NEWSLETTER
September 2012
5773 YR$T / 5772 LWLA
You CAN Go Home Again
Rabbi Moshe Adler
From Nili and
me to the entire
BE–THS family:
L’shanah tovah
tikatevu –
May you be
written down for
a good year.
HN$L
HBWU
WBTKT
WMTXTW
In his novel, You Can’t Go Home Again,
Thomas Wolfe portrays an aspiring writer
who leaves the small town where he grew
up and moves to New York, where he can
join its literary circles. When he publishes
his first novel, which depicts the repulsive
secrets of people in a small town similar to
the one where he grew up, the folks back
home recognize themselves in the novel.
He receives hostile letters and even death
threats, and realizes that he can’t go home
again because home is not the same.
But it isn’t only when the folks back home
are hostile that one can’t go back there.
Once we grow up and move out on our
own, we can visit our home and take our
place in the family network, but we can’t
move permanently back into the home
where we were raised. Home isn’t the same
because we are not the same.
As I think about this, I find myself musing
on the term “ba’al t’shuvah,” which means
one who has returned to Judaism and
begun living an observant Jewish life.
When we re-appropriate the mitzvah
observance and Torah study that we have
been missing, we are coming home. The
Torah, after all, has always been our home,
and the only one we really had during
nearly two millennia of our exile.
What about the ba’alei t’shuvah of our own
day, most of whom have never lived an
observant Jewish life? Does their embracing
of the Torah constitute a return? Can one
return to a place one has never been? Can
one indeed go home again?
The short answer: yes. According to the
Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a), “even the empty
ones among you Israelites are as packed with
mitzvot as a pomegranate with seeds.” In
other words, no Jew is utterly empty, but has
innumerable mitzvot to his credit whether
or not he realizes it. Thus, when a Jew
appropriates Judaism, whether or not has
known it before, he is actually coming home.
How much more certain it is, then, that
one who was raised with Jewish observance
and Torah study, but has in adulthood
run away from it, can return to a life of
observance and Torah study and be warmly
welcomed by the Master of the house! Such
a person has done t’shuvah not out of fear
but out of love.
CAUTION: Beware of those who say,
“It’s all or nothing. Do everything or do
nothing. Otherwise you’re a hypocrite.”
This counsel is hazardous to your spiritual
health and could prove spiritually lethal.
Call on the innumerable mitzvot you
already perform (even the ones you don’t
usually think of as “religious”), and add new
ones as you come to (continued on page 6)
Beth El - The Heights Synagogue builds vibrant Jewish community.
We welcome all in participatory, traditional, egalitarian worship and learning.
Rabbi Moshe Adler s Saturday Morning Services at 9:15, 3246 Desota Ave., Cleveland Hts., OH 44118 s (216-320-9667
President’s Perspectives, September 2012
Let’s Talk Membership
Scott Wachter,
President
Questions? Concerns?
Comments?
Complaints?
Please do not
hesitate to contact
the President
by e-mail
president
@bethelheights.org
or home telephone
(216) 932-5964
Help Us
Stay In Touch!
Please be sure we
have your current
contact information.
Send changes to
info@
bethelheights.org
or call
(216) 320-9667
Keep Up
News!
Join the
BE-THS Lists!
I was going to start this article with the
question, “Why aren’t you a member of
Beth El – The Heights Synagogue…” but
I felt it would put one on the defensive,
and the conversation would have gone
downhill from there. I could write, as I
have in the past, about how it’s so nice to
be part of a community where people are
sincere, warm, and “heimish.” I could also
write about how special it is to work with
such wonderful people who are bright and
imaginative and are committed to keeping a
Jewish presence in the Heights, in a synagogue that is not affiliated with the Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist or
Reform movements.
Instead, I’d like to share what it’s like to be
part of Beth El –The Heights Synagogue.
Though it may be a bit of a cliché, it truly
is a family. We’re small enough that we
have a sense of who we are and where
we’re headed, and we know we’re all in it
together. Like all families, we have disagreements about how it is best to achieve
our goals, yet we are all committed to
moving forward.
with the
Send an e-mail to
Leon Adato,
leon@
adatofamily.com
if you need help with
signing up.
E-Mail Newsletter:
If you’d like to
get the pdf e-mail
version, contact
news@
bethelheights.org
That commitment is a serious one. We are
now approaching fourteen years of congregational existence in this form. We’ve
moved from the Mayfield JCC to our home
at Berkley and Desota, and the vast majority
of the people who helped us form, move,
and thrive are still with us. Our community
has been uplifted and enhanced by our
newer members.
This commitment and work ethic is expected
from our membership. It suggests that
when you join, we look to you for involvement. This can be as varied as providing a
thought-provoking D’var, helping out with
mailing, serving on a committee, assisting
in the kitchen, or maintaining the building.
This is certainly not a requirement for
membership, but it does make a difference
at many levels.
In the big picture, this type of involvement
is good for the community. Maintaining
a small synagogue in an urban setting
surrounded by homes in an integrated
area is good for everyone. On a somewhat
smaller scale, our community only keeps
growing because of our volunteers. Last
and certainly not least, the rewards are immeasurable. It’s more than special to
be part of a family where there’s a sense
of commitment and support toward a goal
of maintaining a unique Jewish presence
in the Heights.
So if you’re interested in belonging to
a synagogue where all the work is done
for you, that’s great. On the other hand,
if you want to join a synagogue where
your help and input are welcomed, where
you can feel involved, then Beth El –The
Heights Synagogue is indeed the synagogue for you.
Please do join us for a Shabbat any time during the year, and watch our website (http://
www.bethelheights.org/) where we post our
calendar and the current newsletter, which
covers all of our upcoming events. There are
many exciting events planned for the year.
We hope to see you soon!
Beth El – The Heights Synagogue Newsletter, Vol. 14, No. 11, September 2012
© Beth El – The Heights Synagogue
Carol Bruml, Editor – Telephone 216-932-9155, E-mail: [email protected]
General submittal deadline is the 7th of each month.
3246 Desota Ave., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Published 11 times per year.
http://www.bethelheights.org/
For address or mailing list change, call 216-320-9667
2
Book of Remembrance
Memorialize your loved ones in our Book of Remembrance, which will be distributed
at each of the four Yizkor services during this upcoming year, beginning with Yom
Kippur, September 26, 2012. The contribution for each name is $10.00.
If you have memorialized names in the past, you will have received a resubscription form.
If you are a new donor, please submit your listings by September 12, 2011, in order to
have them published in this year’s book. Please make checks payable to Beth El –The
Heights Synagogue, and send them along with this form.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Donor: ______________________________________
Phone Number: _______________________________
Names to be listed (Please print clearly!):
________________________________ _________________________________
________________________________ _________________________________
Amount enclosed: _______________________________
Mail c/o Karen Kugelman
2904 Washington Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Questions? Need another form? Call the BE–THS High Holy Day Hotline, 216-320-9667.
High Holy Day
Children’s Programs
Beth El -- The Heights Synagogue is pleased to welcome your child to our High Holy Day services for 2012/5773. Your child is welcome to sit with you during all services. Realizing, however, that even the most patient child may need an occasional break, we are offering babysitting
for several of our holiday services:
Babysitting is for pre-schoolers ages 18 months to 5 years ONLY.
Babysitting will be offered on the first day of Rosh HaShanah, September 17, 10:00 AM
until 1:30 PM, and on Yom Kippur day, September 26, 10:00 AM until 1:30 PM.
Ø Care will be provided by experienced teens.
Ø Kosher snacks will be served (including on Yom Kippur).
Ø
Ø
Cost of babysitting is $9.00 per child per day, with a maximum total cost per family of $50.00
for both days. Because we may not write or handle money on the holy days, it is mandatory
that you pre-register your child (if you need a registration form call the High Holy Day
Hotline, 216-320-9667) and pre-pay by check, made out to Beth El –The Heights Synagogue,
and sent to Marilyn Malkin, 3018 Scarborough Road, Cleveland Heights. OH 44118.
We will also have High Holy Day programming for grade-school age children from 10:30 AM
to 12:30 PM on the same days as above. Kosher snacks will be served, including on Yom Kippur.
No advance registration is required, and this programming is free.
3
Tickets are
required for all
Rosh Hashanah
and
Yom Kippur
services.
Tickets are
complimentary.
Please call or
e-mail the synagogue
office to
request yours,
if you have
not yet
received them:
216-320-9667
or
info@
bethelheights.org
All services
are held in our
accessible,
air-conditioned
sanctuary at
3246 Desota Ave.
in Cleveland Hts.
Join in Lifelong Learning
As you probably know, Siegal College is now the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program of
Case Western Reserve University, and it is moving ahead. For your convenience, Judaics
and Hebrew classes will continue to be held at the Siegal College building in Beachwood,
so you won’t have a parking problem at Case. Also, tuition rates have been drastically
reduced!
S’lihot
Begin the
High Holy Days
at Beth El –The
Heights Synagogue
on Saturday,
September 8:
Join us at 10:00 PM,
for a
learning session,
“Call on Him
while He is
near” – Preparing
Ourselves to
Come before God
with
Rabbi Moshe Adler.
S’lihot service at
11:00 PM.
Rabbi Adler invites you to join any of his courses in classical (biblical) Hebrew during
the fall semester:
Ø Beginners: Tuesdays (13 sessions) 8:00 – 10:00 pm, beginning September 4
Ø Intermediate: Mondays (13 sessions) 7:30 – 9:30 pm, beginning September 10
Ø Intermediate Advanced (Readings in the Book of Exodus): Wednesdays (13 sessions)
7:00 - 9:00 pm, beginning September 5
Take this opportunity to enhance your language skills so that you can participate more
meaningfully in Shabbat and holiday services.
You may register online at: www.case.edu/lifelonglearning
q
Yahrzeits, September 2012
4
Tishrei ~ YR$T
Pincus Newman
1 Tishrei
Albert Weinstein
2 Tishrei 5730
Sara Weinstein
3 Tishrei 5726
Eric Falck
5 Tishrei 5758
Elias Greenhut
7 Tishrei 5718
Carl Wasserman
7 Tishrei 5720
Blossom Levit
9 Tishrei 5721
Marcella Wachter
10 Tishrei
Harry Abrams
12 Tishrei 5716
H B WU HN $L
WM
B TK
W
TX TW
T
Elul ~ LWLA
Alan Maremont
17 Elul5734
Edwin Carr
17 Elul
Mark W. Cooper
18 Elul
Rochelle Claunch
18 Elul
Eva Seidman
18 Elul5747
J. Marianne Simon 18 Elul5747
Louis Gilden
19 Elul5718
Sylvia Haskin
19 Elul5729
Samuel Holtz
19 Elul5737
Henry Lederer
19 Elul5730
William Linderman 19 Elul5732
Benzion Broner
20 Elul5732
Adele Reiss
20 Elul5741
Stanley Rabinowitz 20 Elul5761
Meyer Siff
20 Elul
Milton Collin
22 Elul5736
Martin Simon
22 Elul5729
Mildred Fromson
23 Elul5737
Ida Olshansky
23 Elul5724
Margaret Buchwald 26 Elul
Isaac Mendelow
26 Elul
Berton (Baruch) Michael Kutnick
29 Elul
upcoming events, fall 2012
Mark Your Calendars Now!
Sunday, September 2, 2:00 to 4:00 pm – Neighborhood Ice Cream Social.
All friends and neighbors of BE-THS are invited.
Saturday, November 10 – Lunch and Learn with Matt DeFaveri, from the Cleveland
Jewish News: “Members of ‘The Tribe’ – Jews around baseball and other sports.”
Further details on all of the above events will be in the October newsletter.
Beth El Shabbaton 2012!
Please make sure to reserve the weekend of November 30th for
a very special Beth El –The Heights Synagogue Shabbaton with
Rabbi Arthur Waskow, of the Shalom Center, and his wife, Rabbi
Phyllis Berman.
Beth El -–The Heights Synagogue is very proud and privileged to
host an exciting three-day event of learning, discussion, prayer
and music.
Rabbi Waskow founded and directs The Shalom Center (http://
shalomctr.org/) that focuses on ecology and human rights issues.
Beth El –The Heights Synagogue has lectures on similar topics
throughout the year. It’s because of these common interests that
it’s appropriate that we and the Shalom Center come together.
More details will be provided in the October issue of the Beth
El –The Heights Synagogue Newsletter regarding location and
costs. If you are interested in attending, assisting, or have more
questions about this wonderful opportunity, please contact Beth
El –The Heights Synagogue at [email protected] or call
216.320.9667.
5
You’re invited to an ice cream social
Saturday, November 3 – Rabbi’s Series 2012-2013 begins – Learn with Rabbi Moshe
Adler: “Maimonides, A Philosopher for the Ages.” (Remaining class sessions are
scheduled on Saturdays, November 17, December 15, January 12, January 26, and
February 9.)
On the lawn at BE-THs; indoors, in case of rain.
Saturday, October 20 – Lunch and Learn with Dr. Mark Binstock, Physician
Director of Knowledge Management at Kaiser Permanente-Ohio: “What You
Should Know about the New Health Care Law, AKA the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”)”
for our neighbors on Desota and Berkeley Roads.
Sunday, September 2, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Sunday, October 2, 12:00 to 2:00 pm – Lunch in the Sukkah.
All members and friends who join us for High Holy Day Services are invited.
Tashlikh
VYLwT
Tashlikh is a
symbolic
acting-out of the
biblical verse,
“You will cast
our sins into the
depths of the sea”
(Micah 7.19). 
On the first day
of Rosh HaShanah
(or on the second,
if the first falls on
a Shabbat),
one goes to a
body of water
and recites the
passage in which
this verse occurs.
Meet at the
Kugelmans’,
2904 Washington
Boulevard,
at 5:30 PM
on Monday,
September 17,
and proceed
together to the
ravine behind
Coventry School.
TW$DX
News from Beth El
Thanks for contributions to:
! HDWT
Ø Molly Brudnick, wishing Joe Gelles
refuah sh’lemah.
Ø Bernie and Ruth Cantleberry, in memory
of Al Glaser Z”L, Leon Ballonoff Z”L, Jesse
Cantleberry Z”L, and Sandy Cantleberry
Z”L.
Ø Margaret Conti
Ø Robin Dubin and Richard Krueck
Ø Joel and Julie Falck
Ø Esther and Philip Kazdan
Ø Dafna Ronis, to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, in appreciation of Rabbi Adler
and the members of BETHS who helped
make a minyan in her home during shivah
for her late father, Leonard Ronis Z”L.
Ø Shlomoh Sherman
Ø Gene and Toby Tabachnick, in honor of
the Wachters, and their special friendship.
Ø Beth and Scott Wachter, in honor of the
wedding anniversaries of Adam and Yevgenia
Probst, and Bill and Carol Bruml.
Thanks for Kiddush sponsorship to: ! HDWT
Ø August 18 – Bill and Carol Bruml, in
honor of their 40th wedding anniversary.
Ø September 1 – Beth and Scott Wachter,
and Beth’s mother, Shirley Marks, in
memory of Beth’s father, Ira Marks Z”L.
Thanks for help with the August newsletter mailing to:
! HDWT
Ø Sherry Ball
Ø Marty Gelfand (our new schlepper)
Ø Sondra Jacobs
Ø Sue Klein
Ø Erica New
Ø Nina Sobel
Ø Blanche Valancy
Ø Beth Wachter
Ø Scott Wachter
Thanks for help with the High Holy
Days mailing to:
! HDWT
Ø Sherry Ball
Ø Robin Dubin
Ø Ari Klein
Ø Aviva Klein
Ø Shoshana Klein
Ø Sue Klein
Ø Richard Krueck
Ø Karen Kugelman
Ø Nina Sobel
Ø Blanche Valancy
Ø Ieda Warshay
Ø Marvin Warshay
Ø Ditte Wolin
q
Cemetery Plots Available
You CAN Go Home Again,
continued from page 1
know them and feel a comfortable fit with
them. It could become habit forming, but
hey! That’s the whole idea.
Let’s go home again. And may we all be
written down and sealed for a good year.
From Nili and me: l’shanah tovah tikatevu
v’tehatemu! …Moshe
6
Sometimes it is hard to think about certain
aspects of life, but people do look ahead
and plan for the future in many ways. In
the 1950’s Temple Beth El bought hundreds
of cemetery plots at Zion Memorial Park
at Northfield and Rockside Roads. Many
members are interred there, including Rabbi
David Genuth Z”L.
Beth El -The Heights Synagogue still owns a
few plots. If you are interested in purchasing
one or more plots, please contact Ditte Wolin
at 216-932-9907 or [email protected] .
High Holy Day Schedule, Fall 2012
Saturday night, September 8: S’lichot (pre-Holy-Day prayers for forgiveness)
10:00 pm “Call on Him while He is near” – Preparing Ourselves to Come before God
11:00 pm S’lichot service
TWXYLS
HNwH wAR BRE
Sunday, September 16: Erev Rosh HaShanah
7:15 pm Candle-lighting
7:30 pm Ma’ariv (evening service)
Monday, September 17: First day of Rosh HaShanah
HNwH wAR
Morning
8:30 am: Shacharit (morning service)
Afternoon
5:30 pm Tashlich VYLwT:
We meet in front of the Kugelmans’ home (2904 Washington Boulevard, Cleveland Heights) and walk
to the stream at Coventry School.
Evening
7:30 pm Minchah (afternoon service)
8:15 pm Candle-lighting
8:30 pm Ma’ariv (evening service)
Tuesday, September 18: Second day of Rosh HaShanah
Morning
8:30 am: Shacharit (morning service)
8:15 pm Rosh HaShanah ends
HNwH wAR
HYLDG OWC
Tuesday, September 25: Erev Yom Kippur
7:00 pm Candle-lighting
7:15 pm Kol Nidre, Ma’ariv RWPK OWY BRE
Wednesday, September 19: Tzom G’daliah (Fast of G’daliah) Fast begins 5:58 am, ends 8:11 pm
YRDN LWK
Wednesday, September 26: Yom Kippur
RWPK OWY
Morning
8:30 am: Shacharit (morning service, with Yizkor)
RWKZY
Afternoon and evening
5:30 pm Minchah (afternoon service), N’ilah (closing service), and Ma’ariv (weekday evening service)
Yom Kippur ends approximately 8:00 pm (Light break-fast provided.)
Sunday, September 30: Erev Sukkot 6:52 pm Candle-lighting, at home.
TWKWS BRE
Monday, Oct. 1: First day of Sukkot
9:15 am Shacharit
7:50 pm Candle-lighting, at home.
TWKWS
Tuesday, October 2: Second day of Sukkot
Morning
9:15 am Shacharit
7:49 pm Yom tov ends
TWKWS
Sunday evening, October 7: Erev Sh’mini Atzeret
6:40 pm Candle-lighting, at home.
7
Monday, October 8: Sh’mini Atzeret
Morning
9:15 am Shacharit (morning service,with Yizkor) Evening: Simchat Torah begins
7:30 pm Ma’ariv (evening service, with Hakafot)
7:39 pm Candle-lighting
Kiddush
Torah reading
Tuesday, October 9: Simchat Torah
9:15 am Shacharit (morning service)
7:37 pm Holiday ends
You’re invited to join us
for lunch in our Sukkah
on Sunday, October 7
from noon to 2 p.m.
To RSVP, call 216-320-9667
3246 Desota Avenue, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
Telephone, 216-320-9667
Email, [email protected];
Website, http://www.bethelheights.org/
Beth El–The Heights Synagogue builds vibrant Jewish community.
We welcome all in participatory, traditional, egalitarian worship and learning.
TRCE YNYM$
RWKZY
TWPQH
HRWT TXM$