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Message from the Rabbi
Rabbi Judy Cohen-Rosenberg
The stray snowflakes I spotted this morning made me
realize how close to Chanukah we are.
May this Festival of Lights brighten the darkness of our season.
The Chanukah battle became a pyrrhic victory inasmuch as
Helenization took place anyway. Yet for us, the message of Chanukah,
remaining true to our heritage anywhere outside of Israel, is of
paramount importance. I hope
that is a moral that you stress in your celebration.
It is way too easy to let Chanukah become the “Jewish Christmas”,
stressing the exchange of gifts and nothing more.
That offends the sensibilities of Jews and Christians alike.
For those who have a December Dilemma, it is important
to keep the meaning of each holiday in the foreground.
Then stress the ability and even obligation we have because of
religious freedom (a theme of Chanukah!) to help others have a joyous
celebration. For children, the
birthday party analogy works well.
When you attend a birthday party, it is not always your birthday, but
your presence helps make the birthday boy or girl happier.
This year Chanukah and Christmas coincide.
A great way to celebrate would be to join us on Dec. 25th
as the Social Action Committee coordinates the distribution of holiday meals
to our first responders who are at work on the holiday.
We make deliveries to the hospital emergency rooms and police
precincts. The more meals we
have, the more places we can bring cheer!
Use the form available in the lobby to sign up.
The very next day, we will hold our annual Shabbat
Chanukah Service. Bring your Menorah
and 7 candles. A dinner, including
latkes, of course, will precede the service at 6:30.
Please make reservations by sending your check payable to CRT for $10
per adult and $6 per child to Bob Stein c/o Ritual Committee.
From my home to yours, may the Chanukah candles warm our
bodies and our souls!
Rabbi Judy
The Torah
Reading for the current week
A Message from the President
Mark Natelson
Wow November was a busy month, there was the Bingo, the
rummage sale, Cantors in Concert, Men’s Club and Sisterhood dinners, guest
song leaders at Shabbat Services, the 2nd Annual Panel of
Preferred Caterers “eat until you can’t and then have fourths” Showcase, a
Religious School field trip to the food pantry at FEGS, we hosted the
Interfaith Thanksgiving service, held services and more committee meetings
that you could shake a challah at and we are just picking up a head of steam
because Chanukah is right around the corner!!!
This joint is jumping so much that
we have started to send out a weekly email schedule of all events, services
and meetings. By now you should have received a few of them, they are sent
out on Wednesdays and they will give you all the information you need to
plan you week and weekend. Bob
Stein and Andrea Grass create and send the emails and Dan “what do you
mean?” Kotcher will also put them up on our website each week, so be sure to
check your email and our webpage at
http://shalomcrt.org
to be kept up to date. If your email address is not on file with Andrea
please give it to her. We are also contemplating the elimination of some of
the hard copy snail mails we send to save money, so it’s a good idea to make
sure Andrea has your email address on file.
Speaking of our website have you seen
the new CRT Gift Card web page at
http://shalomcrt.org/gift_card-2.pdf ? Check
it out, it looks fantastic. Developed by Dan “of course I can do that”
Kotcher and given the “Ask Barry” seal of approval by the Advisory Vice
President of Fundraising it’s a big step forward in simplifying the gift
card process just in time for the holiday season (note to self: what kind of
a title is that?, check the constitution on that one).
I want to again express how proud I was at the Israel
Bond Breakfast, sometimes when I write these articles I anticipate how
things turn out. In this case there was no way to anticipate how many people
would come in early that day to clean up the Temple and prepare the food to
help honor Lynda and Ed Temple. But turn out they did, it was CRT at its
best and why I love this place, nobody pulls together like we do.
Ruth and Dick Grey have settled comfortably in Florida, but they will always be part of the
CRT family.
With Chanukah and a new year upon us let me make a
recommendation and a vent a pet peeve. First the recommendation, if you have
not seen the movie “The Hebrew Hammer” I’m sure it will be on sometime this
month. It may not be suitable for young children but it’s a funny action
comedy with all the necessary politically incorrectness you could want.
It’s not “It’s a Wonderful Life” by a long shot, rather imagine if
Superfly was Jewish and worked for a secret organization and had to save
Chanukah from a villain, Oy!
Now the pet peeve, people who are born in December get
beat out of gifts and it’s just not fair. They hear things like “oh we got
you one big birthday and Chanukah present” or
”here is an extra pair of socks”, it’s just lame. This injustice has
gone on for decades. Treat people born in December just like everyone else;
don’t mentally scar them for life. Just ask someone born in December I’m not
making this up. I feel better now, thank you.
On behalf of Celeste, Benjamin, Zachary and myself we
wish you a happy Chanukah and a healthy New Year and look forward to an
exciting 2009 at CRT.
Mark
Article Submissions
Submission for November's Chayeinu is due in the temple
office by December 15th.
If you miss the deadline your article will not appear in the publication.
Please e-mail all submissions to
Office@shalomcrt.org or submit a hardcopy or
floppy in Andrea’s mailbox.
Fundraising News
I can tell that the holidays are getting close, because I feel like Santa Claus
schlepping all of the sacks of letters that you have sent me recently.
Here are two that fell off of the sleigh when one of
my reindeer stopped short.
Dear Barry:
I just love the new and improved web
page for ordering gift cards; it’s almost as much fun as playing “Guitar Hero”.
Can my family and friends use it too or is restricted to temple members
only? If I tell others to use it,
will you be able to handle all of the orders, especially those placed for
Chanukah and Christmas?
Sincerely,
Joe, the gift card user, from Levittown
Dear Joe:
I hope that you also aren’t a plumber.
Thanks for using the new upgraded website. It’s almost as much fun for me to
receive your orders as it is for you to place them.
CRT makes money regardless of who buys the gift cards therefore; you
should encourage your friends, family and co-workers to place their orders for
the holidays. Don’t worry about
overworking me either. To help me
with this year’s orders, I hired the same crew of elves that worked for me last
year. I have a simple system; I handle the big orders and the elves handle the
short orders.
Dear Barry:
Next month, I plan to start using
Peapod, the grocery shopping home delivery service that Stop & Shop offers.
I was wondering can I use the Stop & Shop gift cards for this service?
Sincerely,
Busy Poddy From Westbury
Dear Busy Poddy:
That’s an excellent question.
I’m not sure whether you can use the cards for tri-pod service, but you
can absolutely, positively use your Stop & Shop gift cards for the Peapod
Service.
The next Fundraising Meeting will be held at
7:30 pm
on Thursday, Dec 4th at Dan Kotcher’s House.
Check out the new improved gift card website
(http://shalomcrt.org/giftcard-2.pdf)
or link up through the CRT web site .
Just remember when it comes to CRT Gift
Certificates…
We Have Something For Everyone!
If you have any questions, please submit
them to the temple office or e-mail them directly to me (barrypelofsky@verizon.net).
Just remember when it comes to CRT Gift
Certificates…
We Have Something For
Everyone!
Our
current calendar of events is listed below
(Please save the dates)
We might have a few other surprises
throughout the year as well, so be sure to read Fundraising news every month in
Chayeinu.
We
Have Something For Everyone!
Barry
Pelofsky
Advisory Vice President of Fundraising
Click here to read more
about Fund raising at CRT
To All CRT Members and Friends:
This year CRT embarked on raising funds by promoting our newly renovated Social
Hall and Atrium. We are proud to report success in having our facilities
utilized more; based on comments from people who have used CRT and our preferred
caterers, we believe this will continue. However, as members, we should
all think of holding our special events at CRT first, especially since members
receive discounts off the already very reasonable rates.
Spring will be here soon; remember, CRT is an excellent venue for your
graduation parties, Sweet 16's, birthday parties and any other life cycle event.
Our Atrium can hold upwards of 75 people and the Social Hall 160. And
using one of our preferred caterers has its benefits too.
Call or e-mail us and let CRT host your upcoming events. You'll be
doing yourself a favor by knowing exactly what you are getting, and also will be
helping out CRT.
Thank you.
Diane & Art Kleiner
(516) 931-3644
crtparty@aol.com
Social Action
On Christmas Day, December 25, 2008 the Social Action
Committee will once again be delivering food to those people who must work on
the Holiday; to Nassau
University
Medical
Center Emergency Room,
Winthrop Hospital Emergency Room and to the 3rd and 8th Police Precincts.
Volunteers are needed to prepare food and desserts and also to help deliver them
on Christmas Day. Please advise if and what you can donate on the tear off sheet
at the bottom
of this page and leave it in the Social Action Box in the Temple Office.
This is such a
rewarding project and is most appreciated by the recipients.
Thank you.
Social
Action Committee-
Ruth Simonson,
Chair
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I can prepare the following meal/
dessert______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
I can help deliver the meals on Christmas
Day________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Signature____________________________________________________________________
Ruth Simonson, Chair
334-1480
Ritual Committee News
At our November meeting, we discussed ideas for increasing
attendance at Shabbat services.
One idea which we have instituted is sending a weekly e-mail to the
congregation reminding members of what’s going on at CRT and listing who will be
providing the music at each Shabbat service and any special program which will
be included. Due to a donation, we
are now able to have guest song leaders in addition to our regular soloist,
Rachel Pasternak, and congregational singers.
We will also be inviting speakers from both within the congregation and from the
outside to address us on some Friday nights.
The next congregational dinner will be on Chanukah Shabbat prior to services.
See the flier included elsewhere in this issue of Chayeinu.
We expect to have a Festive evening as we celebrate the Festival of
Lights.
Adult Education
Adult Education is held every Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Please note new Friday evening
service times! Services will begin at 8PM each week with one Friday per month
dedicated to a 6:30 Kabbalat Shabbat Service only.
Shabbat Service Schedule
December 2009
The
Torah Reading for the current week
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Friday, December 5 |
8:00 PM |
Shabbat Service |
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Saturday, December 6 |
9:30 AM |
Torah Study |
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Friday, December 12 |
8:00 PM |
Shabbat Service |
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Friday, December 19 |
8:00 PM |
Shabbat Service - Harry Woodrow will sing |
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Saturday, December 20 |
9:30 AM |
Torah Study |
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Friday, December 26
|
6:30 PM
8:00 PM
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Congregation Dinner
Shabbat and Chanukah Service -
Bring a menorah and
7 candles to light at the beginning of the service |
Shabbat is “Temple” time every week.
At CRT, families are welcome at all services!
If you see someone new at services, please welcome them
and help to make them part of the CRT Family.
Students who have not fulfilled their Shabbat obligations can
do so during the summer months by attending Shabbat Services on Fridays.
Be sure to let a School representative know you are present.
Click here to read more about
Religious Activities at CRT.
Flowers and Oneg
Sisterhood
Monthly Calendar For December 2008
Tue., Dec.
2
Wed., Dec. 3
Thu., Dec. 4
|
8:00 PM
4:10 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM |
|
Men's Club Meeting
Hebrew School
Fundraising Meeting
Rabbi's Hebrew Class |
Fri., Dec.
5
Sat., Dec. 6
Sun., Dec. 7 |
8:00 PM
9:30 AM
10:00 AM |
|
Shabbat Service -
School Choir and Bob Stein will sing
Torah Study with the Rabbi
Religious School...7th
Grade trip, Parent/Student Learning |
Tue., Dec.
9
Wed., Dec. 10
Thur., Dec. 11 |
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
10:00 AM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
8:00 PM |
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Post Confirmation
Class
Sisterhood Meeting & Holiday Party
Confirmation Class
Rabbi's Hebrew Class
Congregational Meeting
Board Meeting
Adult Ed. |
Fri., Dec.
12
Sat., Dec. 13
Sun., Dec. 14
|
8:00 PM
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
10:00AM |
|
Shabbat Service -
David Berkowitz returns to lead us in song
Torah Study with the Rabbi
Religious School
Chanukah Boutique |
Wed.,
Dec. 17
Thur., Dec. 18
|
10:00 AM
4:10 PM
8:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
|
|
Rabbi's
Hebrew Class
Hebrew School
School Board Meeting
Caring Committee Meeting
Social Action Committee Meeting
Adult Education with Rabbi Judy. Learn about
Sarah and Rebekah. Were they Matriarchs or Maniacs? |
Fri., Dec.
19
Sat., Dec. 20
Sun., Dec. 21 |
8:00 PM
9:30 AM
10:00 AM |
|
Shabbat Service -
Harry Woodrow will sing
Torah Study with the Rabbi -
Refreshments
No
Religious School |
Fri., Dec. 26
Sat., Dec. 27
Sun., Dec. 28 |
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
|
|
Congregational Shabbat
and Chanukah Dinner -
Reservations by December 19
Display of Judaic Artwork Created By Congregants Along with Gary
Rosenthal Studio
Shabbat and Chanukah Service -
Bring a menorah and
7 candles to light at the beginning of the service
No Torah Study
No Religious School |
OF SPECIAL INTEREST
"Lights...Celebrate Hanukkah Live in Concert" with
Craig Taubman (Friday Nite Live) and others:
WLIW Channel 21 Wed., Dec. 3 @ 8:00 PM, Thu., Dec. 4 @ 1 PM, Sun., Dec. 7
@ 5:30 PM
WNET Channel 13 Thu., Dec. 18 @ 8:00 PM
Your School Board Reports
All of the class parents openings have all been filled.
Thank you to all the parents/moms who have volunteered
their time to be our class parents.
In Religious School –
1st grade ……….
Bonnie Tellerman
2nd grade ………
Andrea Barmash and Diane Styma
3rd & 4th grade …
Caren Sweeney
5th & 6th grade …
Jackie Martin
7th grade ……….
Sheri Parsekian
In Hebrew
School
–
Morah Monika’s class ……. Linda Glickman & Beth
Beeber
Morah Jackie’s class …….. Selena Elkins
Moreh Adam’s class …….…Lisa Glogau
Rabbi Judy’s class… Maureen Dominguez
Our student choir has been singing at services during the
first Friday of each month. They
are doing a beautiful job.
Please encourage your child/children to join us at family services to
participate or support their fellow students.
Sincerely,
Beth & Linda
Marilyn H. Tahl Religious
School News……
Our Sunday mornings continue to be full with many
activities. Some days we can’t
fit in all the “specials” as Art, Hebrew for Grades 1 and 2, Library and
Music. It’s good we can keep our children busy with a varied program of
worthwhile activities.
On November 16th we were fortunate to have our alumna Tara Corn
visit and supervise an interesting program of what fruits and nuts are
mentioned in the Bible. The
students read portions which talk about food and made a delicious fruit
salad using these items.
On November 23rd, Grades 3 through 6 visited the food pantry at
F.E.G.S. They helped stock the
shelves and learned why it is essential to support food pantries and who
benefits from donations people make to a food pantry. The 7th
grade will visit on December 7th.
We will have a special program for Chanukah on December 14th.
The program is being planned and organized by our student teachers.
The School Choir sings beautifully at each Family Shabbat, the first Friday
of each month, and also graced the Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
which was hosted by CRT. Please
make a point of attending Family Shabbat each month to show your support of
our children.
Bob Stein
Preschool News
We had our first fire
drill and it was a success. Everyone vacated the building & area in a matter of
minutes. This led to a discussion of firemen and fire safety. Does anyone know a
fireman who would be willing to come to CRT and do a short program on fire
safety?
In keeping with this unit on community helpers, a transit policeman visited us
with a program on train safety. He brought an informative cartoon video,
coloring books, and engineer's hats. Policeman John also talked about using 911
for emergencies, how we should always wear a seat belt, and what a policeman's
uniform looks like.
For Election Day, both classes voted. The 4 yr. old class used ballots and a
walk- in voting booth and voted for a president. The 2-3 yr. old class voted
verbally for their favorite snack and class activity. The voting booth was made
by the 4 yr olds using a very large carton, and it looked fantastic! Even Bonnie
and Peggy were able to fit in it to vote.
Our multi- cultural lunch was a great success and the food was delicious and
enjoyed by all. Each family sent in a dish (and an explanation) from their
country of origin. We want to thank all our families for their very generous
contributions to St. Brigid's food drive.
Thank you again to the Sweeney family for another large donation of new books
for our library. We love to read books! We welcome all toys, bikes, and book
donations -new or gently used ( age appropriate ). Please save your " junk " for
us as we love to recycle when making craft projects.
Marcia Levy
Preschool Director
MEN'S CLUB NEWS
The Men’s Club held its annual membership dinner on Tuesday,
November 11th. Naturally I’m biased, but I thought it went very well.
The turnout was excellent, as was the food from Two Brothers (thanks to Artie
Kleiner for making the arrangements). The speaker from the Israeli consulate
(also arranged by Artie) also was very interesting in his observations about
Israeli, American and global current events.
Next on the agenda is the Men’s Club fundraising event in February. As
advertised, it will be a “coffee house” style night of entertainment by temple
members and outsiders. More information will be provided as we get closer to the
date.
Until next time, have a great Thanksgiving everyone!
Ed Temple
Click here to read more
about the Men's Club
Sisterhood News
On November 3rd, Sisterhood held our annual
Membership Dinner. The Membership committee planned a wonderful evening of
dining and entertainment. Heartfelt thanks to Lynda Temple, Jeanie Corn, Linda
Glickman, Connie Egelman, and Bonnie Siegel for planning this event. The evening
was enjoyed by all who attended.
A good time was had by all at our annual Family Bingo Night on November 10th.
The games were fast and furious, and everyone was a winner. Thanks to all who
helped to make this a fun evening. I especially want to thank all the winners
who donated their prize choices to the younger children.Our Fall Rummage Sale
was a great success. I want to thank everyone who donated clothing and goods to
the event; without your donations, rummage would not be possible. Whatever was
not sold was in turn donated to the Eastern Farm Workers and they were very
grateful and appreciative. Remember Sisterhood when you start spring cleaning;
our next rummage is April 25th & 26th2009.
Join us on Tuesday December 9th at
7pm
for the Sisterhood Holiday Party and meeting. Enjoy a quiet evening out with
your Sisterhood friends and share your ideas for the holidays. For a minimal
cost, dinner will be catered by one of CRT’s preferred caterers. If you are
interested in attending, please call (334-3203) or email Susan (gubster@optonline.net).
Sunday December 14th will be a busy day for Sisterhood. Our
Hanukkah Boutique will take place from
10am-12noon. We will have gifts for all ages at reasonable prices,
including items from our Judaica cabinet. All
Religious
School classes will have
time to browse and shop the Boutique. From 9am until closing, we will be at Border’s Books in Westbury
to staff their gift wrapping table. Stop in to purchase a few holiday gifts with
gift cards from Barry, and we’ll wrap the gifts for you.
It’s a great way to support CRT.
Support Sisterhood while you celebrate a special day. For $36, we will have a
special occasion cake at the oneg following Friday night services to mark a
birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or any simcha. Call Patty Aronoff at
414-8150 for more details.
Please come down to a meeting or event. We welcome your participation and ideas.
The Sisterhood is the heart of the temple.
Susan Praga
Sisterhood President
334-3203 or e-mail
gubster@optonline.net
Click here to read more
about the Sisterhood
Caring Community Committee……………………………………………………………………
CRT’s Caring Community Committee is here to help you. We are
Temple members ready to lend a hand to other
Temple
members. We can provide rides to Temple
for those who don’t drive, make a meal for someone who is ill or recently home
from the hospital, provide simple home repairs like changing light bulbs, or run
an occasional errand.
As part of our activities, the committee periodically sends
token gift to Temple
members’ children who are away at college. If you would like your child to be
included, please supply the committee with their college address and e-mail
address.
If you are in need of our services,
please call Ken Praga at 334-3203 or email at
gubster@optonline.net.
Ken
Tell N
Kvell---
Your good news is our good news
~Mazel
Tov to Debbie & Stu Raphael upon the marriage of their daughter Kara Raphael to
Michael Stobe on the 16th of October……………………………………
LESSEN THE STRESS AT THE TIME OF A LOSS
CRT has obtained a number of gravesites at
Mount
Hebron
Cemetery
and is making them available to congregants at a discounted price.
Cost per grave is $2,500, but if you purchase before December 31, 2008, you will receive an
additional 10% discount.
Mount Hebron Cemetery
has been serving the Jewish community from its lovely Queens location since
1909, and you and your loved ones will be pleased with the choice of Mount
Hebron
as a final resting place.
For further information, call Bob Markman at 997-3761.
Secure your family’s future now before a time of crisis.
Community Reform Temple gratefully
acknowledges donations to these funds:
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Ellen Tarab in honor of Anya Rachel Fischer Hart
Carla & Harvey Eisenberg
General Fund
Gloria Waldinger in loving memory of David Waldinger
Renee & Robert Stacy in loving memory of Mary Stacy
Jill & Robert Feinman in loving memory of Joseph Ungar
Sharon & Dan Kotcher in loving memory of Norton J. Kotcher
Jamie Venese in loving memory of Bob Waldinger
Jamie Venese in loving memory of Michael Schneider
Joanna & Scott Cadiff in loving memory of Bud Cadiff
Melanie & Bruce Miller & Family in loving memory of Robin Woodrow
Laurie & Steve Resnick in loving memory of
Regina
& Ben Teitelbaum
Music Fund
Debbie, Jeff & Melissa Schwartz in honor of Lynda & Ed Temple
Carla & Harvey Eisenberg
Building Repair Fund
Bonnie & Michael Siegel in
loving memory of Sol Mast
Ann & Dave Middleman in loving memory of William Rosmarin
Ann & Dave Middleman in loving memory of Samuel S. Schoenholtz
Jeri & Howard Abramson in loving memory of Roye Abramson
Donations
may be made to the General Fund, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, Music Fund,
Torah Fund, Adult Education Fund, Decorative Arts Fund, Preschool Fund,
Prayer Book Fund, Children’s Book Fund, Joe Morris Youth Fund or the
College Fund. Please send
your donation to the CRT Office or place in the Administration/Andrea
mailbox. Thank you!
The Tzedakah Project for the
month of December is
The
INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network), a
not-for-profit organization
serving hungry and homeless
Long Islanders
|
Rabbi Peter
Stein has been awarded a prestigious Brickner Fellowship to study social action
& conscience……………………………
Mazel tov to Sue & Marty Weiss on the birth of their grandson Julian Alec Bercun.
The proud parents are Margo and Keith Bercun……………............
A Speedy Get Well To...
Mi She Berach:
Helen
Diamond, Ifolena Merino, Richard Rosmarin, Faith Bernhardt, Doreen Simonson,
Judith Waldinger, Mark Sloane, Marvin Levy, Michael Zabe, Gregg Mehlman,
Jeffrey Cooper, Ariel Sharon,
Robert Friedman, Maria Magdo, Geri
Gerlinger, Ted Stark,
Robert Croland, Joseph Strippoli, Leon Kenny, Adam Vahling,
Charlotte Rothberg, Susan Stewart, Marijo Mazur, Jane Touwsma,
Renee Glickman,
Dorothy Brecher, David Montrose, Dana Wershau, Maureen Brooks, Alan Gertler, Kim
Teichman,
Bob Dowling, Pat Aronoff, David Weinberg, Lynn Gold, Mildred Peterson, Sean
Reiley, Susan Weiner,
Jules Bender, Michael Stark, Devorah bat Yehudit, Deidre Hill, Al Rosenfeld,
Camille Gertler, Larry Burd,
Rose Rosenberg, Murry Smith, Elaine Shane, Patty McArdell, Stephanie McArdell,
Julyann Goldstein, Delores Perez, Judith Bernstein, Mimi Weitz, Don Massetti,
Hayley Moore,
Lorraine
Bonich, Paul Slatsky, Ruth
Freeman, Judi Levy-Slatsky,
Laura Levy Bodner, Derek Bosko, Melissa Adler, Mary Silverstein, Maria
Kamen, Raqui Kliman,
Lana Ober, Elyssa Ober, Leslie Levy, Ruth Simonson, Chava bat Bashariva, Kenneth
Brody,
Herb Oster, Brian Butensky, Anya Rachel Fisher Hart, Iris Block, Rabbi Janet B.
Liss, Debbie Rachel Cohen
We are always happy to hear of answered prayers.
If you have any changes for our prayer list, please call Rabbi Judy or Andrea at 333-1839.
Condolences
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