime Minister? The future holds that secret now. Keep your 

attenae up for Amir Peretz. He is a man on the go. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5


SISTERHOOD NEWS 

Sponsor A Sisterhood Kiddush 

Sisterhood Kiddushim are available for 

sponsoring. If you have a birthday, anniversary, 

baby naming or some other occasion you would 

like to mark, why not sponsor a Sisterhood 

Kiddush. The cost for a cake kiddush is $165.00. 

If you would like to have a cake kiddush plus 

herring and gefilte fish the cost is $200.00. For 

more information contact: 

Phyllis Brandes 586-9498 (December to April) 

or Susan Jacobson 587-5964 (May to November) 

Sisterhood Raises Price of 

Kitchen Rentals 

Sisterhood has found it necessary to raise the 

prices as of September 1, 2005, for the use of 

Temple kitchen facilities. If you are planning a 

catered event at Temple, please contact the 

Temple office for an updated price list. 

Sisterhood Thanks 

Sisterhood wishes to thank the following for preparing 

the Kiddush tables for the month of September: 

Dottie Ruzi, Elma Starr & Ruth Gelb; for 

October: Dottie Ruzi & Nancy Friedman; and for 

of November: Elaine Nussbaum & Paula Wasser. 

Many thanks to those who helped make our Bistro 

Night a success. Those who attended had a 

great time! If you missed out, perhaps we’ll do it 

again in the spring if there is adequate interest. 

TODAH RABAH 

To: Penny Myers, Rhonda Fallk, Karen & Robbie 

Pollack, Ann Monsky, Lisa Golden, Phyllis & 

Michael Weinberg, Bev Meil, Shelly Garber, and 

Dave Walker. 

Marian Goldstein-Beckhorn, 

President Sisterhood 

TREE OF LIFE 

A gift of a leaf on our Tree of Life is a perfect 

way to honor family and friends 

The Religious Celebration of Hanukkah 

Unlike other lights, the Hanukkah lights are to be lit for entirely religious purposes 

– we do not use the light from the hanukkiah for any other reason. Kosher 

hanukkiot have eight candles or oil receptacles the same height plus one that is 

set higher. This higher one is called a shamash and is used every night to light 

the others. If you have a hanukkiah that uses oil, olive oil is preferred. For either 

oil or wax candles, the process is the same: The shamash lights one light on the 

first night and one additional light is added each consecutive night, so that eight 

lights are kindled on the eighth night. The lights should be kindled after sundown 

except for Shabbat (see below). The first candle is placed on the right side of the 

hanukkiah (as you face the window), the second candle (on the second night) is 

placed directly to the left of the place occupied by the first candle, and so on. 

The kindling starts from left to right, so the candle added for the day is lit first. 

Three brakhot are used for kindling the Hanukkah lights the first night, and only 

the first two are used the other nights. They are as follows: 

/vFbj kJ rb ehksvk UbUmu uh,ImnC UbJSe rJt ///vTt QUrC 

Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, 

asher kidshanu bemitsvotav, v’tzivanu, l’hadlik neir shel Hanukkah. 

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, 

Who hallows us with Mitzvot, and commands us to kindle the Hanukkah 

lights. 

/vZv inZC ovv ohnHC Ubh,«uctk ohXb vGgJ ///vTt QUrC 


she asa-nissim la-avoteinu, bayamim, haheim, bazman hazeh. 

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, 

Who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season. 

/vZv inZk UbghDvu UbnHeu UbhjvJ ///vTt QUrC 


sheheheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh. 

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, 

Who has given us life, sustained us, and has helped us reach this day. 

on the important occasions in their lives. 

For birthdays or anniversaries or other simchas, 

call Carol Nogi at 587-5453 

to place a leaf on the Tree of Life in their honor. 

6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BIBLE 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Henrietta Liebman 

Barbara, Louis, Aaron Nivert & 

Rebecca & Thomas Tschampel 

RECOVERY WISHES TO: 

Paul Rosenberg 

Mark Willensky & Maureen 

McGurl 

IN HONOR OF: 

Special anniversary of Mr. & Mrs. Sam 

Green 

Beverly & Arnold Nachlis 

Bar Mitzvah of Gerald Young 

Mim & Joel Joseph 

PRAYER BOOK 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Joseph Levy 

Iris & Michael Mardo 

Barbara & Louis Nivert 

Bobbi & Ed Novick 


Phyllis & Ed Brandes 

Esther Kurlancheek 

Mildred & David Weinberg 

Marion Nivert 

Tom Lebowitz 

Millie, sister of Vogel & Kahn family 

Rose Mae & Lillian Levy 

IN HONOR OF: 

Special birthday of Barbara Ehrenpreis 

Renee Feldman 

Frances Goldstein 

ELAINE BERNSTEIN 

TEMPLE BEAUTIFICATION 

FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 


Dr. Melvyn & Marilyn Wolk 


Paul Alamar 

Dr. Melvyn & Marilyn Wolk 

Samuel Maiman 

Suzie & Richard Jacobson 

Paul Rosenberg 


CONTRIBUTIONS 

IN HONOR OF: 

Eli Arenberg selected as Hatan Bereishit 


REBA & ART DOUGLASS 

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND 

YAHRZEIT OF: 

Beloved father Harry Ecker 

Phyllis & Michael Weinberg 

Beloved sister Lois Wilensky 

Phyllis & Michael Weinberg 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Helen Cumsky 

Fran Grossman 

Philip Golden 

Naomi & Paul Alamar 

Margaret & Doug Sheldon 

Malka Kaufer 

Jill & James Linder & family 


Joseph Levy 

Joyce & Don Douglass 

Lisa & Mark Golden & family 


Ellie & Bernie Barton 

Barb, Ceil, Bethany Biedrzycki 

Joyce & Don Douglass 


Marion Nivert 


Jill & James Linder & family 


Paul Alamar 


Dr. & Mrs. Melvyn Wolk 

Thomas Blum 


Dr. Gene Goldstein 


Judy Goldstein 


Hannah Tillinger 


IN HONOR OF: 



Consecration of Jared, son of Mr. & Mrs. 

Mitchell Cohen 

Jill & James Linder 


Consecration of Ethan, son of Mr. & 

Mrs. Henry Kreinces 


Consecration of Brendan, Stephanie, 

Lauren, children of Dr. & Mrs. Gerald 

Larar 


Consecration of Leah, daughter of Mr. & 

Mrs. Alan Silverman 


Consecration of Rachel, daughter of Mr. 

& Mrs. Alan Smertz 


IRVING AND FRAYDEL EISENSTAT 

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 

FUND 

YAHRZEIT OF: 

Beloved father Harry Kane 

Shirley Friedman 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Joseph Levy 

Shirley Kane 


Shirley Kane 


Paul Alamar 


IN HONOR OF: 

Abe Plotkin selected as Hatan Torah 


MICHAEL L. AND SARA R. 

GOODMAN SCHOLARSHIP 

FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Jimmie Branfdorf 

Barbara & Shelly Ehrenpreis 

Joseph Levy 




IN HONOR OF: 

Special birthday of Barbara Ehrenpreis 

Mitzie & Ben Levy 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7


HAPPINESS FUND 


Max Chvotkin 


IN HONOR OF: 


Gladys & Jack Suravitz 

M. L. HODIN 

SCHOLARSHIP & ARTS FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Helen Cumsky 

Suzie & Scott Herlands & family 

Eileen & Joe Hodin 

Joseph Levy 


Mark & Maureen Willensky 


Dina & Ari Bustan 

Suzie & Scott Herlands 


Mark Willensky & Maureen 

McGurl 

Laura Willensky & Kiko Giobbio 


Helene Kornfeld 

Suzie & Scott Herlands 

CANTOR WILLIAM S. HORN 

MEMORIAL FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 



Barry Propper 

STEVEN B. LEVY FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Joseph Levy 

Barbara, Mitchell, Jordan Adler 

Eileen Baine 

Sister Adrian & Marie Barrett 

Phyllis & Ed Brandes 

Paul & Betty Delrosario 

Ruth & Sidney DePicciotto 

Gerry Dickstein 

Gloria Dinner 

Andrea & Mark Dinner 

Sherry & Gary Dinner 

Rosalie Engelmyer 

Aleen & David Epstein 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

Ruth, Harold, Howard Feinberg 

Renee Feldman 

Barbara & Jerry Fink 

Alan & Joy Firestone 

Jill & Howard Fragin 

Dorothy Friedman 


Harriett Gelb 

Mae Gelb 

Barbara & Gene Goldenziel 

Sheldon Goldstein 

Molly Grossinger 

Dottie & Bill Harris 

Susan & Rick Jacobson 

Arthur Z. Jurkowitz 

Gloria & Monroe Jurkowitz 

Laurie Klemow & Gail Gracia 

Delia & Marvin Lang 


Theresa Levy & family 

Bill & Margaret Little 

Sophie & Samuel Maiman 

McGrail, Merkel, Quinn & Assoc. 

Patrick J. Manley 

Ann & Leo Moskovitz 

Diane & Ed Moskovitz 

Sally Moskovitz 

Joseph & Luciana Nidoh 

Dr. & Mrs. Melvin Oram 

Barry Propper 

Reva & Earl Quint 

Bill Reich 

Eileen Romm 

Margery & Paul Rosenberg 

Harriet & Paul Rosenstein 

Guitelle & Shooky Rothstein 

Babs Rubinow 

Gerry Sabsowitz 

Renee & Sam Schectman 

Harriet & Joe Schectman 

Jayne Simon 

Renee Singer & Robert 

Koppelman 

Howard & Rochelle Spizer 

Gladys & Jack Suravitz 

Paula Wasser 

Gussie Weinberger 

Charlotte Weisberger 

Dr. & Mrs. Melvyn Wolk 


Dr. & Mrs. Melvin Oram 

Paula Wasser 

Marion Nivert 

Ruth, Harold, Howard Feinberg 

Theresa Levy 

Paula Wasser 

MILLER-MEISTER FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Joseph Levy 

Marilyn & Bart Bartikowsky 

Marion Nivert 

Linda & Raymond Schwartz 

MITZVAH COMMITTEE FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Helen Cumsky 

Helen Miller 

Mother of Victoria Deutsch 

Helen Miller 

Joseph Levy 

Helen Miller 



Barbara Maiman 

Helen Miller 

IN HONOR OF: 

Special anniversary of Mr. & Mrs. 

Samuel Green 

Ruth Gelb & Sam Rosen 

Special birthday of Dr. Howard Platt 


Birthday of Millie Gritz 


Birthday of Lillian Gross 



Helen Pinkus 

ALVIN NATHAN YOUTH 

FUND 

YAHRZEIT OF: 

Beloved mother Stella Nathan 

Shelly & Bill Smulowitz 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Joseph Levy 

Elaine Levy & Monroe Smith 



8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seymour Ziff 


MARC PLOTKIN 

SCHOLARSHIP FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Joseph Levy 

Irene Ruffman 

Lucille & Abe Plotkin 


Lucille & Abe Plotkin 

Irene Ruffman 


Carole Fishbein 

Irene Ruffman 

IN HONOR OF: 


Ruth & Sidney DePicciotto 

Sheldon Goldstein 

Helen Pinkus 

TEMPLE FUND 

YAHRZEIT OF: 

Beloved daughter Debra Book 

Adele Baldinger 

Beloved husband Merle Seeherman 

Harriet Seeherman 

Beloved father Simon Corner 

Harriet Seeherman 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Alan Berger 

Claire Dubin 

Thelma Chakofsky 

Harriet Seeherman & Carol Singer 

Helen Cumsky 

Harriett Gelb 


Howard & Rochelle Spizer 

Herman Davis 

Steve & Ann Kavulich 

Steve, Joanne, Steve, Mark Kavulich 

Malka Kaufer 

Alan & Joy Firestone 

Parents Daniel & Sonia Koppelman 

Renee Singer, Scott Singer, 

Robert Koppelman 

Joseph Levy 

Mitzi & Al Edelsohn 

Melba Fishman 

Miriam Friedman 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

Carole & Nelson Goodman 

Joan & Burton Greenwald 

Mim & Joel Joseph 


Norma & Jack Lipman 


Irma & Ben Schnessel 


Ellen & Stuart Wiesenberger 


Fern Blum 

Gerry Dickstein 

Gloria Dinner 

Melba Fishman & family 


Fran & Irv Kaufman 



Marsha & Larry Mandel 

Reva & Earl Quint 

Robert & Faye Rosenberg 




Reva Skop 

Judy & Barry Warshal 

Carlos & Terri Zukowski 

Marion Nivert 

Gloria Dinner 

Claire Dubin 

Harriett Gelb 

Monroe & Gloria Jurkowitz 

Ellen McDade 

Seymour Ziff 

Claire Dubin 

Ruth Harris 

Freda Popky 



Paul Alamar 

Harriett Gelb 


Claire Dubin 


Ruth Harris 

Bob & Ellen Meyer 

Samuel Maiman 

Claire Dubin 

Rosalie Engelmyer 



IN HONOR OF: 

Special anniversary of Mr. & Mrs. Sam 

Green 


Special birthday of Ann Shiffman 

Beverly Itzkowitz 

Bruce Levy’s new business venture 

Pearl Miller 



Florence & Lester Block 

Charlotte & Marvin Pollack 



Dottie & Avie Ruzi 


Florence & Lester Block 

Ellen McDade 

Charlotte & Marvin Pollack 


Dottie & Avie Ruzi 

Marriage of daughter of Judy & Louis 

Prenselaar 


LOUIS WOLF FOUNDATION 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Malka Kaufer 


Joseph Levy 

Lil Levy & Irv Kalisher 

Seymour Ziff 

Lil Levy & Irv Kalisher 




Paul Alamar 


Thomas Blum 


Gloria Feibus 


Samuel Maiman 


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9


Irene Markowitz 


IN HONOR OF: 



Faye & Robert Rosenberg 

Wes Freedman selected B’nai B’rith Man of 

the Year 


RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND 

IN MEMORY OF: 

Joseph Levy 

Linda and “Rabbi Joe” Mendelsohn 

Louis Zepel 




Joseph Siegel 


IN HONOR OF: 

Wes Freedman – B’nai Brith Man of the Year 


Lois Dubin 

Earl and Reva Quint 

Ed and Phyllis Brandes 

FOR A HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW 

YEAR 

Sam Rosen 

Please note that the Rabbi’s 

Discretionary Fund has been audited 

from August, 2004 through 

June 30, 2005 and has been 

approved. 

Continued from right 

By the time you read this Mitzna will be in 

Yeroham. Find the town on the map of Israel. Let 

us hope like Judah Maccabee of old who said 

"follow me" and the Jews beat the Greeks that 

Amram Mitzna's move to the Negev will raise the 

image of Yeroham to a new level, but mostly inspire 

Israelis today and present American Jews, 

as well, to become modern-day Maccabees. 

Chag Urim Sameah - have a wonderful Hannukah 

. 

Rabbi Emeritus David Geffen 

Hannukah Gets to Israel Early 

by Rabbi Emeritus David Geffen 

The latke has been the sample food for Hannukah for years, but in Israel the jelly 

doughnut has taken over because it can be made and sold more easily. As soon 

as Simchat Torah is over, all the cafes and sidewalk bakeries in Israel begin to sell 

jelly doughnuts. The most interesting aspect of this process currently is the 

fluctuation in prices. Since many supermarkets now have their own baking ovens, 

they offer jelly doughnuts at 2 to 2-1/2 shekels, about 50 cents apiece. In the 

cafes and bakeries, the prices begin at 4-1/2, $1, and just keep going up. When 

you inquire about the difference in price levels - mostly you are told these are the 

nesim, the miracles of Hannukah . One owner told me, "the major miracle is to see 

how high the price can rise - then we know our profit margin for the holiday." 

Hannukah , this year, offers quite a challenge because Christmas and Kwanzaa 

fall at the same time. In the USA this is a matter that has to be dealt with. In Israel 

this is much less of an issue. In America, Hannukah continues to be the holiday 

of triumph over the wicked Antiochus. The Hasmoneans, most notably Judah 

Maccabee, made it clear that the Jews would triumph over the Hellenists and 

their Greek supporters. Judaism would be saved, and as a result Christianity and 

ultimately Islam would come into being. The inclusion of the Books of Maccabees 

in some Christian Bibles makes it clear in American circles that the ancient victory 

of our ancestors has a sacred meaning to the largest faith in the USA. 

In Israel, the Hannukah story assumed a different role. Since Hannukah was not 

a major holiday, but, on the other hand, it was a festival in which a military victory 

was highlighted. The oil miracle of the lights was recognized, but for Israelis the 

Maccabee aspect of the holiday was much more dramatic. The first way in which 

this aspect of Hannukah got through to the people here was via athletics and 

athletic teams and competition. The Maccabee athletic association was founded 

even before Zionism, and then it really took off after World War 1 when the 

Palestine Mandate was created. Furthermore, the figure of Judah Maccabee and 

his followers became a part of the psyche of the early Hagana fighters and the 

Irgun and Lehi groups. The Maccabee military associations were created throughout 

Europe in the 20 years before World War II. 

In mid-November a new type of Maccabee arose in Israel. He was not the gentleman 

elected to head the Labor party. He was the former head of the party, the 

former mayor of Haifa, the former commander of the Judaea and Samaria military 

zone, Amram Mitzna. He showed what the focus of senior Israelis like himself 

should be. He resigned from the Knesset to be appointed the temporary mayor of 

the town of Yeroham in the Negev. You may ask how could a leading figure like 

Mitzna do this? He attributed it to the "good old Maccabee spirit." 

You all remember that in the Hannukah story - many of the Jews wanted to be like 

the Greeks. They dressed like them, they bowed to their idols, they made it clear 

that they desired to be the title of the time, "Hellenists." Sadly there is a sense 

here in Israel that the best way to live is just to let the societal concerns be 

handled by someone else. The bold sense of volunteering to assist those in need 

has been diminished. Mitzna knew well that feeling. He saw it when he took over 

the Labor party after a dramatic electoral victory. The people in his party elected 

him, but then they just sat back and expected him to change the world. In the 

Likud party there is the same self-centeredness - for myself alone. 

Continued at left 

10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TEMPLE ISRAEL SISTERHOOD 

LEAGRAM LIST 

We are ready with our Leagram list for the next two months. 

Send anniversary and/or birthday greetings. 

Please cooperate with the Leagram Chair, Mildred Gritz, 

And return your list by December 15 th . 

The price of one Leagram used for multiple listings is $1.00. 

A check or cash with your order is necessary. 

Checks are to be made payable to the Temple Israel Sisterhood. 

Birthdays and Anniversaries January 1 to January 31 

Birthday Date Anniversary Date 

Arlene Swartz 1/1 

Berenice Brown 1/1 

Rosalie Engelmyer 1/3 

Geri Berg 1/3 

Seth Linker 1/4 

Barbara Nivert 1/5 

Lee Hollenberg 1/6 

Jill Linder 1/6 

Elma Starr 1/6 

Dennis Volkland 1/7 

Esther F. Rosenfeld 1/7 

Jay Okun 1/9 

Louis Kahanowitz 1/11 

Nancy Wimmer 1/13 

Monroe Jurkowitz 1/13 

Frederick Levy 1/15 

Myer Alperin 1/15 

Richard Goldenzeil 1/17 

Gloria Jurkowitz 1/19 

Audrey Kaufman 1/19 

Seth Gross 1/20 

Mihail Gorelick 1/21 

Rhonda Sugarman 1/26 

Rochelle Garber 1/26 

Jay Willner 1/28 

Betsy Hyers 1/28 

Judy Warshal 1/28 

Ceil Fischman 1/29 

Sheryl Gross 1/30 

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Rosenberg 1/3 

Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Chazan 1/8 

Atty. & Mrs. Howard Spizer 1/18 

Mr. & Mrs. Irving Kaufman 1/21 

Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Hollenberg 1/27 


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11


TEMPLE ISRAEL SISTERHOOD 

LEAGRAM LIST 

(continued, JANUARY IS ON THE REVERSE SIDE) 

Birthdays and Anniversaries Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 

Birthday Date Anniversary Date 

Ruth Strohl 2/1 Mr. & Mrs. Ben H. Levy 2/7 

Murray Glick 2/1 Atty. & Mrs. Stuart Moskovitz 2/8 

Elaine Utan 2/2 Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Waldman 2/10 

Robert Land 2/3 Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Dubin 2/14 

Sheldon Ehrenpreis 2/3 Mr. & Mrs. Paul Rosenstein 2/18 

Erika Volkland 2/5 Mr. & Mrs. Steven Weinberger 2/19 

Burton Greenwald 2/6 Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Schectman 2/28 

Isadore Steckel 2/8 

Paul Luers 2/8 ———————————————————————————————— 

Melvyn Wolk 2/10 PLEASE SEND A LEAGRAM TO THE PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES I HAVE 

Ann Monsky 2/11 CIRCLED: 

Freda Justan 2/11 

Albert Brauner 2/11 SIGN MY NAME (AND MY HUSBAND’S ) ON THE LEAGRAM 

Jeanette Simon 2/13 AS FOLLOWS: 

Morris Mertz 2/13 

Kenneth Green 2/13 

David Adler 2/14 

Irene Ruffman 2/15 

Mildred Davis 2/16 

Ben H. Levy 2/17 

Nat Liebman 2/22 

ENCLOSED IS:____________________ 

Cynthia Farber 2/22 PER NAME, NUMBER OF NAMES 

Mary Wolk 2/23 

Nancy Silverberg 2/23 

CIRCLED:_________________ 

Harriet Brotter 2/24 TOTAL AMOUNT:__________________ 

Rose Appel 2/26 

Paulette Okun 2/28 

MAIL TO: MILDRED GRITZ 

Mildred Cantor 2/28 

535 JEFFERSON AVE 

APT. 804 

SCRANTON, PA 18510 

12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Gift Shop #1 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13


14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


MAZAL TOV 

We take note of the following happy occasions and Temple Israel wishes to 

express its congratulations to: 

Joseph Brown, on his special birthday. 

Paul Friedman, on his special birthday. 

Parents & family of Alana Goldstein on her graduation from Allied Medical 

Institute as a massage therapist. 

Barbara Green, on her special birthday. 

Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Green, on their special anniversary. 

Mr. & Mrs. Burton Greenwald, on their special anniversary. 

Saul Kaplan, on his special birthday. 

Rochelle Land, on her special birthday. 

Rabbi Joseph Mendelsohn, on being elected president of the Central City 

Ministerium. 

Howard Platt, on his special birthday. 

Paul Rosenberg, on his special birthday. 

Ann Shiffman, on her special birthday. 

Robert Ufberg, on his special birthday. 

David Weinberg, on his special birthday. 

CONDOLENCES 

In memoriam, our Congregation observes the passing of loved ones, and 

express its deepest condolences to: 

Mark Golden, on the death of his father Phillip. 

Nat Liebman, on the death of his wife Henrietta. 

Iris Mardo, on the death of her mother Henrietta Liebman. 

Bertha Mittelman family. 

Charlotte Plottle, on the death of her brother Seymour Ziff. 

Joseph Siegel family. 

May their souls be bound up in the 

Bond of Eternal Life 

Temple Israel’s USY and Kadima chapters are off 

to a strong start this year. We held our kickoff 

event on October 15th, with 21 participants in 

grades 5 through 12. We enjoyed a pizza dinner, 

followed by bowling at Idle Hour Lanes. November 

4th through 6th was the Eastern Pennsylvania 

region’s USY Fall Kinnus at Beth Israel of 

Chester County in Downingtown. Eight of our 

USYers attended this weekend of study, prayer, 

and socializing, with almost one hundred other 

students from the region. 

Coming up for USY, we will be having an event 

December 3rd – you should have the information 

in your hands already. Also, USY’s international 

convention is coming up December 23rd to 29th 

in Philadelphia. Four of our USYers will be attending, 

joining over 1000 students from across 

North America. 

Kadima will start its chapter programming on 

December 4th with Kadima Gift Making Day. We 

will be inviting local Kadima chapters to join us 

as we make holiday gifts for family members and 

friends. 

Finally, be sure to keep your eyes out for the 

return of our highly successful Tikun Olam Tea 

charity program, coming in January. 

United Synagogue Youth (USY) is the Conservative 

movement’s youth group for eighth 

through twelfth graders. Kadima is the associated 

organization for Jewish fifth through seventh 

graders. The mission of both these groups 

is to provide a safe environment where Jewish 

youth can learn, make friends, grow, and—very 

importantly—have fun! Events are geared to the 

wants and needs of the Jewish youth. All of the 

events are supervised by experienced staff and 

have Jewish ties. For more information, or to get 

involved, please contact Andy Weinman at 

575-3433. 

Curious about LIFE in ISRAEL ? 

Visit the Conservative Movement’s Aliyah Committee 

website www.linktoisrael.org or contact the 

Aliyah Committee at 212-533-7800 ext 2021 or 

aliyah@mercazusa.org 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Temple Israel Daily Minyan 

Schedule 

(Times change for holidays and 

Shabbat. Consult the Schedule of 

Sevices inside the Messenger) 

Shacharit: 

Sunday 

Monday 

Tuesday 

Wednesday 

Thursday 

Friday 

Mincha/maariv: 

Sunday - Thursday 

8:00 a.m. 

7:15 a.m. 

7:25 a.m. 

7:25 a.m. 

7:15 a.m. 

7:25 a.m. 

5:45 p.m. 

TEMPLE ISRAEL 

affiliated with 

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 

918 E. Gibson St. 

Scranton PA 18510 

Phone: (570) 342-0350 

Fax: (570) 342-7250 

Email: tiscran@epix.net 

www.jfednepa.org/tis 

Joseph F. Mendelsohn 

Rabbi 

David Geffen, Ph.D. Rabbi Emeritus 

Vladimir Aronzon 

Cantor 

Lisa Golden Educational Director 

CULTURAL ARTS FUND 

Are you looking for a gift of distinction? 

Remember the Cultural Arts Fund for a long lasting tribute for that special 

birthday, anniversary or event. 

The Cultural Arts Fund of Temple Israel is the appropriate and different 

way of gift giving. 

A donation plaque is a wonderful way to honor that special someone. 

Interested? Call Sophie Maiman at 586-9347 

CULTURAL ARTS PLAQUE 

The following will be inscribed on the Cultural Arts Plaque 

In Memory Of 

Marion Nivert 

By: Reva & Earl Quint & family 

September 21, 2005 

ATTENTION FLORIDA SNOWBIRDS 

If you are planning on heading south or elsewhere for the winter, we 

want to know in order for you to receive your Temple mailings and 

Messenger. Please notify the office with your winter address and the 

dates you will be there. 

The Deadline for the January Messenger 

will be December 12, 2005 

Make sure your article is ON TIME. 

NON-PROFIT 

US POSTAGE 

PAID 

SCRANTON PA 

PERMIT NO. 462 

OFFICERS 

Louis Nivert 

President 

David Fallk 

Vice President 

Ann Monsky 


Susan Herlands 


Marvin Brotter 

Treasurer 

Robert Rosenberg Finance Chair 

Marian Goldstein-Beckhorn Secretary 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December - Temple Israel

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