Newsletter

The Congregation Beth El Newsletter is Published every month under the very capable direction of its editor, Ira Weissman. The deadline for newsletter articles is the 15th of every month. Please e-mail your submission to Beth El using the link at the bottom of any page, or mail or drop off submissions to the Beth El office (E-mail is preferable). Contributions from non-members in the amount of $20 per year are required to defray the cost of publication and postage for a subscription.

The month of May will be a busy one at our Congregation. We will gather to celebrate events of both time and space. These events and ideas are from the past, the present and the future, as well as centered here and halfway around the world.

First among our celebrations is a weekend centered here in time and place. We gather on May 3rd for a Shabbat service when Jade Baumrind is called to the Torah for her Bat Mitzvah. Then on Sunday, May 4^th, we invite everyone to join us as we rededicate our building. Along the way it has been wonderful as our new look has unfolded. First the removing of the old, then the adding of the new; each step revealing an increased beauty and potential of the space that is Congregation Beth El. Now we come together to see it in its entirety; a place that is warm and welcoming, allowing flexibility and intimacy.

Sixty years - the State of Israel celebrates her 60^th birthday this year and we celebrate with her. The spring of this year - 2008/5768 - marks 60 years of Jewish sovereignty in the Land and State of Israel. As Reform Jews, we also celebrate our Movement’s 30 years of Zionist activity with the 30^th anniversary of ARZA (the Association of Reform Zionists of America). May 9^th-11^th we join with congregations around the United States and around the world in a weekend to rejoice, reflect and renew our relationship with Israel. Watch your mail and email for details.

In and outside of time and space - that is the very nature of Jewish mysticism. Rabbi, scholar, and now novelist Lawrence Kushner wrote the book that we choose as this year's Book of the Year: Kabbalah A Love Story.

"Sometime, somewhere, someone is searching for answers...

...in a thirteenth-century castle

...on a train to a concentration camp

...in a New York city apartment

Hidden within the binding of an ancient text that has been passed down through the ages lies the answer to one of the heart's eternal questions."

On Friday night, May 16th we will learn more about this novel and the mystery of Kabbalah. This encounter with Jewish mysticism will continue on Saturday morning the 17th as we look at Torah through the eyes of the mystics.

Mark you calendars, invite your friends and fellow congregants and be a part of our celebrations of time and space.

Rabbi Darah R. Lerner

HOLIDAYS

May 2: Yom HaShoah (27 Nisan) Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a memorial day for those who died in the Shoah. Shoah - catastrophe or utter destruction in Hebrew - refers to atrocities committed against Jews during World War II.

The Shoah (also known as the Holocaust, from Greek meaning "sacriice by ire,") was initiated by the National Socialist (Nazi) Party, in Germany in 1933. The Nazis believed in racial superiority - that people of Northern European descent were better than all other races, especially the Jews - who were "unworthy of life."

The Nazis restricted the rights of German Jewish citizens and encouraged others to commit acts of violence against Jews and their property. During World War II, the Nazis implemented their "final solution," a plan to annihilate all European Jews. Jews were irst crammed into ghettoes and labor

camps, then sent to death camps, where millions were murdered. In addition to six million Jews killed

- two-thirds of the European Jewish population - the Nazis also killed millions of others, including

Roma (Gypsies) and Slavs, dissidents, the handicapped, and gays and lesbians.

Many commemorate Yom HaShoah by lighting yellow candles to keep memories of the victims alive. Jewish communities commemorate the day through worship, music and stories from survivors.

Oneg Schedule

For May & June

The Joseph and Betty Harlam URJ Camp Institute will celebrate 50 years of living Judaism this summer. Join your camp family on May 3, 2008 at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, in Elkins, PA for Camp Harlam’s 50th FUNdraising Gala. To receive an invitation, email ngolboro@urj.org with your name and contact information. Also, check out our website www.harlam.urjcamps.org for more details on the event. We guarantee that this event will be more fun than GaGa or Machanayim, milk squad or bunko! We cannot wait to see you there!

The Goldman Union Camp Institute will celebrate 50 years of living Judaism this summer. Join your camp family on August 29 through the 31 for a Shabbat Reunion weekend. All alumni and their families are invited to for a weekend of prayer, song and fun! Logon and sign into the alumni directory and learn more about the Shabbat Reunion at www.guci.urjcampalumni.org. See you this summer!

The Union for Reform Judaism’s new year-long program for recent high school graduates is accepting applications for the 2008-2009 academic year through May 30, 2008. Participants will live in Jerusalem, spend time on a kibbutz and explore Israel. For more information or to receive an application visit our new website at www.tamarim.org or contact Alana Cooper at acooper@urj.org or 212-650-4216

RJTeen.org, the portal to Reform Jewish teen life, provides easy access to the world of Progressive Jewish high school programs in North America and around the world. RJTeen.org’s comprehensive list allows anyone searching for teen programs to find the right fit for summer, spring break, Israel, or other high school programs. Visit the portal today at www.rjteen.org

Think Summer, Think Adult Study Retreat

Before you let the winter doldrums set in, make your plans the Summer Adult Study Retreat (formerly known as Kallah), t this July 8–13 at the beautiful Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, New Hampshire. You will be part of a warm and welcoming community of serious adult learners, Reform Movement scholars and spiritual leaders for a refreshment of mind and spirit. For more information please call Rabbi Joan Glazer Farber at 212-650-4086 or e-mail jfarber@urj.org.

EIE Summer: For Teens AND Adults

After the amazing introduction last summer, NFTY in Israel is offering the second annual EIE Summer Session. Interested students can visit www.nftyisrael.org to register. But teens aren’t the only ones having fun and learning in the Israeli sun this year. This summer we’re also offering our first-ever EIE Summer Institute for Adults. For more information visit www.urj.org/educate/adultstudy/eieadult/. Registration is also open for the EIE Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters. See www.nftyeie.org for more information or to register.

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Nominations for the Board Of Directors

Sunday, May 18, 11:00 a.m.

At the Beth El Annual Meeting, the following candidates will be presented for the congregation’s consideration:

President		David Simonds
Vice President		Dara Perfit
House Committee Chair		Todd Miller
Cemetery Committee Chair		Mark Roth
Program Committee Chair		Drew Matlins
Hiddur Mitzvah		Maxine Harrow
JCC		Howard Segal
At Large		Sondra Siegel
Fundraising Committee Chair		Stephen Handel

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Reader’s Review

The Lemon Tree, by Sandy Tolan, chronicles the history of the state of Israel as experienced by real-life friends Dalia Eshkenazi, a Jewish immigrant from Bulgaria, and Bashir Khairi, a Palestinian native who was evicted from his home in al-Ramla (now Ramla) then expelled to a refugee camp in Ramallah during Israel's 1948 battle for survival immediately following its' establishment by the U.N. They are linked by the fact that the home from which Bashir and family were evicted is the very same home that Dalia and family moved into as new immigrants. They met many years later when Bashir returned to his birthplace, and Dalia opened the door to him.

The book offers dual perspectives: of an historically persecuted people who had barely survived annihilation by the Nazis and longed for a secure homeland; and of another people forced out from a large portion of their homeland and their autonomous lives to make room. Although their friendship is genuine, it does not alter their conflicting views of the ever-persistent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is a personal, realistic and disturbing look into the dynamics at play in that geographically small, yet politically large corner of our world.

(Reviewed by Bob Borok.)

From time to time we will feature book reviews submitted by readers. Consider writing and submitting one!

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Torah Readings

May 3
Kedoshim
Leviticus 19:1-20:27
Amos 9:7-15
Ezekiel 20:2-20

May 10
Emor
Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Ezekiel 44:15-31.

May 17
Behar
Leviticus 25:1-26:2
Jeremiah 32:6-27

May 24
Behukotai
Leviticus 26:3-27:34
Jeremiah 16:19-17:14

May 31
Bemidbar
Numbers 1:1-4:20
Hosea 2:1-22

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B’nai Mitzvah

PJade Hardy Baumrind is looking forward to her Bat Mitzvah! Please join her at services on May ^3rd.

(To feature someone in this section, please submit to the newsletter a short biography of the bar or bat mitzvah by the newsletter deadline.)

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Thank You

• To Jim Blum for his donation to the Rabbi Discretionary Fund.
• To Jacqui, Johnny, Laurie and Jake Kaufman for their donation to the Rabbi Discretionary Fund in honor of Rabbi Lerner.
• To Bob Aronson for his donation in memory of Aaron Aronson.
• To Jacqui Kaufman for her donation to the Beth Pancoe Book Fund, in honor of a complete and speedy recovery of Mary-Anne Saxl, and in memory of Eddie Povich.

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Who’s Who

This month we get to meet ‘The Simonds Of Sedgwick’ in a tale told by David Simonds himself.

Dov and Pearl are our Australian "Shleperds." They made the move from Down Under to Down East to live with us in the coastal town of Sedgwick. They share the house with me and Cindy, and our three boys: Asher, a freshman at RIT; and Eli and Owen, who are students at Brewer High. Copper the cat and Zelda the guinea pig round out our menagerie.

We have been members of Beth El for 15 years. As our kids became more involved with the religious school, so did Cindy and I. She has taught one or more classes each of those 15 years and served as the Education Chair for 15 years as well. I have been involved in a variety of Committee work, and I had the pleasure of teaching seventh, eight and twelfth grades for several years as well. It was a wonderful experience; and one that forged a deeper connection to my faith, culture and community. I currently serve as the congregation’s vice president – and fondly refer to myself as Beth El’s Dick Cheney. Come May, I will be pleased to serve as your president. Those of you who whose roots run deep in our community know better than I what a very special place we have in Beth El. And to those of you who are recent arrivals to the "tzitzit of the Diaspora," I wish you welcome, and the assurance that you too can find a home in the heart of our wonderful Jewish community.

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Adult Bar or Bat Mitzvah

Never had the opportunity to celebrate a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Want to learn more about the Shabbat morning service and services in general, develop skills for the understanding of the Torah, and to become part of a group that becomes close by working together?

To express interest or ask questions about this adult education opportunity, please contact Rabbi Lerner at 945-4578.

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If Not Now, When?

What’s the right time to think about a cemetery plot? For many of us, it’s something that we would prefer never to think about. But there will come a time when you and your family will need to think about it. Why not make plans now? The Beth El cemetery is in a beautiful location off Mount Hope Avenue, and you can buy a plot now - there’s even a discount for 3 or more plots. Call the Beth El office for a brochure, or more information.

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Condolences

To Doug Allen on the death of his mother, Frances Allen.

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Photos Wanted

We would like to publish a photograph in each issue of the Beth El Newsletter. If you have a photo that you think might be of interest, please send it to the Beth El office. Thanks.

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UMA Lecture Series on Hitler’s Holocaust (Revised Schedule)

Sundays, 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be served at 12:15.
Congregation Beth Abraham, 145 York Street, Bangor

May 4:	[Tentative] Ms. Manli Ho, independent scholar and former China Daily [Beijing] correspondent. "Ambassador Fengshan Ho's Holocaust Rescue Efforts in Vienna, 1938."
May 18:	Prof. Peter Hayes, Zev Weiss Professor of Holocaust Studies and German History, Northwestern University. 'The Goldhagen/Browning Controversy on Holocaust Causation."
May 25:	Prof. Steve Katz, Elie Wiesel Professor of Holocaust Studies and Jewish History, Boston University. "Perspectives on Genocide: Jews, Armenians, Blacks."
June 1:	Prof. Asher Susser, Crown Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Brandeis University. "The Holocaust, the Mufti, and the Jewish Past: Competing Narratives and Arab-Israeli Peacemaking."

These programs are produced with the generous support of the Libra Foundation, Bangor Jewish Community Endowment Associates, Congregation Beth Abraham, and the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine. These programs contain mature content and are not appropriate for children under fifteen. For further information call the Beth El office.

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Internet Shopping Benefits Beth El

You can now shop on the internet at certain stores, and have a percentage of your purchase end up as a donation to Beth El! Just click the "Shop Online & Help Beth El" button on the "Home" page. As long as you don’t go to a different site before purchasing, the business will donate a portion of your purchase

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Advertising

Consider advertising your business in the newsletter. The newsletter reaches more than 250 homes each month.

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Welcome to Beth El

Services are held at: 183 French Street, Bangor

Our membership includes individuals and families from throughout Northern and Central Maine. We welcome every one - interfaith couples, people exploring their Jewish roots, those considering conversion to Judaism, visitors and non-members, to all services and special events.

A playroom for children and babysitting services are provided at many services. We attempt to arrange rides, carpools, or over-night hospitality for those traveling long distances.

The Sanctuary is handicapped accessible. For information see the notice below, click the "Handicap Access" button in the menu to the left, or call the office at 945-4578

Member: Jewish Community Council

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Mission Summary

Congregation Beth El is a Reform Jewish Congregation which strives to create a welcoming, spiritually, socially, and geographically diverse community where members can explore and express Jewish religious beliefs and/or their own relationship to God; seek social, family, and cptural ties; and/or participate in social activism

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Accessibility Notice

The ramp at the back of the building is available to wheelchairs and people with limited moblity. Park in the driveway to easily access the ramp. Please let us know if you still have difficulty entering the building; it is our intent to have the synagogue fully accessible.

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Congregation Beth El is a proud member of The Union for Reform Judaism.

This site was last updated on April 30, 2008

The Congregation Beth El web site is maintained by Dave Hicks. If you have any comments or suggestions, please send me an e-mail. Thank you. Email:       Web: http://www.me002.urj.net