BETH EMETH LANDSCAPING

As you look around the newly renovated Beth Emeth facility, you will notice the new landscaping that was installed in front of the building facing the parking lot and in front of the crown wall facing Lea Blvd. Our plans finally came to fruition on Sun., Sept. 14 when about 25 members volunteered their time to assist in the planting of new shrubs, trees, and flowers.

There are many people to thank. First, I want to convey my deepest appreciation to our member Beth Stark (a professional landscape artist) who graciously volunteered her time to design and purchase all the plants. Most of them were purchased in the spring, but the construction and weather did not cooperate. Beth faithfully cared for all the plants at her home until the weather cooperated and we could transfer them to Beth Emeth.

Next, I would like to thank Ira Zinner, his wife Cheryl, and sons. Ira volunteered his company’s landscaping equipment and provided two very capable employees to do the “heavy” work. Without this equipment and his workers, we would never have completed the work we set out to accomplish.

Several families provided long, tedious hours during the long, hot, and humid day. The Leone family, the Kling family, the Dallas family all performed fabulous work spreading topsoil and mulch, removing rocks, and planting the shrubs and flowers. It was amazing to see all of us working as a group toward completion of the plantings.

Additional thanks go to the following people each of whom provided us with many hours of hard work. Sheila Weinberg, Barbara Garland, Scott Simon, Sara Leff, Cindy O’Neil, Katlyn Selekman, Joann Barnard (a landscaping committee member), Pam Levin, Jen Giedzinski, and Rick Geisenberger and his daughter.

We owe them a great big THANKS.

…Phil Weinberg

MARRIAGE RECONSECRATION SERVICE

For the sixth consecutive year, members of Congregation Beth Emeth celebrated their fifth-year-interval wedding anniversary at a special marriage reconsecration service on May 30, 2008.

Phil and Sheila Weinberg, assisted by Bill and Riva Brown, coordinated the occasion when 14 couples reconsecrated their wedding vows. Rabbi Peter Grumbacher and cantor Mark Stanton officiated.

Reconsecrants included: Elliott and Elaine Waxman, 60 years; Marion and Joseph Zimmerman, 60 years; Mil and Gene Wolinsky, 55 years; Harriet and Jerry Ansul, 50 years; Sandy and Stu Schenk, 50 years; Donna and Stuart Levin, 40 years; Mara and Ira Tartack, 40 years; Sue and Dennis Cherrin, 35 years; Joan and Alan Sloan, 35 years; Vicki and Harold Horowitz, 30 years; Esther and Paul Timmeney, 25 years; Laurie Ross and Steve Zimmerman, 25 years; Sarlyn and Martin Goldman, 20 years; Rosti and Jody Grinberg, five years.

The congregation sends a hearty mazel tov and wishes for many happy returns to these couples on their special anniversaries.

Adult B’nei Mitzvah on Sunday, May 4 (29 Nisan)

There were proud smiles and tears of joy as 14 members of Congregation Beth Emeth participated in a service of celebration for their adult B’nei Mitzvah on Sunday, May 4 (29 Nisan). The service, which included English readings that were written or selected by class members in addition to the traditional Hebrew prayers, began with the presentation of Talitot by their children, spouses or parents.

Row 1 (left to right): Myrna Lawrence (instructor), Robin Zink, Gail Goldberg, Michelle Engelmann, Heather Gibbons, Beth Osbourn

Row 2 (left to right): Randy Arm, Laura Kramer, Ellen Wagner, Vicki Greenstein, Selma Seitz, Sue Paul (instructor)

Row 3 (left to right): Rabbi Sarah Messinger, Mark Greenbaum, Elisa Ley, Alan Dallas, Gail Dallas, Rabbi Peter Grumbacher, Cantor Mark Stanton

Rabbi Sarah Messinger introduced the Torah Service by quoting a from Pirkei Avot - "Make for yourself a teacher and acquire for yourself a friend” – explaining that over the past two years the individuals in the class have become friends, teaching one another, and learning from instructors, Sue Paul and Myrna Lawrence. Each class member chanted a line from Leviticus 23, which includes a listing of the feasts and the counting of the Omer between Passover and Shavuot. Ellen Wagner spoke about the Torah portion, relating the counting of the Omer to how we count the mitzvot we perform, such as helping others and giving tzadaka, commandments that she said bring us closer to God.

Gail Dallas began her sermon with the well-known lines from Ecclesiastes, “ To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,” noting, “This is our season, our time, our purpose is all the same” for this class that includes Jews by chance, Jews by choice, a great grandmother, new mothers, sisters, a husband and wife, and Sisterhood presidents. She pointed out that the Torah portion included sacrifices to God, and that the Hebrew word for offering or sacrifice is “corban,” which also means near or close by. She related this word to the two years of study that has drawn class members nearer to god – “It has brought us to a new relationship with God and our religion,” Gail said and she challenged the congregation to “become involved in your religion.”

In introducing the Haftorah portion, Elisa Ley compared the rituals that Ezekiel performed to show respect for the hierarchy and provide rules to live by to the personal rituals each class member used as he or she prepared for B’nei Mitzvah. Before he blessed the new B’nei Mitzvah at the conclusion of the service, Rabbi Peter Grumbacher told them, “You are role models, you dared yourself, you took a passion and let it run. No matter what level of Hebrew you achieved, you’re one step ahead. No matter what your knowledge of history and rituals, you’re one step ahead.”

Class member wrote about their reasons for choosing to study for two years to become an adult B’nei Mitzvah. In many cases, their children or other family members played an important part in this important decision.

Alan Dallas wrote that having his Bar Mitzvah at this time has to do with trying to put his priorities back into their proper order. Inspired by his son, Andrew, who became a Bar Mitzvah two years ago, Alan and his wife, Gail, began taking classes at the synagogue. “As a family, we have truly been able to learn from each other, not just the oldest teaching the youngest, but each of us learning and teaching each other,” Alan noted. Gail also was influenced by Andrew, in part because she wanted him to be as proud of her as she was of him. In addition, she gained inspiration from her mother, who became a Bat Mitzvah at about 60 years of age, and by Alan, a Jew by Choice whom she believes has a “stronger conviction” to his new religion than a “Jew by Chance.”

Michelle Engelmann wrote that she “was Jewish by osmosis” but had little knowledge of Judaism when she was growing up in Brooklyn, New York. She was motivated to learn about her religion because of her three children, and after they became B’nei Mitzvah she said, “Now it is my turn.” She was supported in her decision by her friend Ellen Wagner, who also decided, “It is finally my time and my turn” to learn to read Hebrew and have a Bat Mitzvah. She was motivated in part by women she met through Women of Reform Judaism (Sisterhood) who were Jews by choice and could read Hebrew and Torah. Both Michelle and Ellen have served as Sisterhood president.

Having children led sisters Heather Gibbons and Beth Jodi Osbourne to take the classes that led to becoming B’nei Mitzvah. When she was expecting her son, Noah, Heather realized her need and desire to learn more about her faith so she would understand her child’s inevitable questions, but also to “understand more clearly the journey into Judaism that my own son would soon embark upon.” Beth wants to share in her children’s Jewish education and set a good example for them. “I want to finally read from the Torah and embrace my Jewish heritage,” she wrote.

Mark Greenbaum’s children are the reason he began his studies. “As a father, I understand that setting an example is more important than anything that I could say or preach to my children.”

For Vicki Greenstein, this class was “the logical next step…a selfish step” after becoming a Jew by choice. “I wanted to keep learning about being Jewish, about the prayers, about the language, and about the people. I was interested in knowing more Hebrew than my oldest child.” She took pride in her ability to learn to read Hebrew and follow along in the siddur without looking at the transliteration. The experience has “shown me I have so much more to give myself and learn than I thought possible,” she wrote.

Laura Kramer’s journey to learn more about being Jewish began when Rabbi Grumbacher invited parents of third graders – her son Stephen’s class – to stay for class if they didn’t read Hebrew. She has discovered what is meaningful to her about being Jewish, including finding spiritual fulfillment, being a role model for her children and demonstrating how important it is to have Judaism in their lives, and bonding with the community through involvement. “It is the connections of Jewish life that make me want to be a Bat Mitzvah,” she wrote.

The idea of her own Bat Mitzvah started forming in Elisa Ley’s mind as she watched the oldest of her four children become a Bar Mitzvah. By the time her third child stood in front of the Torah, she had begun her studies. As Elisa became a Bat Mitzvah just weeks before her fiftieth birthday, she honored her family by wearing her daughter’s tallit and gifts that were given to her by her departed parents and grandparents. “I feel I am part of Judaism now,” she wrote.

Bat Mitzvah was not an option for Robin Zink when she was growing up at Congregation Beth Emeth, although she continued her religious education through Confirmation. When she passed the Torah to her sons as each became a Bar Mitzvah, she felt a strong connection to all those who had gone before her and “I wondered what it would have been like to have been handed the Torah myself,” she wrote. With her life experience, she views becoming a Bat Mitzvah as an adult to be “more valuable” and “sweeter.”

Selma Seitz describes herself as a child of the depression who grew up with Jewish customs she never understood. She raised her three children “as better Jews than I” and later in life decided to try to learn about some of the things she had missed. After studying to become a Bat Mitzvah she can now follow and understand the prayers, in addition to finding comfort at Sabbath services.

Gail Goldberg has wanted to become a Bat Mitzvah for many years, but found limited opportunities as a single woman and in the places she resided. After living through the trauma of advanced stage lung cancer, she wanted do something that is important to her – “to become a Bat Mitzvah, to reach out to God and the Jewish community. With the love and support of my family and the Beth Emeth community, this time it feels right for me. This time I feel a sense of belonging.”

For Randy Arm, “It was now time for me to fulfill my desires about learning more and becoming a true ‘child’ of the commandments.” She looks at this as a beginning, not an end to a journey that started many years ago. She joins with other members of the class who have begun a new chapter in their lives as Jews.

  Chavurah Event

  The Lost Tribe Chavurah of Beth Emeth held a "Kentucky Derby" Day at the home of Barry and Joanne Kittinger. The purpose was for each family to "create"  a horse, or any animal, about 2 - 3 feet high which could stand by itself.  A "track" was laid out on the floor and each couple, in turn, threw a pair of dice. The horses were assigned numbers. When a horse's number was thrown, it moved one space. The winner was "Speedy" created by Sheila and Phil Weinberg. In addition, the Kittinger's provided a wonderful barbecue dinner for all Chavurah members and a good time was had by all attendees.
  

IFSAC Helps to Change Lives

  Many of you may remember The InterFaith Social Action Committee from last November’s Mitzvah Day, when we created 100+ bagged, Thanksgiving dinners for those in need in our community. On Sunday, April 27, 2008 our three congregations comprised of Congregation Beth Emeth, Christ Church, and Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church, joined together once again to assemble 100 bags of easy to prepare foods, and paper products that will be distributed by the West End Neighborhood House to young adults who have “aged out” of the Foster Care Program, and are no longer under the supervision of the Family Court of Delaware. These at-risk individuals must find their own housing and means of support. The bags created by IFSAC will aid them in their transition to independent living. Monetary donations were also accepted by the congregations to be donated to West End’s “Lifeline Fund”.

  Purim Schpiel 2008 - The Wizard of Shushan
  

Beth Emeth Dedicated New Sanctuary

  Chanukah means “dedication,” and so it is especially appropriate that Beth Emeth’s completely renovated sanctuary was ready for the congregation in late November in time for its dedication ceremony on December 8, 2007, Shabbat Chanukah. In fact, the dedication was a two day event beginning with Saturday’s Shabbat service and concluding with a special Sunday program of rededication held for children attending Beth Emeth’s religious school and their families. MORE