December 2022 Newsletter
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8 North Earlton Road, Ext., Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-3170
admin@templeadasshalom.org
What’s Inside?
Temple Adas Shalom’s December 2022 Calendar of Events .......................................................... 2
December Service Multi Access Information and Links Temple Adas Shalom ........................ 3
President’s Message Mark Wolkow ....................................................................................................4
Rabbi’s Message Rabbi Meeka Simerly ............................................................................................. 5
RPC Message Melissa Immel ................................................................................................................. 7
Our Annual 8 Days of Giving Hanukkah fundraiser! .......................................... 7
Sisterhood News Pat Wolkow & Denise Gordon............................................................................ 8
Kehillah MAGNET Message Sarah O’Donnell & Joel Yoffee ..................................................... 13
Adult Education Message Brian Folus ............................................................................................. 15
Security Message Pat Wolkow .......................................................................................................... 16
October 2022 – Donors ......................................................................................................................... 17
Caring Note .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Mi Sheberakh * We Pray for Healing ................................................................................................ 18
Recently Passed ...................................................................................................................................... 18
December 2022 - Yahrzeits Observed ............................................................................................... 18
Temple Adas Shalom’s December 2022
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December Service Multi Access Information
and Links
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FRIDAY NIGHT SHABBAT SERVICE
Friday, December 2nd
Live Streaming starts at 6:45 pm; In-Person service starts at 7:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/85758681892 * Meeting ID: 857 5868 1892
Password: Shabbat22
FRIDAY NIGHT SHABBAT SERVICE
Friday, December 9th
Live Streaming starts at 6:45 pm; In-Person service starts at 7:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/85758681892 * Meeting ID: 857 5868 1892
Password: Shabbat22
FRIDAY NIGHT SHABBAT SERVICE
Friday, December 16th
Live Streaming starts at 6:45 pm; In-Person service starts at 7:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/85758681892 * Meeting ID: 857 5868 1892
Password: Shabbat22
HANUKKAH 8 DAYS OF CANDLE LIGHTING
Sunday, December 18 th – Sunday, December 25th
Live Streaming starts at 6:30 pm; In-Person service starts at 6:45 pm
https://zoom.us/j/85758681892 * Meeting ID: 857 5868 1892
Password: Shabbat22
FRIDAY NIGHT SHABBAT SERVICE
Friday, December 23rd
Live Streaming starts at 6:45 pm; In-Person service starts at 7:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/85758681892 * Meeting ID: 857 5868 1892
Password: Shabbat22
DO YOU KNOW? SECURITY FEATURES
Monday, December 19th
Live Streaming starts at 7:30 pm; In-Person session starts at 7:30pm
https://zoom.us/j/89045106405 * Meeting ID: 890 4510 6405
Password: 603082
DAVEN & DINE SERVICE
Friday, December 30th
Live Streaming starts at 5:30 pm; In-Person service starts at 615pm
https://zoom.us/j/85758681892 * Meeting ID: 857 5868 1892
Password: Shabbat22
Did you miss a Shabbat? Visit our Virtual Experience page to view our recording archive.
President’s Message
Mark Wolkow
Hanukkah in Havre de Grace
What a whirlwind of activities at the Shul. A New financial system; babies
being born right and left; Rabbi Meeka getting to know members, friends,
neighbors (and their pets), and public officials; a new Communication
Team; a new Philanthropy team; a soon-to-be new Investment Committee; a
leadership group formed to re-start a Men’s Club; half a dozen new member
families; a growing Religious School; an Early Learning Center at virtual
capacity; and Hanukkah (and the 8 Days of Giving) right around the corner.
And much more, if you happened to catch the congregational meeting.
If you haven’t been around the Temple lately; and if you’ve been just a little
too busy; or too caught up in daily life to browse the monthly newsletter or
weekly bulletins … take a quick peek. You might find Shabbat services with
music that will get you moving; book discussions, films, and a wide variety
of adult learning opportunities; social events for folks aged (roughly) 5
through 95; and about 25 children ages 0-5… with more on the way.
And you will definitely find a caring community… helping one another when
we are sick or injured; checking up on one another when we are down and
celebrating our individual and group successes.
How can you be a part of all this? One: Pick up the phone and call a Temple
Board Member, a Temple friend, or the Rabbi, and just say you’d like to get
involved. We’ll figure out together where it makes sense to plug in. Two:
look closely at your Annual Pledge and consider what it will mean to our
community by going up to the next level, regardless of your current
contribution. What a difference each of us can make. Happy Hanukkah!
Shalom,
Mark
Temple Adas Shalom President
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Rabbi’s Message
Rabbi Meeka Simerly
May we continue to Be, and say our Blessings, Daily
If you look carefully on page 33 in our Siddur, Mishkan Tefila, you’ll find in
tiny letters a wonderful short explanation about a great concept. Rabbi
Samuel E Karff (Z”L) wrote: “Why is it important to pause and count our
blessings? Because of the human temptations to pray only prayers of asking
for something at those times when we are aware of the pain and the
unfulfilled yearnings in our life. We can only begin to accept all of life, and
affirm that life is worth its price if we lift to consciousness all the good in our
lives.”
Throughout the entire Siddur there are numerous prayers and blessings that
help us connect deeply with God’s “godliness,” through the mindset of
gratefulness and gratitude. Blessings that acknowledge our gratitude for our
bodies, and our souls’ return first thing in the morning (p. 32-40); Psalms of
gratitude (pp. 50-55); blessings of gratitude to God for creating our world
with Light and Darkness as its constants; blessings to God for seeing to our
national and personal deliverance from slavery in Mitzrayim, narrow places,
to freedom and wellbeing (pp. 70-73), and so on.
But the Thanksgiving Holiday that we just had, allows us to truly focus on
our families, friends, and the abundance of food we enjoy, each in our own
special and unique unit: whether with friends, our spouse, our pets, our
larger families or community setting, and the list goes on.
What would happen if we could all each implement an “attitude of
gratitude” and turn it into daily practice? This practice does not require us
to spend an hour each day reviewing the goodness in our lives. We don’t
have to sing, read out loud, or even share our innermost private thoughts. It
is so easy to do: we can simply pause for a moment, every day, at some point,
inhale deeply and review in our minds the blessings in our lives. And again,
each of us is so unique, and our life is experienced through our own unique
filters. And if we are ever “stuck,” and aren’t able to remember what we can
be thankful for – our magnificent Siddur, Mishkan Tefila, can help us with a
multitude of ways and reasons to feel grateful.
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Allow me to end here with a beautiful poem that captures some of the many
reasons for gratitude, each day. And, we don’t really have to wait for next
year’s Thanksgiving to read and appreciate it:
A Thanksgiving Prayer, by Rabbi Naomi Levy
For the laughter of the children,
For my own life breath,
For the abundance of food on this table,
For the ones who prepared this sumptuous feast,
For the roof over our heads,
The clothes on our backs,
For our health,
And our wealth of blessings,
For this opportunity to celebrate with family and friends,
For the freedom to pray these words
Without fear,
In any language,
In any faith,
In this great country,
Whose landscape is as vast and beautiful as her inhabitants.
Thank You, God, for giving us all these. Amen.
(From Talking to God: Personal Prayers for Times of Joy, Sadness, Struggle, and
Celebration)
With love and appreciation,
Rabbi Meeka
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RPC Message
Melissa Immel
Happy Chanukah from the Religious Practices Committee!
Chanukah is coming, and the latkes are frying! The RPC will be
sponsoring a 'Vodka & Latkes' oneg, following our Friday night service
on December 23rd. No RSVP is required! Come to worship at 7pm, and
stay for an enhanced oneg with fun, food, music, and cocktails! Maybe
even a door prize or two! You won't want to miss it!
Mazel Tov to Michele and Mike Mullis on their son Seth becoming a Bar
Mitzvah. All congregants are invited to attend services on December
16th and 17th to help celebrate this milestone event! Please join the
congregation in welcoming Seth into our community as a Jewish adult.
We finish the month with a 'Daven & Dine' service on December 30th,
which begins at 6:15 pm, ends at 7:00 pm, and is followed by dinner out
with friends and family!
B’Shalom,
Melissa Immel
RPC Chair
Our Annual 8 Days of Giving Hanukkah fundraiser!
Help us end the year in the black - all donations will be matched dollar
for dollar up to $10,000 by a generous donor. Let's make sure we take
advantage of this opportunity! And an added bonus - All donors of
$1000 or more during the fundraiser will be invited to a dinner
with the Rabbi Meeka!
More information to follow.
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Sisterhood News
Pat Wolkow & Denise Gordon
NEWS:
It was a dark and rainy night... and Wow! What a turnout for the Sisterhood Paid Up
Dinner!!! We met at Lin's Hibachi Grill for one of the best get-togethers in a long time! We
sat around the Hibachi Grill, sipping miso soup, and watched the Chef work his knife magic
on our dinners. The food was great and the company even better. We were happy to meet
new Sisters and Sisters that only occasionally come to our meetings. Also, a big thank you
to Rabbi Meeka for joining us. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know her better. A
HUGE thank you to Pat Wolkow for organizing this.
EVENTS:
All our Sisterhood dates have been posted on the Temple Calendar and appear in bright
pink.
Our next big holiday is Hanukkah, and we are planning big things, and big things need lots
of help, so, here goes: the Gift Shop has scheduled its annual Hanukkah sale for the religious
school. They are full of wonderful potential Hanukkah gifts, decorations, cards, and Judaica
of all sorts. The first day of the Hanukkah sale is Sunday, Dec. 4th and 11th at 9:15 am.
We need lots of help setting up the tables in the Social Hall, helping the students shop, and
taking down the tables afterward. It is always fun to see how excited the kids are and well
worth a few hours of your time. Call Denise Gordon for more information and volunteer on
Sign-up Genius - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49A8A92CAAFFC16-hanukkah
On December 11th is the Sisterhood Hanukkah party, which is always fun. See our flyer
in this NL.
December 18 will be the first night to light the Hanukkah candles. Think of your family and
friends as we celebrate this holiday.
Jan. 22nd /12:30 pm – Community Reach-out Event – Girl Scout Gold Award/Women’s
Issues Project.
Sisterhood Cards Are Back!
Sisterhood is bringing back the Sisterhood greeting cards. Sisterhood will send out a
greeting card to anyone for virtually anything - Simchas or Sorrows, sisterhood has you covered.
Let Pam know at samuelmeyer@comcast.netor by mail at 17 N Earlton Rd Ext, Havre de Grace
MD 21078, with the occasion, the individual’s name and address, and your card will be processed.
The price is only $5.00 a card, and you can either pay by each card or ask to run an annual
account through Sisterhood for billing. Your caring will be reinforced by a mention in the HJC
monthly bulletin. If you are forgetful, you can even write out an annual list of birthdays,
anniversaries, yahrzeits, and your cards will be sent out in a timely fashion. Imagine- helping
your sisterhood and getting your cards out timely at once!
We are BUSY, but not too busy to chat with you! Please email us at: Sisterhood@templeadasshalom.org
MEMBERSHIP:
Dues are $42 and $36 for new members. Pay via check, made out to TAS Sisterhood and
mailed to Denise Gordon or via PayPal (using Family & Friends) to: “Ladies Auxiliary Harford
Jewish CTR.”
We are members of WRJ; check out the regional activities they offer:
https://wrj.org/our-community/wrj-districts/mid-atlantic
GIFT SHOP - Denise & Pat - giftshop@templeadasshalom.org
Dates Open | Sunday – December 4th, December 11th , December 18 th |
Friday’s - After Services: By request.
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Kehillah MAGNET Message
Sarah O’Donnell & Joel Yoffee
Thank you to everyone who has helped to make the beginning of this
school year a major success!
Kehillah MAGNET continues to grow! If you have a child or know of a
family with children who would be interested in knowing more about
their Jewish heritage, Kehillah MAGNET might be the learning
environment for them! Contact our principal, Sarah O’Donnell, at
principal@templeadasshalom.org to discuss upcoming events and visit our
school.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS & INFORMATION:
FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE: Each month, Rabbi Meeka and
Mike Mullis, choir director and music teacher, lead one Friday
night service that is designed with families in mind. Family
Shabbat nights begin at 5:30 pm with a child-friendly meal, and the
service runs from 6:15 – 7:00 pm. Meals cost $5 per person or $15 for
member families who RSVP through their ShulCloud Account.
Attending Family Shabbat is a great way to enjoy the company of
friends, relax after a long week, and provide further understanding
of Hebrew learning! Our next Family Shabbat Dinner and Service
will be on Friday, January 20, 2023. All are welcome!
TOT SHIRA: Each month, Kehillah MAGNET welcomes families with
children 5 and under to attend the Pre-K/K music class at our religious
school. “Tot Shira” is a wonderful way to introduce little ones to our
dedicated teachers and fantastic students. Our upcoming Tot Shira will
be held at the synagogue on Sunday, December 11, from 11:15 to 11:45 am.
Sisterhood Hanukkah Gift Shop: Sunday, December 4 and Sunday,
December 11 (during religious school)
Hanukkah Dinner: Sunday, December 18, 2022 (5:30 -7:00 pm)
We can’t wait to see you there!
Joel Yoffee, Kehillah MAGNET Religious School Committee Chair
Sarah O’Donnell, Kehillah MAGNET Principal
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Adult Education Message
Brian Folus
Shalom Fellow Congregants,
We would like to congratulate Mrs. Roz Spergel, for leading an excellent pre
and post first Film Night Discussion. The movie “Saved by Deportation” was
well received by the members who joined us at Temple. We hope more
members will join us in the future for our Film Nights at TAS.
We have slightly revised our offerings to mostly one event each month either on
Zoom or in person at the Temple. Starting off January 21 at 10:00 am on Zoom,
we will have our next Book Discussion. The book is Unorthodox and the
discussion will be led by Roz Spergel. Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection
of My Hasidic Roots is a 2012 memoir by Deborah Feldman. In the book, she
documents her life in an ultra-religious Jewish community in Brooklyn, New
York. The Netflix miniseries Unorthodox is loosely based on the book.
Then on February 21 at noon, also on Zoom will be our first Lunch & Learn of
2023, topic and speaker to be determined soon. In March, in preparation for
Passover, we are hoping to offer our first evening presentation Dessert &
Discuss with Diana Wolkow who will share her baking skills showing us how
to make some tasty Pesach desserts. We will post last year’s video to put you in
the mood for this event. April 22 will be our next in-person event with an
Adult Ed. Film Night. The film title to be announced soon.
We truly hope you will join us for these upcoming events and send us
suggestions and requests for topics or movies or programs you would like the
Adult Ed. Committee to provide for you.
As always feel free to sit in on a meeting, just click on the link in the Shul Cloud
Calendar.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Happy Hannukah to all!
Shalom,
Brian Folus
Adult Education Chair
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Security Message
Pat Wolkow
Upcoming Security Activities:
• Evacuation walkthrough Postponed until January
• “Did You Know?” - a short virtual program, along with security
updates, done the THIRD Monday of each month from my
home (you are welcome to come by, and it will be Zoomed as
well!) https://zoom.us/j/89045106405
The next session will take place December 19th at 7:30 pm.
LOOK for a very short security survey coming to you soon – ONE
Question!
We have provided some basic information and specific safety & security
procedures in the sanctuary prayer book racks. Please review them
regularly.
We are looking for additional help on our team to fine-tune policy and
procedures as well as carry our new initiatives on the drawing board.
Meetings are mostly via Zoom!
SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING! SO, WE CAN DO
SOMETHING!
security@templeadasshalom.org
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October 2022 – Donors
Kevin & Lisa Bress
Julie Sang
BUILDING FUND
Jill & Brian Schorr
Elise & Michael Woods
BUILDING FUND L’DOR V’DOR
Melissa Immel
Rayna & David Richardson
Andrew & Marianne Fridberg
Mark & Patricia Wolkow
Linda & Stuart Needel
Brett & Deborah Temple
Jill & Daniel Young
Ellen & Ken Farkas
Andrew & Marianne Fridberg
Jayne Klein
Jayne Klein
Jayne Klein
Mark & Barbara Schirloff
Mark & Patricia Wolkow
Mark & Patricia Wolkow
Harvey & Marion Yurow
Harvey & Marion Yurow
Harvey & Marion Yurow
Linda Bernsohn
Anna Darargeh
Ellen & Ken Farkas
BOOK OF REMEMBERANCE
Paula Mullis
Linda Samuels
HJC GENERAL FUND
in memory of Lawrence Kravitz
in memory of Shirley Zion
in memory of Kurt Zion
in honor of Darien's birthday
In memory of Kathyln Getz
In memory of Stanley Getz
in memory of Esther Finkelstein
in memory of Anne Maxwell
in memory of Aaron Kaplan
HIGH HOLIDAY DONATIONS
Joanne Kassimir & Andrew Goldberg
Alfred Mendelsohn & Nancy Goldberg
KEHILLAH MAGNET RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
Jessica & Daniel Hurst
Sarah & Niall O'Donnell
Brett & Deborah Temple
RABBIS DISCRETIONARY FUND
In appreciation of Rabbi Meeka for Nick and
Kristen's beautiful Aufruf.
Caring Note
Caring is about both the simchas and healing through support and community. Is there
a moment you would like to share, privately or publicly?
We want to be there for you so please let us know. Email caring@templeadasshalom.org
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Mi Sheberakh * We Pray for Healing
Annette Dirlam
Barbara Chancey
Fred Belkin
Gerry Murphy
Glen McCain
Gloria Joslin
Harriet Colman
Jordan Rice
Marsha Robinson
Natalie Litofsky
Philip Chancey
Recently Passed
Michael Clancy
Beloved husband of Janet Clancy, stepfather to Robin & Mark Way, grandfather to Melissa Way and Mathew Way.
Elizabeth Oberdorfer Meyer
Beloved mother of Samuel Meyer, mother-in-law to Pam Gwaltney, and grandmother to Michael Meyer.
December 2022 - Yahrzeits Observed
Irving Shur Dec-02 Wendy Ann Zion Dec-20
Benjamin Hirsch Dec-04 Joseph Braverman Dec-20
Morris Weinstein Dec-04 Howard Levy Dec-21
Clara Schneck Dec-05 Joanne Levine Dec-21
Dr. Anthony Ruffino Dec-05 Irving Albert Passe Dec-22
Cheryl Miller Shimp Dec-06 Dr. David Rosenblatt Dec-22
Jacob Feinberg Dec-07 Gladys Ertwine Dec-23
Morris Apple Dec-07 Michael Spring Dec-23
Lillian Ribyat Braverman Dec-07 Sylvia Hoffman Dec-24
Katherine Hamburger Dec-09 Marlene Minkoff Dec-24
Selma Weinstein Dec-09 Miriam Sandow Dec-25
Irwin Goldstein Dec-09 Helen Ross Dec-25
Joseph Oliner Dec-10 Miriam Cogan Dec-25
Marcia Scheiner Dec-10 Daniel Schwartz Dec-26
Randy Bress Dec-11 Daniel Newman Dec-27
Lucille Josephs Cohen Dec-11 David Ford Dec-27
Melvin Chayt Dec-11 Joseph Smuckler Dec-28
Gerald Litwak Dec-13 Patty Brill Dec-28
Joseph Laskowski Dec-13 Bill Irgang Dec-28
Yetta Belitzky Dec-13 John Larry Baer Dec-29
Robert Samuel Halprin Dec-14 Beatrice Shuman Sadowsky Dec-29
Kate Getz Dec-14 Etta Alk Dec-29
Adolph Nord Dec-15 Dr. John D. Rosin Dec-30
Nathan Sachs Dec-16 William Keene Dec-30
Toby Needel Dec-16 Michael Goldstein Dec-30
Leon "Lee" Greene Dec-16 Siegel Solomon Dec-30
Aaron Baumgarten Dec-17 Barry Gomborov Dec-31
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