BETH-EL SYNAGOGUE NEWSLETTER

P O Box 568, St. Johnsbury VT 05819

July 2009, Tammuz/Av 5769


SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND BETH EL ACTIVITIES

JULY 3

7:30 PM

Services by Aaron Solnit.

Followed by Oneg: Joan Cooke.

JULY 9

Tzom Tammuz

JULY 10

7:30 PM

Services by Jon Margolis.

Followed by Oneg: Sally & Jon Margolis.

JULY 17

7:30 PM

Services by Joan Cooke

Followed by Oneg: Paul & Mandy Lane.

JULY 19

Beth El Congregational Picnic*

Noon until 4:00 p.m. at the Sulser's home in Kirby (2740 Ridge Road)

JULY 22

Rosh Hodesh Av

JULY 24

7:30 PM

Services by Rick Schwag.

Followed by Oneg: Rosalie & Ben Harris/Lisa & Steve Adler.

JULY 30

Tish'a B'Av

JULY 31

7:30 PM

Services by Gene Aronoff.

Followed by Oneg: Gene & Sheila Aronoff.


ARE THERE SERVICES TODAY?

On days of inclement weather, congregants should call the synagogue, 748-5683, and the outgoing message will relay whether or not there are services. We will also send an e-mail out to members on those days.

Shabbat Parshot for July

Saturday, July 4

Hukkat/Balak

Numbers 19:1-25:9

Haftarah:Micah 5:6-6:8

Thursday, July 9

Tzom Tammuz

Exodus 22:2-25:9

Saturday, July 11

Pinhas

Numbers 25:10-30:1

Haftarah: I Kings 18:46 - 19:21

Saturday, July 18

Matot-Masei

Numbers 30:2 - 36:13

Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4 - 28; 4:1 - 4:2

Saturday, July 25

Devarim Shabbat Hazon

Deuteronomy 1:1 - 3:22

Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27


Communication is Very Important to Our Community

Please Contact One of Us if You Have a Comment or Suggestion

OFFICERS OF CONGREGATION BETH-EL:

PRESIDENT: Harvey Caplanm

VICE PRESIDENT: Deborah Goldberg

TREASURER: Mandy Lane

SECRETARY: Carol Novick

BOARD MEMBERS:

Jay Abramson

Sharon Anderson, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Patty Caplan

Nancy Frank

Ilene Kanoff

Eleanor Levy

Jon Margolis

Rick Schwag


*BETH EL CONGREGATIONAL PICNIC

Ilene Kanoff

We hope to hold the Beth El congregational picnic on Sunday, July 19 from noon until 4:00 p.m. at the Sulser's home in Kirby (2740 Ridge Road). It's a potluck as well as an opportunity to help assemble emergency kits for seniors in our area, which serves as a synagogue-wide tzedakah project. We need at least 15 adults in addition to children to attend in order to make this happen. Please contact Ilene no later than Friday, July 10th to let her know if you will be there. You can also call (765-4575) with questions. Thanks.


TREASURER'S REPORT

Mandy Lane

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Family Membership

(two adults, with or without children) Annual Dues $450.00

Building Fund (may be paid over 5 years) $500.00 (for general upkeep & upgrading of facility)

Single Membership

(one adult, with or without children) Annual Dues $225.00

Building fund (may be paid over 2 years) $250.00
Religious School
Fee per child $150.00
(Additional children over the first) $100.00

While we appreciate payment in full prior to Yom Kippur, we understand this may be difficult for some families. Monthly payments are allowed. NOTE: Beth El is a small synagogue with no full-time staff, therefore we do not send dues bills to members. We ask members to make their payments in a timely fashion and thank you for your cooperation in doing so.

Beth El strives to be available for all members of our Jewish community. Special consideration/abatement arrangements for dues and/or religious school fees may be made, on a yearly basis, by calling Mandy Lane or Harvey Caplan

High Holiday Seats

There is no fee to attend High Holiday services at Beth El. We do ask nonmembers to consider making a voluntary donation. Every contribution is welcome and we appreciate your support.


OVER THE RAINBOW

Beth Kanell

The television thunders: war and more war.
It flashes lightning in the darkened room:
two trains have collided, a father has killed
his beloved son in a hunting accident.
Storms beset us, and the wilderness
of all this news threatens us with
fierce beasts, torrential rain, terror.
Take the bad news first, the other news
is worse.

Then where is our land of milk and honey?
Were the two spies out of the dozen --
the two who came home saying the land
was rich, and welcoming, and waiting for us --
were they nuts? Smoking the wacky weed?
Fantasizing about a land over the rainbow
where troubles melt like lemon drops?

Who believed the better news? Who dared
to say there could be a happy middle, even a
happy ending? Who rushed toward the Promised Land
as if a promise meant something?

Tell the Wicked Witch to jump in puddle and melt.
Tell the monkeys of yesterday to go climb a tree.
When it rains and thunders, pull the blanket close.
There is a rainbow somewhere. So we say:
I'm going over to see. There's something growing,
something good, blossoming from the rain-soaked,
promised garden.


RABBI HALE TO LEAD SERVICES IN AUGUST

Please note that Rabbi Hale will be leading services at Beth El on the weekend of August 21st and 22nd. For any ideas you have on what you would like to see included in services, and how to utilize our rabbi at other times during his visit, please get in touch with Deborah Goldberg (802) 748-3711. Your input is appreciated!


REQUEST FOR RECIPES AND HISTORY

Beth Kanell

It's still Jewish cooking, but times have changed and so has your recipe -- yes? Give us an example of how you've taken a good traditional recipe and brought it up to date with fresh ingredients, perhaps a move away from the chicken fat of the original, or a favorite addition or technique from today's cuisine. We'll include this in our chapter on how Beth El has changed in the new century. Mail it to Beth Kanell, 283 East Village Rd, Waterford VT 05819.


KINGDOM COMMUNITY SERVICES

Elinor Levy

The Kingdom Community Services is holding a tag sale July 1 and 2nd on the lawn of the North Congregational Church in Saint Johnsbury. Donations for the sale can be left at the Foodshelf, which is located to the right of the North Congregational parking lot.


NEWS AND NOTES

Rene Rose

Hi, thought this would be of interest to the congregation. It's the wonderful Gardening, Farming and Ecology programs for young people at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat center in the Berkshires. A wonderful place with many Retreats going on in this atmosphere. Isabella Freedman.org


Sheila Aronoff

We are asked to keep Nelson Baker's brother, Burton, in our prayers as he is terminally ill.


OTHER CONGREGATIONS

Bethlehem Hebrew Congregation

Bethlehem Hebrew Congregation (Conservative) Weekly Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services – 6 p.m., the second Friday of each month. Potluck follows. 39 Strawberry Hill, Bethlehem, NH. 603-869-5465. For more information contact Bernice Dinner, 603-823-5537 or Eileen Regen, 603-823-7711.

There is actually fresh kosher beef in the meat case in the Littleton Shaw's. Bernice Dinner reported that it is dated July 8. Still plenty of frozen turkeys and chickens as well.


Jewish Community of Greater Stowe

What are you doing Friday night? Please join the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe at a Kosher Country BBQ on Friday night, July 10th at 6:30 p.m. Celebrate Shabbat with good food and good friends! The cost is only $12 per adult and FREE for children. Make your reservation today by sending in your check to JCOGS, P.O. Box 253, Stowe, VT 05672. Specify your name, how many adults, children, and number of vegetarians. BYOB and don't forget the hungry, by bringing cans of food for the Lamoille County Food Share. Questions? call Miriam at 802-888-5056; cell: 832-567-4007.


HUMOR

CULTIVATE

submitted by Laura Jean Stewart

Saul Epstein was taking an oral exam, applying for his citizenship papers. He was asked to spell "cultivate" and he spelled it correctly. He was then asked to use the word in a sentence, and with a big smile, responded: "Last vinter on a very cold day, I vas vaiting for a bus, but it vas too cultivate, so I took the subvay home."


25 REASONS I OWE MY PARENTS

submitted by Laura Jean Stewart

1. My Parents taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My Parents taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My Parents taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My Parents taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My Parents taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, You're not going to the store with me."

6. My Parents taught me FORESIGHT.
. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My Parents taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My Parents taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My Parents taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My Parents taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My Parents taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12.My Parents taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13 My Parents taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My Parents taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My Parents taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world Who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16.My Parents taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My Parents taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My Parents taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My Parents taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My Parents taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My Parents taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My Parents taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My Parents taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24.My Parents taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

And my favorite:
25. My Parents taught me about JUSTICE
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."


Do you have any news, information, announcements, opinions or ideas for the membership you would like to share in the newsletter?

This is the edition which is being sent to all members and friends of Beth El. If you have a friend who would also like to receive the Beth El Newsletter, please let me know his or her email address and I will include them in the "emailing".

The deadline for each monthly edition is the 21st of the previous month. Articles and letters will be printed if they are signed and if they deal with topics and ideas, NOT personalities.

Send your correspondence to:

Diana Senturia, Newsletter Editor

The newsletter will be posted on the Beth El web site:

http://www.congregationbeth-el.org/ monthly.