September / October 2010 Tishrei / Cheshvan 5771

Building Torat Yisrael’s Future

Here’s a picture that’s worth a thousand words! As we embark on the New Year of 5771, we look forward to
constructing the newly redesigned Torat Yisrael synagogue building in East Greenwich.

Those of you who remember the previous drawings of our new building will notice major changes in the design.
The roof structure was redesigned to create a more efficient, simpler construction. The interior of the building
remains unchanged and includes a school wing designed with the latest principles of educational setting
configuration, an efficient administrative wing, gracious and inspiring public use spaces in the social hall,
sanctuary, chapel and library. The lobby of our new building will be a focus of activity providing informal
meeting space, a TY café with fresh coffee and tea, a donation and recycling center and more.

Greetings from Susan Smoller

Shalom Fellow Congregants,
What a terrific summer we have
experienced! The hot days, the
rainy days and all those in
between allowed us all to spend
time with friends and family. We
are a short way from Rosh Hashanah and at this
time I will thank those who work tirelessly to
support and help lead our congregation throughout
the year. I take this opportunity and will not be
repeating these thanks in my Kol Nidre speech.
We have great rabbinical leadership in Rabbi Levin,
who is entering her seventh year with us and has
shown her devotion and caring, has taught us
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individually and collectively over the years and is
committed to the future of our congregation within
this community.
We are delighted to enjoy services led by our very
own Hazzan Devin Goldenberg, our Cantor. Hazzan
Goldenberg brings much experience, a beautiful
melodious voice and a scholarly approach to our
services. He has demonstrated his inspiring chants
and been able to include us in his harmonious
leadership from the pulpit and in the classroom.
This year we will be honored to hear Hazzan
Goldenberg lead us in some new melodies that he
has composed for these holidays. I cannot wait!
We enjoy the school leadership of Ronni Guttin, our
education director and under her guidance our
children thrive at the religious school and are taught
by exceptional teachers. Our librarian, Laura
Steele, ensures we have interesting and educational
materials and that our students have appropriate
literature. We enjoy her monthly book reviews and
thank her for her creativity.
I thank Nicole Jellinek for her commitment as our
social worker. Many of us have used the resources
she provides and been able to receive aid from her
and guidance on life matters. I thank Nicole
publicly for her years of dedication.
We are extremely fortunate and blessed to have
Harold Labush as our Torah Reader. Harold’s
weekly Torah readings are accurate and beautiful
and allow us all to share in hearing the words of the
Torah from an experienced and educated Torah
Reader. Yasher Koach.
We are pleased to have Evelyn Nussenfeld,
Stephanie Reinsant and Sheryl Ponder working in
the Temple office. They make the conduct of
synagogue business pleasant and efficient and go
out of their way to help us all.
The facilities are well maintained by Paul Pouler. A
big Todah Rabah to all!
Thank you to Anita Olinsky, for the long hours she
donates to assist in the office and to support Torat
Yisrael activities.
The members of our Board of Trustees work hard
and diligently to ensure the spiritual and financial
future of our congregation. Thanks to all, especially
the Vice Presidents and committee chairs who also
donate much to keeping us active and involved.
I thank the Sisterhood for undertaking to cook and
prepare for the congregational Break the Fast after
the conclusion Yom Kippur services. I want to
thank the generous sponsors of the Break the Fast
and encourage you to support the Break the Fast or
sponsor an event or Shabbat at Torat Yisrael.
Members will find a form on the Members Page of
the Torat Yisrael website on which you can
designate the event you would like to sponsor.
Andy Sholes has led us as Chair of the Building
Committee and the site clearance is materially
complete. We are finalizing the building design with
the architects and hope to put the construction to
bid within the next few months. This is a
momentous step ahead and one that had been a
dream that is finally materializing. Thanks to the
entire building committee!
Our capital campaign committee, led by Marc Davis
has been working hard to schedule appointments to
sit and to discuss opportunities for us to invest in
the future of Torat Yisrael and to raise the money
needed to make this entire project a reality. We are
now asking you, if you have already made a pledge,
to begin paying the pledge to allow us flexibility in
completing the construction. We continue to make
this a building that will belong to all of us and I ask
you to be generous and understand the momentous
investment we are all making in Judaism, in Rhode
Island and in our congregation.
This is an opportune time to thank Barry Golden for
his many years as Vice President of Finance. Barry
prepares regular financial statements, leads the
investment committee and is constantly saving
money and realizing new opportunities to stay
within our budget. Thank you Barry.
The dedicated volunteers do all their work with the
support of their families and I now want to thank
the supporting members of the congregation too. I
thank my husband David and my daughter Michelle
for their generosity in allowing me to spend the
time leading our congregation.
I look forward to seeing everyone at shul in the
coming weeks and I wish all a Shana Tova!
Please contact me at any time with any comments
or questions.
B’Shalom,
Susan

Shanah Tovah from Rabbi Amy Levin

This summer, I began my seventh year as your rabbi. In Judaism, 7 is a meaning-packed
number. The seventh day is the day God rested from the work of creation. Seven is the interval
of the Sabbatical Year in the Torah when the Land rested from agricultural production. We wrap
the tefillin strap around our arm seven times in preparation for morning prayer.
There is much to do here at Torat Yisrael, and I don’t think we are at the point of stopping and resting in our
seventh year together. But this might be a good time to stop and look back at our communal life together
these seven years: we’ve laughed with comedians at Galkin programs, been elevated by musicians at our
concerts, we’ve cried together as we’ve buried people close to us . . . indeed, you were infinitely loving and
supportive of me when my father passed away three years ago. We’ve “kvelled” at dozens of bar and bat
mitzvah celebrations, confirmations, graduations, and baby-namings. We’ve embarked on a period of
transition, discussing our hopes, our concerns, our vision. We’ve hugged. We’ve shared, and gotten beyond,
hard feelings.
God willing, we’ll keep doing all these things as we share the year 5771 together . . . I pray it will be a year of
good health, peace of mind, inspiration and engagement in Judaism for all of us.

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Kesher Corner: Nicole Jellinek, LICSW
Nicole is Torat Yisrael’s social worker funded by the Kesher Program, a joint project of the Jewish
Federation of Rhode Island, the Bernhardt Foundation, Jewish Family Service, and the synagogue.
She can be reached at (401)338-8301 or nicole@toratyisrael.org.

Under the Day
To come back like autumn to the moss on the
stones
after many seasons to recur as a face
backlit on the surface of a dark pool one day
after the year has turned from the summer it saw
while the first yellow leaves stare from their
forgetting
and the branches grow spare
is to waken backward down through the still water
knowing without touching all that was ever there
and has been forgotten
and recognize without name or understanding
without believing or holding or direction
in the way that we see
at each moment
the air
(from The Pupil by W.S. Merwin; Knopf, 2001)

The fall has crept back up on us! By the time you
are reading this, children are back in school and
Rosh Hashanah is literally around the corner. The
fall is a time of transition, of new beginnings, of
change. My most significant change is that I will be
leaving Temple Torat Yisrael as the Kesher social
worker. I have been with you for two years and
have been deeply touched by the experience;
though I haven’t met all of you, I have met and
spoken with many. I have been privileged to share
your lives, your struggles and your sorrows. I will
stay on at JFS in Providence as the staff
administrator for the Kesher program, so will
remain “in the loop.” I leave you in good and
trusted hands! Andrea Epstein LICSW will begin as
the new Kesher social worker in late August.
Andrea has a background in both clinical and
community based services and is excited to be
joining the Torat Yisrael community. She is
expanding her role as clinician in the Providence JFS
Counseling Center to join the Kesher program. She
will be looking to meet with congregants as an
introduction to the TY community, as she takes over
planning for relevant workshops and programs.
Please be in touch if you would like to meet with
her, to say hello and welcome her to the
community, or with any questions or concerns.
Andrea can be reached at andrea@jfsri.org or at
331-1244.

The Cohen School News

Dear Cohen School Families:
The school year is about to begin and I am very excited about beginning our second year in
East Greenwich at The Village Lower School. Each year, around this time, I think about how
appropriate it is that we celebrate the Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year in September.
September is a time for new beginnings…children and adults start new school years, at
Synagogues around the world, families worship together after the summer filled with vacations, camp, and
visiting relatives, the Torah is completed and reread. New shoes, new pencils, new clothing to replace last
year’s outgrown “temple” clothes all show up in various homes. We are blessed with the opportunity to
start anew, acquaint anew, and learn anew….

Cohen School Schedule:

September October
September 9, 10 Rosh Hashanah October 3 Religious School at Camp JORI grades
September 12 Teachers Statewide Kroll K-7
conference October 5 Religious School grades 3-7
September 14 School Begins grades 3-7 October 10 No School
September 18 Yom Kippur October 12 Religious School grades 3-7
September 19 Religious School grades K-7 October 17 Religious School grades k-7
September 21 Religious School grades 3-7 October 19 Religious School grades 3-7
September 26 Religious School grades K-7 October 24 Religious School grades K-7
September 28 Religious School grades 3-7 October 26 Religious School grades 3-7
September 30 Simchat Torah 6:00 in Cranston October 31 Religious School grades K-7
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Librarian’s Corner by Laura Steele, Torat Yisrael Librarian
A new addition to our library is one that may appeal to both parents and young children particularly at this
time of year. Sammy Spider’s First Day of School written by Sylvia Rouss tells about the ever curious
Sammy Spider who hitches a ride to Jewish preschool in Josh's backpack. The teacher uses the story of
Noah's Ark to engage the children in a discussion about "an important Jewish value"--kindness to animals.
But when the little spider is discovered, a child wants to step on him. Josh picks Sammy up, shows his
classmates there's nothing to be afraid of, and they then take turns holding him. Josh's mother is proud
that he has helped his classmates understand what it means to be kind to animals, and Sammy's mother
is happy that her son has made lots of new friends. The illustrations add much visual interest, energy
and pizzazz to this story which I’m sure many will enjoy.

Greetings from Some of our Committee Chairs

Sisterhood
Happy New Year! Sisterhood has several events
planned for the next few months. We will be
helping to prepare the break the fast supper. We
have our paid up breakfast installation on Sunday,
October 3rd and on Sunday, October 17th there will
be an open board meeting followed by a mitzvah
project where we will make challah covers for the
Temple.
Ruth Ross and Laurie Tessier, Co-presidents
Programming
The Programming committee has been busy
planning a year full of fun events. We have
continued the Shabbat to Shalom’s and Blood
drives. Both have brought in the crowds even
with the beautiful weather we have had.
We also held our first Beach Shabbat a Goddard
Park. There were dogs and children and lots of
singing and howling!!! A good time was had by all.
We look forward to making this an annual event.
In the immediate future we are hard at work
planning and cooking for the TTY Family PICNIC
and the Break fast.
We have secured funding from the Galkin family
and will be planning the Galkin concert for
December.
Looking forward to all good things.
On behalf of the entire Programming Committee
we wish you all a Happy, Sweet New Year!
Candace Shuman, VP Programming

Of “Green” Interest
Weatherization Assistance: Subsidy programs
Purposes
This Residential Deliverable Fuels Program allows for
residents who heat their homes with oil, propane, or
other deliverable fuels to receive weatherization
assistance. The goal of the program is to save
energy, create environmental benefits, lower
residential heating bills and keep houses warmer.
RIOER is offering consumer incentives for residents
who heat their homes with deliverable fuels to make
energy efficiency improvements through National
Grid's EnergyWise program.
Under this program, residents who heat with oil and
propane will be able to request a free home energy
assessment.
There is a total of $2.3 million allocated to
administering the program and providing rebates to
Rhode Island residents that heat their homes with
deliverable fuels.
How will the program work?
Under this program, residents who heat with oil and
propane will be able to request a free home energy
assessment through National Grid's EnergyWise
program. The home energy assessment will
recommend weatherization measures that may
include:
• Insulation of attics, walls, floors, ducts and pipes;
• Air and duct sealing;
• Attic ventilation;
• Installation of programmable thermostats;
• The replacement of heating systems over 15 years
old; and/or
• The replacement of water heaters over 10 years old.
Once the home energy assessment is complete,
residents will be able to select a contractor to
perform any of the weatherization measures that
were recommended after the National Grid energy
assessment. Upon completion of the work, residents
will be eligible to receive rebates on 25% of the total
cost of recommended energy efficiency
improvements for a maximum of $2,250 per home.
This program will not pay to switch the fuel that is
used to heat a home.
For more information on the EnergyWise program
please call 1-888-633-7947 or
visit https://www.powerofaction.com/rireenergywise/

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Green Israel Summit 4 at Eden Village
Camp, NY
Green Renewal Shabbat for ages 18-40
Register today for Green Israel Summit 4: Green
Renewal Shabbat!
When: Shabbat Noach, Oct. 8- 10, 2010
Where: Eden Village Camp, just north of NYC
Who: Ages 18-40
A limited number of scholarships are available.
Celebrate Shabbat Noach with stories, lectures and
discussions in a welcoming, pluralistic setting.
Explore the Jewish back-to-the-land movement and
what Zionism means today. Learn about Israel and
energy conservation, population growth, suburban
sprawl, Negev preservation, and the growing
environmental movement. Meet other young
environmentally inspired Jews from across North
America.
Green Israel Summit (GIS) 4 is run by the Green
Zionist Alliance and co-sponsored by The Coalition on
the Environment and Jewish Life, the American
Zionist Movement and Hazon.

In Our TY Family
Mazal tov to everyone celebrating a Birthday in September!
Sylvia Shocket, Harold Labush, Julian Brochu, Harriet Saltzman, Shasta Charap, Bella Foster,
William Guttin, Lawrence Charap, David Inman, Sally Pressman, Sylvia Safferson, Laurie
Strauss-Inman, Diane Greenberg, Jeff Davis, Herbert Bloom, Seymour Brooks, Barry Kaplan,
Barry Golden, Elaine Shapiro and Harry Wasser
Mazal tov to everyone who celebrated an Anniversary in September!
Matthew & Laura Kavanagh (4 years), Harry & Jeanne Pass (28 years) and Daniel & Rachel
Silverman (14 years)
Mazal tov to Frank & Bev Prosnitz on the birth of their granddaughter, Addison Kate Prosnitz. The
proud parents are Brian & Katelyn Prosnitz. Addison was born on August 18th at 3:30 pm and weighed
in at 7 lb 2 oz.…she is “pure love”!! Mom and baby are both doing good. Congrats to all!!
May God who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bring
blessing and healing to: Neil Alterman (Ron Alterman’s father), Lewis Antin, Trude Antin, Robert
Donnelly (friend of Evelyn Nussenfeld), Frances Dorsch (Maurice Wine’s sister), David
Friedman, Ethel Friedman, Rosalie Gleckman, Pearl Gorden, Douglas & Barbara Greenberg
(Diane Greenberg’s brother-in-law & sister-in-law), Maurice Grossman (Myer Grossman’s son),
Myer Grossman, Bonnie Lury, Steve Matzner, Sylvia Paige, Zenas & Sara Pulner, Ron & Susan
Richter, Harold & Sylvia Roggen (Barbara Karetny’s parents), Linda Rosen, Louis Russian,
Jeffrey Sacks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Sylvia Shocket, Meyer Teya (Marcia Slobin’s father),
Steve Tragar, Moe Wine and Eileen Winkler (Rochelle Ziegler’s mother)

Be a Torat Yisrael Lobbyist!

Edgewood Food Closet Donations
canned tuna and salmon, canned soups, breakfast
cereal, canned vegetables and fruits. Also needed:
toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, diapers.
TYNet Café! Come Schmooze!
Torat Yisrael is wireless and caffeinated! Fresh
coffee and tea and the wifi password are all there.
Pick up a great read!
Which you’ll find at our Book Exchange corner in the TTY
lobby! For a 25¢ donation, you are welcome to help yourself to
any book on the shelves and then return it when you’re done.
Recycle #5 Plastics Here!
Plastic containers like medicine vials and yogurt and cottage
containers. Please wash containers before depositing in bin.

Kosher Food Pantry Coupon Collection for Edgewood Food Closet

Kosher non-perishables to help support Rhode Please drop your unwanted coupons in the basket near our
island’s vulnerable Jewish residents. donation and recycling center.
Edgewood Food Closet Thrift Shop : You may drop off lightly used clothing at the Church of the
Transfiguration, 1665 Broad Street, Cranston. Hours of Operation: Tuesday & Friday mornings 9:00 am –
10:30 am and Wednesday evening 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.

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Temple Torat Yisrael Email Addresses, Facebook and Twitter
Rabbi Amy Levin: rabbi@toratyisrael.org Hazzan Devin Goldenberg: hazzan@toratyisrael.org
Susan Smoller, President: president@toratyisrael.org Ronni Guttin, Education Director: ronni@toratyisrael.org
Nicole Jellinek, Social Worker: nicole@toratyisrael.org Anita Olinsky (Dues Committee): dues@toratyisrael.org
welcome@toratyisrael.org - Michael Field/Beth Salk (Membership Committee Chairs)
facebook@toratyisrael.org twitter@toratyisrael.org and @ravlevin
Sheryl Ponder, Bookkeeper/Office Manager: sheryl@toratyisrael.org
Stephanie Reinsant, Rabbi’s Secretary: stephanie@toratyisrael.org

Are you raising Jewish children…but you’re not Jewish? Don’t do it alone. Join us
for Mothers Circle
The Mothers Circle is a free educational and
welcoming program empowering non-Jewish mothers
to create Jewish homes. Mothers in all family
constellations are welcome, and participants do not
have to be affiliated with a Jewish institution or have
any prior knowledge. The eight-month, sixteen-
session interactive curriculum explores Jewish
holidays, practices, rituals, and ethics while providing
resources and tools for enriching Jewish family life at
home. Free childcare is available upon request.
Our third Rhode Island group will be starting in
October. For more information please visit
http://www.bjeri.org/DefaultPermissions/OurProgram
s/tabid/150/Default.aspx or contact Kit Haspel,
Mothers Circle Coordinator, at 401-331-0956 x184 or
khaspel@bjeri.org.
Mothers Circle is a national program created by the
Jewish Outreach Institute. The Rhode Island
program is coordinated by the Bureau of Jewish
Education of Rhode Island in partnership with the
Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island and is
generously funded by the Helene and Bertram
Bernhardt Foundation and the Jewish Federation of
Rhode Island.

Hug N’hamah: Circle of Consolation

A Bereavement Discussion Group meeting on alternate Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm providing a
supportive circle to bring the emotional and spiritual challenges of grief. Facilitated by Torat Yisrael
member, Dr. Judith Lubiner, a licensed psychologist, and Rabbi Amy Levin. TY members and non-members
equally welcome. Meeting October 7th and 21st

Thank you…You’ve Saved Lives

Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our Blood Drive on Sunday, August 1st. Ten
units of blood was donated that day…each unit can help three patients, up to 30 lives may
be saved!

Selichot – September 4th

In 2009, film maker Peter Rodger travelled the globe with a camera and a question, “What is God?” We
will begin this year’s Selichot evening viewing and discussing the result of that journey.
Our spiritual preparation for the Days of Awe continues with the moving Selichot service. Please join
Rabbi Levin and Hazzan Devin M. Goldenberg for this beautiful service. We will also dedicate the new
memorial plaques for our sanctuary and change our Torah mantles to their austere white. Saturday
evening, September 4th at 8:30 pm.

Memorial Service at Lincoln Park Cemetery

Join us on Sunday, September 5th at 5:00 pm to gather as a community to recite psalms and memorial
prayers at the graves of our loved ones . . . a lovely pre-High Holiday tradition.

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 The Days of Awe 5771
Schedule of Services
Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, September 8th / 29 Elul
Ma’ariv (Evening) Service: 6:45 pm
Thursday, September 9th / 1 Tishrei
Shaharit (Morning) Service: 8:30 am
Family Service: 10:00 am followed by supervision for young children: 11:30 am
Tashlich Picnic: 5:00 pm
Minhah / Ma’ariv (Afternoon / Evening) Services: 6:45 pm
Friday, September 10th / 2 Tishrei
Shaharit (Morning) Service: 8:30 am
Supervision for young children (free play)

Yom Kippur
Friday, September 17th / 9 Tishrei
Kol Nidrei / Ma’ariv (Evening) Service: 6:15 pm
Saturday, September 18th / 10 Tishrei
Shaharit (Morning) / Yizkor (Memorial) Service: 8:30 am
Family Services: 10:00 am followed by supervision for young children: 11:30 am
Minhah (Afternoon) / N’ilah (Concluding) Services: 5:30 pm
Group Shofar Blast, Havdalah and Community Break Fast: 7:47 pm

Sukkot-Simhat Torah
Wednesday, September 22nd / 14 Tishrei: 7:30 pm Erev Sukkot Service
Thursday, September 23rd / 15 Tishrei: 9:15 am Sukkot Service
Friday, September 24th / 16 Tishrei: 9:15 am Sukkot Service
Wednesday, September 29th / 21 Tishrei: 6:30 am Hoshannah Rabbah Service
7:30 pm Erev Shemini Atzeret Service
Thursday, September 30th / 22 Tishrei: 9:00 am Shemini Atzeret and Yizkor
6:00 pm Simhat Torah Service
st
Friday, October 1 / 23 Tishrei: 9:15 am Simhat Torah Service

Calling all shofar blowers!

Start practicing your t’kiah g’dolah!
We need YOU (any age, any stage) and your shofar
To mark the end of the Yom Kippur Fast Saturday, September 18th at 7:47 pm!

Followed by . . .
Torat Yisrael’s Annual Yom Kippur Break Fast
No need to worry about where your next meal is coming from! Join all of the Torat Yisrael Family
for our truly delicious Yom Kippur Break Fast!
RSVP to the TY office by Monday, September 13th; 785-1800.

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Upcoming TY Events
September
Cohen School Students! Welcome back!
First day of class: Tuesday, 9/14/10 for grades 3-7 and Sunday, 9/19/10 for grades K-2 at the Lower
Village School, 2220 South County Trail, East Greenwich.

Sock Hop and Pizza Party

Sunday, September 26th from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. We hope you’ll come celebrate Sukkot with our Torat Yisrael
Family at our traditional Pizza in the Hut! Cost: $3 per person / $10 family maximum. (See enclosed flyer).

October

Paid Up Sisterhood and Men’s Club Breakfast, Sunday, October 3rd

Please join us for our Sisterhood and Men’s Club Paid up Breakfast. We will hold our installation as well as other
surprises! If you are not a paid up member of the Sisterhood or Men’s Club you can join now or dues ($18.00)
can be paid at the door. RSVP to Anita Olinsky at 785-1800 by September 28th. (See enclosed flyer).

Our October Topic: Joining the Jews: Judaism and Conversion

East Greenwich: Tuesday, October 5th
12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch & Learn at T’s Restaurant, 5600 Post Road (in the Benny’s Plaza), East
Greenwich – each participant orders from the menu and we study Jewish sources addressing
current issues. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend!

Cranston/Warwick: Thursday, October 7th

12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch & Learn at the Cozy Grill Restaurant, 440 Warwick Avenue, Warwick – each
participant orders from the menu as we study Jewish sources. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend! Look for us
in the back room!

Shalom to Shabbat: Unwind and Nosh Before Shabbat Services

Join us on Friday, October 8th at 7:00 pm for wine and cheese before our 7:30 pm Shabbat Service.

Sisterhood Mitzvah Project and Open Board Meeting, Sunday, October 17th
Sisterhood will have an open board meeting followed by a mitzvah project where we will make challah covers
for our congregation. Please feel free to join us….we’d love to have you!

November

Save the Date!

On Saturday, November 13th at 6:30 pm at TY Cranston join us for an evening of nachas,
nuptials, nosh and nonsense! Auction and Dinner Theater: “Steve and Elaine Get Married!”