Congregation Etz Chaim - P.O. Box 477 – Bentonville, AR 72712
September/October 2008
www.etzchaimnwa.org |
The BARK Etz Chaim Newsletter Back to Main
Sept./October 2008
NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,
It is hard to believe that summer is almost over and that it is time for our Congregation to start full force again. We enjoyed some special moments over the summer. We had the honor of having Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, come speak to the Congregation.
His speech was informative, touching and truly inspirational. Right on the heels of Malcolm’s visit, we enjoyed the Israeli Scouts and an Ice Cream Social at the Shewmaker Center. The show was packed and fun was had by the young and young at heart. A huge thank you goes out to Mark Levine and his slew of volunteers and host families for this wonderful event.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to those Board Members whose term has ended: David Hoodis, Paul Stuckey, Evie Adler, and Marcy Winchester. Our Congregation could not run without wonderful volunteers and each of these people has contributed in numerous ways. This thank you would not be complete without recognizing all of the hard work and dedication by Betsy Rosen. Betsy goes above and beyond with her dedication to Congregation Etz Chaim and she never falters in her commitment to its members. Luckily, Betsy will serve on the Board for another two years as Past President.
Our Executive Committee is made up of Ida Fineberg (VP), Carolyne Wendel (Secretary) and Ed Gelman (Treasurer). These people have already contributed so much to the Congregation and their continued commitment is amazing. Stan Kessler, a returning Board Member, is our Membership Guru. Stan and his wonderful wife, Ellen, do an incredible job in finding new members, reaching out to them and making them feel like part of the CEC family. Thank you Stan and Ellen for your dedication in helping our Congregation grow. I would like to send a warm welcome out to our incoming Board Members: Katy Cushman, Jean Srour, Wynnie Hoodis, Alan Perlman and Robyn Douglass. Robyn will also be CEC’s Religious School Director for the next two years.I know these Board Members will do an excellent job and we will all benefit from their zealousness.
Although we will not have a service until the High Holidays, many of you will have a chance to reconnect when Religious School begins on Sunday, September 7th. It is my hope that all members, whether you’ve been a member for several weeks or several years, will volunteer in some aspect of the Congregation. We can only grow and ripen with the help of our members. We can only change with your motivation and enthusiasm.
I hope you all have a wonderful, happy and sweet New Year.
L’shanah tovah,
Tom Douglass
HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES
As Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur draw near, Rabbi Jack and Cantorial Soloist Debbye are busy with the spiritual planning of the High Holidays. Last year was truly touching when a large amount of the Congregation participated in the services. This year, we will again be honoring our congregants by calling upon you to take part. With that in mind, if you would like to chant a section of the Torah or read from the Haftarah, please contact Rabbi Jack and Debbye as soon as possible at zaney4jaz@aol.com.
As with most Jewish Congregations, membership is a requirement in order to attend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. College students are always welcome as guests. We also welcome out of town guests with a letter from their home congregation.
We encourage our Jewish out of town visitors to become Associate Members of Etz Chaim. It is only with the support of the community that we are able to sustain our synagogue. Please note that no one will be denied membership solely on financial circumstances. Please contact our Membership Chair, Stan Kessler, at (479) 273-1105 to learn more about Etz Chaim and become part of our vibrant Jewish community.
The High Holidays Services schedule is as follows:
Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 29
* 6:30 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, September 30
* 9:30 a.m. First Day of Rosh Hashanah
* 2:00 p.m. Children’s Service
* 3:00 p.m. Tashlich Service
Yom Kippur
Wednesday, October 8
* 7:00 p.m. Kol Nidre Yom Kippur
Thursday, October 9
* 9:30 a.m. Morning Service
* 5:00 p.m. Children’s Service
* 6:00 p.m. Neila Closing Service
Members, please watch your mailbox for High Holiday information and return your forms are due by Monday, September 15th.
EVENT CALENDAR
***Sup in the Sukkah***
Tuesday, October 14th at 6:00 p.m.
Come one, come all! Please join us as we celebrate Sukkot. Bring your own dinner, chairs and/or blankets, and a decoration (or two) to hang in the Sukkah. Come celebrate, schmooze and eat - what could be better!!
Margot Brown’s Bat Mitzvah
Saturday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Katy Cushman and Arthur Brown invite the congregation to join Margot Julia Brown
as she is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah
Kiddush to follow service. All are welcome!
FROM THE RABBI’S DESK…
Decades ago, during an excavation of the cliff fortress of Massada, several date seeds were discovered. They were carbon dated as 2,000 years old, to the period of the famed revolt and the inspiring last stand of the Jews that took place atop that steep palace and military structure, built by King Herod. These seeds, preserved due to the climate of the Dead Sea region, were identified as being from the well-known Judean date palm, which had become extinct during the Roman occupation. The conquerors were successful in their large spread and systematic campaign to destroy and deny this vital product to the local population of the Holy Land. The area Arabs would praise this date palm by saying, “It has as many uses as there are days in the year.” Israelites referred to it as their “Tree of Life,” for it provided food, medicine, shade during crushing heat, as well as commercial and trade value. In early January of 2005 (just months after this congregation formed), two scientists, Dr. Louis Borick of Jerusalem’s Haddasah Hospital, an expert in biblical medicinal studies, and Elaine Solowey, an agricultural genius based in the Negev, were given three seeds from the archeological find. After combining a certain unique acid with hormones, enzymes, and various other supplements, they fertilized sterile soil with their water-based mixture. Imagine the astonishment of all members of their team, as the seed germinated, sprouted and grew a full fourteen inches in its first year!
This modern miracle is a metaphor for all of us, especially at this time in the calendar life of Etz Chaim. It is clear that like the Judean date palm seed, the Jewish people is tiny, and throughout too much of recorded history our nationhood has flirted with global marginalization, bordering on extinction. And although small, the sturdy seed, the people of Israel and the organized Jews of NWA, despite all rational odds, lives seeking to flourish. Ultimately, they will each bear fruit that will yield even more seeds ensuring prophesied continuity. How this happens provides many relevant lessons.
For example, nothing good and important develops without faith, commitment, hard work and attention to detail. This is how the ancient seed was approached in a laboratory deep in the desert and this is how we must approach our spiritual growth, our families, our synagogue, and the betterment of the world. The Days of Awe in September and October make us contemplate these many truths. It is easy to be motivated by the obvious result of the partnership between a people and the principles of a greater power when you focus on the model supplied by this true story of an ancient seed coming to life. Let’s remember too, that it took a lot of people to make this dream come true. Individuals had to supply expertise, opinion, talent, character, effort and time for the common good to achieve the goal of growing something very desirable together. Let the newly reborn Judean date palm remind Etz Chaim that we will need the collective membership to be active in all phases of the process. We’ll need someone who will be dedicated to a schedule, someone who will care about the proper amount of light and water. We will need all of us to work hard to till the soil, to fertilize the minds of our young people, and in short to have every person participate to the best of her and his ability. What better time to become engaged in making Judaism bloom, then at the beginning of our New Year and the High Holy Day season.
Just very recently a press conference was held to announce that the Judean date palm seed has now grown to four feet tall with enough leaves to be tested for DNA. The first reborn Judean date palm in two millennia is looking strong and healthy. The original scientists from the project tell us that it appears by the year 2010, we will have actual fruit from this inspirational experiment. With our best efforts, there is no doubt that we too can make Etz Chaim into a real Tree of Life. Debbye joins me in wishing each of you a sweet and healthy New Year and a fulfilling Yom Kippur.
Tzadik Katamar Yifrach – The righteous shall flourish like the date palm tree.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Jack
DONATIONS
Many thanks to the following families for their generous donations received during May, June and July.
General Fund
* In honor of Carol Stukey by the Paull family
* In honor of Marcy & Ed Gelman on the marriage of their son Joshua to Lisa Burgess by the Kessler family
* In honor of Penny & Robert Greenberger by the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Arts Alive Fund
* In honor of Betsy and Marc Rosen by Gerri and Jeremy Persin.
Religious School Fund
* In honor of Olivia Warfield by Aunt Sarah Ward
Memorial Fund
* In loving memory of Annette Ruben by the Paull family
* In loving memory of Samuel Meyerson by the Kessler family
* In loving memory of Regina & Leo Zanerhaft, may they rest in peace, by Dr. & Mrs. D. Blass.
Please consider Etz Chaim in your charitable giving. Donations are tax deductible and can be made to thank or honor a friend or relative, remember loved ones and friends, celebrate a special occasion, support Etz Chaim’s mission and commitment to growing a thriving Jewish Community in NWA or to leave a legacy. Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated and can be made to the following funds:
v Building Fund
v Simcha Fund
v Torah/Siddur Fund
v Memorial Fund
v Religious School Fund
v Arts Alive
v Adult Education Fund
v Scholarship Fund
v Rabbi Discretionary Fund
Please send your donations to:
Congregation Etz Chaim P.O. Box 477
Bentonville, AR 72712
Prayer Book Donations
* In honor of the 14th anniversary of Marc and Betsy Rosen donated by Cantor Neil and
Saranee Newman
Prayer books can be donated to thank or honor a loved one, commemorate a Yahrtzeit, celebrate a birthday or anniversary and the list goes on. A bookplate will be inscribed with your message and placed inside the cover of the book. You can donate the Mishkan T'Filah Prayer Book or the Kol Hanoar Children's Siddurim. Each book can be donated for $36.
Please send the following information, along with your check to:
Etz Chaim, P.O. Box 477, Bentonville, AR 72712
* Which Prayer Book you are donating
* Donated By
* Inscription for Book Plate
* Please send acknowledgement to
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS
I hope that you are all having a relaxing and fun summer. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time for religious school to begin again. After many years in the classroom, I am excited to take on a new role as Religious School Director. This year, the first day of religious school will be on Sunday, September 7th.
As of now, we have approximately 32 students, including Torah Tots, attending religious school. Our wonderful teachers are as follows: B’nai Mitzvah – Steve and Chris Crowell, 4th/5th grade – Mark Yekelchik and Wynnie Hoodis, 2nd/3rd grade – Lauren Levine and Carol Stuckey, Kindergarten – Angie Yekelchik and Torah Tots – Betsy Rosen. Since we will have an extra class this year, we will be utilizing the sanctuary portion of the Temple as a classroom for the B’nai Mitzvah students. With that being said, every students needs to be at school by 9:55 am so that class can start promptly at 10 am and the B’nai Mitzvah students will not be interrupted. The building will be open at 9:45 am. By now, you should have all sent back your Religious School forms. If you are new to the Congregation and would like any information, please contact me at (479) 273-5713 or robyntom91@cox.net. Looking forward to seeing you all for another great year!! Robyn Douglass
NEWSWORTHY…
GET WELL SOON!
Jay Lewis is recovering from spinal surgery and we wish him a speedy recovery! He will be in the congregation’s thoughts and prayers.
EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT US!
Susan Lieberman has issued her third edition of
“A Travel Guide for the Wandering Jew”. This travel guide includes maps to unique congregations
(i.e. Etz Chaim), Kosher restaurants and Jewish history throughout the U.S. Etz Chaim has made it into the book! Copies can be purchased through the synagogue for $18 each, a discounted rate from the retail price.
A portion from the sale of each book will benefit Etz Chaim. We will have a sample copy at the synagogue. To read an exert, please visit www.travelingjew.com. Please contact Betsy Rosen at 271-9630 or rosenfamily@cox.net to place your order.
ISRAELI SUMMER SCOUT CELEBRATION ~ a fabulous visit!
A letter that my kids wrote for you and for the host families that hosted us so well
Dear Bentonville community!
This past January, we found out that we were going to be a part of a big tradition that has been going on for 35 years - the tradition of the Tzofim Friendship Caravan! And then, on May 27th, after 5 months of preparation and intensive rehearsals, we started the biggest journey of our lives so far.
We landed in New York, a group of 10 best friends, wondering what's to be expected for us in the next 3 months. With excitement, fears and lots of motivation, we started a significant and life-changing journey.
After 8 weeks, visits, activities and meeting a bunch of new friends, we arrived to our new home for the next 2 days ~ Bentonville City community!
So, we just wanted to say thank you for making us feel right at home. Your hosting was so full of care and love. We would never forget the show!!! It was interesting to learn about your culture from your point of view. We hope that we opened a door for many and many years.
Each of us cannot thank our hosting families enough! We will be more then happy to meet you soon in Israel - so we could host you just as wonderfully as you hosted us. And we really mean it!
And now, we're sending you this letter from Little Rock. We keep on trying to do our best in representing Israel, and bonding the hearts of American and Israeli Jews together.
We invite you to experience the rest of the summer with us by looking at our “Caravan Golan” page on: http://photos.israelscouts.org/Caravan%20Golan
Don't forget to keep in touch!
With lots of love,
Caravan Golan 2008 - the “West Coast Caravan”
DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF ETZ CHAIM?
Please contact our Membership Chairs, llen and Stan Kessler at 273-1105 if you know of Jewish friends, neighbors or colleagues who may be interested in membership. It's our goal to warmly welcome and involve all Jews in our area.
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