E-KI
March 3,
2005
Vol. II
No. 9
Reform
Congregation
Keneseth
Israel
8339 Old
York
Road,
Elkins
Park, PA
19027
215.887.8700
Torah
Time
Online
Shabbat
Vayakhel
–
Exodus
35:1
I Kings
7:40
Vayakhel:
There’s
No Place
Like
Home!
This
week’s
Torah
portion,
“Vayakhel
– and
Moses
assembled
the
people”
(Exodus
35)
continues
the
previous
weeks’
discussions
on the
planning,
building
and
opening
of the
sanctuary
in the
desert.
The
desert
sanctuary
was the
ideal
blueprint
for
worship
in
ancient
Israel
and,
happily,
the
report
of the
people’s
response
to it
was very
positive.
First in
the
desert,
then in
the
temples
of
Jerusalem
and then
in the
Diaspora,
the plan
for the
desert
sanctuary
set the
standard
for
Jewish
worship.
Creating
a
meaningful
worship
experience
is no
easy
matter.
It is a
process
conditioned
by the
current
collective
theology
of the
community,
historical
precedent
of
tradition,
the
talents
of the
clergy
and
other
service
leaders
and
more.
Trying
to
achieve
the
ideal is
very
difficult.
In fact,
even
trying
to
define
the
ideal is
difficult.
The
Reform
Movement
in
Judaism
has
always
been
committed
to the
search
for the
ideal
expression
of our
community
through
meaningful
worship.
That’s
why we
went
through
at least
three
editions
of the
old
Union
Prayer
Book,
the
Gates of
Prayer,
an
interim
Gates
of
Prayer
(gender
sensitive)
and are
now
piloting
a new
prayer
book for
the
movement,
Mishkan
Tefillah.
It’s all
part of
the
search
for the
ideal
and a
recognition
that
both the
ideal
and the
actual
are
always
evolving.
Here’s
the good
news:
lately,
I’ve had
the
opportunity
to speak
at a
number
of
different
Reform
congregations
in our
region
and
beyond.
We all
use the
same
basic
texts,
songs,
books
and
rituals.
But
there
are all
types of
differences,
some
glaring
and some
subtle.
Our
movement
goes
from
nearly
Conservative
to very,
very
heimish
and
relaxed
with
everything
in
between.
They
were all
very
nice in
their
own way
but it
still
wasn’t
the same
as being
at home.
Where
does KI
fit into
the
picture?
In my
opinion,
our
services
are run
in a
very
dignified
manner.
We are
organized!
We try
to read
clearly!
We have
a high
standard
for
music.
We are
increasingly
participatory.
We have
a
dignified
way of
presenting
our
liturgy
but we
are not
severe
or
remote.
Bottom-line,
of all
the
services
I’ve
been to
lately,
far and
near, I
like
Shabbat
at KI
the
best, no
matter
whether
it’s a
regular
Friday
night, a
super
big
program,
a Tot
Shabbat
or a
family
service.
We have
a nice
touch, a
nice mix
of elite
and
meet-and-greet.
In
short,
“there’s
no place
like
home.”
Please
join us
for a
beautiful
Shabbat
experience
at KI
whenever
you
can.
Your
presence
will
make our
Shabbat
service
spiritually
richer
and
hopefully,
you,
too,
will
have
that
experience
of being
at peace
and at
home.
Shabbat
Shalom!
Rabbi
Lance J.
Sussman,
Ph.D.
Township
Line
Road is
closed
again
from
Route
611 (Old
York
Road) to
Church
Road,
until
November.
Please
use the
Meetinghouse
Road
entrance.
UPCOMING
ACTIVITIES
AT KI
Worship
& Study
Opportunities
This
Week
–
Shabbat
Across
America
and
Outreach
Shabbat
Service
on
Friday,
March 4
-
6:00
p.m.
dinner
by
reservation
only.
Special
explanatory
Shabbat
Service
at 7:15
p.m.
Jews and
non-Jews
alike
who want
to learn
more
about
our
Sabbath
worship.
Saturday,
March 5
– Torah
Study
Havurah
at 9:00
a.m. in
the
Library;
Shabbat
Havurah
Service
at 10:30
a.m. in
the
Library;
Shabbat
Morning
Service
at 10:30
a.m. in
the
Chapel,
when we
will
celebrate
the Bar
Mitzvah
of
Zachary
Scott
Bunsick,
son of
Faye and
Raymond
Bunsick.
In the
Week
Ahead –Friday,
March 11
–Tot
Shabbat
in the
Chapel
at 6:00
p.m. –
Learn
about
Purim;
Shabbat
Evening
Service
at 8:00
p.m. in
the
Chapel.
Saturday,
March 12
–
Torah
Study
Havurah
at 9:00
a.m. in
the
Library;
Shabbat
Morning
Service
at 10:30
a.m. in
the
Chapel,
led by
the 3rd
Grade in
our
Religious
School.
Coming
Up –Friday,
March 18
–
Westminster
Conservatory
Youth
Chorale
will
join us
for
Shabbat
Evening
Services
at 8:00
p.m.
The
program
includes
the
premiere
of If
Then. .
. a
composition
by
Cantor
Jonathan
Comisar,
commissioned
by KI.
Listen
to the
Chorale
singing
in Rio
de
Janeiro,
Brazil,
in 2003:
http://www.frankabrahams.com/Chorale/Hashkievenu.mp3.
Saturday,
March 19
–
Shabbat
service
at Rydal
Park at
2:00
p.m.
Thursday,
March 24
– Brown
Bag
Dinner
at 6:00
p.m.
Purim
Megillah
Reading
and
Spiel at
7:00
p.m.
Friday,
April 22
–
Brotherhood
Shabbat
at
8:00
p.m. in
the
Sanctuary,
with
guest
speaker,
Reverend
Keith
Hayward
of
LaMott
A.M.E.
Church.
Dayenu!
A Family
Seder—on
Sunday,
April 24
at 6:00
p.m. in
K/G—complete
Passover
Seder
led by
Rabbi
Lance
Sussman
and
Cantor
Amy
Lefko.
Four-course
traditional
kosher
meal—vegetarian
available.
$45/adult,
$25/children
14 and
under.
Reservations
must be
received
by April
10.
checks
payable
to KI
Brotherhood.
Listen
to Most
recent
Shabbat
evening
sermon
–
click on
this
link!
http://www.kenesethisrael.org/Sermons/ShabbatService.htm
Adult
Education
News
from the
Meyers
Library—
Library
hours
are:
Sunday
9:30-12:15,
Tuesday
4:30-6,
Wednesday
10-3:30,
and
Friday
before
8:00
p.m.
services.
(You can
also
visit
the
bookcarts
at the
Oneg.)
Adult Ed
Classes
-
Tuesday,
March
15, at
7:30
p.m. -
Job,
the
Story of
a Simple
Man
with
Beverly
Cohen.
Thursday,
April 7,
at 7:30
p.m. –
“What
Does It
Mean to
Be a
Jew?
What Is
the
Essence
of
Judaism”
– Rabbi
Ruth
Sandberg.
Mixed
Blessings
–
Bagels
and
conversation
on
Sunday,
March
6, at
10:00
a.m. in
K/G.
Film:
Mixed
Blessings:
The
Challenges
of
Raising
Children
in a
Jewish-Christian
Family.
Discussion
led by
Rabbi
Peter
Rigler
and
special
guest,
Merle
Berman,
LSW.
Sponsored
by the
KI
Outreach
Committee.
Embracing
Adoption:
Building
Jewish
Families
–
Conference
on
adoption
and
Jewish
life –
Sunday,
March 6
from
8:15
a.m. to
4:45
p.m. at
the
Perelman
Jewish
Day
School (Kaiserman
JCC),
City
Avenue
and
Haverford
Road,
Wynnewood.
Keynote
speaker:
Adam
Pertman,
author
of
Adoption
Nation:
How the
Adoption
Revolution
is
Transforming
America.
Rabbi
Sussman
is
participating
in a
panel
discussion
–
“Adoption
Issues
in the
Jewish
Community.”
Discounted
pre-registration
and
information:
www.jewishadoption.org.
For
families
considering
adoption.
Fighting
Breast
Cancer
from
Beersheva
to
Philadelphia
–
community
symposium
on
Monday,
March 7,
at 7:00
p.m. at
Fox
Chase
Cancer
Center
Auditorium,
333
Cottman
Avenue,
Philadelphia.
Speakers:
Michael
Koretz,
M.D.,
director
and head
of
surgery
of the
Comprehensive
Breast
Center
of the
Negev
(affiliate
of
Ben-Gurion
University)
and
Suzanne
M.
Miller,
Ph.D.,
behavioral
researcher
in
health
prevention
and
promotion.
Information
and
reservations:
American
Associates
of
Ben-Gurion
University
(215)
884-4510.
Cultural
Council
60+ -
Cheltenham
High
School
Touring
Ensemble
–
Cinemusic:
Songs
from the
Silver
Screen.
–
Thursday,
March 10
Lunch at
11:30
a.m.
Luncheon
fee is
$10.00
for
guests
and
member.
Send
checks
to KI,
Attn:
Cultural
Council.
Information:
Doris
Parker,
215-886-9267.
Sponsored
by the
Rosenau
Fund.
[Mark
April 14
on your
calendar
– guest
speaker
will be
Trudy
Rubin of
The
Philadelphia
Inquirer.]
Lunch
‘n’
Learn
– about
the
Torah
portion
of the
week
with
Rabbi
Sussman
on
Thursday,
March
17, from
noon to
1:30
p.m.
Call the
Clergy
Office
by noon
on
Wednesday,
March
16, for
reservations
and
information.
If you
would
like to
receive
e-mail
reminders
about
Lunch
‘n’
Learn,
call the
Clergy
Office
(215)
887-8702.
Lunch
and
Learn
for
Senior
Adults –on
Thursday,
March
24, from
noon to
2:00
p.m.,
at KI.
Catered
kosher
lunch.
Welcoming
remarks
by Rabbi
Sussman.
Transportation
available.
New
monthly
program
of
Jewish
Family &
Children’s
Service
STAR/NORC
–
Services
to Area
Residents/a
Naturally
Occurring
Retirement
Community
Program.
No
charge
but
reservations
are
required
by March
16.
Information/reservations
–
Michele
Kramer
(215)
673-7741
x227.
WRJ Book
Review
Redux
–
rescheduled
from
February
24!
Rabbi
Sussman
will
review
Philip
Roth’s
The
Plot
Against
America
on
Thursday,
March
31, at
7:00
p.m.
Everyone
is
welcome.
$3 per
person.
Admission
for WRJ
members
is
free.
Reservations
by March
24: Joan
Kamen
(215)
947-5926.
Sponsored
by WRJ/Sisterhood.
Caring
for
Ourselves,
Caring
for
Others
– Second
Edna S.
Tuttleman
Symposium
on
Jewish
Women on
Tuesday,
April 5,
from
8:15
a.m. to
3:00
p.m. at
Adath
Israel,
250 N.
Highland
Road,
Merion
Station,
PA.
Keynote
speaker:
dr.
Terri
Apter,
psychologist
and
author.
To
register
or for
more
information:
www.jfcs.org/events
or call
(215)
732-6634.
Sponsored
by the
Jewish
Family
and
Children’s
Service
of
Greater
Philadelphia.
A
Capitol
Art
Ramble
– Some
seats
available
for
April 7
bus trip
to
Harrisburg,
tour of
the
Governor’s
Mansion,
Capitol
Building,
and John
Harris
Mansion.
$90/person
(Friends
of the
Temple
Judea
Museum)
or $100
(guests
and
non-members
of
Friends).
Mail
checks
(payable
to KI,
attn: A
Capitol
Art
Ramble)
to KI,
8339 Old
York
Road,
Elkins
Park,
PA
19027.
Information:
(215)
887-2027.
Cultural
Opportunities
Israeli
Folk
Dancing
–-with
Don
Schillinger,
RAK-DAN
Israeli
Dancing,
on
Mondays
from
6:30 pm
- 10:00
pm. in
the
Rothschild
Auditorium.
Program
runs
through
May 23.
$7/adult
and
$4/student
(under
21) per
session.
[Note:
no
sessions
on March
21,
April
25, or
May 30.]
Temple
Judea
Museum –
“Boris
Schatz
(1866-1932):
His
Circle
and the
Beginning
of the
Bezalel
Art
School”
and
“Ephraim
Moses
Lilien:
Printmaker.”
Exhibitions
run
through
April
29.
¥Tango!
- on
Saturday,
March
5.
Dinner
6:00
p.m.
Program
at 8:00
p.m.
$35
($25
program
only)
Reservations
required.
In
cooperation
with
Astral
Artistic
Services.
Cooking
with
Andrew
Schloss
–
Monday,
March
28, at
7:00
p.m. in
the K/G
Kitchen.
Learn
how to
cook
like a
pro!
Space is
limited.
Advance
reservations
are a
MUST.
Send
$15/person
(payable
to KI
Sisterhood)
to KI,
Attn:
Michele
Gusdorff,
8339 Old
York
Road,
Elkins
Park, PA
19027.
RSVP by
March 21
and
include
your
phone
number.
WRJ/Sisterhood
Annual
Interfaith
Luncheon
–
Sounds
and
Songs of
Our
Heritage
on
Tuesday,
April
12.
Cantor
Lefko
will
present
a
musical
dialogue
at 11:00
a.m.
followed
by
question
and
answer
session.
Complimentary
luncheon
at 12:30
p.m.
All
neighboring
churches,
synagogues
and KI
members
are
invited.
Reservations
–
Mickie
Levin
(215)
698-0314.
WRJ
Theater
Trip
–
Movin’
Out
at the
Merriam
Theater
on
Sunday,
May 22.
This
dance
musical,
which
won a
Tony in
2003, is
choreographed
by Twyla
Tharp
and
features
24 of
Billy
Joel’s
classics.
$128/person
includes
brunch
(at KI
at 10:30
a.m.),
transportation
(bus
leaves
at noon)
and a
seat in
the
orchestra
for the
1:00
p.m.
show.
Send
checks
payable
to WRJ
(with
WRJ
Theater
Trip on
the memo
line and
envelope)
to KI.
Deadline:
March
15.
Questions:
Barbara
Bronstein
(215)
673-1435.
Save the
Dates
for
Silver
Simcha
–
Celebrate
the 25th
anniversary
of Rabbi
Sussman’s
ordination
and the
occasion
of his
receiving
an
honorary
doctorate
from
HUC-JIR
in New
York
with a
special
Shabbat
Evening
Service
on
Friday,
April 8,
and a
festive
evening
progrm
on
Sunday,
April
10.
Save the
Date for
Mother’s
Day
Brunch
–
sponsored
by the
Brotherhood
on
Mother’s
Day, May
8, at
10:00
a.m.
Cantor
Amy
Lefko is
the
guest
vocalist.
Preschool
and
Religious
School
***Our
Religious
School
closing
number
is
324***
Messages
will
also be
at (215)
887-8700
x 112 (
KI Voice
mail)
and at
www.kenesethisrael.org.
Preschool
Purim
Havurah
–
Sunday,
March 6,
from
4:00 to
6:00
p.m. –
Pizza
dinner,
Purim
activities
and Andi
Joseph,
the
Musical
Mommy.
Admission
is
free.
Join
the fun!
Help Set
Up for
the
Purim
Carnival
–
Saturday,
March
12, from
12:30
p.m.
until
we’re
done!!
Stay for
an hour
or all
day!
RSVP to
Fran
(215)
887-8704.
Community
Time –
Sunday,
March
13, at
10:45
a.m.
come in
costume!
Purim
Carnival
–
Sunday,
March
13, from
11:30
a.m. to
1:30
p.m.
Come and
have
lots of
fun!
Social
Action
Opportunities
Volunteers
are
needed
to help
feed
hungry
Jews in
the
Northeast!
Volunteers
are
needed
to
deliver
Shabbat
packages
from the
Mitzvah
Food
Pantry
at
Congregation
Beth
Sholom
on the
first
and
third
Thursday
of each
month.
The
packages
can be
picked
up
between
11:00
a.m. -
2:00 p.m
Please
contact
Jessica
Charmont
at
jcharmont@philafederation.org
(215)
832-0855.
Want to
learn
more
about
what’s
going on
in
Washington?
–
Join
Jewish
leaders
and
advocates
from
across
the
nation
in
Washington,
DC,
March
13-15,
to hear
from key
policy
and
government
leaders
about
the
issues
that
shape
our
lives
and to
explore
the
connection
between
ancient
Jewish
texts
and
current
events.
Conference
sponsored
by URJ’s
Religious
Action
Center.
Information:
Clergy
Office
(215)
887-8702.
Cook for
Sharing
Is
Caring –Help
assemble
meals in
the K/G
kitchen
for
clients
at
Newman
Senior
Center
(Klein
Branch
JCC)
from
9:00
a.m. to
10:30
a.m. on
March 29
(last
Tuesday
of the
month).
Information:
Gladys
Segal
(215)
635-5815.
Ways To
Get
Involved
Attention,
Genuardi’s
Shoppers
–
If your
card is
already
registered
with
eScrip,
you will
now
automatically
be
renewed
and your
contributions
will
continue
to KI.
Any
questions?
Ruth
Schoenberg
(215)
677-0326.
Shabbat
Pulpit
Flowers
--You
can now
sponsor
the
Shabbat
pulpit
flowers
in honor
of a
birthday,
anniversary,
baby
naming,
safe
travel,
recovery
from
illness,
or any
other
happy
occasion.
You can
also
sponsor
the
flowers
in
memory
of a
recent
passing
or a
Yahrzeit
anniversary.
An
acknowledgement
will be
listed
in the
weekly
Shabbat
folder
recognizing
your
generosity.
Please
make
your
check
for
$45.00
payable
to: "WRJ
Sisterhood,"
and mail
to,
Reform
Congregation
Keneseth
Israel,
8339 Old
York
Road,
Elkins
Park, PA
19027,
Attn:
WRJ/Sisterhood-Pulpit
Flowers.
Questions:
Michele
Gusdorff
(215)
782-1446.
Your
information
must be
received
at least
one week
in
advance
to be
listed
in the
Shabbat
folder.
Membership
News—KI’s
Membership
Committee
is
looking
for
current
members
to
partner
with our
new
members
and help
them
become
integrated
into the
KI
family.
This is
a great
chance
to
discuss
with new
members
all the
cultural,
religious
and
social
action
opportunities
available
at KI.
If you
are
interested
in
participating,
or just
want to
join the
Membership
Committee
to share
your
love of
KI with
prospective
members,
please
call
Andy
Brookman
at (215)
887-0777.
Sharing
Our
Simchas
– Share
your
happiness
with our
congregational
family.
Consider
underwriting
our
beautiful
Oneg
Shabbat.
Contact
the
Administrative
Office,
(215)
887-8700,
for
further
details.
Sisterhood
Gift
Shop –
will be
open on
Sunday
mornings
during
Religious
School
hours
and by
appointment.
Call
Joan
Kamen
(215)
947-5926
or
Administrative
Office
(215)
887-8700.