August / september 2011

av / elul 5771

Building Torat Yisraels Future

Selichot 5771
Embarking on a Year of Lasts and Firsts
Our contractor is ordering the steel to frame our new synagogue building. The East Greenwich Fire Marshall is reviewing our construction documents. Selichot 5771 will be our last in Cranston. So lets make it a memorable evening of remembrance. Saturday night, September 24, 2011 / eve of 26 Elul 5771 / 8 pm An evening of tribute to 330 Park Avenue: sharing memories and impressions of our communal and personal experiences in our almost-60-year-old building. Dessert Reception Dedication of Memorial Memorial Plaques Changing of the Torah Mantles
We are interested in memorabilia of events, programs and people in our TY Cranston building. If you have: videos still photographs recordings programs menus newsletters or if you are you willing to be interviewed about your memories and impressions please contact Rabbi Levin (rabbi@toratyisrael.org / 785-1800)

Greetings from Susan Smoller, President

Shalom Fellow Congregants, I am proud and honored to continue as President of Torat Yisrael in the coming year. Rabbi Levin installed the Board of Directors at the annual meeting and we are already planning for the new year. We are on an innovative and awesome journey together and I will continue to work hard, with the support of all our dedicated volunteers, to lead us cohesively to our new synagogue building in East Greenwich. The plans for the new building are currently being approved by the Town of East Greenwich and should be available to begin construction in August. We will keep the congregation informed of the progress in the newsletters and on the interactive website. So please check out our progress on toratyisrael.org.

We are reinvigorating our Capital Campaign to raise money to pay for the construction phase of our project. This is a vital time for all of us to band together and to support our future. I know that I can count on your support. I am enjoying the summer I grew up in Israel so I am very comfortable in the summer heat. I hope you are enjoying this season be it outdoors or in the comfort of air-conditioning.

I look forward to seeing you at the membership barbeque on August 28th come prepared to have fun, see old friends, meet new ones and relax together. Please contact me at any time with any comments or questions. BShalom, Susan

Kesher Corner: Andrea Epstein, LICSW

Andrea is Temple Torat Yisrael's part time social worker funded by the Kesher Program, a joint project of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Jewish Family Service, and the synagogue. She can be reached at andrea@templetorat.org or (401) 369-0160

Vacation Expectation Situation

It seems like the perfect time of year to talk vacation. The sun is out; the beaches are calling, and for many children are out of school adding flexibility to schedules. Vacations can be tricky though (ask anyone who has taken one). With the limited time that many of us have to take off vacation choices can be tough: traveling versus staycation (staying at home), hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast, and the vacation budget question. Perhaps toughest of all to negotiate are the expectations that may accompany you on your break, I should be relaxing, I should be having fun, I shouldnt be spending this money, etc. Good news though! Experts have weighed in on how to maximize vacation time and pleasure. Here are some tips: Multiple, small trips have been found to be equally or more pleasurable to long trips. The findings indicate that the anticipation of vacation along with memories of time off seem to be what lingers with vacations end. Small chunks of vacation also break up everyday life more giving a greater sense of contrast than long vacations. Small trips can also be more economical (an important consideration). Relaxing does not = being lazy. As a sleep deprived culture, vacation can often be a time when you (finally) can get caught up on sleep, slow down, and even unplug from electronic devices. Taking time to smell the roses and soak in experiences is key in coming back from a vacation feeling rejuvenated. Planning ahead can, in unexpected ways, reap vacation happiness dividends. Focusing on quality versus quantity can be a good vacation rule. Some thought beforehand about the right combination of activity and restfulness (different things for different people) can keep the focus on enjoying the moment and off of achievement. Visiting every single museum may not be as fun as taking time at the two museums that really interest you. In similar fashion, a common stressor that vacationers mentioned which interferes with relaxation is thinking about and/or knowing about the work that awaits you upon their arrival home. If this is an issue for you, try planning ahead to vacation during a slow time of year at the office and setting up a clear delegation of your work for when you are gone. This may also enable you to decrease check-in time while you are away too.

Spending time away is really a three part process- the planning, the vacationing, and the remembering. It makes it equally important to make sure that you give yourself time to think about all the fun you had! The pay off: Positive vacations experiences have been shown to foster physical and mental wellness. If you have questions about vacationing or social service resources in the greater Rhode Island area please contact me at: andrea@toratyisrael.org or (401) 369-0160. Ideas for newsletters are always welcome!

What it Means to be a Volunteer by Anita Olinsky

Anita spoke on behalf of our TY volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Shabbat on June 24th. These are the remarks Anita shared with us that evening:

Volunteer Shabbat
Susan asked me to speak about what it means to be a volunteer and what I get out of it. So, how did I get started in volunteering? I retired from teaching junior high math 28 years ago. I stayed home with our 2 sons. When our youngest son, Reuben, was 6 years old in 1st grade, his teacher knew I was a retired junior high school math teacher. I started out by helping her once a week for an hour. The following year it was for 3 hours once a week. This past

Wednesday I finished my 23rd year helping 1st graders at Garden City School with the same teacher. Whenever she retired, so will I. As far as the temple is concerned, it is all Alans fault. In 2002 when he was vice-president of finance, I would come to the temple and get information for him. Some of the records werent up to par so I started to straighten things out. Then when he was asked to become president, I first told him he would be meshigah to accept the position; however, if he really wanted to accept it, I would help him as much as I could. Well 8 years later, here I am. For the most part I am at the temple 5 days a week except when Alan and I are traveling to New Jersey, Washington, DC, Florida, or Seattle, Washington --- like this June, July and August. In between I will be in the office and of course I make my own hours. I think there was a time my father asked why I was spending so much time at the temple. The fact is I enjoy it! In fact I love it! I love taking on challenges, big and small. One of the biggest tasks was when Alan was president he said that all the yahrzeits which were all on index cards needed to be computerized. I basically was computer illiterate. It took almost a year to do (I didnt work on it every day and sometimes not for weeks), but I finally finished it. And instead of Evelyn going through those index cards every week to get that weeks yahrzeits, Stephanie now just gets them off the computer. I love to organize things and there was a time that the office needed a lot of that. Since I am a retired math teacher, I love working with Sheryl, our bookkeeper, especially if we are working with numbers. It doesnt matter what I do in the office or out of the office (like picking up challahs, or pastry at Davis or Price Rite, taking minutes at finance meetings, helping out the ways and means committee, being treasurer of the temple and sisterhood, compiling the sisterhood membership list, chairing the dues committee, getting bank papers that need to be filled out or making sure we have enough people for the Monday minyan). I like doing things in the office for Sheryl and Stephanie such as answering the phone, filing invoices, stuffing envelopes, proof reading Friday emails or monthly bulletins, or helping to get the bulletin ready for mailing. I am willing to do whatever is needed so that Sheryl and Stephanie can work on other things. Just recently Paul and I started going through each room of the temple making sure we get rid of anything that will not be moved to the new temple. Ive thrown out papers from the 70s and 80s. We have gathered together all the prayer books that need to be buried and gathered into one room all the old prayer books that we no longer use. I think Paul is looking forward to my vacations. Over the years Ive gotten to know most of the members. I like to hear the surprise in their voices when I call them by name when they call or I see them. I love the fact that some of what I do helps to make things run a little more smoothly. I may not always be able to do as much as Im doing now, but hopefully Ill be able to help out as much as possible for a long time. I hope that many of you who have been volunteers continue to do so. For any of you that havent volunteered for our temple yet hopefully youll try it. You can get great satisfaction in doing so. It gives me great satisfaction to know that Im doing things that might be making someone elses life a little bit easier. Also, it gives me great satisfaction to know that Im doing something to help out my temple. The synagogue has always been such a big part of my life as a child growing up, then in later years when my boys were growing up, and now. Finally, as we prepare to move to our new location, I hope that many of you will come forward to help out in the many ways needed to achieve the move. If there are sign up sheets at the congregational meeting next week, I hope you will put your John Hancock on them. Thank you.

Make Your Donations to Torat Yisrael On Line!

Supporting our Torat Yisrael community has become easier than ever. Youll find a link to a Donations page on the main menu on our Torat Yisrael website (www.toratyisrael.org). The links on the donation page will take you to the secure www.justgive.org website. When you open a free account with Just Give you will be able to donate to Torat Yisrael on line and you will receive a summary of all the charitable donations you have made to Torat Yisrael during the course of the year to make your tax preparation easier.

In Our TY Family
Mazal tov to Pearl & Barry Kaplan on the birth of their grandson, Nathaniel Derek Sidney Macey. Nathaniel was born on July 2nd weighing in at 8 lbs 11 oz., 22 long! Nathaniel is the son of Barry & Pearls daughter Melissa and her husband James Macey. Nathaniel also has a big brother Benjamin! Mazal tov to Joan & Jeff Bookbinder on the birth of their grandson, Benjamin Davis Tanner. Benjamin was born on July 7th weighing in at 8 lb 2 oz., 20 long! Benjamin is the son of Jeff & Joans daughter Jennie and her husband Russell Tanner.

Mazal tov to everyone celebrating a Birthday in July and August!

July: Harold Winthrop, Helen Davis, Stephan Goldman, Dorothy Kramer, Elijah Coke (13 years old), David Bojar, Norma Friedman, Gertrude Katz, Dale Steele, Jeff Bookbinder, Harry Pass, Rachel Wasser (14 years old), James Shocket, Stephen Kabalkin, Joseph Shapiro, Ethan Antin (4 years old), Jonathan Antin (4

years old), Gloria Lefkowitz, Morty Paige, Muriel Davis, Anita Greenberg, Joan Bookbinder, Barbara Karetny, Patricia Streich, Carl Lefkowitz, Nathan Lury and Gladys Sollosy August: Brett Quinn (7 years old), Molly Snyder (10 years old), Linda Weisman, Roberta Arsac, Brenda Wasser (10 years old), Marlene Bellini, Rita Horowitz, Harvey Silverman, Ruth Russian, Jacob Beckenstein (10 years old), Ariel Finkle (11 years old), Louis Russian, Eitan Vilker (13 years old), Sofya Tonkover, Benjamin Steele (19 years old), Evan Hammer (9 years old), Sydney Hammer (9 years old), Zachary Hammer (9 years old), Jonathan Inman (12 years old) and Laura Steele

Mazal tov to everyone celebrating an Anniversary in July and August!

July: Carl & Gloria Lefkowitz (59 years) August: Dale & Laura (26 years), Bradley & Svetlana Harris (10 years), Joseph & Judith Lubiner (39 years), Lucien & Roberta Arsac (35 years), Alan & Lynn Field (7 years), Harvey & Lorraine Rappoport (39 years), David Inman & Laurie Strauss-Inman (18 years), Stephan & Laurie Goldman (38 years), Frank & Beverly Prosnitz (21 years), David & Ilene Bojar (41 years), Louis & Ruth Russian (65 years), Billy & Barbara Karetny (38 years), David Wasser & Susan Abbotson (16 years), Edward & Judith Steiner (46 years) and Robert Samuels & Sandra Levy (25 years)

May God who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bring blessing and healing to: Trude Antin, Pearl Gorden, Douglas & Barbara Greenberg (Diane Greenbergs
brother-in-law & sister-in-law), Myer Grossman, Harriet Landesberg, Peter Letendre (friend of Rochelle Ziegler), Bonnie Lury, Morton Paige, Bev Prosnitz, Zenas & Sara Pulner, Ron Richter, Harold & Sylvia Roggen (Barbara Karetnys parents), Louis Russian, Sylvia & Jimmy Shocket, Moe Wine and Eileen Winkler (Rochelle Zieglers mother)

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 Donna Tarutz, Education Director: tarutz@toratyisrael.org Andrea Epstein, Social Worker: andrea@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, Rabbis Secretary: stephanie@toratyisrael.org

Are you raising Jewish children. . . . but youre not Jewish? Dont 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, fifteen-session interactive curriculum explores Jewish holidays, practices, rituals, and ethics while providing resources and tools for enriching Jewish family life at home. Our fourth Rhode Island group will be starting in November. For more information please contact Kit Haspel, Mothers Circle Coordinator, at 401.331.0956 x184 or khaspel@shalomri.org.

Hug Nhamah: Circle of Consolation

Bereavement Discussion Group meeting Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm providing emotional and spiritual support. Facilitated by Torat Yisrael member, Dr. Judith Lubiner, a licensed psychologist, and Rabbi Amy Levin. TY members and non-members equally welcome. Meeting August 25th and September 8th & 22nd

Shabbat Services in East Greenwich August 5-6

Friday 6:00 pm early Shabbat Service for all. Enjoy an early Shabbat service and then arrange for a relaxed Shabbat meal at home with your family and friends. Saturday, August 6th: Shabbat Services at 9:15 am.

Blood Drive in Cranston

Another opportunity to observe the mitzvah of Pikuach Nefesh (Saving a Life): blood drive will take place on Sunday, August 7th from 8:30 am 12:30 pm.

Shalom to Shabbat: Unwind and Nosh Before Shabbat Services in Cranston

Friday, August 12th, 7:00 pm: wine, cheese and a nice schmooze before our 7:30 pm Shabbat Service.

East Greenwich Shabbat: August 19-20

Friday 6:00 pm early Shabbat Service for all. Enjoy an early Shabbat service and then arrange for a relaxed
Shabbat meal at home with your family and friends. Saturday, August 13th, 10:00 am: Family Shabbat/Learners Service. 11:00 am Kiddush Lunch

Our August Topic: Exploring Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Each participant orders from the menu and we study Jewish sources addressing current issues. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend! 12:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch & Learn at Ts Restaurant, 5600 Post Road (in the Bennys Plaza), East Greenwich

East Greenwich: Tuesday, August 23rd

Cranston/Warwick: Thursday, August 25th

12:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch & Learn at the Cozy Grill Restaurant, 440 Warwick Avenue, Warwick

Temple Torat Yisrael Presents . . . . A Membership Barbeque

Join with friends and family for an afternoon of fun in the sun on Sunday, August 28th at 11:00 am with lunch at noon at the Masonic Youth Center (116 Long Street, Warwick). Bring your bathing suits, sunscreen, sunglasses, towels, games and toys. TY will provide hot dogs and hamburgers and all the fixings! Cost: $5/person with a family maximum of $25. RSVP to the Temple office; 785-1800 or on our website: www.toratyisrael.org.

September Lets Celebrate!

Elijah Coke will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on Shabbat morning, Saturday, September 3rd at 9:15 am!
Mazal tov to Elijahs mother, Leah, sister Nuriya, grandmother Ruth Ross, aunt and uncle Gilda and Lou Beckenstein, great-uncle and great-aunt Harold and Jerri Labush and the whole family!

Eitan Vilker will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on Monday morning, September 5th at 9:30 am!
Mazal tov to Eitans parents, Lee & Ronitte and the whole family!

Shalom to Shabbat: Unwind and Nosh Before Shabbat Services in Cranston Cohen School Students! Welcome Back!

Friday, September 9th, 7:00 pm: wine, cheese and a nice schmooze before our 7:30 pm Shabbat Service.

Sunday, September 18th - Opening Day of School Families and Students at the Village Lower School Tuesday, September 20th - First Day of Classes: Cohen School at the Village Lower School

East Greenwich Shabbat: September 16-17

Friday 6:00 pm early Shabbat Service for all. Enjoy an early Shabbat service and then arrange for a relaxed
Shabbat meal at home with your family and friends. Saturday, September 17th - 10:00 am: Family Shabbat/Learners Service. 11:00 am Kiddush Lunch

Selichot
Our spiritual preparation for the Days of Awe begins with the moving Selichot service. Please join Rabbi Levin and Hazzan Devin 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 24th at 8 pm.

Rosh Hashanah 5772

Schedule of Services
Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, September 28 th / 29 Elul Maariv (Evening) Service: 6:30 pm Thursday, September 29 th / 1 Tishrei Shaharit (Morning) Service: 8:30 am Family Service: 10:00 am Supervision for young children: 11:30 am Tashlich Picnic: 5:00 pm Minhah / Maariv (Afternoon / Evening) Services: 6:45 pm Friday, September 30 th / 2 Tishrei Shaharit (Morning) Service: 8:30 am Supervision for young children (free play)

TORAT YISRAEL DONATIONS May 20, 2011 July 14, 2011

All donations of $10 or more are listed in the Newsletter
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
The Capital Campaign list does not include multiyear pledges which will be suitably recognized at a future time.
In Memory of Joan Abbotson Sue Abbotson In Honor of Jessica Beckensteins Cohen School Graduation Ruth Ross In Honor of Elijah Cokes Cohen School Graduation Ruth Ross In Memory of Idelle Dress Alan, Anita, Benjamin & Reuben Olinsky In Memory of David Friedman Evelyn Nussenfeld Ruth Ross In Honor of Norma Friedmans Birthday Helen Abrams In Memory of Martin Gilman Andrew & Trude Sholes In Honor of Phil & Anita Greenbergs 58th Anniversary Evelyn Nussenfeld In Memory of Hanna Jozefowicz Fred & Lois Lury Evelyn Nussenfeld In Honor of Billy & Barbara Karetnys new Grandson, Benjamin Max Evelyn Nussenfeld In Honor of Sanford & Esta Karps 27th Anniversary Evelyn Nussenfeld In Honor of Dorothy Kramers Birthday Helen Abrams In Memory of Rosalind Levin David & Ilene Bojar Marc & Helen Davis Jonathan & Judith Finkle Norma Friedman Mr. & Mrs. Barry Gilstein Barbara & Bertha Goldberg Stephan & Laurie Goldman Dorothy Kramer Carl & Gloria Lefkowitz Fred & Lois Lury Alan & Anita Olinsky Sarah Osofsky Morton Paige Ruth Ross Leah RossCoke Andrew & Trude Sholes David, Susan & Michelle Smoller David Wasser Karen Wier Barbara Zenofsky In Memory of Sylvia Paige David & Ilene Bojar Speedy Recovery to Marcia Slobin Evelyn Nussenfeld In Honor of Herb & Gloria Spivacks Dor LDor Award Marc & Helen Davis Evelyn Nussenfeld Arline Volin In Memory of Helen Gama Andrew & Sharon Gilstein In Memory of Gregory Goikhman Zinovy Goikhman In Memory of Leonard Yale Goldman Stephan & Laurie Goldman In Memory of Lillian Greenberg Diane Greenberg In Memory of Abraham Harris The Bomzer Family In Memory of Lotte Hirsch Marc & Helen Davis In Memory of Martha-Sue Hoffman Marilyn Hoffman Sandra & Jack Meyers In Memory of Lorraine Kelman Daniel Kelman In Memory of Lewis Morton Kenner Marian Kenner In Memory of Tillie Kenner Marian Kenner In Memory of Eda Kirshenbaum Sanford Kirshenbaum In Memory of June Kirschbaum Mr. & Mrs. H. Herman Goldman In Memory of Shirley Kutin Helen Kutin In Memory of Benjamin Lerner Dr. Lon Kopit In Memory of Hyman Levin Sylvia Levin In Memory of Rosalind Levin Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Gilstein

GENERAL FUND
In Memory of Aaron Barr Nat & Sylvia Safferson In Memory of Faye Birenbaum Beverly Rotenberg In Memory of Morris Blazar Fred & Sylvia Blazar In Memory of Etta Bloom Herbert & Irma Bloom In Memory of Shirley Coleman

In Memory of Anne Manekofsky Marilyn Hoffman In Memory of Stanley Musen Steven Musen In Memory of Philip Paige Morton Paige In Memory of Sylvia Paige Gladys Sollosy In Memory of Anna Ponce Bea Sydney In Memory of Beverly Resnick Leon Resnick In Memory of Rose Richmond Gloria Spivack In Memory of Ethel Rosenthal Betty Cohen & Family In Memory of Gertrude Rotenberg Barry Rotenberg Mark Rotenberg In Memory of Anna Safferson Nat & Sylvia Safferson In Memory of Wilma Safire Harold & Helene Holland Edward Safire In Memory of Bernadette Salhany Jeff & Joan Bookbinder In Memory of Sylvia Saltzman Carl & Gloria Lefkowitz In Memory of Isaac Soorkis Goldie Cohen In Memory of Samuel Blake Steiner Eddie & Judy Steiner In Memory of Sidney Stern Robert Stern In Memory of Natalie Tanenbaum The Bomzer Family In Honor of the birth of their new grandson, Benjamin Davis Tanner Jeff & Joan Bookbinder In Memory of Samuel Tapper Michael Tapper In Memory of Rose Tishler David Tishler In Memory of Louis Weisman Peter Silverberg In Memory of Jack Westerman Joel Westerman

PRESIDENTS DISCRETIONARY FUND

In Memory of Moses Smoller David & Susan Smoller

RABBIS DISCRETIONARY FUND

In Memory of Arthur Karp Stanley & Bella Foster In Memory of Rosalind Levin Michael & Sharon Field Sylvia Levin Harriet Slatin Gladys Sollosy