May 2017 / Iyar - Sivan 5777
Vol. 89 No. 5
Temple Sinai members volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank
Phone: (504) 861-3693
Fax: (504) 861-3102
Email: [email protected]
New Orleans, LA
Worship Services
FRIDAY, MAY 5
SATURDAY, MAY 20
SATURDAY, MAY 6
FRIDAY, MAY 26
FRIDAY, MAY 12
SATURDAY, MAY 27
9:00 a.m. Torah Study & Shabbat Service
Torah Portion: Bhar - B’chukotai, Leviticus 25:1-26:2
/26:3-27:34
6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service
Candles: Amy Reuben
Kiddush & Motzi: Marian Moore
9:00 a.m. Torah Study & Shabbat Service
Torah Portion: Acharei - Mot K’doshim, Leviticus 16:120:27
6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service
Candles: Hanni and Andrea Gerowin
Kiddush & Motzi: Sean Gerowin
Ushers: Sean and Banks Gerowin
6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service
Candles: Amanda Brickhaus
Kiddush & Motzi: Elizabeth and Hannah Rodrigue
10:15 a.m. Shabbat Service & B’not Mitzvah
Torah Portion: B’midbar, Numbers 1:1-4:20
Elizabeth and Hannah
Rodrigue will be called
to the Torah as B’not
Mitzvah. Elizabeth and
Hannah are the daughters
of Amanda Brickhaus &
Louis Rodrigue Jr., as well
as the granddaughters of
Pete and Jeanne Dolhonde,
and Shirley and Louis Sr.
Rodrigue.
SATURDAY, MAY 13
10:15 a.m. Shabbat Service & Bat Mitzvah
Torah Portion: Emor, Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Hanni Gerowin will be
called to the Torah as a
Bat Mitzvah. Hanni is
the daughter of Sean and
Karoline Gerowin, as well
as the granddaughter
of Lance and Andrea
Gerowin, and Walter and
Ingrid Schleh.
Ushers: George Schleh,
Robert Rothman, Bradley
Ushers: Gabby and Kayla
Cole
TUESDAY, MAY 30
6:00 p.m. Erev Shavuot Service & Confirmation
Service
FRIDAY, MAY 19
7:15 p.m. Shabbat Service
Candles: Sue Hall
Kiddush & Motzi: Dr. Peter Kastl
Usher: Ellen Cohen
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TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
From the Rabbi
The
Moment(s)
of Revelation
According to a Midrash, the night before the Torah was given atop
Mount Sinai, the Israelites retired early to bed to be well-rested for
the momentous day ahead. But they overslept, and Moses had to
wake them, because God was already waiting on the mountaintop!
Traditionally, the holiday of Shavuot is the day we Jews celebrate
and remember the receiving of our most sacred of texts, the Torah.
To rectify this “sleeping in” moment, many Jews throughout the
world stay up all night to learn Torah the night before Shavuot,
ensuring that they will be awake for the moment of Revelation.
Shavuot began as a harvest festival, but it also commemorates the
moment of revelation at Mount Sinai. We often understand that
Revelation was a singular event in our people’s history, and that
every Jew who ever lived and every Jew who ever will live was
present at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God. We stood
shoulder to shoulder, trembling in awe, as we awaited the words of
God to be handed down to us.
An interesting thought, but what does it mean? Each of us was at
Mount Sinai to witness Revelation? I’m pretty sure I would have
remembered something like that. Or at the very least I would have taken a picture with my Instagram app to save
it for later.
So let’s do a little word and grammatical play. What if we changed the tense of the above sentence and removed
the word ‘singular’ replacing it with the word ‘ongoing?’
Revelation IS an ONGOING event in our people’s history.
What if we look at Revelation – from the moment we heard the thunder, from the moment we saw the lightening,
from the moment Moses descended Mount Sinai to speak to us – as an ongoing process that we are still experiencing
today? What if Revelation is something that occurs at moments in our lives, and it is up to us to stop and notice it?
What if Revelation is a never-ending occurrence and all we have to do is notice it throughout our hectic, frenetic,
meeting-filled, carpool-laden days? CONTINUED > 4
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
3
From the Rabbi continued
Perhaps we can look at Shavuot through an entirely new
lens. Shavuot can be an opportunity for each of us to
take pause and ask the important questions: What has
been revealed to me this year? What have I revealed to
myself? How have I grown? Anything new in my life?
Anything missing?
together. And this is proof not that we were at Sinai,
but, rather, we ARE at Sinai…LITERALLY!
Shavuot is May 31 and, as we do each year, we will
be celebrating with our 10th grade confirmand
students. If you can, join us for a very special service
and ceremony on Erev Shavuot, Tuesday, May 30 at
6:00 p.m., where our confirmands will publicly and
enthusiastically declare their genuine commitment
to our tradition and the future of Judaism.
Revelation can be viewed as a never-ending exploration
of the things that ought to be most important to us.
Shavuot is a moment to thank God – and thank each
other – for the gifts of Revelation.
And I encourage each of us to take a moment…take
many moments in fact! Do not sleep through it, and
do not hit that snooze button! Let us allow these
moments to help us realize just how much we have
grown, both emotionally and spiritually.
This has been an extraordinary year of Revelation at
Temple Sinai. Our Temple family has experienced grief,
loss, miracles and wonderful simchas as a community
and as individuals. But these events, both extraordinarily
beautiful and extraordinarily tragic, have allowed us to
realize just how close of a family we truly are. As your
rabbi, I have experienced, first-hand, what a caring
community is. We have cried together. We have laughed
together. We have supported one another. We have grown
From the
Educator
This is Revelation.
B’Shalom!
Rabbi Matthew A. Reimer
Summer Hebrew School is a FREE class we offer for
all summer Bar/Bat Mitzvah students for the coming
school year (2017-2018). Classes will be held on
Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. beginning on
May 24.
Please plan to attend our Confirmation Service on
Erev Shavuot, Tuesday, May 30th at 6:00 p.m. in the
sanctuary.
April was a very full month of programming for our
Religious School! Our 9th and 10th graders went on
a field trip to the World War II Museum to view and
learn about the Nazi propaganda exhibit on April 2.
Our whole school enjoyed the Passover Experience on
April 9.
We have 34 campers attending Jacobs Camp, one
Jacobs staffer, one camper attending URJ Sci-Tech
camp, and one student going on the NFTY Israel trip.
So many wonderful Jewish experiences to come this
summer!
On Sunday, April 23, our eighth graders led us in a
moving Yom HaShoah service, and on Sunday, April 30
was the Blessing of the Pets! Our Hebrew and Religious
school students also worked very hard learning and
reviewing the four questions, as well as the whole story
and traditions surrounding Passover so our students
could be active participants in their family Seders.
Wednesday, May 3 is our last day of Hebrew School and
Sunday, May 7 is our closing day of Religious School.
Parents are encouraged to attend our closing awards
ceremony at 10:45 a.m. in the chapel on May 7.
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TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
Sinai Spotlight
On April 23, the national Jewish service organization Avodah
honored congregant Pamela Steeg as a Partner in Justice
during a brunch at Temple Sinai.
Partners in Justice are chosen each year by local branches of
Avodah for their leadership in enacting social change rooted
in Jewish values.
“Pamela’s commitment to fighting for women’s rights and
reproductive justice, and also access to education and
quality of life for women and children, has been really, really
inspiring,” says New Orleans Avodah Director Dani Levine.
Pamela currently chairs the Planned Parenthood Louisiana
Leadership Advisory Council, and sits on the Planned
Parenthood Gulf Coast Board and the Ochsner Health
Foundation Board. She has also served as the Board Chair of
the Ochsner Clinic Foundation Pediatric Board of Councilors,
a board member and the Board Treasurer of Agenda for
Children, a member of the Women of the Storm delegation
to the U.S. Congress advocating for Louisiana wetland
protection, and a member of Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s Task
Force on Youth and Families.
Pamela Steeg
“My freshman year at Tulane I started as an assistant
teacher,” says Rebecca Lederkramer, now a senior and
a full-fledged instructor in beginner Hebrew and eighth
grade Religious School. After four years of growth
at Temple Sinai as a leader in the Jewish community,
Rebecca will pursue her rabbinical ordination this fall
at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion.
Have you always wanted to be a rabbi? I actually have
not. It’s sort of a product of the last three years. There’s
definitely a very long explanation, but if I were to say
it briefly, I would say it’s a product of having a really
difficult time adjusting to Tulane and college in general,
feeling really alone, and finding myself grounded in a
Jewish community and having familiar traditions and
prayers, people with similar values who understood that,
and that was really a grounding force and a guiding force
for me in difficult times. I really enjoyed my position as
a leader in a Jewish community and decided that it was
improtant to me that I continue that.
What excites you about being a rabbi? I think that Judaism
is at a really pivotal point. I think it’s really interesting to
see now, especially post-election season, a lot of people
invoking Judaism in different ways, and in a political
climate that I haven’t really seen before. COTINUED > 6
TEMPLE SINAI
Rebecca Lederkramer
M AY 2017
5
Sinai Spotlight continued
Granted, that political climate won’t be the same in six
years when I graduate from rabbinical school, but it’s
a really interesting time for where Jewish leadership
stands and what the role of Jewish communities are.
Especially in the diaspora, what [does it mean] to be
an American citizen and to be a Jew? I think there’s a
generational shift in that, even in my time from being
a camper and a student in the Reform movement to
being a teacher--I teach in the curriculum--and I think
that’s not reflective of hypocrisy. I think that’s reflective
of a real, changing narrative. I think that the meaning
of what it means to be a Jew and an American citizen is
shifting, and that’s a really exciting thing to be a part of.
will help serve you as a rabbi or just as a human being in
general? At Temple Sinai, as a teacher, I’ve learned the role
and the impact that teachers can have, even from a few
hours--especially with my eigth grade students, who are
at a point where they’re really engaging with their Jewish
identies and forming those identities independently of
their parents. I’ve had really great conversations with
them, where we’ve sat down and dissected things and
I’ve seen their view of themselves as a Jew change, or
what Judaism means to them change. I think it’s really
shown me the role that teachers can have in helping to
guide students in informing their Jewish identity and
their Jewish practice--I think it’s really powerful.
What have you learned at Temple Sinai that you think
Brotherhood Message
Greetings from your Temple Sinai Brotherhood,
Spring in New Orleans is the most wonderful time
of the year. We hope you and yours had a wonderful
Passover. We know we have been super active in the
Temple community and want you to get involved. Our
next Brotherhood Leadership Council Meeting will be
held on June 4. All male members of Temple Sinai are
welcome. If you have generously contributed your dues
this year, we would love to see you. If you would like to
stop by and learn more about Brotherhood, there is no
obligation. Join us and share your ideas . . . tell us what
Brotherhood can do for you.
A great time was had by all those in attendance at
Domenica for the annual lunch with Rabbi Cohn.
Rabbi Cohn’s talks are always inspiring and insightful.
Thank you Rabbi Cohn. As a thank you for our regular
attendees and as an incentive to those who have not
attended a lunch with the clergy, please email us at
[email protected] for a chance to win
your next lunch with the clergy for free!
successful school year. We have, together with the
Sisterhood, presented more candlesticks and Kiddush
cups than I can remember in recent years. Mazel Tov
to all!
PLAY BALL!!! With the Temple Sinai softball team! The
season is in full swing, but we are always looking for
more players. Josh Danzig, our team captain, and the
rest of the team have a blast playing Sunday games all
season long. For more information, please reach out to
Josh: [email protected].
If you have any questions or suggestions, reach out to
us via email: [email protected] or call
the Temple office. Matt Glodowski, Barry Spanier,
Tim Gold, Billy Kullman or myself will be happy to
return the call.
Yours in Brotherhood,
Robert Rothman
[email protected]
Please plan on attending the annual Brotherhood Bingo
on May 28, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend,
beginning at 4:30 p.m. This family-friendly event has
grown with the new time and date. It promises to be
even bigger this year with fabulous prizes and even more
fun.
Brotherhood wants to congratulate all of our Religious
School students as we draw near to the close of another
6
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
President’s Message
The last few months for our Temple Sinai community
have been filled with programming, both at the Temple
and beyond. There are so many events I could focus on,
but I will rather recall the last weekend I just experienced.
From Friday through Sunday our congregants led
fundraising galas to support education in New Orleans,
were involved at an event for the 120th anniversary of
the New Orleans chapter of the National Council of
Jewish Women, and volunteered at Second Harvest
Food Bank. Additionally, a congregant was honored
by Avodah (as hosted at our Temple) and our children
sang in an interfaith choir concert with our cantor at
Episcopal Christ Church to remember the Holocaust.
Rabbi Reimer and Rabbi Cohn were both prominently
involved in all of these events. A truly great weekend for
all things Temple Sinai!
My term as your president will conclude with the annual
meeting on May 19. It also concludes my service to the
Temple board, which began back in May of 2005 as
I was then Brotherhood President. Since then I have
continuously served on the board and the reflections
are now coming fast and furious! There are so many of
you to thank for the friendship and working together
over these years. I cannot risk mentioned names as I
would surely omit someone – but you all have my sincere
appreciation! My service started with the life-changing
event of Hurricane Katrina. The board leadership
during the storm and in the years afterward will be
something that I will never forget. Steadily guiding this
congregation, without panic, but with a forceful and
relentless drive to keep the 150-year-old tradition going
was something to behold. Little by little and with a sheer
will and determination did the board of these years reach
out to our congregants, supporting them and rebuilding
our Temple life. The board, clergy and Temple staff did
this when their own lives were also in turmoil, but they
gave of their own time and resources freely, as did so
many of you. Our congregants were not only here for our
Temple, but helped rebuild a city. I am convinced New
Orleans would not be as vibrant as it is today, without
the congregants of Temple Sinai.
When we started to recover from Katrina, we then were
confronted with the worse financial crisis in a generation
that shook our national Jewish community as well,
including our union, the URJ. Again our congregants and
leadership continued with our famous determination
and generosity to keep the Temple vibrant. Although
we tightened our belts and budgets, our financial
commitments were honored. Over the last dozen years,
we got through Katrina’s member loss and still completed
two large capital campaigns, repaired Katrina damage
and paid down all of our debt (pre-Katrina the Temple
TEMPLE SINAI
had a sizeable amount of unsecured debt, now we have
none).
During this period, we enjoyed the unwavering support
of our clergy team, Rabbi Cohn and Cantor Colman. We
were blessed to have them there for us over these years,
as consistent and positive forces to lead us and allow us
to recover and grow. They will always have the love and
devotion of their congregation!
I am most proud of how you, our congregation, came
together for our recent rabbinic search. You participated
in force to design, consider and conduct our process,
including answering surveys, attending focus group
meetings and meeting and greeting candidates. The
comprehensive dialogue re-engaged us and reaffirmed
common core values of practicing our Jewish faith
in a progressive, welcoming and accepting fashion,
embracing the diversity of our congregation, as expressed
and measured in many different ways. Our search led us
to Rabbi Reimer and his wonderful family. Now Rabbi
Reimer calls us to engage in our Judiasm in a more active
and personal way. His ideas and leadership are strong
and we must all do our part to support and promote his
new approach. It will certainly be a strength to each of
us as we renew our congregation’s Jewish journey.
On my own journey, I can’t express enough gratitude
to my family for supporting me during this time,
including my children Simon, Jacob and Anna and my
wife Caroline. I have told many of you who have tried
to thank me for my service not to thank me, but please
thank Caroline. She is my partner in life and nothing
I do would be possible without her love and support.
Congregation Temple Sinai, thank you for the
opportunity to lead you over these years. I will continue
to do what I can to support you and our new board and
incoming president Judge Robin Giarrusso. You could
not have a better, more capable and caring leader to
move us to a new and exciting path as a congregation.
Congregants of Temple Sinai, please know of the extreme
respect I have for you as individuals , as some of the most
generous, insightful and effective leaders in our Jewish
and New Orleans community. In my view you are living
up to those past generations who build our congregation
and our Temple. A Temple of leaders, and people of faith.
Many blessings to each of you.
B’Shalom,
Bob Brickman
M AY 2017
7
Outside Our Doors
JewCCY Volunteers for JServe Day
On April 2, many of our 6th through 11th
graders in JewCCY joined forces with BBYO
to participate in JServe Day. JServe Day is an
international day of community service run
in conjunction with BBYO and several other
non-profit organizations. This year, Jewish
teens from the New Orleans area went to Our
School at Blair Grocery in the 9th Ward. Our
School at Blair Grocery is a non-profit urban
farm that educates the community about
sustainable growth and supplies vegetables
to local groceries and restaurants.
While there, our teens got a lesson in urban
farming from Nat Turner, Founder and
Director of Pedagogy, before helping in the JServe Day volunteers
goat pen, bringing trash to the compost piles,
weeding the plant beds, and enjoying fresh Russian kale and carrots pulled straight from the ground. It was a
humbling and gratifying experience, and we thank all from JewCCY and BBYO who came and volunteered.
To learn more about Our School at Blair Grocery, please visit schoolatblairgrocery.blogspot.com.
Temple Sinai Cares Committee Hosts Seder for
Poydras Home
Members of the Temple Sinai Cares Committee (TSCC),
along with Rabbi Ed Cohn, orchestrated a Passover
Experience for the residents of Poydras Home on April
5. Rabbi Cohn led the 28 participants in an abbreviated
seder, touching on all the basic elements of a traditional
seder while adding his sense of humor, favorite songs,
and explanatory side bars along the way.
Rabbi Edward P. Cohn, Amy Gainsburgh-Haspel,
Sue Hall, Judy Gainsburgh and Nancy Marsiglia
Each attendee left the Passover Experience with a to-go
box containing matzo, a slice of homemade sunshine
cake, strawberries, and real whipped cream. President
Bob Brickman and his wife Caroline were in attendance,
greeting Poydras Home residents and reading parts of
the service.
The TSCC chairperson, Amy Gainsburgh-Haspel, wishes
to thank Nancy Marsiglia, Sue Hall, and Judy Gainsburgh
for their hands-on contribution to the success of the
Experience. Based on the enthusiastic response from the
residents and Poydras Home staff, the Passover Experience
was well received and greatly appreciated.
Poydras Home residents
8
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
Sisterhood Message
April was Passover month this year, and Sisterhood
had a great deal of fun helping prepare Temple Sinai’s
Community Seder. Kudos go out to the matzo ballrolling team on their fabulous matzo balls! Genie Dyer,
Sisterhood caterer, led the group and also prepared the
delicious chicken soup for the Temple Sinai Community
Seder, which was the following week. Thank you Genie,
Leslie, Judith, Jeanne, Verdie, Sabina, and Sandra!
JewCCY
Saturday, May 13 is the Bit’s of JewCCY
End of Year Celebration - all first through
fifth graders are welcome to attend!
Please follow JewCCY on Instagram,
like our Facebook page, and follow us
on Twitter for event updates and more!
Sunday, May 14 is the B’nai Mitzvah
End of the Year Pancake Breakfast at
11:00 a.m. (location TBD). This will be
followed by the JewCCY/Jr. JewCCY End
of Year Extravaganza -- all sixth through
12th graders are invited to attend!
Advisor Charlie Cox will contact you
with further details.
Sisterhood has also presented gifts for the spring B’nai
Mitzvah. It was such a rewarding experience all year
long to watch our young people display their knowledge
and presentation skills before our congregation. Bonnie,
Leslie, Judith, Doris, and Marian had the distinct
pleasure of representing Sisterhood at these very special
ceremonies.
We’ll wind up the year with a spring brunch at 11:15
a.m., Sunday, May 7, to congratulate Ann Kientz and
the Religious School staff, as well as the students, on a
tremendous year of learning!
Joint
Reform
Summer
Services
Schedule
We are now taking donations for this year’s attic sale,
which will be held August 20 and 21. Please bring all
donations to the Temple Sinai foyer. Guidelines include:
1. Donation forms will be in the Temple foyer
2. No pick-up service
3. No shoes, undergarments, or bathing suits
4. No couches, sofas, or recliners
5. No computers or other electronics (TVs, radios, etc.)
6. Small appliances must be in working order
JUNE
If you have any questions, contact [email protected]
Congregation Gates of Prayer
8:00 p.m. Friday evenings
10:30 a.m. Saturday mornings
B’Shalom!
Leslie Kastl and Doris Baron
JULY
Congregation Temple Sinai
6:15 p.m. Friday evenings
10:15 a.m. Saturday mornings
AUGUST
Touro Synagogue
6:00 p.m. Friday evenings
10:30 a.m. Saturday mornings
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
9
Get Involved
10
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
Yahrzeits
MAY 5-6
Hortense Israel Aron
Bernard J. Aronson
Lucile Jacoby Blum
Kathryn Cross Bressler
Mary Anna Feibelman
Rudolph Garfunkel
Dr. Benjamin R. Heninger
Nettie Hirsch Kern
Sol S. Kerner
Jeannette Sack Levy
Celia Landauer Lewis
Ernestine M. Metzger
Warren Gustave Moses
Carrie G. Steeg
Ida Vihon Strug
Herbert Leon Weinberger
Morris Wright
Hermina Finger Zeve
MAY 12-13
Justine Haas Abrams
Felicia L. Alcus
Samuel Sidney Birke
Moise B. Bloch
Barbara Schreier Edisen
Christine Lee Frank
Jack Stanley Hyman
Betty Margulis Jacobs
Matilda C. Katz
Amanda B. Levy
Martin S. Litwin
Isaac A. Sasso
Charles Schwartz
J. Philip Stein
Tennie Pressburg Toups
Mervin Wallick
Benjamin B. Weinstein, M.D.
Audrey Burka Wormser
Mark J. Zelman
MAY 19-20
Cecilia Steeg Block
Dr. Isadore Brickman
Ann S. Corenswet
John William Field
Jennie Greenberg Goldstein
Alfred Stanley Hirsch
Helen Aimee Hyman
Sarah Bromowicz Kierr
Fanny Haasburg Lengsfield
Cecilia Steeg Block
Dr. Isadore Brickman
Ann S. Corenswet
John William Field
Jennie Greenberg Goldstein
Alfred Stanley Hirsch
Helen Aimee Hyman
Sarah Bromowicz Kierr
Fanny Haasburg Lengsfield
Edna M. Lichtenstein
William Mayer
Sara Dinkelspiel Moses
Mrs. Claire Hyman Moses
Freda Dresner Polson
Miriam Hirsch Posner
Nathaniel B. Rosenberg
Max Scheinuk
Bertha Wolff Seidenbach
Paula Rubin Tuman
Herman Aaron Yuspeh
MAY 26-27
Mrs. Edward (Fanny) Feibleman
Courtney Elizabeth Giarrusso
Cora Tanner Godchaux
Mildred Harris Heller
Mayer Israel, Jr.
Blanche Feitel Kollitz
Sadie S. Krauss
Leo Love
Henry Sigmund Mayer
Alan William Pailet
Goldie R. Rabin
Samuel Schornstein
Leah Beer Stern
George Mayer Stern
Ethel D. Stern
Anita Wolff Warshauer
In Memoriam
Simon Bitoun, uncle of Jacob Bitoun
Elizabeth Hess Wolff, aunt of Bill Hess
Altar
Flowers
APRIL 7 -8
In honor of the birthday of Joyce
Goldstein by Irving Goldstein; in
loving memory of Bernie Reuben
by Amy Reuben; and in loving
memory of Scott Eugene Beer by
Lynne Goldman
APRIL 14-15
In loving memory of Roberta
Korones by Sheila, Tim, Sydney
and Audrey Gold; in loving
memory of Annie Marie Moore
by Marian Moore; in loving
memory of Sophie Weinstein by
the Brickman family; and in loving
memory of Dr. Jacob Morris
Weisler by Dot Weisler and family
APRIL 21-22
In honor of the B’nai Mitzvah of
Jackie & Eli Perlstein by Michael
Perlstein and Patty KissingerPerlstein; in loving memory of
Carrie G. Strug by Robert and
Pamela Steeg; and in loving
memory of Dr. Isadore Brickman
by the Brickman family
APRIL 28-29
In loving memory of Harold
Nathan Michaels by the Giarrusso
family; in loving memory of
Barbara Alcus Threefoot and Dr.
Sam A. Threefoot by Dr. Henry
and Audrey Threefoot; and in
loving memory of Janet Wallfisch
by Charles & Cathy Cahn
MAY 12-13
In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of
Hanni Gerowin by Sean and
Karoline Gerowin
IDF Sgt. Elchai Taharlev
May their memories be for a blessing
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
11
Birthdays
Lee Adler
Thomas Altman
Kathryn Anderson
Dale Aronson
John Baron
Nat Barrett
Louellen Berger
Jacob Bitoun
Amanda Brickhaus
MindyBrickman
Jennifer Cohen
PhyllisCohen
Jane Cohn
Andrea Cohn
Ming Crain
Shane DiCristina
John Dyer
Elizabeth Ellent
Marnie Elsky
Kathleen Farrald
PhyllisFeran
MiltonFingerman
Diane Franco
Jean Frank
Susan Frank
Irma Freibaum
Judy Fried
Carli Fried
Sherry Frohlich
Dale Gaber
Jerry Graver
Diane Guevara
Avri Haggerty
Mark Heller
Jonathan Herman
JoshuaHess
Andrea Huseman
Bruce Judson
Hirsh Katzen
Nancy Kohlmeyer
Debra Kraar
Mazel Tovs
Donald Levy
Jill Linge
MeganLowenburg
Henry Lowentritt
Faina Lushtak Khalimsky
PamelaLyles
Ericka McIntyre
Jeffrey Mendler
Carol Merlin
Gabrielle Mimeles
Douglas Montgomery
Marcy Nathan
James O’Neil
Nancy O’Neil
Sidney Opotowsky
Howard Osofsky
Glenn Ostrow
Jacqueline Pailet
Helen Polmer
Margaret Roberie
WendySack
LaurenSanders
ClaudeSchlesinger
Carol Schudmak
LaurenShapiro
MelvinShear
Alan Sheen
Simon Shlenker, III
Iosif Shlyubsky
Irving Shnaider
Rhea Simonson
Claire Snyder
Karen Stein
Nelsie Stern
Nina Stewart
AudreyThreefoot
LaurieWahlder
Irving Warshauer
Walter Weil, III
Susan Wormser
Louis Zelman
Kathleen Zucker
Oneg Shabbats
APRIL 7
In honor of Rabbi Matthew A. Reimer and Rabbi
Edward P. Cohn by the Brickman family
APRIL 21
In honor of the B’nai Mitzvah of Jackie & Eli Perlstein
by Michael Perlstein & Patty Kissinger-Perlstein
MAY 12
12
In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of Hanni Gerowin by
Andrea Gerowin and Walter Schleh
TEMPLE SINAI
MAZEL TOV TO:
Daryl & Louellen Berger for underwriting and hosting
the successful seventh annual Jewish Federation of
Greater New Orleans’ Goldring-Woldenberg Major
Donor Dinner.
Rabbi Alexis and Dr. Bob Berk on the Bar Mitzvah of
their son, Seth Jacob Berk.
Shane Finklestein, owner of Nacho Mama’s Mexican
Grill, for his restaurant winning third place in the
Traditional Margarita category at Top Taco New Orleans.
Rebecca Lederkramer (Religious and Hebrew School
teacher since 2013) on her acceptance to the Hebrew
Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion Rabbinical
School, where she will study to become a Reform rabbi.
Jules B. Puschett, MD, FACP, FASN, FAHA, FASH,
FAAAS for receiving the 2017 Gift of Life Legacy of
Leadership Award by the National Kidney Foundation
Serving the Alleghenies. Dr. Puschett is a Research
Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine
and a Research Professor of Pathobiology at the School
of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences at Texas
A&M University.
Florence Schornstein for having her life accomplishments
profiled in The Advocate, and for being recognized at the
National Council of Jewish Women Greater New Orleans
Section’s 120th anniversary gala on April 22.
EllenRae and John Shalett on the Bat Mitzvah of their
granddaughter, Sydney Lynn Shalett. Sydney is the
daughter of Jeremy & Jennifer Shalett.
Alon Shaya for Pizza Domenica and Shaya making The
Advocate’s “New Orleans Dining Guide, Spring 2017:
The Essential 100,” and for being featured in the May
2017 issue of Bon Appetit.
Pamela Steeg for being honored as a Partner in Justice
by Avodah.
Harriet Blumenthal and Barbara Greenberg for
being recognized by the National Council of Jewish
Women for their accomplishments as past presidents
of the Greater New Orleans Section Moonlighters
Branch
CONTINUED > 13
M AY 2017
Anniversaries
Alvin & Carol Merlin
Ross & Michele Miller
William & Gabrielle Mimeles
Hugo Miranda & Audrey Hess-Miranda
Jason & Kathryn Myers
James & Kim O’Donnell
Sidney & Lillian Opotowsky
Michael & Joely Osofsky
Elliot & Lindsey Pellem
Jules & Diane Puschett
Myron & Brenda Schneider
John & EllenRae Shalett
Michael & Cary Sherman
Jana & David Siles
Jeffrey & Kathryn Singer
Roderick & Lynn Skelding
Steven & Vicki Sobel
Stephen & Carolyn Sontheimer
William & Mary Stein
Jerome & Melissa Steiner
Paul & Bonne Vengrow
Leonard & Susan Wormser
Gary & Lisa Zoller
Logan & Anne Babin
Alissa & James Bartkus
Darryl & Louellen Berger
Guy & Kelly Brenner
Stephen & Elizabeth Brodt
Alexander & Sarah Cohen
Dean Erlich & Kamryn Young
Ron & Sally Forman
Jeffrey Goldring & Helen Goldring
Joshua & Katy Goldstein
Julian & Wendy Good
Kenneth & Diane Gordon
Rick & Diane Guevara
Edward & Cyndi Holub
Geoffrey Hudleston & Lauren Sharett
Bruce & Lorraine Judson
Richard & Lisa Karlin
Edward & Anne Karp
Louis & Donna Levin
Gordon & Jill Linge
David & Mary Loeb
Joshua Mayer & Jill Dupre
Mazel Tovs continued
MAZEL TOV TO:
Temple Sinai members who were recognized by the National Council of Jewish Women for their dedication and
leadership as past Greater New Orleans Section presidents:
Joan S. Berenson
Barbara Bresler
Julanne Isaacson
Celia Katz
Susan Kierr
Pamela Lyles
Beth Bloch Rosenthal
Mimi Schlesinger
Brenda Schneider
Florence Schornstein
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
13
Gracious Contributions
ALTAR FUND
In Memory of Scott Eugene Beer
Lynne Goldman
In Memory of Dr. Isadore D. Brickman and Sophie
Weinstein
Robert and Caroline Brickman
In Memory of Celia Feinberg Harris and Harry
Harris
Ann B. Harris and family
In Memory of Leah Goldman Karp
Lynne Goldman
In Memory of Roberta Korones
Timothy and Sheila Gold
In Memory of Joseph Mendel Levkowicz
Sam and Dianne Levkowicz
In Memory of Bernie and Shirley Reuben
Amy Reuben
In Memory of Louis Anthony “Tony” Rose
Richard and Katherine Buckman
In Memory of Dr. Jack Weisler
Dorothy Weisler
ENDOWMENT FUND
In Memory of Lorraine Rosenfeld
Perry and Marilyn Brown
In Honor of Henry Threefoot’s 90th Birthday
Charles and Catherine Kahn
HERBERT BARTON EXECUTIVE SUITE
FUND
In Honor of Herbert and Sue Barton
Audrey Sternberg Raphael
In Honor of Sandy Levy’s Birthday
Meryl Rosenblum
In Honor of Rollie Rabin Being Elected to the
Executive Board of NCJW
Debbie Rabin
In Honor of Jerry Strug
Audrey Sternberg Raphael
In Honor of Harold Victor’s Birthday
Robert and Jane Marcus
In Memory of Mina Alaynick
Dorlene Alaynick
In Memory of Leonard Katz
Jule Hotstream
In Memory of Emily Moore
Debbie and Rollie Rabin
In Memory of Steven Threefoot
Florence Schornstein and Richard Schornstein, Jr.
UNDERWRITING TEMPLE SINAI SEDER
Donation for two college students to attend the
Temple Sinai seder at no cost
Joan Tuchman
UNDERWRITING NEW SPEAKERS FOR
THE CHAPEL SOUND SYSTEM
In Loving Memory of Dr. Jack Weisler
Dot Weisler and family
GIFTED MENORAHS
Edward and Andrea Cohn
Saundra Levy
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
In Memory of Emily Moore
Ralph Habbaz and T. Darlene Bewley
THANK YOU
to Rouses for providing
food for the Passover
seder, and to Marcy
Nathan for coordinating
14
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
TEMPLE SINAI
M AY 2017
15
Periodicals
Postage
PAID
New Orleans, Louisiana
VOL
89
N O.
5
|
M AY
2017
–
5777
T E M P L E S I N A I B U L L E T I N (U S P S 538-240)
is published monthly for $.50 per year by
Congregation Temple Sinai
6227 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118
TEMPLE
SINAI
LEADERSHIP
Robert B. Brickman, President
The Honorable Robin Giarrusso, Executive Vice-President
Tracey Dodd, Vice President
Joshua Danzig, Vice President
Michael Kirschman, Secretary
Harvey Herstein, Treasurer
Timothy J. Gold, Brotherhood President
Doris Baron & Leslie Kastl, Sisterhood Co-Presidents
Matthew A. Reimer, Senior Rabbi
Dr. Edward Paul Cohn, Rabbi Emeritus
Joel M. Colman, M.S.M., Cantor
Ann Zivitz Kientz, Education Director
EllenRae Shalett, Executive Director
Herbert Barton, Executive Director Emeritus
Phone: (504) 861-3693
www.TempleSinaiNOLA.com
@templesinainola.com
@TempleSinaiNola
DATED MATERIAL DO NOT DELAY
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Temple Sinai 6227 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118